Camera Obscura Repairs UK.... Problem 😔

[MarkP]

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UPDATE 🙂

So the equipment arrived today, 11 months after it was sent!  Very exciting unboxing 🙄.

CLA, repair & restoration to 1952 Leica IIIf and two Summitars (1951 & 1952).  The camera and lenses have been beautifully done.  All the optics are amazing, viewfinder & rangefinder pristine, only minor residual haze at the periphery of the rear lens elements. 

BW400CN loaded to shoot this weekend.

Will post pics of the camera and lenses later.

So, communication leaves much to be desired (understatement) but  the quality of the work is excellent.

[LocalHero1953]

40 minutes ago, MarkP said:

UPDATE 🙂

So the equipment arrived today, 11 months after it was sent!  Very exciting unboxing 🙄.

CLA, repair & restoration to 1952 Leica IIIf and two Summitars (1951 & 1952).  The camera and lenses have been beautifully done.  All the optics are amazing, viewfinder & rangefinder pristine, only minor residual haze at the periphery of the rear lens elements. 

BW400CN loaded to shoot this weekend.

Will post pics of the camera and lenses later.

So, communication leaves much to be desired (understatement) but  the quality of the work is excellent.

From all I have read here I would not consider using Camera Obscura again (I used him once). That level of service is unacceptable to me, despite that fact that you got your equipment back.

I would only consider him again if there was a good, believable reason for the problems he caused you. Are you willing to pass it on? If not, his name remains on the "avoid even in emergency" category.

Edited November 3, 2022 by LocalHero1953

[MarkP]

I am awaiting further explanations and will report back on due course.

Just nice to have the equipment back.

Out using it today 🙂

[LocalHero1953]

On 10/27/2022 at 12:03 PM, MarkP said:

I received a prompt and detailed apologetic and explanatory reply

Ah - I thought from this previous post that he had given his explanation.

[MarkP]

16 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Ah - I thought from this previous post that he had given his explanation.

Sorry, I should clarify. Long and detailed explanations for everything except the lack of communication for which he really only apologised.
It's the lack of communication that caused me the most angst and this is what I'm awaiting clarification on. If he'd been seriously unwell for example  I'd understand...

Edited November 5, 2022 by MarkP

[Gibbo]

Is he aware of this thread?

[andybarton]

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Would he care if he was?

[Anbaric]

In this section of the forum he won't even be able to see it unless he's a member, and I suppose no prospective customers will come across it in a Google search either.

Edited November 5, 2022 by Anbaric

[Guest]

26 minutes ago, Gibbo said:

Is he aware of this thread?

23 minutes ago, andybarton said:

Would he care if he was?

I contacted him through his website a while back after reading this thread  and told him that he needed to get in touch with his customers. I said his reputation was being ripped to shreds daily by a lot of unsatisfied and (no longer) potential customers. He obviously took that to heart NOT 

Edited November 5, 2022 by OThomas

[andybarton]

1 hour ago, Anbaric said:

In this section of the forum he won't even be able to see it unless he's a member, and I suppose no prospective customers will come across it in a Google search either.

That’s true. The bar is only open to members and doesn’t get searched by engines. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Anbaric said:

In this section of the forum he won't even be able to see it unless he's a member, and I suppose no prospective customers will come across it in a Google search either.

 

3 minutes ago, andybarton said:

That’s true. The bar is only open to members and doesn’t get searched by engines. 

If he’d cared about his customers/reputation he could’ve joined easily enough, like we all did.

Edited November 5, 2022 by OThomas

[pgk]

6 minutes ago, andybarton said:

That’s true. The bar is only open to members and doesn’t get searched by engines. 

So how do I get targetted advertising if this is so. See my comment in the 'cobblers' thread, but basically after browsing and commenting in that thread I see footwear adverts on the forum?

[andybarton]

I have no idea. I will  "report" your post above and ask @LUF Admin

[Anbaric]

9 minutes ago, pgk said:

So how do I get targetted advertising if this is so. See my comment in the 'cobblers' thread, but basically after browsing and commenting in that thread I see footwear adverts on the forum?

I guess it could have been much worse than footwear with that keyword!

Advertisers get to see more than non-members, it seems. Log out and you won't be able to read this thread.

I don't see many adverts thanks to https://ublockorigin.com .

[andybarton]

You could, of course, become a premium supporter of the Forum, and then you’d see no adverts.

[LocalHero1953]

20 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

I guess it could have been much worse than footwear with that keyword!

I've posted this before....

I did a google search for 'neat's foot oil' (a traditional leather dressing - a 'neat' is an old name for a cow). I was later shown adverts in Facebook for the Neat Feet Podiatry Clinic. 

[andybarton]

That’ll be because Facebook is reading your cookies I expect. 

[LocalHero1953]

53 minutes ago, andybarton said:

That’ll be because Facebook is reading your cookies I expect. 

It read them but clearly didn't understand them!

[Dave_P]

Hi all - new member here just stumbled on this thread. Sadly I did not find this thread before sending a IIIf to Camera Obscura for repair in January. A cursory sweep of the web seemed to indicate some satisfied customers, and when I made the initial enquiry (Jan 2023) he cam back right away with the booking form and all the info.

But  since then, nothing. I know the camera arrived with him as I have the Royal Mail tracking signature, but after a few weeks no email to say it was logged and with them, and doesn't seem to be responding to my emails for some clarification/updates. This already reeks of a bad experience before I've even started....

This was only a cheap ebay IIIf I bought, and I have no emotional connection to, but still, I'd quite like the camera back. I would rather get it back now than have weeks/months of not knowing if I'll get it back, even if that means sending it elsewhere to be fixed. I know dealing with emails can be a thankless task for small businesses, but it's mind boggling that a business would actively respond to enquiries to take on more work that they clearly aren't in a position to fulfil in a reasonable time. I fear I am now in this for the long haul.... Anyway, I know some members in this thread have said they did have a phone number for this guy, so if anyone reads this and feels they can DM me with that number I would be grateful. Otherwise I'm left with A. driving to Oxford and knocking on doors, or B. sending letters threatening small claims. Thanks!

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Hallo,

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[LocalHero1953]

If you can bear it, please keep us updated with the outcome!