After all the recent discontent over the Canon Service Dept - I feel I should just relate my personal experience.
On Friday last, 7th November I spoke to an engineer in the CSD describing a sudden, pretty permanent fault with flash and my 1D. Seemingly the camera and flash fired simutaneously and yet there was (on most occasions) no flash exposure evident on the frame. On some others it was there but very underpowered and others less than ideal. (I have heard of similar complaints on various forums previously).
The camera has shot over 24,000 frames to date since March 2000 without any problems.
The response when I asked if I could 'pop-it-in' was "Yes, you know where we are, come in on Monday and we'll do it while you wait -(avoid the lunch hour please)"
Not only did they do it while I waited - they were courteous - they made me comfortable - made me coffee and completed the job in about 40 mins. They tested the kit and replaced the flash shoe - the camera now seems to function perfectly as before.
Just over a year ago (Aug/02) I dropped my 28-70 2.8L - dented the lens barrel and a new USM motor was required - two days before I was to leave for a job in Japan. They repaired it while I waited, again with the 'comforts' and didn't leave me with a nervous breakdown over the cost of the repair.
Now, - I'm certainly not one of these famous people, nor do I have any other qualification that would single me out for special treatment. However, I am impressed by the speed of service and the extent of customer service - for a 'mere mortal'.
I can't get my car fixed that quickly and the labour for that is around �50 per hour plus the parts mark-up charges. (Try getting them to fix something they've done wrong!)
I can't get an emergency dental appointment in less than several days - a doctors appointment in around 3-4 days - a six hour wait in an A&E department - 6 months to 2 years for an operation - a week for BT to come and fix the telegraph pole outside my house - a month for a street light bulb repair etc etc etc- not to mentions the dustbins - services the most of which are prepaid.
Maybe we're too quick to be tough on a handful of guys in the service dept who are looking after more products than ours for the whole Canon population of the UK ?
Graham Bool
Graham Bool Photography
Tel 01371 851189 Mobile 07958 338 448
