Repairs

**Eagle94VT** · 08-23-2014, 05:00 PM

Well, I'll certainly provide updates. Changes happen. I did send my 50-135 to CRIS about a year and a half ago - seemed the focus was just off. It was probably a simple adjustment - $65, back in perfect shape and has worked without issues since then.

**ramseybuckeye** · 08-23-2014, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by mee

Do you think it is safe to send C.R.I.S. Sigma branded lenses right now or better to wait?

CRIS just lost the Pentax business so they should be caught up, unless they laid off the techs that worked on Pentax.

mysterick · 08-27-2014, 12:10 PM

The good news is that Precision Camera has enabled the "Get an Estimate" tool on the website for Pentax. The bad news (for me) is that they don't know they have my 50-135 yet. Soon, soon I hope.

**Eagle94VT** · 08-27-2014, 01:28 PM - **1 Like**

i'm afraid to call and ask if they have mine yet!

**jatrax** · 08-27-2014, 07:49 PM

I'm hoping nothing of mine breaks until they get this sorted.

**PPPPPP42** · 08-27-2014, 09:16 PM - **2 Likes**

I find myself wanting to believe that Ricoh walked into CRIS and found things lacking enough that they just said "to hell with this" and told people to start packing everything up.
That said, the fact that we only get one service center in the USA and they can't even manage to supply it with part is a great way to tell us how little this market matters.
Hopefully this new place really is a good service center and the Pentax warehouse in the USA will actually start being a warehouse.

I got used to dealing with several Japanese companies when I fixed things as a Yamaha marine dealer among others (motorsports is the same way). Anything and everything was next day if you wanted to pay the shipping because absolutely everything was kept in one of several US warehouses in quantity. I could have even the oddball vintage model parts that were only kept in Japan in less than a week.

Keep in mind those are massive and varied product lines with far more expensive products. With the tiny amount of different products in the Pentax lineup it would be cake for a major corporation to have adequate supply of parts in the country and have at the very least a weekly shipment from Japan.

There really honestly is no excuse for how piss poor the parts end of things has been and the service isn't much better.

vonBaloney · 08-31-2014, 04:49 PM - **1 Like**

Been sending inquiries to Precision Camera for weeks asking if they can repair one of my lenses -- no response at all. (Finally I just sent a message that said, "Is anybody reading this?" Still nothing.) Not a good sign...

**monochrome** · 08-31-2014, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by PPPPPP42

Hopefully this new place really is a good service center and the Pentax warehouse in the USA will actually start being a warehouse.

I didn't think there was an actual Pentax warehouse in the USA. I thought that was part of the problem.

Originally posted by PPPPPP42

a major corporation to have adequate supply of parts in the country and have at the very least a weekly shipment from Japan.

Where was it written RIAC is a major corporation? When they moved to Denver from Golden in 2012 the Denver Post crowed about the '50 employees' Pentax had brought to Downtown Denver. In the 70's I bet Pentax had 50 Salesmen!!'

I work on one 15,000 square foot floor of an office building. We have 67 people on that floor. There are 44 offices and 20 enclosures that are much bigger than a cubby (full-sized desk with return and a credenza). Add the Receptionist and two people in a large operations area.

RIAC is TINY! (everything is outsourced).

stevebrot · 08-31-2014, 05:12 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

In the 70's I bet Pentax had 50 Salesmen!!'

...on the West Coast...

Steve

mysterick · 08-31-2014, 05:30 PM

I just checked the repair status on the Precision website and instead of saying "no record" it now says "The server is currently updating records. Please try again in a few minutes." This change occurred today because I checked last night. I have checked every day since 8/17 when UPS delivered my lens this is a first. Hopeful (but sorry) if they are working on Sunday to get this "ship out of port."

Back to "no record"

mysterick · 09-03-2014, 12:14 PM - **1 Like**

Apparently Ricoh has no control over the company they have selected to repair OUR Pentax cameras and lenses. I'm told their hands are tied and the staff at the call center have relayed the concern that many people have expressed to Ricoh. Precision Camera neither answers the telephone nor responds in a "timely manner" as their business philosophy touts. I am sooo frustrated right now.

vonBaloney · 09-03-2014, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by mysterick

Apparently Ricoh has no control over the company they have selected to repair OUR Pentax cameras and lenses. I'm told their hands are tied and the staff at the call center have relayed the concern that many people have expressed to Ricoh. Precision Camera neither answers the telephone nor responds in a "timely manner" as their business philosophy touts. I am sooo frustrated right now.

They don't even answer the phone? Sheesh...

Not a Number · 09-03-2014, 12:24 PM - **1 Like**

Wasn't another posting celebrating the loss of C.R.I.S. as the Pentax/Ricoh Service Center? Sounds like they may be wishing for the "good old days" of C.R.I.S.

mysterick · 09-05-2014, 06:10 PM

Precision today has given me a tag number, over two weeks after they received my lens. They marked it as received on Sept 5, 2014. Then listed it as a "50mm SMC D 1.8" when it is actually a DA* 50-135mm. At least they have the serial number correct or I would be VERY nervous. I am sorry for the rant folks, but PF somehow seems to calm me down. LOL.

GoremanX · 09-05-2014, 08:48 PM

ugh... I'd rather be the center segment of a human centipede than have to deal with Precision Camera again. They're really awful. They're in the neighbouring state from me, yet I'd still much rather send my camera gear all the way across the continent to C.R.I.S. than put up with Precision Camera. I've had nothing but excellent service from C.R.I.S. I still have nightmares from my dealings with Precision Camera.

