andybarton Posted August 13, 2010 Share #21 Posted August 13, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) This forum lists him first on the list of camera repair specialists and from my perspective that is not an appropriate choice. The forum does not list anyone in any order of preference. The list is there for the convenience of members only and should not necessarily be seen as an endorsement. Members should make their own enquiries with regards to the people or companies to whom they are sending their equipment for service. That said, and subject to the above, Don Goldberg has a world-wide reputation, which might also explain why he is so busy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 13, 2010 Posted August 13, 2010 Hi andybarton, Take a look here DAG Camera repair. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
gwelland Posted August 13, 2010 Share #22 Posted August 13, 2010 Thanks Andy for that post of reason & common sense. BTW, the LHSA also has a list of specialists that includes Don, Sherry and a few others. For traditional bodies and lenses there are still plenty of other specialists who can & will do excellent work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted August 13, 2010 Share #23 Posted August 13, 2010 If he spent all his time on e mail and phones, the backlog would get bigger and bigger. Be patient. There is reason why so many send work for him to do.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 14, 2010 Share #24 Posted August 14, 2010 I've been lurking the repair threads and just want to say Thank You all for your information. I have three terribly worn M bodies that I've put off having fixed. Frankly, I quit having Leicas serviced since I moved from the big city where I could just bring them in personally. I do not miss the city, but I do miss the service. Good work is worth waiting for! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GHEN Posted February 28, 2011 Share #25 Posted February 28, 2011 I just received my M4 back from DAG after he had it for about 18 months. Although we had spoken about the camera several times, it had sat, untouched for about 17 of those months. He seemed surprised that was the case, even though (as I said) I had contacted him several times, with him saying each time "just a couple of weeks" Interestingly, once my camera was finally done, I received almost daily emails reminding me it was done and requesting payment. Having said the above, the camera was returned to me in amazing shape, and he documented his work thoroughly. Honestly I expected an offer of 10% or so off of the final cost as a goodwill gesture since my camera admittedly "fell through the cracks", but nothing was offered GHEN. I would give his work an A+, however customer service and honesty in communications an F. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 28, 2011 Share #26 Posted February 28, 2011 Interestingly, once my camera was finally done, I received almost daily emails reminding me it was done and requesting payment. LOL. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted February 28, 2011 Share #27 Posted February 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) In my 43 years of Leica ownership, I've used a local guy (never again), Leica NJ (never again), DAG and Sherry K. Although Don sometimes takes forever, his work has always been incredible, and often he has either called me or emailed me to inform me of various options or advise me in advance about cost variances from initial estimates. As they say, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...meaning find somebody else to do your work if you can't tolerate the wait time! Sherry has been much quicker, IMHO, and I've never had a problem with her work. The first time I used Don, I was a little put off, as I offered to drive the 35 miles to his place to drop off my camera, but he insisted on no visits, just use the postal system. After experiencing his work, I'll take the wait any day. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesk8752 Posted February 28, 2011 Share #28 Posted February 28, 2011 I've used Don's service several times in the last 12 months or so. He usually takes a month or so to do the work, but one large order (6 lenses for coding/focus adjustment) took several months. Communication with him is sometimes difficult but his work is superb and worth the wait, for me at least. In one conversation Don said that he has been especially busy lately because Leica no longer services the Barnack bodies and many users of these have turned to him. Regards, Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkie Posted February 28, 2011 Share #29 Posted February 28, 2011 Maybe a couple of times he didn't respond to emails very quickly, took him a week or two. But never months on end. I never rush him. Don is the best there is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 28, 2011 Share #30 Posted February 28, 2011 [...] The first time I used Don, I was a little put off, as I offered to drive the 35 miles to his place to drop off my camera, but he insisted on no visits, just use the postal system. After experiencing his work, I'll take the wait any day. He might be just too busy to spend time in conversation - or maybe he works in his pajamas or something. