OM-4Ti failed repair

marcr1230

marcr1230

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My OM-4Ti is now in the shop for the fifth time in a year. Forth time in the last few weeks for a repair that has not worked.
The original symptom about a year ago was winding that didn't charge the shutter, it was intermittent sometimes it we sometimes not, leaving blank gaps in the roll of film. I took it in and they said there was a broken gear which was replaced . Stupidly I wound and shot a few frames without film and put the camera in a drawer for months. When I took it out and went on a trip. It acted up and jammed. I took it back to the shop, maybe 8 months after the original repair. Since them the cycle continues. They replaced something called the winding mechanism/assembly, they replace a magnet when the shutter button wouldn't fire. They've unjammed and reset the gears a couple times. 2 weeks ago they "fixed" it and when. I put a roll in and started shooting, it jammed. They then reset and regreased a gear they said was problematic n this model. They kept it for a week for testing , claiming to have run 100 rolls thru it. I got it on Friday. Loaded a roll and sure enough it didn't charge the shutter a couple of frames (before I loaded film) and then jammed on the 18th frame.
Now I took it back and tried to have a rational conversation. "when do we decide that you have failed to repair my camera and give me my money back?", I said. According to the guy, he will fix it, he now wants 2 weeks to test it. Since he isn't likely to give me the money back($450) I figured to give him a last shot at it. Not because I think he will fix it , but because I'd rather not give up on the cash spent and pay to repair it elsewhere.
It bugs me that I have probably shot less than 200 rolls since I bought it new years ago, and these guys will easily double or triple that usage in supposed testing, which may be futile if they just can't fix it.
What should I do? Cut my losses and move on? Ask for the fair cost back and be prepared to take them to small claims when they reject it? Keep wasting my time just to have them waste theirs? At some level I feel like when you return a meal at a restaurant, you never know what they will do in the kitchen. Maybe I'll get a Franken-Zoro back if I complain more?
 
Clearly it or you are jinxed. See a witch doctor and take the camera with you. Infusions, chanting, incense, ritual is what's needed.
 
I don't know where to start. You gave them $450 to fix it? Why would you spend so much? I think you may be out of luck because you waited 8 months in between fixes, but you should scream for your money back since the camera still isn't right and they've had more than enough tries to get it right.

Also, please tell us the name of this shop so I or someone else doesn't send a camera there!
 
marcr1230 said:
My OM-4Ti is now in the shop for the fifth time in a year. Forth time in the last few weeks for a repair that has not worked.
The original symptom about a year ago was winding that didn't charge the shutter, it was intermittent sometimes it we sometimes not, leaving blank gaps in the roll of film. I took it in and they said there was a broken gear which was replaced . Stupidly I wound and shot a few frames without film and put the camera in a drawer for months. When I took it out and went on a trip. It acted up and jammed. I took it back to the shop, maybe 8 months after the original repair. Since them the cycle continues. They replaced something called the winding mechanism/assembly, they replace a magnet when the shutter button wouldn't fire. They've unjammed and reset the gears a couple times. 2 weeks ago they "fixed" it and when. I put a roll in and started shooting, it jammed. They then reset and regreased a gear they said was problematic n this model. They kept it for a week for testing , claiming to have run 100 rolls thru it. I got it on Friday. Loaded a roll and sure enough it didn't charge the shutter a couple of frames (before I loaded film) and then jammed on the 18th frame.
Now I took it back and tried to have a rational conversation. "when do we decide that you have failed to repair my camera and give me my money back?", I said. According to the guy, he will fix it, he now wants 2 weeks to test it. Since he isn't likely to give me the money back($450) I figured to give him a last shot at it. Not because I think he will fix it , but because I'd rather not give up on the cash spent and pay to repair it elsewhere.
It bugs me that I have probably shot less than 200 rolls since I bought it new years ago, and these guys will easily double or triple that usage in supposed testing, which may be futile if they just can't fix it.
What should I do? Cut my losses and move on? Ask for the fair cost back and be prepared to take them to small claims when they reject it? Keep wasting my time just to have them waste theirs? At some level I feel like when you return a meal at a restaurant, you never know what they will do in the kitchen. Maybe I'll get a Franken-Zoro back if I complain more?
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Man, that's tough luck, sorry to hear....

Given the situation, I'd definitely try to ask for partial refund. Whether they give you some back or not, that's their problem, not yours.

But stop sending the poor camera to them, contact zuiko.com and see if John thinks that the camera is worth rescuing after being messed with so many times. If yes, you'll most likely get a working camera back. If not, time to find a replacement.
 
Official and ongoing list of repairs, note that between repairs I have not gotten one complete roll of film thru the "repaired" camera. My bad that I didn't fully test the 6-25-08 repair, before the 6 month "warranty" expired.

5-15-08 shutter won't charge - replaced gear base unit $224
6-25-08 - redo - replaced release magnet $31.07
4-13-09 - Jammed, replaced winding unit $226 (returned fixed 4-16)
4-21-09 Jammed (returned fixed on 5-1-09)
5-4-09 Jammed
 
Hmmm ... there's a lot to be said for a fifty dollar OM-1 from fleabay ... break it and send it to zuiko.com for a rebulid for around $150.00 or spend another fifty dollars on fleabay or similar for a replacement.

I like my OM-2 with it's electronic AE shutter but if it broke I'm not sure I'd be spending the money on fixing it .... but as others have said give Camtech (zuiko.com) a go!
 
John Hermanson only charges about $200 to repair an OM-4T (more if parts are needed, but I doubt he would have charged you $450, you can buy a working OM-4T in nice condition for that!). Whoever you went to screwed you by charging double what it should have been, and he obviously did not know how to fix it. The OM-4/4T/4Ti is an unsual camera, it is designed and laid out internally much differently than most other 35mm SLRs. It really needs to be worked on by specialists who are Olympus experts. That means either paying Olympus to fix it or sending it to John.
 
25 years ago I was a huge Olympus fan, however IMHO every camera that came after the OM-2N was a very unreliable piece of junk -OM-3, OM-4, OM-2S (I still have it one the shelf) and OM-G (?) that one is still broken in a drawer somewhere. My OM-2n work as good as the day I got it. I wouldn't give $25 for any of the other.

When you get it back put it on eBay and get an OM-1n or 2n.
 
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Well, I got my camera back again this week, after another 2+ weeks in the shop. So far the repair is holding (I'm almost through my first roll)
The parting gift from the repair shop was 2 small but annoying scratches on the "Beattie Intenscreen" focusing screen that I had in the camera. what a nightmare, I really hope that the camera is fixed. if I ever mention going to these people again, take me out back and beat me will a baseball bat until I change my mind.
If you are in Chicago and need to know which shop to avoid, PM me.
 
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