Camera Obscura Repairs UK.... Problem 😔

[bobtodrick]

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2 hours ago, earleygallery said:

This got me thinking, being a little bit cynical at times, it would be really easy to scam Leica (and other more expensive camera brand) users out of huge sums of equipment by setting yourself up as repair facility.

Take a few jobs initially but farm them out to genuine repair shops, to get some good reviews and see business increase. Then you start stockpiling the gear and ignoring emails asking about progress/returns etc.

Do a moonlight flit when most have just given up (as evidenced in this thread) and cash in on your stash to go and retire to Marbella.

With scams/fraud on the increase due to cost of living it's best to be even more cautious about who you trust with your assets now!

Definitely a possibility. I'm an avid trap shooter.  There have been a few instances of people advertising firearms repairs...do a few jobs very well, get some great reviews and then people that send their firearms to them never hear back...only to find out later they are out of business...gone...and the firearms long since sold.

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[Anbaric]

3 hours ago, earleygallery said:

Take a few jobs initially but farm them out to genuine repair shops, to get some good reviews and see business increase. Then you start stockpiling the gear and ignoring emails asking about progress/returns etc.

The tricky bit these days might be getting the gear back in any reasonable length of time from the genuine repair shops you farmed the work out to...

[LocalHero1953]

My bet's on total business incompetence rather than fraud here. There aren't enough UK Leica repairers around to do those offloaded jobs, and they all have much longer lead times than were the case early on with Camera Obscura.

Edited September 6, 2022 by LocalHero1953

[250swb]

2 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

My bet's on total business incompetence rather than fraud here. There aren't enough UK Leica repairers around to do those offloaded jobs, and they all have much longer lead times than were the case early on with Camera Obscura.

Utter incompetence yes. But look at his Linkedin site to see how he turbo charges it

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-spencer-57295a95/?originalSubdomain=uk

and not only do you get a laughy and friendly face for the git, but also a list of laughable bollocks around the rest of his career. This guy has been on a course for projecting his skills beyond what they actually are, at best he has been taught to be a predator, at worst he has chosen it.

[earleygallery]

On 9/6/2022 at 6:37 PM, LocalHero1953 said:

My bet's on total business incompetence rather than fraud here. There aren't enough UK Leica repairers around to do those offloaded jobs, and they all have much longer lead times than were the case early on with Camera Obscura.

Just for clarity I'm not suggesting that's what Camera Obscura are doing but it could be done by someone (I think there's lesser known camera repair techs who may not specialise in Leica but can still do the repairs and probably a lot more quickly!).

 

[250swb]

3 hours ago, earleygallery said:

Just for clarity I'm not suggesting that's what Camera Obscura are doing but it could be done by someone (I think there's lesser known camera repair techs who may not specialise in Leica but can still do the repairs and probably a lot more quickly!).

 

For example Newton Ellis in Liverpool can do most of the things that need servicing and repairing on a Leica, but they don't only deal with Leica. I recently sent them a Rolleiflex that was gummed up and generally everything wrong and it came back fully serviced in five weeks. I wouldn't hesitate to send them a Barnack or M Leica.

[thighslapper]

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On 9/6/2022 at 9:35 PM, 250swb said:

Utter incompetence yes. But look at his Linkedin site to see how he turbo charges it

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-spencer-57295a95/?originalSubdomain=uk

and not only do you get a laughy and friendly face for the git, but also a list of laughable bollocks around the rest of his career. This guy has been on a course for projecting his skills beyond what they actually are, at best he has been taught to be a predator, at worst he has chosen it.

Looks like the CV of the sort of pratt you would see on The Apprentice ..... and one that Alan Sugar would see though in no time ..... all talk and no action .... 

[MarkP]

Haven’t seen the LinkedIn site.

 

 I still had NO further communication despite numerous emails, texts and Instagram messages ( and comments on his Instagram images.

The last time he contacted me was a month ago when I was advised my camera works be sent that day and tracking information forwarded to me.

 

 

Edited September 9, 2022 by MarkP

[MarkP]

Still nothing.
 

I now consider this to be theft of my equipment and money by Alexander from Camera Obscura Repairs.

He had not responded to emails,texts, Facebook message, or even comments on his Facebook pics.  I have NO recourse. Stupid me dealing with him.

This has been dragging on for various reasons since I sent him my equipment December last year. ALL communication from him has required exhaustive promption with weeks to months  of attempted contact.

Anything short of a major illness will be an unsatisfactory explanation.

Edited September 17, 2022 by MarkP

[andybarton]

Time to call in the police

[Anbaric]

1 hour ago, andybarton said:

Time to call in the police

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/small-claims/Problems-with-goods---letter-before-court-action/

[andybarton]

Does this apply to faulty service too?

[Anbaric]

7 hours ago, andybarton said:

Does this apply to faulty service too?

Sure, if it comes to it:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/Solve-an-ongoing-consumer-problem/

[earleygallery]

12 hours ago, andybarton said:

Time to call in the police

Seriously what do you think the police will do? Genuine question, would love to find out the real answer. I expect it amounts to nothing.

[andybarton]

The charmer is defrauding people.  

[MarkP]

Not sure how to call in the UK police when I'm in Australia, or whether they'd be interested in a complaint from offshore.

Edited September 29, 2022 by MarkP

[250swb]

9 hours ago, MarkP said:

Not sure how to call in the UK police when I'm in Australia, or whether they'd be interested in a complaint from offshore.

I think what you'd do is contact your Police and ask them if there is a formal procedure to follow. And if you had paid anything up front contact your credit card company as well, it all adds to the case.

Edited September 29, 2022 by 250swb

[MarkP]

So following months of innumerable unanswered messages by every possible means of communication short of carrier pidgeon,  I tried a final desperate text.
 

I received a prompt and detailed apologetic and explanatory reply 🎊  🎉.  I’ll go into the details at another time but I’ve been sent photo of the camera & lens, box with consignment details affixed, and consignment number.  I’ll report back when I’ve received it.

I texted back that I’d assumed with no communication for such a long time that I’d assumed he must have:

1.Died
2. had a Serious illness
3. Just buggered off with everything.

obviously not…🙂

 

 

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[Gibbo]

Good luck 🤞 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, MarkP said:

short of carrier pidgeon

That’s where you went wrong, should’ve sent the pidgeon 😂

I hope you are successful in getting a repaired/cla’d camera back.

Edited October 27, 2022 by OThomas