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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-16-2018, 05:55 AM
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Reading your last post again, this is my "take" on the situation. Chasing the matter further either through legal channels or consumer programs such as Watchdog might give an answer but there is no certainty of it and you could end up with next to nothing.
Most K50's on a certain auction site go for less than £200, mostly around the £150 area. Even "dealer" ones are just over. So if anything £200 is probably slightly more than the value of the camera. If you take the £200, you can get a good replacement K50 and could even be in credit.
Or you could take the money, add £200 and upgrade to a K70. A much better camera which would have 2 years warranty with Ricoh if you bought either through them or somewhere like SRS. Leave it another week or so and this option will effectively shut for you. You would effectively be getting a £200 trade in on the K50 on a camera which is on sale at the moment at £200 off list price. Looking at in in a certain way, you are using a £150 value camera to upgrade to a £600 value camera for £200. Personally, I would happily take that deal.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-12-2018, 04:03 PM
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With regards to the fault. From what you describe in your first post, it does seem likely it is the aperture block problem. If it is, to repair that is relatively simple and not expensive. The cost of the relevant part is likely to be less than £10 to the repair agent. But they have to cover labour and I suspect they will also service the camera so any repair warranty is not likely to cause issues. That is something you could check with them. As an aside, I have done several and as we are both in the UK, I would be happy to help you out if all else fails.
With regards to the warranty. The wording on Ricoh's website says "All PENTAX cameras purchased through authorised bona fide photographic distribution channels are guaranteed against defects of material or workmanship for a period of twelve months from date of purchase." Now in the UK it is 24 months due to EU rules and that was confirmed by the agent. BUT, there is still the first part. It is likely that at some point JL were a "bona fide photographic distribution channel" for Ricoh products. They are no longer. If the camera was old stock/end of line, it may be that you bought it after JL ceased to be Ricoh agents. That might be why they say it is not under warranty. I would talk to your local CAB. They should be able to give you the number of their specialist consumer help line who are well versed in consumer law and should be able to advise you on that.
The Pentax UK warranty page is here. Warranty policy - RICOH IMAGING EUROPE S.A.S There is no mention of "replacement" that is purely JL. But it is a simple repair. I have attached a pic of the relevant part. In many countries, the local repair agents have fixed this problem for free even out of warranty as they consider it a "design defect". If it gets to the UK agent, I think you can calculate on it being repaired rather than replaced.
As to any recourse from JL if you do not accept their decision, once again your best advice will come from the CAB advice line rather than members of a camera forum many of whom are used to US law and not English law. ;)
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-12-2018, 08:35 AM
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Doesn't really work like that in the UK. ;)
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-02-2018, 06:10 PM
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6 weeks ago I would have said the same. ;)
And after 45 years of being a very loyal fan, that is a hard thing to say. I think my website is testament to that.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-02-2018, 05:56 PM
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One of the branches here was a "pro" centre for Pentax and did stock the bodies and quite a few lenses. They even tried to arrange a "pro" day with demo's etc but Ricoh were not interested. Their problem was not that they didn't "push" Pentax but more a lack of demand. On the other hand, there are regular Fuji, Canon and Nikon days. Regardless of how we feel about the Pentax brand, it has become a "niche" market in the UK. None of the big chains supply Ricoh products. Online, it is almost down to Amazon only and some of their stocks are sent in from the EU.
And to be honest, after my "problem" buying a 15-30 recently. I'm not sure how much longer I will support them. Had I not recently made a very big investment in new glass, I would be looking at another brand.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-02-2018, 05:33 PM
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Only from the Managers of the 2 local branches of LCE. I used to order all my Pentax stuff through them but they can no longer get it even on special order. That is all I wish to say in public. If you want more details by all means PM me.
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
12-02-2018, 04:48 PM
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Ricoh have "ceased" supplying their products to many retailers in the UK. They have even stopped supplying London Camera Exchange. I suspect in JL's eyes, they cannot give you a replacement if they no longer stock that brand. Also if Ricoh have stopped their supply, they may not be able to get a repair done through them directly.
Not sure how much you have been offered but SRS are still offering the K70 at £395 and Ricoh have it in their store at £399.99. A shame JL are unlikely to send the camera back if they refund because it is quite easy to fix the aperture block problem. But to be honest, if they are offering close to the current "reduced" price of the K70, you might want to upgrade. It is a better camera. You would also then have another 2 years warranty.
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