Tom Diaz
Well-known
I just got back my GXR body from C.R.I.S., the US service depot for the camera. They did a quick and effective warranty repair, and I'm impressed.
The problem: I was taking my GXR out of the bag, and the front of the pop-up flash caught on something that pulled the flash open. Then it wouldn't go back down and stay down.
Lesson 1: This is not a perfect world, and as great a camera as this is, this particular part is a little delicate and not too well designed for robustness. If Ricoh were to revive the machine and make a new model, this would be something to fix in the design. I know it is a common problem because I've read about it in some forums.
Lesson 2: It is repairable, though, if you like things ship-shape. They apparently replaced the camera top. Don't know what an out-of-warranty repair would cost, but evidently there are parts and there is knowledge, which is good.
Lesson 3: As I said, based on this experience I give their service good marks, especially since they did a real repair and not just a replacement. They received the unit on July 30 in Arizona. Now it is August 12 and I have it back here in Massachusetts. I think that's pretty good.
I'm interested to know if others have instructive repair stories about this or other GXR problems.
Tom
The problem: I was taking my GXR out of the bag, and the front of the pop-up flash caught on something that pulled the flash open. Then it wouldn't go back down and stay down.
Lesson 1: This is not a perfect world, and as great a camera as this is, this particular part is a little delicate and not too well designed for robustness. If Ricoh were to revive the machine and make a new model, this would be something to fix in the design. I know it is a common problem because I've read about it in some forums.
Lesson 2: It is repairable, though, if you like things ship-shape. They apparently replaced the camera top. Don't know what an out-of-warranty repair would cost, but evidently there are parts and there is knowledge, which is good.
Lesson 3: As I said, based on this experience I give their service good marks, especially since they did a real repair and not just a replacement. They received the unit on July 30 in Arizona. Now it is August 12 and I have it back here in Massachusetts. I think that's pretty good.
I'm interested to know if others have instructive repair stories about this or other GXR problems.
Tom
