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**firefly** · 02-17-2011, 11:04 AM

Forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this, but I couldn't find any area better suited.

I recently purchased a DA 35 f/2.4, it's a nice lens. However it suffers from some backfocus. No big deal, since the k-x and DA 35 are purchased in Canada and under warranty.

Well it's not that easy. Took me four emails just to get them to reply... the last one sent to a different area (not customer service; however it was they who messaged me back). I was told to ship everything in (at my cost) and they would look at it. I thought that was wrong so called in a actually asked to speak to a tech. This fellow was legit... definitely a tech guy. He confirmed the the k-x can indeed store different AF offsets based on lens ID, but had to be done 'deep within the program', as in service menu I'm guessing. He also said that since this is an *adjustment* and not something broken I'll have to pay shipping and the $80 adjustment fee.

I could not believe my ears.

Currently, I have sent them an email explaining that I bought a product promising certain specific functionality, and it did not live up (the DA 35). Instead of calibrating it, now Pentax has begun the cash extraction machine asking for more money to make it work. Either exchange the DA 35 or adjust the offset for free already!!! It's a warranty issue... am I way off base here?

JeffJS · 02-17-2011, 11:29 AM

I'm not hearing a lot of good things lately about Pentax Canada service. It would probably void your warranty but some folks choose to do the deep dive themselves.

Welcome to Pentax Hack

There are a number of threads here on the subject of servicing in the service menu..

Yes, it sounds ridiculous to me to have to pay for service on a still in warranty camera.

**firefly** · 02-17-2011, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by JeffJS

I'm not hearing a lot of good things lately about Pentax Canada service. It would probably void your warranty but some folks choose to do the deep dive themselves.

Welcome to Pentax Hack

There are a number of threads here on the subject of servicing in the service menu..

Yes, it sounds ridiculous to me to have to pay for service on a still in warranty camera.

Wow, great link. Thanks very much. I may do just this... considering I'm a software developer it seems right up my ally. Power to the People!

JeffJS · 02-17-2011, 11:38 AM

Just remember that you can only adjust as far as the Hardware allows. If something is REALLY out of whack (good technical term, eh?) your results will be marginal at best.

**dcmsox2004** · 02-17-2011, 11:39 AM

fwiw, i'd send it back and have them exchange it ... at their expense... if you press them, contact pentax directly at customer service and tell them you shouldn't have to pay shipping for a defective product.... pentax needs to realize that service after a sale is what makes or breaks a manufacturer..... a lesson they need to be reminded of....
what ever happened to ' the customer is always right'......??????????
best of luck... dave m
btw... i bought my 35 f2.4 from prodigital for my k-x, and have been lucky so far... focus is fine...

**firefly** · 02-17-2011, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

btw... i bought my 35 f2.4 from prodigital for my k-x, and have been lucky so far... focus is fine...

I too bought it from prodigital. I have good luck there... and I don't attribute this problem to that shop at all.

einstrigger · 02-17-2011, 12:10 PM

Is it possible to just return the lens for a better copy? Most manufacturers I know of require the customer to foot the shipping bill for an item to be serviced, but they generally pay for the shipping back. I don't agree with them wanting to charge you $80 to adjust the lens though, especially if it's under warranty. I would totally look into the debug mode too.

**firefly** · 02-17-2011, 12:42 PM

After enough b*tching and moaning, they have agreed to perform the adjustment under the warranty as 'a gesture of customer service', however I would still be responsible for the shipping. I'm not going to bother arguing over the symantics of this with them, they're so out of touch I know it wouldn't make an ounce of difference.

I've decided to accept the offer as a workable compromise.

snofox · 02-17-2011, 12:49 PM

Won't Prodigital simply swap another lens for you?

SpecialK · 02-17-2011, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by firefly

After enough b*tching and moaning, they have agreed to perform the adjustment under the warranty as 'a gesture of customer service', however I would still be responsible for the shipping. I'm not going to bother arguing over the symantics of this with them, they're so out of touch I know it wouldn't make an ounce of difference.

I've decided to accept the offer as a workable compromise.

Sounds like normal service to me. Shipping is not covered by warranty. Many places ask for a small sum for return shipping, as well, even for warranty work.

