Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
03-25-2022, 08:01 AM   #1
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 447
Precision Camera Repair - For Real?

I dropped my GR III and damaged the lens assembly. Sent it off to Precision and got the quote for repair today. $873.08. Seriously! I can't even come up with word to describe how frustrated and pissed of I am! As much as I love Pentax and my GRIII I seriously have to consider if I want to do business with a company that treats its customers like this. Are there any alternative choices for repair?

Can anyone provide contact info for Ricoh? They need to know that their terrible repair services are going to cost them business.


Last edited by sibyrnes; 03-25-2022 at 08:21 AM.
03-25-2022, 08:26 AM   #2
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Michail_P's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Kalymnos
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,006
Wow that’s terrible. How is that cost calculated ?? Pretty high for the model.
03-25-2022, 08:27 AM - 1 Like   #3
Pentaxian
MikeMcE's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2020
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,093
So it’s precisions fault you dropped your camera? Seriously??
So few brain cells used when wanting computer s fixed . My advice is go to school, learn optics, electronics, and computer technology, then you can fix it cheaper?


Hang up and DRIVE!
03-25-2022, 08:30 AM   #4
Unregistered User
Guest




I remember you posted this in another thread - what exactly is the consequence of your dropping it? Does it still work but one of the "leaves" does not close or is it worse than that?

03-25-2022, 08:33 AM - 4 Likes   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2019
Photos: Albums
Posts: 5,976
QuoteOriginally posted by MikeMcE Quote
So it’s precisions fault you dropped your camera? Seriously??
So few brain cells used when wanting computer s fixed . My advice is go to school, learn optics, electronics, and computer technology, then you can fix it cheaper?


Hang up and DRIVE!

No, but it's Precision's fault to quote the price of an ENTIRELY NEW GRiii as the repair cost. They could instead said it's unrepairable, suggesting a replacement unit. Very few issues should cost as much as the entire device, considering the GRiii is not cheap.
03-25-2022, 08:44 AM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
c.a.m's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,172
QuoteOriginally posted by sibyrnes Quote
Are there any alternative choices for repair?
Sometimes, repair costs can be surprisingly (and annoyingly) high.

Here's a list of possible repair centres: Pentax Repair Facilities (Wordwide listing) - PentaxForums.com

- Craig
03-25-2022, 08:54 AM - 1 Like   #7
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
UncleVanya's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 28,182
QuoteOriginally posted by sibyrnes Quote
I dropped my GR III and damaged the lens assembly. Sent it off to Precision and got the quote for repair today. $873.08. Seriously! I can't even come up with word to describe how frustrated and pissed of I am! As much as I love Pentax and my GRIII I seriously have to consider if I want to do business with a company that treats its customers like this. Are there any alternative choices for repair?

Can anyone provide contact info for Ricoh? They need to know that their terrible repair services are going to cost them business.
That’s pretty terrible. I suggest whatever you buy an extended warranty may be needed. Most brands are serviced by precision and others like them. Horror stories abound for all brands.

Sorry this is happening, I hope you find a solution.

03-25-2022, 08:55 AM - 36 Likes   #8
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Central Florida
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 6,033
QuoteOriginally posted by MikeMcE Quote
So it’s precisions fault you dropped your camera? Seriously??
So few brain cells used when wanting computer s fixed . My advice is go to school, learn optics, electronics, and computer technology, then you can fix it cheaper?


Hang up and DRIVE!
I'm going to leave this post in place, even if inclined to delete it, and quote what I just wrote in another thread.:

Typically a post as rude as this one might be deleted, and the poster receiving an infraction. You can reply to someone without being offensive, casting stones at them, or questioning their intelligence or motives.

These are exactly the type of posts that beg for an in-kind response from the OP, followed by a string of more unpleasant distractions between you and him, maybe others as well, before moderators are forced to step in and someone ends up claiming we're being "unfair".

Don't be the guy that makes a thread unpleasant. Every member here deserves better. Your words did nothing to improve understanding or otherwise contribute to the forum. The post only serves as an example of how not to interact with your fellow forum members. If anyone else sees themselves in this please take note. Being the reason others no longer wish to take part in our discussions should not be tolerated and won't be.

To the membership at large: Anytime you believe a post to be overtly out-of-line please report it to the moderation team to deal with. We read every single report and will respond to you. By getting into a keyboard war with another it makes the thread messy, and more friendly members are discouraged from participating.

