[The short] I dropped my FA 1:1.8 31mm lend about one meter to concrete and
damaged my aperture ring.
[The Long - skip if faint of heart] A few weeks ago, being new to being
crippled,I slipped just outside my favorite coffee house (and, no, it's not
Starf*cks). Anyway, I reached out for a table as I fell and knocked my SMC
PENTAX-FA 1:1.8 31mm AL Limited off to the concrete. Ouch. Not as bad as I
thought it would be though. It hit squarely on the edge of the aperture ring
giving it a "cosmetic" flaw and knocking the ring out-of-round. I
immediately rued my decision not to purchase the "we don't care if you
purposely threw it against a brick wall" warranty for about an extra $50.
The lens still works perfectly, but it's very hard to turn the aperture
ring.
[The short] I took the lens to Harold, my repairman who verified that the
only problem is the aperture ring which must be replaced. Since the lens
still works, we agreed that he would order the aperture ring while I
continued to use the lens and that I would bring the lens in when it arrived
for repair. During this time, my repairman called Pentax Colorado several
times. Seems they couldn't locate the part or some such and fed him
bullpucky. They told him that this lens is not sold in the United States and
they couldn't repair it!!!
[The Long - skip if faint of heart] So I took the lens to my favorite Pentax
trained repairman who verified that the only problem was the aperture ring
which must be replaced. Since the lens still works, and since the lens can
still be easily used on my K10Ds on the "A" setting, we agreed that he would
order the aperture ring while I continued to use the lens and that I would
bring the lens in when it arrived for a few hours of R&R and registration
check. During this time, my repairman called Pentax Colorado several times.
Seems they couldn't locate the part or some such. My repairman requested a
diagram of the lens so that he could more specifically identify the part for
them. (I have no idea why "aperture ring for an SMC PENTAX-FA 1:1.8 31mm AL
Limited lens" is not sufficient.) Well, they sent him the wrong diagram! He
called them again and after some discussion, they told him that this lens is
not sold in the United States and they couldn't repair it!!!
[The short] Since I know this to be bullpucky, I called Pentax Colorado and
informed him that the lens IS sold in the US and, furthermore, the
literature that came with the lens lists Pentax Colorado as the place to go
for warranty service. After considerable conversation he agreed to order the
aperture ring from Japan and have it shipped to my Harold - to be arranged
when Harold calls back.
[The Long - skip if faint of heart] Well, since most of the larger major
camera houses sell this lens and since it's on the Pentax USA web site for
sale via internet purchase, and since the accompanying literature lists
Pentax Colorado as the authorized repair agent, I knew this to be bullpucky!
I called Pentax Colorado to find out what was going on. It didn't take [name
omitted] long to realize that I was the customer of the repairman he'd just
talked to on the phone. I informed him that the lens IS sold in the US and
on the shelves of many of the major retailers - such as Samy's; moreover,
the lens is for sale to the US on the Pentax US web site. He appeared not to
be aware of this, but I reassured him that he was smart enough to access the
site and look it up for himself. Furthermore, the literature that came with
the lens lists Pentax Colorado as the place to go for warranty service. I
asked him what he intended to do when one came in! I further informed him
that I'm no neophyte when it comes to Pentax cameras, that I've been
shooting them since the early '60s, that I have nearly [deleted serious 5
figures] current value (not new) invested in Pentax 35mm and medium format
cameras, lenses, bellows, flashes, meters and doohickeys and I follow my
investment and the state of Pentax closely. After a few moments of silence,
the conversation switched to his agreeing to order the aperture ring from
Japan and shipping it to my Harold to be arranged when Harold calls back.
For those of you who don't know, about a year back Pentax Colorado began
outsourcing their repair. I don't know the reason for this, but it might
have something to do with the Hoya buy in. Perhaps they have reduced staff
for the purpose of making things look more profitable, whatever, but the
bottom line seems to be:
1. Don't expect expertise from Pentax Colorado re: repair when you call.
2. Expect longer times to repair due to extra level between you and the
repairman.
3. Expect possible higher costs due to extra level between you and the
repairman.
4. Don't take what they say as gospel.
Regards,
Bob...
--------------------------------------------------------
"Art is not a reflection of reality. it is the reality of a reflection."
-Jean Luc Godard
--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow
the directions.
