NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2012 -- New Camera Repair Model Hurts Photographers and Jobs, Protesters at PhotoPlus Expo 2012 Tell Attendees
Protesters complained that until recently, New York photographers could drop off their Canon equipment at local repair shops and get quick, reliable service -- often with same-day turnaround. Now Canon forces its customers to ship to an out-of-state facility, even for non-warranty and after-warranty damages. This often leads to frustratingly long waits, according to protesters.
p.1 #6 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
There's truth there, and it has nothing to do with unions. Canon-certified, independent camera repair shops in Canada lost a lot of business a year or so back. I guess the US shops have had a year or so of grace. 'The times, they are a changing...'
p.1 #7 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
How can canon choose where i can and cant get my camera fixed, i dont understand how that works even after reading the article. Am i missing something here?
p.1 #8 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
RogerC11 wrote:
How can canon choose where i can and cant get my camera fixed, i dont understand how that works even after reading the article. Am i missing something here?
How about; "No, we won't send you those parts", or, "No, we can't certify that's an acceptable warranty repair unless you have this test equipment - BTW, you can't have this test equipment". Get the idea?
p.1 #9 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
Psychic1 wrote:
Canon's independant repair facilities can purchase parts for any models prior to the 5DIII.
Canon will not sell the new software according to Toshio, TF Repair in NJ.
Nikon chose to cut-off parts to non-authorized facilities.
Collusion is an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition.
Hard to prove collusion without a 'smoking gun.' I.E., evidence that Nikon and Canon were in contact about reducing independent and third-party repairs.
More likely that Canon saw what Nikon was doing and took the predatory opportunity to do the same. Given their financial numbers that were just released, I can see Canon looking to increase their profits, or monetize their base by squeezing the middlemen out of their network so they can reap as much margin as possible.
p.1 #10 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
The most interesting thing to me is that a recent repair I sent to Nikon was actually subbed out to Island Camera Repair, though the invoice and return label were nikon's. the only way I knew about it was the UPS email with the tracking number origin. I guess they bit off more than they could chew...
p.1 #13 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
jcolwell wrote:
There's truth there, and it has nothing to do with unions. Canon-certified, independent camera repair shops in Canada lost a lot of business a year or so back. I guess the US shops have had a year or so of grace. 'The times, they are a changing...'
It's so easy for some to criticize unions for everything. I don't get it, especially with union membership at it's lowest in decades. The country seemed to be doing pretty well when membership was at it's highest, but I'm sure there's no correlation.
The times are changing, and not to the benefit of the average photographer. I'm guessing the same repair would cost much more at a Canon facility than at a local repair shop. When a repair reaches a certain cost, a new camera would make more sense to me than sinking a lot of money into an older model, but either way Canon makes out. Pretty good business plan.
p.1 #14 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
Ernie King wrote:
It's so easy for some to criticize unions for everything. I don't get it, especially with union membership at it's lowest in decades. The country seemed to be doing pretty well when membership was at it's highest, but I'm sure there's no correlation.
The times are changing, and not to the benefit of the average photographer. I'm guessing the same repair would cost much more at a Canon facility than at a local repair shop. When a repair reaches a certain cost, a new camera would make more sense to me than sinking a lot of money into an older model, but either way Canon makes out. Pretty good business plan....Show more →
Also easy to forget what working conditions were like before the first unions and why they were originally formed.
p.1 #17 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
abqnmusa wrote:
I think all the Canon bashers on this forum should sell off their equipment and go Nikon
they will not be missed
Nikon also destroyed the independent repair shops recently by not selling them parts. Basically you have to send the product to the manufacturer for sercvice, which is very pricey for some minor repairs.
p.1 #18 · Teamsters Warn Photographers of Canon's Bad Focus on Customer Service
Monito wrote:
Jim, are the good guys at Camera Repair Centre, Hunter St., affected? I just had a Canon lens repaired there (very well).
Alan, yes. CRC is definitely affected. I happened to walk into their revered shop on the same day that they got written notice from Canon. It was a simple form letter. I think it was late 2011, but it could have been early 2012. My memory fades...
A form letter.
Anyway, Dave was pissed, slightly disoriented, and totally blind-sided. That's pretty much how I would feel about it.
Fast forward to today, Dave and Wes seem to be keepin' on keepin' on. I do my best to provide them with a steady stream of repair jobs...
Don't hesitate to ask them about it, just don't tell them that I sent you ...