Last edited by gatorguy; 03-25-2022 at 09:47 AM.
03-25-2022, 09:51 AM   #9
Pentaxian
KiloHotelphoto's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Glen Mills, PA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,027
That is a crazy price and who knows how long it would take to get it fixed. I'm guessing it wasn't insured either, depending on how much gear you have a personal article policy is worth looking into especially with the price of new gear now.

I know other brands that do their own service would offer a trade in price on a new or refurbished model not sure if Precision does that with Richo.
03-25-2022, 10:04 AM - 6 Likes   #10
Pentaxian
photoptimist's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2016
Photos: Albums
Posts: 5,113
The deeper issue here is that the incredible efficiency of mass production which made parts extremely cheap but made human labor very expensive. Camera companies can deliver amazingly sophisticated devices for a very low price.

However, the flip side is that the cost of repair often exceeds the cost of the brand new device. And that sad fact is not surprising given that the list of tasks for fixing a camera (disassembly, diagnosis, making new parts, assembly) is longer than the list of tasks for making a camera (just making new parts, assembly). The labor costs of disassembly and diagnosis exceed any cost savings from getting to reuse the unbroken parts of a broken camera.
03-25-2022, 10:18 AM - 1 Like   #11
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 447
Original Poster
The front housing around the lens and the lens "leaves" came loose when I dropped it. I thought it was a minor problem but they want to replace the entire lens assembly $493.00 with $366.00 labor cost. If I refuse repair it cost me $58.00 to get my camera back.

And yeah, the next one I buy will be with drop protection!
03-25-2022, 10:19 AM - 1 Like   #12
Moderator
Not a Number's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Venice, CA
Posts: 10,510
Contact information will be on your warranty card.

Does a repair shop have an obligation or a policy to tell you when replacement is a better option than repair because of costs?

They quoted a price. It's up to you if you would repair or replace. You can shop around and see if you can find something lower but what you are likely to find is no one else but Precision will work on it because they can't get parts. Or the company may quote a lower price but sending it to Precision due to lack of parts or equipment/software needed for the repair.

In this day and age outrageous repair quotes are the norm. Ever have a print head go out on a $150 printer and get a quote for $120 part alone? Did Epson advise to replace the printer rather than repair? Ever need body work on an automobile? Seems like you can't get by with less than $1200-1500 these days. And not to mention if you need repair to the engine, drive train, suspension or electronics.

Sticker shock goes along with technology it would seem.
03-25-2022, 01:10 PM - 1 Like   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Columbus Ohio USA
Posts: 353
QuoteOriginally posted by MikeMcE Quote
So it’s precisions fault you dropped your camera? Seriously??
So few brain cells used when wanting computer s fixed . My advice is go to school, learn optics, electronics, and computer technology, then you can fix it cheaper?


Hang up and DRIVE!
my understanding is that Pentax limits who they will spare parts to. So even if the OP could fix it he would be unlikely to have the parts
03-25-2022, 01:39 PM   #14
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 4,833
QuoteOriginally posted by MikeMcE Quote
So it’s precisions fault you dropped your camera? Seriously??
So few brain cells used when wanting computer s fixed . My advice is go to school, learn optics, electronics, and computer technology, then you can fix it cheaper?

Hang up and DRIVE!
Ricoh's parts sales policy won't let anyone but Precision fix it.

Last edited by gatorguy; 03-25-2022 at 01:55 PM.
03-25-2022, 02:28 PM   #15
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
UncleVanya's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 28,182
QuoteOriginally posted by DeadJohn Quote
Ricoh's parts sales policy won't let anyone but Precision fix it.
I thought there were a few authorized repair shops in the USA but only one warranty shop.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
apr, camera, cost, drop, equipment, lens, manufacturers, money, pentax service, post, precision, precision camera repair, repair, ricoh, service, shop, sort, trend, valve, warranty
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Precision Camera Aperture Block Failure Repair ShawnH Repairs and Warranty Service 15 04-20-2021 05:22 PM
$600 to repair PENTAX LENS 24-70/2.8 ED SDM Precision Repair, terms of service renege weverka Repairs and Warranty Service 44 08-31-2020 01:38 AM
Precision Camera K-3 Repair maryjo Repairs and Warranty Service 26 01-14-2017 04:34 PM
Disgusted with Pentax/Ricoh and Precision Camera Repair gazelle01 Pentax DSLR Discussion 112 12-30-2016 11:19 AM
Need repair from anywhere but Precision Camera geomez Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 4 08-12-2015 09:22 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:32 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top