What you have yet to explain to me is what your overhauled 3.5F does differently than my CLA'd 3.5E3 in terms of use? My speeds are accurate, all my features work just fine, my screen has been replaced with a Maxwell, it has new grease and all that good stuff. Factory trained is more of a "certification." Sort of like my "JW Rufolo's Institute of Occupational Safety and Health" certification I have in Evacuation Training. What makes Sherry or Don better than Youxin? Is there some special stamp of approval I'll get when my camera comes back? Will my camera somehow perform better than someone who just had a CLA? Doubtful. In fact, Sherry royally screwed up an M4 and an M4-P camera on two different trips for a friend of mine who works at the counter. Ask him the next time you're there.
Are you saying that Youxin is not capable of performing an "overhaul?" Or that our tech isn't capable of performing a Rollei "overhaul," when in fact they both perform them on a regular basis when it is needed?
Brennan,
My particular Rollie 3.5F is a "Whiteface" I bought at Adorama for $999.00. It looked like a Shelf Queen because it seemed unused, but when I got it home and loaded it with film the camera repeatedly jammed, and I basically was ready to return the camera for a refund. It was almost impossible to get a roll of film through the camera, and I ended up just throwing the film away.
I did the research and then discovered that I actually had stumbled into a remarkable camera, and learned then that I found a camera that was grossly mispriced. It was at this time that I found out I had a Whiteface, and it was worth a lot more than the cost of repair. Then I decided to figure out my options about a repair. I also did some research on Maxwell screens. All this was a learning process.
So I used some judgement, and my personal spin was that perhaps the long wait with Fleenor over other techs was because he was deemed very heavily as the best. This was not marketing, but happy third person experiences, and there were a lot of them. Harry was pleasent to communicate with, and he has a very good/outstanding reputation. So I had Harry evaluate the camera and he gave me an estimate.
I also choose Harry because of his factory trained credential and because he was a specialist and not a generalist. This was mostly due to feeling good about entering an area I did not feel comfortable in. In all my research that was rather extensive (boring day job) I read not one bad word, and that was not true for some others.
So in the end the shutter had to be overhauled and also the film transport. This camera got an overhaul because it needed it, the Maxwell screen was an option, and it was installed for free since other work was being performed. In this case the camera needed an overhaul, and I'm glad that Harry did it. Harry's reputation is so great that the sticker that inside the camera, Harry's trademark, means a lot of value added to any buyer.
The repairs totaled about $600.00 with the Maxwell screen so for little money I have a rare camera that I will keep over the long-long term. As far as getting overhauls I am guilty of spending money that might not have been required. Waiting for me is not a problem like it is for others. Just stating a fact because I always try to use good judgement: anyways at least good for me.
My famed Wetzlar M6 came off EBAY from a dealer with a dead frame counter. I shot it for a year with the dead frame counter, but one day for no apparent reason the rangefinder was off. So at that time I had it overhauled instead of just repaired. The plastic spring used on the frame counter on a M6 was replaced with a metal version from an earlier M-body by Sherry. It could be argued either way to just repair the camera, but I decided to go all the way. Which way is better? I can't answer that, but keep in mind that this camera is a keeper.
I did not mean to slander Youxin, He happens to have a fast turnaround on repairs. The point that I was trying to make is that Leica is not the only place where one can wait for a long time for a repair. From personal experience I will say that DAG is worse than Leica.
In my experiance I ordered some parts (M3 eyeglass protector and some sync) plugs. I waited and waited, and because the cost was so little I forgot about it, but eventually my parts came almost a year later. It was kinda funny. Evidently I got a note as an apology saying that they were out of stock. I would not feel good about sending any camera to DAG based on my experience.
I have no doubt, and I am aware of your associate's problems, it is just that I never had a bad experience with Sherry, and she still has a great reputation with me.
Know that I once owned a M6 HM with the 0.85 VF'er. When it jammed for no reason I went to Nippon to have it repaired, but I choose to trade the camera away eventually. Not every camera is a keeper.
Cal
