Do SDM problems affect your purchasing

**GregK8** · 04-24-2010, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by Just12hvFun

The reported SDM failures does impact me, but it doesn't prevent me from giving the lenses a try

I just make sure I get the extended warranties

Why should I have to pay extra to make sure the product works like it is supposed to?

Blue · 04-24-2010, 05:33 PM

It was enough of a concern that I spent an extra $65 for an extended 3 year warranty on a DA* 300mm lens. Pentax/Hoya board room people better man-up and address the issue or stock up on K-Y.

Bart · 04-25-2010, 02:12 AM

Originally posted by MrCynical

Pentax has quite a few very nice lenses which don't have SDM: the DFA 50 and 100 macros, the DA and FA limiteds. Of course all of those are primes, but avoiding SDM doesn't mean you have to avoid ALL lovely Pentax glass.

Yes it does.
It's not just about avoiding SDM anymore. It's about avoiding their non-existent service!
They roll out problematic lenses of any kind now days:
- have you seen the thread about the faulty FA31's?
- have you seen how frequently it is mentioned in test reports they had to go through x samples or 'our sample seemed to have a decentering issue'?
I could go on.
Fact is you need to be able to rely on the service a company sets up.
My experiences learned me Pentax service failed miserably.
Hence: No more Pentax.

The relation to this thread is simple: had I not been confronted with the SDM failure, chances are I wouldn't have come in contact with their "service" system and I wouldn't have been aware of it's non-existence.
I would still be buying Pentax.

As a company, you have two choices: you deliver a consistent high quality product or you get a service system in place worthy of that name. In that case, when a customer comes into contact with the less than optimal Quality Control, it is fixed quickly and easily. The customer will forget.
Not in this case. The customer does not forget, he is no longer a customer and word does get around. Instead of losing one customer, you lose a customer and a number of potential customers.
Do you know what the cost is for a company to gain new customers.

View Poll Results: Do the reported SDM failure problems affect your purchasing?
Yes	96	76.80%
No	29	23.20%
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll

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04-24-2010, 05:32 PM	#166
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	Originally posted by Just12hvFun The reported SDM failures does impact me, but it doesn't prevent me from giving the lenses a try I just make sure I get the extended warranties Why should I have to pay extra to make sure the product works like it is supposed to?

04-24-2010, 05:33 PM	#167
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	It was enough of a concern that I spent an extra $65 for an extended 3 year warranty on a DA* 300mm lens. Pentax/Hoya board room people better man-up and address the issue or stock up on K-Y.

04-25-2010, 02:12 AM	#168
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	Originally posted by MrCynical Pentax has quite a few very nice lenses which don't have SDM: the DFA 50 and 100 macros, the DA and FA limiteds. Of course all of those are primes, but avoiding SDM doesn't mean you have to avoid ALL lovely Pentax glass. Yes it does. It's not just about avoiding SDM anymore. It's about avoiding their non-existent service! They roll out problematic lenses of any kind now days: - have you seen the thread about the faulty FA31's? - have you seen how frequently it is mentioned in test reports they had to go through x samples or 'our sample seemed to have a decentering issue'? I could go on. Fact is you need to be able to rely on the service a company sets up. My experiences learned me Pentax service failed miserably. Hence: No more Pentax. The relation to this thread is simple: had I not been confronted with the SDM failure, chances are I wouldn't have come in contact with their "service" system and I wouldn't have been aware of it's non-existence. I would still be buying Pentax. As a company, you have two choices: you deliver a consistent high quality product or you get a service system in place worthy of that name. In that case, when a customer comes into contact with the less than optimal Quality Control, it is fixed quickly and easily. The customer will forget. Not in this case. The customer does not forget, he is no longer a customer and word does get around. Instead of losing one customer, you lose a customer and a number of potential customers. Do you know what the cost is for a company to gain new customers.