Pentax rentals?

yenemy · 07-14-2008, 02:52 PM

I should have expected this, I suppose. I sent my K10D to Pentax under warranty to fix an autofocus issue, along with a check for $25 for expedited service. Having made clear to them that I -need- this camera back for a wedding in a couple weeks, I call them only to find out that the camera is on "parts hold" and they have... and I quote... "absolutely no way of knowing" when I'll have the camera back. They suggest that I call back near the end of the month. Ludicrous. Pentax service apparently has the organizational ability of a three-year-old.

Setting aside my rage for a moment, now I guess I need to figure out if there's a place near the wedding I could rent a Pentax body. The wedding's in Lake Tahoe... does anybody know of any places?

Venturi · 07-14-2008, 03:02 PM

Heather posted a link to a place online that rents Pentax (and other I assume) equipment.... here

*hwblanks* · 07-14-2008, 05:07 PM

Here's a direct link to the K20 body you can rent from cameralensrentals.com. I haven't used them, but I think they're pretty fast in shipping from what I understand. A bonus is that you get 10% off on your first order.

Online Camera Lens Rental for Canon, Nikon, and PENTAX Cameras

HTH,
Heather

bigben91682 · 07-15-2008, 05:02 AM

The guy that runs the place is fantastic, customer service is top notch.

Bactman · 07-15-2008, 06:19 AM

I have also used cameralensrentals.com, and they are very good! Quick turn around and, if needed, they will purchase a lens so it is available. I cannot speak highly enough of them!

yenemy · 07-15-2008, 12:26 PM

Thanks everyone. I just think it's a bit lame that I may have to end up paying $100+ for a rental because Pentax service can't get its act together.

bigben91682 · 07-15-2008, 02:21 PM

lame indeed!

send them the bill, see what happens.

yenemy · 07-16-2008, 01:48 PM

Okay, this time I really just have to eat my words. I take back everything bad I may have said about Pentax service, and then some. They are, in a word, amazing. I'm sure it depends heavily on the CSR you get, but the guy I talked to today... well, I'll just tell you what happened.

I called them again today, just to make sure my K10 would be MIA for the wedding, which would let me rent with a clear conscience. There was essentially no change.

I took the opportunity to (very nicely) elaborate on my situation, explaining that I was only voicing my frustration and didn't expect anything to happen, and that I'd just be renting a body for the wedding anyway.

(As a side note, Ilene from cameralensrentals has been amazingly responsive and accommodating, thank you if you're reading this! Your service almost makes me sorry I won't be renting from you.)

Back on topic, the CSR was very knowledgeable and sympathetic, and we ended the call on a very civil note. That call alone was enough to tilt my opinion of Pentax service back to positive. But it gets better....

A couple minutes later I get a call back from the same CSR, who explains that he's spoken to his supervisor and apologetically informs me that the part my camera is waiting on will probably take about a month and a half, which would mean that it would also be MIA for my vacation to the east coast next month.

Such a shame.

But then he goes on to say that he and his supervisor have decided to just go ahead and replace my poor little K10... with a K20! Which should arrive in my undeserving hands well before the wedding.

After a moment of stunned silence, I'm able to stutter "uh... sure!"

I mean, what else would I have said?

Strangely, I am going to miss my K10 though. I hope he goes to a good home.

mzmn · 07-16-2008, 01:56 PM

Poor you, I wish I was so unlucky

Not that I want anything bad to happen to my K10D, but I hope something similar happens to me. Go Pentax!

bigben91682 · 07-16-2008, 03:23 PM

That's awesome. You're going to love the K20, the K10 is a fantastic camera, and the K20 is even better. Congrats to you and kudos to Pentax for resolving the situation.

yenemy · 07-17-2008, 10:09 AM

Oof. Well, this story's not quite over yet. I got a phone call from the supervisor at Pentax service, and he said that his request for a K20 had been denied.

Then he goes on to say that he'll be special-ordering the part for my camera, and that it will definitely be back to me before the wedding.

Not that I would have complained about a new K20D -- far from it -- but why didn't they just do that in the first place?

mzmn · 07-17-2008, 11:09 AM

Oops! I hope I didn't play any part in jinxing it.

yenemy · 07-17-2008, 11:35 AM

No, no... the supervisor said that it was a new policy from on high that he hadn't been told about. I'm a little disappointed, but it's not a big deal. It would have been nice to get a $1000 camera for free, but in truth I haven't lost anything.

In a small way, I'm a little relieved. I've had no problems with my K10D (except this latest saga, of course), and the hot pixels and automatic long exposure dark frame subtraction would have bugged me. I weep for Live View lost, though.

I just want my camera back!