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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
12-01-2014, 09:38 AM
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I've always wanted a pentax DSLR since the K10d came out, and finally jumped on a K50 + 2 lense deal for $600 a few months ago. It seemed like a dream come true, until the camera's focus motor broke 6 weeks after using it.
The store would not take it back because it was beyond their return period, and I did not expect them to. I contacted Ricoh and they referred me to Precision Camera Repair in CT.
So I send it in and it is received at the beginning of October. I've called in three times since and each time they tell me that a part is on backorder and that the camera should be repaired when the part comes in. They DO give me definite dates on when their "parts" are coming. But they also move back the date when I call on that specific date because "something happened," "there were a slip-up," "the part didn't come in with the rest of the shipment."
So my question to them was how can you put out a shingle saying you are a full repair facility not only for Pentax, but a host of other major camera brands, and not even keep the basic parts on-site? How? I asked this very politely to one of the service techs and she bristled defensively, "we're just the repair people." I asked if having parts on stock and getting them in timely manner was part of a repair business's responsibilities and she grudgingly agreed but said her hands were tied until the parts come in.
The only way to get in touch with Precision Camera Repair is by phone call, if they answer the phone. A couple times that I called them, someone would pick up the phone after it rang 2-3 times and then just hang up the receiver. Other times, no answer. Their email application that you can fill out NEVER gets a response.
I've contacted Ricoh in regards to this as well, who customer service rep also told me that his hands were tied, because Precision Camera Repair handles the repair side and that is their responsibility. I've asked for this to be escalated to management but no calls have been made to me.
So I view this as much a Precision Camera Repair as a Ricoh Pentax problem.
My dream of owning a Pentax has been turned into a nightmare where I have not had the use of my new camera, and most likely will not have the use of it for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.
I've even suggested that Precision Camera Repair or Ricoh send me a replacement K50, and that they can keep the one that I sent them, since they seem to want to hold on to it so much. I don't have to tell you that they were less than receptive to this suggestion.
Moral of story? I'll never buy a Pentax or Ricoh product again, whether it be a DSLR or anything else this company decides to make.
I don't know if other camera makers have better service, but I may not even get a DSLR again because I don't want to have to go through the same thing again regardless of brand.
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