Quoted a price for Super Nettel Overhaul

[Chubberino]

So, I recently acquired a Super Nettel for a princely sum of $40. It's in pretty good cosmetic shape but needs an overhaul. I was quoted $645 to have ths done. What do you guys think about that quote?

Here's the camera in question.

I'm not sure how to proceed as that seems fairly steep.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Depends on whether you want it done as well as possible. Sure, that's the top end, but the camera should be is almost as-new condition, at least mechanically, if you go for it. You'll get a usable overhaul for a quarter as much, or less, but it won't be as good or as reliable.

I wouldn't bother, personally, but then, I've never quite seen the attractions of Super Nettels anyway (I had one maybe 40 years ago, when it was 40 years newer...)

Cheers,

R.

 

[Erik van Straten]

For that money you can find a working one, but you'll never know how long it will work. If it still has the original ribbons, they will surely break.

Erik.

 

[Chubberino]

Hmmm, it's a quandry as I'd like a working version. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[______]

I don't know why you want a Super Nettle, but if I wanted a working one, I'd probably be happy anyone was still around working on them.

 

[Dralowid]

Could you tell us who you found prepared to work on a Super Nettel and where are they?

I have one that currently works, it is an attractive device but I'd say not worth that kind of money to have it serviced.

 

[Chubberino]

Sorry, I'd rather not say Dralowid. I will say I enjoyed reading yur adventures with your Contax I. Thanks for that.

 

[xayraa33]

645 dollars is outrageous for an overhaul, I would not pay that even if it was a really rare camera.

May I suggest contacting one or two well known camera techs in Russia to see if they would take on the job for a reasonable price?

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

I had one, it is a really complicated camera.

I think the designers had meetings -- where they voted on if the camera was crazy enough yet to go ahead and sell it.

Having said that, replacing the tapes is not a huge deal, and really there are no parts other than tapes, so $645 seems crazy.

xayraa33 -- best advice. Spend a couple of hundred bucks.

Honestly, I personally think this kind of camera is a hobby item, that you learn to fix yourself for fun. You use it a little, also just for fun. I believe you would find a Contax II/III a much better investment, which you could actually use without fear.

 

[Dralowid]

The other thing that could/will fail is the spring in the lower shutter roller...look at the Contax I ribbon thread.

I thought about this later. The quoted figure for overhaul is indeed enormous and unless the camera has some family provenance I really wouldn't do it.

The later chrome Super Nettel is a much rarer camera that commands that sort of figure but the black ones are comparatively plentiful.

For $40 you have a good display piece but I wouldn't take it further than that.

Look at this from Leicashop in Vienna if you really want one that works. They are generally a high priced dealer but what they sell is normally good (in my experience at least).

http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en...eiss-ikon-super-nettel-536-24-sku26420-1.html

 

[Chubberino]

Yeah, I'm just going to sell it along for a profit and invest in something else to use. Thanks for the opinions!

 

[grouchos_tash]

Sorry, I'd rather not say Dralowid.

I was reading this thread only because I was bored on my dinner break at work, I haven't got any interest in the servicing really. But, I was really intrigued by your comment (above). I've been trying to think of a reason why you wouldn't mention who gave you the quote, but I can't.

 

[sevo]

That includes enough to cover the case that the repair fails. Which is a general issue when repairing rare cameras, where at least half the repairs stall whenever cleaning is not enough to fix it, as there are no spares, nor any other affordable fallback for the repairer.

They can hardly do anything other than use a policy of "try to fix it, or supply a replacement" (which leaves satisfied customers that can afford it, while those that cannot will grumble about outrageous prices rather than poor service) or "fix it or you go free" (where the work time of all the unsuccessful repairs goes into into the price for the successful one, so the price will not end up that far from the former). A square deal of "affordable repair on down payment if you are among the lucky 50%, dead camera returned at the same price otherwise" can't be done in the era of social media - the unlucky 50% will soon tear down your reputation to the point where you are out of business.

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

But, I was really intrigued by your comment (above). I've been trying to think of a reason why you wouldn't mention who gave you the quote, but I can't.

It wasn't me. 🙂

 

[Dralowid]

I was reading this thread only because I was bored on my dinner break at work, I haven't got any interest in the servicing really. But, I was really intrigued by your comment (above). I've been trying to think of a reason why you wouldn't mention who gave you the quote, but I can't.

I wasn't offended. but then I don't publicise the name of my shrink either.

 

[Chubberino]

Just following up.

I opted to have it receive a basic CLA and repair service and I'm paying about 200 pounds for that. With my initial investment, I'm hoping this works out well. I may add an additional cost to it by having the bumpy leather fixed as well, but we'll see. Hopefully all turns out well.

 

[Chubberino]

Got the camera back from PetraKLA and the did a superb job at a fraction of the price of the original and absurd quote I got. Can't recommend them enough.