Jim Olson · 02-17-2011, 04:16 PM

I don't know of any camera manufacturer's who pay the inbound shipping.
This seems pretty normal

jim

aleonx3 · 02-17-2011, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Jim Olson

I don't know of any camera manufacturer's who pay the inbound shipping.
This seems pretty normal

jim

Agree with Jim, shipping to the repair depot is not covered by warranty. I am also not sure if this BF/FF is a warranty issue either. I generally find Pentax service in Canada to be pretty good (and I use them a lot) and reasonable. I usually drop it off to them and they UPS/Puralator back to me and no hazzle at all.

wlachan · 02-17-2011, 06:20 PM

Pentax Canada did this very same service with my still under warranty K-m & DA14 free. I did pay the shipping to the service though. I am surprised they tried to get you paid. Probably not speaking to the right person. I know it sucks when it happens.

**firefly** · 02-18-2011, 05:50 AM

Yeah, I'm okay with the shipping, I was just a little more touchy than usual yesterday after they asked me to pay for the service. Did your k-m and DA14 come back spot on?

Originally posted by wlachan

Pentax Canada did this very same service with my still under warranty K-m & DA14 free. I did pay the shipping to the service though. I am surprised they tried to get you paid. Probably not speaking to the right person. I know it sucks when it happens.

**firefly** · 02-18-2011, 05:54 AM

Originally posted by aleonx3

Agree with Jim, shipping to the repair depot is not covered by warranty. I am also not sure if this BF/FF is a warranty issue either. I generally find Pentax service in Canada to be pretty good (and I use them a lot) and reasonable. I usually drop it off to them and they UPS/Puralator back to me and no hazzle at all.

I don't agree. You're correct that it's not a warranty issue - they've told me as much over the phone. However, considering it's an advertised feature that I've considered when paying for the product it's either false advertising or a defect. Defects should be covered under warranty.

If they are concerned with accruing too much cost in offering this service under the warranty umbrella, frankly, they should have taken more care before sending any particular item to the market.

02-17-2011, 11:04 AM	#1
firefly Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Brunswick Photos: Albums Posts: 200	What is wrong with Pentax service?! Forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this, but I couldn't find any area better suited. I recently purchased a DA 35 f/2.4, it's a nice lens. However it suffers from some backfocus. No big deal, since the k-x and DA 35 are purchased in Canada and under warranty. Well it's not that easy. Took me four emails just to get them to reply... the last one sent to a different area (not customer service; however it was they who messaged me back). I was told to ship everything in (at my cost) and they would look at it. I thought that was wrong so called in a actually asked to speak to a tech. This fellow was legit... definitely a tech guy. He confirmed the the k-x can indeed store different AF offsets based on lens ID, but had to be done 'deep within the program', as in service menu I'm guessing. He also said that since this is an adjustment and not something broken I'll have to pay shipping and the $80 adjustment fee. I could not believe my ears. Currently, I have sent them an email explaining that I bought a product promising certain specific functionality, and it did not live up (the DA 35). Instead of calibrating it, now Pentax has begun the cash extraction machine asking for more money to make it work. Either exchange the DA 35 or adjust the offset for free already!!! It's a warranty issue... am I way off base here?

02-17-2011, 12:42 PM	#8
firefly Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Brunswick Photos: Albums Posts: 200 Original Poster	Update After enough b*tching and moaning, they have agreed to perform the adjustment under the warranty as 'a gesture of customer service', however I would still be responsible for the shipping. I'm not going to bother arguing over the symantics of this with them, they're so out of touch I know it wouldn't make an ounce of difference. I've decided to accept the offer as a workable compromise.

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02-17-2011, 11:29 AM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	I'm not hearing a lot of good things lately about Pentax Canada service. It would probably void your warranty but some folks choose to do the deep dive themselves. Welcome to Pentax Hack There are a number of threads here on the subject of servicing in the service menu.. Yes, it sounds ridiculous to me to have to pay for service on a still in warranty camera.

02-17-2011, 11:31 AM	#3
firefly Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Brunswick Photos: Albums Posts: 200 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS I'm not hearing a lot of good things lately about Pentax Canada service. It would probably void your warranty but some folks choose to do the deep dive themselves. Welcome to Pentax Hack There are a number of threads here on the subject of servicing in the service menu.. Yes, it sounds ridiculous to me to have to pay for service on a still in warranty camera. Wow, great link. Thanks very much. I may do just this... considering I'm a software developer it seems right up my ally. Power to the People!

