Problem with Mark Hama repair job

Chris,
Sorry about what is happening. When you get the camera back, you might want to try CRR. Emails are difficult but I can phone for you if you wish. They can replace P and other Canon shutters either with fabric or they can use metal (by using the Nikon shutters which are still available.

Kim
 
Perhaps he needs "the Henry list" so at least you know if you're No. 3,412 or No. 3 or if you'll see your 100th birthday before you see your camera or it will have to be part of your will.

Half-joking and half-serious about this.

On a more serious note, Mark Hama is developing a reputation for not replying to customer e-mails, which isn't a good business practice. I've read similar notes a fairly large number of times.

I hope it works out for you.
 
im sorry chris that really is bad news, i hope you get everything back.

he does awesome work but at the same time, its bad practice to not reply to customers and finish the job, my experience was great but then again i still feel kinda scared to send him another camera...
 
ZeissFan said:
Perhaps he needs "the Henry list" so at least you know if you're No. 3,412 or No. 3 or if you'll see your 100th birthday before you see your camera or it will have to be part of your will.

Half-joking and half-serious about this.

On a more serious note, Mark Hama is developing a reputation for not replying to customer e-mails, which isn't a good business practice. I've read similar notes a fairly large number of times.

I hope it works out for you.
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I recently had purchased a mint Canon P which needed a CLA, because the shutter won't completely open. I had sent Mark Hama an e-mail trying to get information, and waited for days, but NEVER heard from him. You're right about his 'developing repurtation.'

So, I decided to call EssexCamera, based upon user's experience and feedback. I thought the camera needed a shutter curtain replacement, considering its age. The curtain looked a bit wrinkled.

During my telephone conversation, I specifically indicated that I wanted the curtain replaced, and a complete CLA. The price they quoted was reasonable, so I packed the camera and enclosed a check, as payment. EssexCamera also has "standard" repair prices in their website, which I was told are "old" prices. Consequently, I had to pay more for the price, that I had been quoted. Not a lot, though.

After three weekss of having butterfllies in my stomach, I finally got my camera back. Apparently, the camera's curtain is still OK and needed no repair.

Overall, my experience with EssexCamera is good. Except, their pricing, which is IMHO, inaccurate. I got my refund, though.🙂 I am happy. I could recommend them. Another repair person/technician I highly recommend is, Steve Choi of Steve Cameras, in Culver City, California.

Chris: I admire your patience and resolve. As I have indicated, after 3 weeks, I get butterflies in my stomach, if I had sent in a camera for repair; I want a fast- food-restaurant-type of service, especially when I am paying for a highly specialized-factory-trained type of repair. 🙂 But, you waited months and months, only to find out that it hasn't been done, and refund hasn't been considered. You are truly a gentleman.:angel:

Good luck. I hope it gets resolved, the soonest possible time.
 
Kim - thanks for that offer: if I ever see the camera again I'll consider that.

James - I'm really glad you got your camera back - that means there's hope!

Mike - I don't know how a popular repairer can operate without a list like Henry's.

Sharpf8 - glad to hear you're experience with Essex was good; I've heard several times they are good on the standard services.

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Patience? I've learned some, but not enough. I was lucky this wasn't my main camera.
 
Boy this is not good news to read. Mark has three of my cameras for repair. A few weeks ago he finished one and after a roll I find that light leaks I was experiencing was still present so I had to send it back to him. I wish I read this thread beforehand. I just hope he gets them back to me in working order soon as he really doesn't reply to emails. Best bet is to call him.
 
Mark Hama is probably the best technical repair guy in the business - I've never been so impressed with a CLA in my life and his prices are very reasonable. I sent him a Nikon S w/ 50mm lens and he replaced a sticky curtain & vulcanite and cleaned the lens and made them look like new.

As others have mentioned, he does take a long time getting the camera back to you (he had my stuff for over three months) - he is definately not the person you want to send something to if you need it back quickly. But, if you let him take his time with it, it will come back nicer than you sent it.
 
Well, it's nice that Mark has done good work for so many people. I don't doubt his technical skills.

He's had my camera now for 18 months. He's said he can't repair it, and promised to send it back, and to refund my payment, last August. I just wish he would do what he promised.
 
Lonely Driver said:
Mark Hama is probably the best technical repair guy in the business - I've never been so impressed with a CLA in my life and his prices are very reasonable. I sent him a Nikon S w/ 50mm lens and he replaced a sticky curtain & vulcanite and cleaned the lens and made them look like new.

As others have mentioned, he does take a long time getting the camera back to you (he had my stuff for over three months) - he is definately not the person you want to send something to if you need it back quickly. But, if you let him take his time with it, it will come back nicer than you sent it.
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I don't doubt that Mr. Hama is one of the best but he needs to inform his customers what the status of the work is and what is to be expected. He promised that my cameras would be done by a certain time. I didn't demand anything in terms of time and I'm more than willing to wait but when he gives a timeframe and doesn't fullfill it there's a problem. I don't like being strung along. Just be honest and straighforward with your customer and let them know. He also needs to reply to his customers whether they email/phone or fax. That's all I ask.
 
I've been hoping to send him a Lynx 14 and Yashica D; I think I'll contact him first and find out turnaround time. He did a great job on a Kalloflex that had the lenses knocked seriously out of whack from a fall, and turned it around for me in a couple of weeks.

Chris, I empathize with your predicament. Too bad he's been so negligent.
 
agi said:
I don't doubt that Mr. Hama is one of the best but he needs to inform his customers what the status of the work is and what is to be expected. He promised that my cameras would be done by a certain time. I didn't demand anything in terms of time and I'm more than willing to wait but when he gives a timeframe and doesn't fullfill it there's a problem. I don't like being strung along. Just be honest and straighforward with your customer and let them know. He also needs to reply to his customers whether they email/phone or fax. That's all I ask.
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I dunno, I called him and spoke to him right away. He remembered me and my camera immediately and told me the status. It seems to me that a CLA is like getting your car fixed - you have to follow up a lot and you have to wait a long time if you have a uncommon camera that needs parts.

Anyway, rather than telling me and this forum what Mr. Hama should do, maybe you should tell him directly.
 
Lonely Driver said:
I dunno, I called him and spoke to him right away. He remembered me and my camera immediately and told me the status. It seems to me that a CLA is like getting your car fixed - you have to follow up a lot and you have to wait a long time if you have a uncommon camera that needs parts.

Anyway, rather than telling me and this forum what Mr. Hama should do, maybe you should tell him directly.
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I emailed him, called him and even faxed him because he wasn't responding. That enough follow up? I was able to speak to him on two or three occasions now and that's when he told me he would have the cameras ready at a certain time - about a few weeks ago. When I talked to him last week he again mentioned he'd have them ready by this week. We'll see if he does. I hope so really because I'd love to use him in the future but it's not a good sign. He isn't waiting for any parts for my cameras and I did tell him that he should keep in contact with his customers.
 
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There are good camera repair people in every major city in the world. Just seek them out -- most jobs don't need to be sent across the country and certainly not overseas.
 
Perhaps there are, but there are not many that can replace metal shutter curtains in a Canon. 😉

Kim

David Murphy said:
There are good camera repair people in every major city in the world. Just seek them out -- most jobs don't need to be sent across the country and certainly not overseas.
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