Thanks, Don. You reminded me that I did include with the returned lens a copy of the emails authorizing the return, and which contained my description of the problem. Here it is
"Specifically, the contacts that send lens/aperture information to the camera are not working. Hence, I have no metering available in any mode: Program, Av or TV. It appears repairable". I wasn't going to broadcast this previously, but the arrogance of today's email was just too blatant to ignore. Guess you can't tell that I'm P.O.'d, huh?!? Bill Sawyer Livonia, MI -----Original Message----- From: Don Sanderson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 7:19 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: The Decline of KEH? Long... I've had good luck with KEH when the product I recieved was OK the first time around. The delays have been quite long the times I had to return an item for refund or repair. I have never experienced the problems you have though. Perhaps it is because I've always sent a very detailed explanation sealed inside the same plastic bag that contained the item, to prevent it's loss or seperation from the item. A duplicate copy was sent loose with the RMA information. I work in the repair business and am painfully aware of the problems encountered with even slight mis-understandings. (Oh, so you DIDN'T want the hard drive formatted???) ;-) My two local camera shops both have a KEH rep who stops and buys their used stuff now, I assume KEH's stock has increased a great deal. More stuff, more screw-ups. ;-( Don > -----Original Message----- > From: william sawyer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 6:06 PM > To: [email protected] > Cc: 'Mark Cassino'; 'Kenneth Waller'; 'Paul Stenquist' > Subject: The Decline of KEH? Long... > > > I thought I'd come out of lurk mode to share the following story which > greatly concerns me about our old favorite, KEH. I have purchased several > thousands of dollars worth of equipment from them over the past few years > and until now, was deeply impressed with their integrity and service. > > I bought an A* 200mm F4 Macro lens on December 1. It was listed on their > "In-Transit" page and I bought it within an hour of it appearing on the > site. $959. They have my money. > > It arrived on December 6, and it didn't work. Specifically, it would not > project aperture information to either my ist D nor my MZ-S. I > assumed that > the contacts were somehow defective, and after conferring with Paul > Stenquist, Mark Cassino and Ken Waller, sent it back for repair. I sent an > email explaining the problem and got the approval to return it. Several > emails ensued, all explaining what the problem was. I received notice from > UPS that it had been delivered a few days later. After waiting another two > weeks without hearing from them, I emailed them for a status. I > was told to > write again in a week. I did. They waited another week before > replying that > it was due to be worked on last Thursday, and that I would have the lens > this week. > > Well today, I came home to an email announcing that they "have received > notice from our repair department that the reason your lens will > not work in > AF mode is because it is not an Auto Focus lens." Duh. > > I've sent copies of the previous emails to remind them our earlier > communications - that the problem was in the aperture contacts. > > They made what I think to be three errors: 1. They put an item up for sale > without first testing it. 2. They didn't recheck the correspondence to > confirm the problem. 3. They arrogantly presumed their customer > was stupid. > > I've purchased two expensive lenses and two bodies from them, and this is > the first whiff of a problem, so I hope it's just a fluke. But, it > demonstrates to me that they may be losing touch with the > fundamentals that > made their reputation. It's been over a month now, with no lens in sight > > Bill Sawyer > Livonia, MI > > >