02-17-2011, 11:38 AM	#4
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Just remember that you can only adjust as far as the Hardware allows. If something is REALLY out of whack (good technical term, eh?) your results will be marginal at best.

02-17-2011, 11:39 AM	#5
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	fwiw, i'd send it back and have them exchange it ... at their expense... if you press them, contact pentax directly at customer service and tell them you shouldn't have to pay shipping for a defective product.... pentax needs to realize that service after a sale is what makes or breaks a manufacturer..... a lesson they need to be reminded of.... what ever happened to ' the customer is always right'......?????????? best of luck... dave m btw... i bought my 35 f2.4 from prodigital for my k-x, and have been lucky so far... focus is fine...

02-17-2011, 11:45 AM	#6
firefly Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Brunswick Photos: Albums Posts: 200 Original Poster	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 btw... i bought my 35 f2.4 from prodigital for my k-x, and have been lucky so far... focus is fine... I too bought it from prodigital. I have good luck there... and I don't attribute this problem to that shop at all.

02-17-2011, 12:10 PM	#7
einstrigger Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 728	Is it possible to just return the lens for a better copy? Most manufacturers I know of require the customer to foot the shipping bill for an item to be serviced, but they generally pay for the shipping back. I don't agree with them wanting to charge you $80 to adjust the lens though, especially if it's under warranty. I would totally look into the debug mode too.

02-17-2011, 12:49 PM	#9
snofox Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fredericton New Brunswick Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 334	Won't Prodigital simply swap another lens for you?

02-17-2011, 01:56 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Originally posted by firefly After enough b*tching and moaning, they have agreed to perform the adjustment under the warranty as 'a gesture of customer service', however I would still be responsible for the shipping. I'm not going to bother arguing over the symantics of this with them, they're so out of touch I know it wouldn't make an ounce of difference. I've decided to accept the offer as a workable compromise. Sounds like normal service to me. Shipping is not covered by warranty. Many places ask for a small sum for return shipping, as well, even for warranty work.

02-17-2011, 04:16 PM	#11
Jim Olson Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 49	I don't know of any camera manufacturer's who pay the inbound shipping. This seems pretty normal jim

02-17-2011, 05:36 PM	#12
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by Jim Olson I don't know of any camera manufacturer's who pay the inbound shipping. This seems pretty normal jim Agree with Jim, shipping to the repair depot is not covered by warranty. I am also not sure if this BF/FF is a warranty issue either. I generally find Pentax service in Canada to be pretty good (and I use them a lot) and reasonable. I usually drop it off to them and they UPS/Puralator back to me and no hazzle at all.

02-17-2011, 06:20 PM	#13
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	Pentax Canada did this very same service with my still under warranty K-m & DA14 free. I did pay the shipping to the service though. I am surprised they tried to get you paid. Probably not speaking to the right person. I know it sucks when it happens.

02-18-2011, 05:50 AM	#14
firefly Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Brunswick Photos: Albums Posts: 200 Original Poster	Yeah, I'm okay with the shipping, I was just a little more touchy than usual yesterday after they asked me to pay for the service. Did your k-m and DA14 come back spot on? Originally posted by wlachan Pentax Canada did this very same service with my still under warranty K-m & DA14 free. I did pay the shipping to the service though. I am surprised they tried to get you paid. Probably not speaking to the right person. I know it sucks when it happens.

02-18-2011, 05:54 AM	#15
firefly Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Brunswick Photos: Albums Posts: 200 Original Poster	Originally posted by aleonx3 Agree with Jim, shipping to the repair depot is not covered by warranty. I am also not sure if this BF/FF is a warranty issue either. I generally find Pentax service in Canada to be pretty good (and I use them a lot) and reasonable. I usually drop it off to them and they UPS/Puralator back to me and no hazzle at all. I don't agree. You're correct that it's not a warranty issue - they've told me as much over the phone. However, considering it's an advertised feature that I've considered when paying for the product it's either false advertising or a defect. Defects should be covered under warranty. If they are concerned with accruing too much cost in offering this service under the warranty umbrella, frankly, they should have taken more care before sending any particular item to the market.

What is wrong with Pentax service?!

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