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Ezio
Tinkerer
Username: Ezio

Post Number: 13
Registered: 09-2006

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Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 01:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Does anyone here have a recent experience of a camera repair done by Ken Ruth at Photography of Bald Mountain?

Based of repeated mentions of him in several fora, in October I did send to him a Super Ikonta of mine. The first contacts were extremely prompt, nice and professional. He immediately acknowledged receipt via email, and a few days later let me have a detailed presentation of the various problems he had identified in the camera, what he intended to do to solve them, and an estimate of the costs. But after I accepted his proposals, something like the Iron Courtain fell.

I haven't received any further message from him. Repeated emails from me, asking for the courtesy of an estimate about completion of the work, remained unanswered. I did even phone him a couple of times. I both cases he was out of his office, couldn't tell me anything, but would send an email as soon as he was back, click. No email.

I have no real reason to doubt his professionality, but I'm, say, perplexed. Is this his normal behaviour, or what?
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Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn

Post Number: 485
Registered: 07-2006

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Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 03:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I do not know the gentleman in question, but has he been hoist by his own petard - read popularity. Years ago when pistol ownership and handgun shooting was legal in the UK, I came into contact with a semi-retired gunsmith whose work was well respected and talked about. At the time I was interested in some pistols he had for sale and visited him at his workshop. I was very surprised to see a huge number of firearms awaiting repair/alteration stored in his strongroom. Subsequently I found out that most of his work took at least 9-12 months, sometimes longer. Still his workmanship was worth waiting for, it you were not a keen shooter!

Perhaps Mr. Ruth has a similar work load?
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Rick_oleson
Tinkerer
Username: Rick_oleson

Post Number: 766
Registered: 07-2006

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Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 03:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I'll give him the benefit of that doubt, but nobody is too busy to email a waiting customer. This is unfortunate. I have never heard anything but praise for Photography on Bald Mountain. Like Glenn, I have no personal experience to draw on.
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Ezio
Tinkerer
Username: Ezio

Post Number: 15
Registered: 09-2006

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Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 12:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I've now received a bill from him, which I take to mean my camera is ready - although he doesn't say so. Clearly, a very busy man... could use some secretarial support, though...

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