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Leica to close Milton Keynes offices (1 Viewer)

I heard a while back that E Leitz was in minor financial straits due to their failure to get into the digital market when the other camera mfrs did. I doubt they'll ever catch up, so they may hafta downsize.....
 
spyglass said:
I heard a while back that E Leitz was in minor financial straits due to their failure to get into the digital market when the other camera mfrs did. I doubt they'll ever catch up, so they may hafta downsize.....
Click to expand...

"Disruptive Innovation and the Leica History" (interesting slide show about how Leica's slow and sputtering transition from the Mechanical Age to the Digital Age and its questionable management choices led its present financial woes):

http://www.slideshare.net/Christiansandstrom/leica-cameras-in-deep-trouble-presentation

Priced btwn 15,000-20,000 USD, it's doubtful that Leica's new S2 digital camera is going to be the "magic bullet" to save its camera operations.

Even the digital upgrade of its classic M8 (M8.2) costs $5,725. Professionals might go for it, but you won't see these at Best Buy (inside joke for those who watched the slide show).
 
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the Leica brand name appears to be attached to three "independent companies" according to the website: http://www.leica.com/

There was a convoluted series of mergers, acquisitions and re-organisations in the late 80's and early 90's, during which the original firm, E. Leitz, Wetzlar, either ceased to exist or morphed into Leica Camera if you prefer.
 
World this effect the warrenty and customer service dept regarding optics, wouldn't fancy sending off any leica kit over sea's for servicing/repairs etc considering some of the comments posted on these boards!!

Matt
 
matt green said:
World this effect the warrenty and customer service dept regarding optics, wouldn't fancy sending off any leica kit over sea's for servicing/repairs etc considering some of the comments posted on these boards!!

Matt
Click to expand...

Swarovski UK sends its defective Bins and scopes back to Austria for service and repair, there really shouldn't be a problem with Leica doing the same..in theory.

In closing the Milton Keynes dept i think Leica have taken a step backwards, i have always found them to be very efficient and helpful.
I just hope the London branch, which will be taking over from MK have the same standards.
 
Many of you on the forum will know that I am the sports optics technician for Leica in Milton Keynes.
Unfortunately Leica in the UK want to concentrate more on sales, especially from their new shop in London's Mayfair.
As a result of this the warehouse and workshop facilities at Milton Keynes are being closed down and all their associated staff are being made redundant.
The only "servicing" work done in London will be cleaning external lenses, fitting eyecups and cleaning digital camera sensors. Everything else will be sent to Germany.
I have worked for Leica for nearly 17 years. I loved the company, collected Leica binoculars and even wrote a book about them. During my time there I was a member of the innovation team in Germany whose job was to design new products. Others being made redundant include David Humphries who has worked for the service department for 32 years and Nobby Clark who has over 40 years experience in the trade. That is one hell of a knowledge base to lose !!!!!!!!!!
I had the offer of applying for a job in the London store but thought that cleaning external optics and packing boxes to be posted to Germany was a bit of a waste of my years of training - especially after the £6000 wage cut and taking into account that I would have to take the train to London from north Northampton ( with no assistance towards the £8000 per annum cost).
I will be leaving Leica in the next couple of weeks and hopefully will stay in the optics trade. I will still be around on the forum and will still give bits of advice where I can.
 
garymh said:
Many of you on the forum will know that I am the sports optics technician for Leica in Milton Keynes.
Unfortunately Leica in the UK want to concentrate more on sales, especially from their new shop in London's Mayfair.
As a result of this the warehouse and workshop facilities at Milton Keynes are being closed down and all their associated staff are being made redundant.
The only "servicing" work done in London will be cleaning external lenses, fitting eyecups and cleaning digital camera sensors. Everything else will be sent to Germany.
I have worked for Leica for nearly 17 years. I loved the company, collected Leica binoculars and even wrote a book about them. During my time there I was a member of the innovation team in Germany whose job was to design new products. Others being made redundant include David Humphries who has worked for the service department for 32 years and Nobby Clark who has over 40 years experience in the trade. That is one hell of a knowledge base to lose !!!!!!!!!!
I had the offer of applying for a job in the London store but thought that cleaning external optics and packing boxes to be posted to Germany was a bit of a waste of my years of training - especially after the £6000 wage cut and taking into account that I would have to take the train to London from north Northampton ( with no assistance towards the £8000 per annum cost).
I will be leaving Leica in the next couple of weeks and hopefully will stay in the optics trade. I will still be around on the forum and will still give bits of advice where I can.
Click to expand...

Gary

Good luck to you and your colleagues for the future.
 
I am very sorry to hear that Gary. It is an all too common sign of the times, I'm afraid. For what it is worth, I feel it is a very short-sighted decision by Leica as I think good service back-up, as provided by Opticron and Swarovski, is a very strong selling point for their products.

I wish you well for the future and hope you soon find rewarding and fulfilling employment to make full use of your skills. Many thanks for your input to ths forum.

Ron
 
Gary,

Sorry to hear that, not much to add to what Ron has already said but best of luck for the future & thanks for your help in the past. I guess Leica is no different to Swarovski & Zeiss now who both send all repairs to Austria & Germany.

John.
 
Gary,
I'd like to express my sympathy for your treatment, and my thanks for your outstanding work - on my own part, and I'm sure, that of all other Leica owners.
 
Stay with us Gary.....there are too few folks with your training and knowledge around. If you are able to set up your own shop, I believe you'd have a good customer base starting with BF'ers, and I think nearly all of us do word-of-mouth. But hang in there and keep us posted....
 
I've worked with Gary on and off for his 17 years at Leica, myself as a long-serving member of their optics innovation team and a one-time staff member at MK. He's a an outstanding technician with an incredible knowledge of Leica optics and their history.

The knowledge base Leica are shedding with this move is staggering. I expected new product to be shipped direct from Germany, but I really did expect them to keep hold of the 'golden' staff members such as Gary, based in some cubbyhole in MK. Staggering that this couldn't be achieved to retain someone of his calibre and to service one of htel largest markets for Leica optics. I don't blame him one jot for not taking them up on their offer of applying for a new post which is way below his skills and experience and which would result in him losing £14k a year.

The optics innovation team is another loss to changes over the last few years with founder members Gary, Terry Moore (USA) and myself all now no longer part of optics development (the three of us have been involved in every new product since 1994 (Trinvovid 32s and the first Televid scopes) right up to the the Ultravid HD and new Televids - thats a fair few products we've been involved in over the years Gaz).

Good luck mate. Wherever you go let us all know, for as spyglass states, your part of the BF community and I'm sure you'll get support from many us.
 
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