DAG; A Little Dissapointed

wjlapier

wjlapier

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First, let me say that I have read all the great things about Don Goldberg. I'm not trying to take away for that. Read through my thread before you respond.

I sent Don a Canon 50/.95 lens a while back for a M conversion. I asked if it was possible the lens would be converted before I went on vacation July 1st. His reply--no problem--we actually had a few email correspondence which were prompt. I sent another email asking about another mod which he replied to, but since then I have not heard from him. I've asked him if my lens would be ready before July 1st before I went on vacation. No reply. Recently, I asked again how things were going with the conversion and again no reply. I've since read some post about him working on other's gear and how they got it returned, but yet my lens has not been returned, nor have I received an email about it's status.

I know he has a great reputation as a Leica repair tech, and I've seen his work on the Canon 50/.95( from pics ), but the non-response to my emails has got me wondering.

What are my options? We started this correspondence 4/10. And now no email responses.

Bewildered! Bill
 
My experience with Don has always been, if you actually need it by a certain time... you need to call frequently, or use someone else.

He does great work (far and away some of the best). But he does it on his own schedule, and his record keeping is not the most rigorous.
 
Bill,

I have sent cameras and lenses to Don for years and the work is exceptional. I have also talked with him on the phone quite readily. I recently had a similar experience to yours with Morgan at Cameraleather for a recover of my beater Nikon S, and it arrived after no communication for 5 months. Heck, I even started a thread here about that experience. What that experience taught me is that these guys get busy, are in demand because they do such fine work, and are probably best left alone, even though I, like you, feel good communication is important with a customer. But they have a LOT of customers (and for good reason) and communication takes them away from doing the !!@@##$$%^&* work. Oh well, a dilemma for sure. Sorry you are left wondering what has happened, but I suspect Don will come through and you will be very happy with his work.

I love my Nikon RF 135 lens-thanks again.

Bob
 
This is typical for Don. He'll reply quickly if it's a new order; once he's got the gear, he's poor at replying. Only solution is to call him...although it won't make things happen any quicker, usually.

I asked him a couple of weeks ago about converting a 50/0.95, he said he had 6 in line, and 200 cameras in line, and to contact him again about it in 6 months...
 
My experience exactly. Very timely and responsive communication when we explored whether I should send him an M2, continued when he received it and looked it over to determine what was needed. Then nothing for quite a while. I finally started calling. When I got him, he worried me by betraying no recollection of have seen my camera or recalling my name. This was repeated several times -- as though it was a new communication each time, shades of Groundhog Day. Finally I stopped calling. Eventually, w/o prior notice, the camera returned.

Understand that besides being worried, by that time I was angry. But I picked up the camera and it seemed like butter -- smooth, silent. I put it away and recently picked it up again. Can't tell if it is a faulty memory or what -- but the camera seems like a new camera, missing some cosmetic imperfections I thought it had before shipping it off and operating very, very sweetly.

Oh yes, and he did less work than I had authorized, because he determined it was not necessary and he did not charge me for it.

So -- I figure, now I know what I'm getting into when I send him a camera.
 
This is bad news 🙁 I sent him my m2 to be repaired in june, after emailing and getting a quote. He told me it would be quick, maybe 2 weeks. I sent him the camera, he emailed me, quoted me, I send him money. We sent maybe 10 emails back and forth. It's been maybe two months now that I've been without my m2 and it's killing me. I told him I didn't need it back by any certain date, but the sooner is the better. I was assuming I would have it back by the time I start my next movie, but it's looking like it won't be until I finish the movie after this one 🙁

What makes it even worse is that since sending him my camera and skopar I've gotten 3 new lenses and have nothing to test/use them with.

I guess I'll try calling him tomorrow and asking the status. I emailed him last week and got no reply, and before he replied saying he was starting work it had been 2 weeks.
 
My guess it his work is FIFO (first in, first out) and often in all kinds of repairs, it's difficult or next to impossible to guess how long the waiting line is and some things take longer than estimated. If you want it earlier, send it in for repair earlier.

The better the repair person, the longer the line.
 
He had two of my lenses for 3 months. Not one word of correspondence from either of us. he sent me an email one day saying the repair was done along with the bill, and I sent him payment via paypal. 3 days later I had my lenses and you'd be hard pressed to not call them brand spanking new.
 
And here I am getting fidgety because Camtech (zuiko.com) has had my OM-1 for five weeks ... I appreciate DAG does great work but the lack of communication would drive me insane!
 
I've tried to order some stuff from his site for two times. Instead of sending the money via Paypal immediatly, I emailed him to inquire wether he still has sufficient stock. Always got a read receipt for the mail, but never an actual reply.
 
Hi Keith, when do you expect to get the OM back? I'm interested in the quality of work done and value for money 🙂 There could be an OM in my future and i would like to send it to someone that has been recommended. Cheers, Brian
 
Sent him my collapsible a couple of weeks ago. Emailed him last week with no reply, I'm sure he is busy and it hasn't even been that long. But I was in Portland this weekend and I guy started asking me about my M6 I was carrying around..Turned out to be Don's son! Told him his dad had one of my lenses I was anxiously waiting to get back, and he said he would tell his dad to speed it up🙂 So if this works I think the trick will be to go through family to get your repairs processed🙂
 
bgb said:
Hi Keith, when do you expect to get the OM back? I'm interested in the quality of work done and value for money 🙂 There could be an OM in my future and i would like to send it to someone that has been recommended. Cheers, Brian
Click to expand...


Hi Brian,

I supect the camera should be ready any day as he quoted me six weeks max for the repair. The camera is having a full CLA which includes recalibration and conversion of the meter for a different battery ... the advance mechanism needed repair and apparently the prism was on the way out and will be replaced with a new one.

The total repair came to $193.00 which included return freight to Oz ... it's a lot to spend on a camera that most likely has a value of half the repair cost but I use my OM's a lot and it will be nice to have one that's had the full treatment.

He (John) has a breakdown of standard repair charges on the website ... link
 
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Bill,

I put Don (DAG) in the category of Genius with his mind and hand when it comes to cameras and lenses. I purchased some parts from him and the transaction went very quickly, lens repair about the speed I expected, slower than slow. But what came back was as stated above, hard to tell from new. I pray he’s teaching someone his craft but doubt he is, the world could use another one of him.

While we call this space a Niche in the photography market, us RF lovers, there are very few people here in the US of Don’s caliber. Sherry, I think it is Smith down in FLA for Nikons, but Sherry and Don are it for Leicas. Folks from all over the world send their stuff in. They must be flooded with people who want them to breathe life into their camera and lenses.

The results are worth the wait.

B2 (;->
 
Thanks for the info Keith 🙂

This Don fellow sounds like a bit of a genius 🙂 very few of 'them' around and i think best if we give them a little space to work their magic ... hard to do sometimes in this hurry hurry faster faster world of ours.

... and easy for me to say as it's not my camera or lens
 
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