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted March 4, 2011 Share #31 Posted March 4, 2011 (edited) I have used them all --- DAG, Sherry, and others. And I have some really incredible stories that I'll keep to myself, other than to say I find DAG too slow and the lack of communication frustrating; Sherry a bit too expensive, but Essex Cameras in NJ just right. I recently sent them a water damaged M and a couple lenses with sticky apertures, and before I even got back home from the post office, the packages were at my front door. Not literally, but you get the idea. Their pricing seems to be on par with everyone else (no real bargain there), but I've been happy with the repairs and the service is ever so quick. And another plus for Essex is that they work on non-Leica stuff, even the vaunted Contarex. But as always, these are just my impressions based on my unique experiences. The internet is terrible for turning opinions into truths. Edited March 4, 2011 by SteveYork Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildlightphoto Posted March 4, 2011 Share #32 Posted March 4, 2011 ... Essex Cameras in NJ ... I've used Essex for some repairs for non-Leica equipment and my experience was similar. Would not hesitate to use them again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 4, 2011 Share #33 Posted March 4, 2011 The first time I used Don, I was a little put off, as I offered to drive the 35 miles to his place to drop off my camera, but he insisted on no visits, just use the postal system. Very sensible IMHO. He'd be constantly trying to get rid of equipment bores! (not suggesting you're one of course). I used to work in a camera shop many years ago so I know how much time such people can absorb! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiZZ Posted November 11, 2011 Share #34 Posted November 11, 2011 I'm having a similar issue with my M6. He told me back in September that he'll be opening it "next week" and he identified most of the issues I told him about and gave me a rough estimate. Hearing about other experiences with him does give me a bit of comfort, I just wish he would answer my emails and phone calls. It just gives me a little bit more ease of mind knowing that my gear is still around somewhere, even if it's untouched. If he was busy, I wish he would have informed me earlier before I sent in the camera when I first contacted him. I would have gone for someone with a quicker turn around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted November 11, 2011 Share #35 Posted November 11, 2011 I'm having a similar issue with my M6. He told me back in September that he'll be opening it "next week" and he identified most of the issues I told him about and gave me a rough estimate. Hearing about other experiences with him does give me a bit of comfort, I just wish he would answer my emails and phone calls. It just gives me a little bit more ease of mind knowing that my gear is still around somewhere, even if it's untouched. If he was busy, I wish he would have informed me earlier before I sent in the camera when I first contacted him. I would have gone for someone with a quicker turn around. Don is very good and worth the wait. He's had my M5 since July, but had told me it would be at least a couple of months, and I advised there was no rush. He corrected my M4 after a couple trips to another noted tech couldn't get the RF right. Usually DAG has been prompt with my stuff, but may not give status response until it it ready. I've had some long waits with all the good Leica techs in the US. (One has had my stuff for over a year.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted November 12, 2011 Share #36 Posted November 12, 2011 Don is the best no question but in this day & age his lack of communication is troubling. Plus of course, the wait time. He has more business than he can handle and more power to him. I've taken to using Steve Choi for lenses and Youxin Ye for bodies. Steve's turnaround is about three weeks and Youxin's about two weeks. Both do excellent work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBatemanJ Posted November 21, 2011 Share #37 Posted November 21, 2011 My experience with DAG was very positive. I sent M8 and Summilux 35mm to check and rangefinder adjustment early of this year. I asked express service and it took 5 days including shipping time. We exchanged several e-mails about the details of what was the problems and what he could do when he received camera and lens. In my case, there were no serious time consuming repair has done, though. SATOKI Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted December 14, 2011 Share #38 Posted December 14, 2011 I had very good communication with Don about my lens and the service I wanted done BEFORE I sent the lens. We exchanged several emails back and forth on a daily basis. However, I haven't heard from him at all since I mailed the lens November 10. In the mornings the phone rings forever. In the afternoons, it's always busy. I'm not trying to hassle him for daily updates or nag him to speed things up, I just wanted acknowledgement that he did recieve the lens. That's a pretty big thing to customers when they send you items worth several thousand dollars for repair. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted December 14, 2011 Share #39 Posted December 14, 2011 Don is the best no question but in this day & age his lack of communication is troubling. Plus of course, the wait time. He has more business than he can handle and more power to him. I've taken to using Steve Choi for lenses and Youxin Ye for bodies. Steve's turnaround is about three weeks and Youxin's about two weeks. Both do excellent work. I like Steve Choi and Youxin Ye, too. Both are pretty prompt with the work and communicative. I think that they are also very highly skilled. I had Don (DAG) do the 'MP no flare finder job' and remove the 135/75 frame lines on my M6 many years ago. The turnaround was pretty fast. But again that was quite some time ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
graphlex Posted December 14, 2011 Share #40 Posted December 14, 2011 Just got my M6 back from DAG after a CLA. Work was beautifully done and on schedule, as usual in my experience with Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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