08-27-2014, 12:10 PM	#48
mysterick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 44266 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 567 Original Poster	my update The good news is that Precision Camera has enabled the "Get an Estimate" tool on the website for Pentax. The bad news (for me) is that they don't know they have my 50-135 yet. Soon, soon I hope.

08-31-2014, 05:30 PM	#55
mysterick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 44266 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 567 Original Poster	I just checked the repair status on the Precision website and instead of saying "no record" it now says "The server is currently updating records. Please try again in a few minutes." This change occurred today because I checked last night. I have checked every day since 8/17 when UPS delivered my lens this is a first. Hopeful (but sorry) if they are working on Sunday to get this "ship out of port." Back to "no record" Last edited by mysterick; 09-02-2014 at 10:50 AM. Reason: update

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08-23-2014, 05:00 PM	#46
Eagle94VT Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 291	Well, I'll certainly provide updates. Changes happen. I did send my 50-135 to CRIS about a year and a half ago - seemed the focus was just off. It was probably a simple adjustment - $65, back in perfect shape and has worked without issues since then.

08-23-2014, 07:56 PM	#47
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Originally posted by mee Do you think it is safe to send C.R.I.S. Sigma branded lenses right now or better to wait? CRIS just lost the Pentax business so they should be caught up, unless they laid off the techs that worked on Pentax.

08-27-2014, 01:28 PM - 1 Like	#49
Eagle94VT Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 291	i'm afraid to call and ask if they have mine yet!

08-27-2014, 07:49 PM	#50
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	I'm hoping nothing of mine breaks until they get this sorted.

08-27-2014, 09:16 PM - 2 Likes	#51
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 947	I find myself wanting to believe that Ricoh walked into CRIS and found things lacking enough that they just said "to hell with this" and told people to start packing everything up. That said, the fact that we only get one service center in the USA and they can't even manage to supply it with part is a great way to tell us how little this market matters. Hopefully this new place really is a good service center and the Pentax warehouse in the USA will actually start being a warehouse. I got used to dealing with several Japanese companies when I fixed things as a Yamaha marine dealer among others (motorsports is the same way). Anything and everything was next day if you wanted to pay the shipping because absolutely everything was kept in one of several US warehouses in quantity. I could have even the oddball vintage model parts that were only kept in Japan in less than a week. Keep in mind those are massive and varied product lines with far more expensive products. With the tiny amount of different products in the Pentax lineup it would be cake for a major corporation to have adequate supply of parts in the country and have at the very least a weekly shipment from Japan. There really honestly is no excuse for how piss poor the parts end of things has been and the service isn't much better.

08-31-2014, 04:49 PM - 1 Like	#52
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Been sending inquiries to Precision Camera for weeks asking if they can repair one of my lenses -- no response at all. (Finally I just sent a message that said, "Is anybody reading this?" Still nothing.) Not a good sign...

08-31-2014, 05:07 PM	#53
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by PPPPPP42 Hopefully this new place really is a good service center and the Pentax warehouse in the USA will actually start being a warehouse. I didn't think there was an actual Pentax warehouse in the USA. I thought that was part of the problem. Originally posted by PPPPPP42 a major corporation to have adequate supply of parts in the country and have at the very least a weekly shipment from Japan. Where was it written RIAC is a major corporation? When they moved to Denver from Golden in 2012 the Denver Post crowed about the '50 employees' Pentax had brought to Downtown Denver. In the 70's I bet Pentax had 50 Salesmen!!' I work on one 15,000 square foot floor of an office building. We have 67 people on that floor. There are 44 offices and 20 enclosures that are much bigger than a cubby (full-sized desk with return and a credenza). Add the Receptionist and two people in a large operations area. RIAC is TINY! (everything is outsourced).

08-31-2014, 05:12 PM	#54
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by monochrome In the 70's I bet Pentax had 50 Salesmen!!' ...on the West Coast... Steve

09-03-2014, 12:14 PM - 1 Like	#56
mysterick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 44266 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 567 Original Poster	Apparently Ricoh has no control over the company they have selected to repair OUR Pentax cameras and lenses. I'm told their hands are tied and the staff at the call center have relayed the concern that many people have expressed to Ricoh. Precision Camera neither answers the telephone nor responds in a "timely manner" as their business philosophy touts. I am sooo frustrated right now.

09-03-2014, 12:22 PM	#57
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by mysterick Apparently Ricoh has no control over the company they have selected to repair OUR Pentax cameras and lenses. I'm told their hands are tied and the staff at the call center have relayed the concern that many people have expressed to Ricoh. Precision Camera neither answers the telephone nor responds in a "timely manner" as their business philosophy touts. I am sooo frustrated right now. They don't even answer the phone? Sheesh...

09-03-2014, 12:24 PM - 1 Like	#58
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Wasn't another posting celebrating the loss of C.R.I.S. as the Pentax/Ricoh Service Center? Sounds like they may be wishing for the "good old days" of C.R.I.S.

09-05-2014, 06:10 PM	#59
mysterick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 44266 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 567 Original Poster	Precision today has given me a tag number, over two weeks after they received my lens. They marked it as received on Sept 5, 2014. Then listed it as a "50mm SMC D 1.8" when it is actually a DA* 50-135mm. At least they have the serial number correct or I would be VERY nervous. I am sorry for the rant folks, but PF somehow seems to calm me down. LOL.

09-05-2014, 08:48 PM	#60
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657	ugh... I'd rather be the center segment of a human centipede than have to deal with Precision Camera again. They're really awful. They're in the neighbouring state from me, yet I'd still much rather send my camera gear all the way across the continent to C.R.I.S. than put up with Precision Camera. I've had nothing but excellent service from C.R.I.S. I still have nightmares from my dealings with Precision Camera.