So, as of today I can say that I am now own a DA40 again. Pixmania surely aren't the quickest to respond, nor are they organised in any way. It was quite a nightmare to communicate with them. At first they weren't able to provide a shipping label. They sent an email "Here's your shipping label", but there wasn't. So I replied "There was no shipping label, please send a shipping label", "Here's your shipping label..." almost ad infinitum. Once shipped, I had to call to check that the lens had arrived, as no one contacted me or the original owner about it. Then I was informed they would take one month to "attempt to repair" the lens. So I called back after one month and two days (Excuse my impatience), and there the lady on the other end of the line informed me that it's good that I called, the lens apparently was deemed non-repairable, and asked me whether I want a refund or a replacement, I chose the latter, gave them my new address. They mailed, asked or my address. I provided my address. They shipped to the original owner, who was kind enough to forward the package to me. A massive thanks to him for providing the contact to Pixmania and his patience in dealing with a device that was no longer his.
HOWEVER, I now have a portable standard lens again, and I'm looking forward to taking it on a stroll over the next few days. And I'm also quite jolly that I did not have to pay for the repair, it would have been much more than the shipping from the original owner to me. One of the repair shops I contacted quoted €130 for the lens if all aperture blades were intact, and an extra fee if parts were needed. This also means I can't really tell what exactly went wrong with the lens, and why it broke in the first place. No-locking paint seems like a plausible cause.
Also, I would be curious whether the replacement I received has a lower or higher serial number. It arrived in quite a shabby box, the mount had smudge on it, and there's a few signs of use on the body, so it seems like a customers return or open box. I wonder whether it may actually is my old one, and they were able to fix it? (Though I hasten to add that I sent off mine in a better condition!) I will need to check the serial number, but unfortunately my computer is broken at the moment and I can't access my files, and I have restricted internet access. Seems like I'm on a roll... ;-)
Last edited by antipattern; 01-08-2014 at 04:57 PM.
Reason: (addendum)
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