Rayt
Nonplayer Character
Don't use DAG if you are in a hurry. I have nothing but praise for his work.
He's among the very best in his field. I've always gotten very fine service with Don, and in reasonable time. Raid has the right idea IMO; respect, patience, friendly communication. I suspect pestering won't help...
kokoshawnuff
Alex
I've heard nothing but good things about the work DAG provides. I've never had anything too complicated, so Youxin Yi is the first person I contact for a CLA, stuck curtain, RF alignment, etc. and it's always back within 14 days and flawless. If it is something he is unable to do, Youxin sends it to DAG.
So if you're in a hurry send it to Youxin, but there are things that only Don can do, in which case you'll have to be patient with him
So if you're in a hurry send it to Youxin, but there are things that only Don can do, in which case you'll have to be patient with him
E__WOK
Well-known
Don has a LOT of cameras and lenses in the queue. Would you rather him answer the phone and emails all day, or work on the gear?
He's known in the Leica world for years, there are few equals. Yes, he could be better at communication. But believe me, there are far worse out there that you don't want to deal with.As for Sherry, no thank you. DAG is gentleman when you speak with him. I don't want to describe Sherry here. LOL
If DAG has enough gear to last him 2 years of straight work (or whatever his backlog is), he should not accept any further work until it gets to a manageable level.
Are DAG or Sherry full time repairmen or is it a side job for them?
Administrative work goes hand in hand with performing the actual work. They should hire an assistance or just set aside a few hours a day to respond to emails/phones.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I've done business with DAG many many times. He's always busy, but if you have a real need, and talk to him first, he's usually able to do some magic and get your work done on time.
My local tech (another fine guy) is often the same. I stop by his shop and shoot the breeze with him now and then, nearly always hand him a camera with the proviso, "No rush on this one, just do it when you have the time." That's been up to four-five months now and then. But then when I needed something in a week, he had it done in four days.
Real people, that's all.
G
My local tech (another fine guy) is often the same. I stop by his shop and shoot the breeze with him now and then, nearly always hand him a camera with the proviso, "No rush on this one, just do it when you have the time." That's been up to four-five months now and then. But then when I needed something in a week, he had it done in four days.
Real people, that's all.
G
peter_n
Mentor
Helen I'm very sorry that you had a bad experience with Essex. I remember recommending them to you. My own experience with them (more than one CLA) has been stellar. Their last work for me was on a Rolleiflex and it came back unbelievably smooth, working like new.
They have a number of techs and so there is obviously variability among them. Previous work there included a Canonet and a Barnack and both were properly serviced. My apologies again, as I recall you had poor service already on the body and the last thing you needed was another bad job.
Don Goldberg is wonderful, but now I send lenses to Steve Choi. He is communicative and also reasonably quick. His estimates are pretty accurate too.
raid
Dad Photographer
Dan has to be selective in what he can repair in a given time period. I go to him for somewhat complicated issues. I used recently for the first time Youxin Ye to repair a Tower 35. It cost me about $285. it would not have cost more with Don, but it was fast enough with YY. I mistakenly thought that the repaired camera could not use the 1/500 speed, so I asked YY about it. He told me "no problem send it back". Before I mailed back the camera, I figured out that the shutter speed mark was covered by the CV meter. Once removed, the mark was seen, and I was able to see the correct 1/500 setting, so there was no need to mail YY the camera. Still, he was willing to check it out again. Such service is important.
I have never used anyone else for repair except my local repairman. He is about 30% less costly, but I stopped using his services because he is so busy.
JMQ
Well-known
Shame to butcher this beautiful lens. Have you thought about buying a "normal" summicron from the same period?
venchka
Mentor
Yes. I have had several phone conversations with Don about these sorts of business issues. No one can force this to occur, however, if he is not inclined.
There are many threads about Don here, at this point, we all know who he is, and who he is not. Choose your repairman depending on the item and the need, whether it be DAG, YY, Gus Lazarri, or whomever.
I sent several brand new M9s to DAG for focus calibration (new out of the box) and he turned them quickly (2-3 days.) He's got equipment that no one else has. He's the obvious choice for this. YY can handle many issues, and he turns them fast, but keep in mind he's self-taught and doesn't have near the experience that DAG does, or the equipment. That said, he will do a fine job but there are some things I won't send him; there are also some items he will not accept. Guz Lazarri is excellent and rarely mentioned here, if you want DAG-like work, with more accurate ETAs, try him.
raid
Dad Photographer
Guz is not accpting any repair orders until February due to being overwhelmed with repair orders.
Good to know.
Backlogs are perhaps an indicator of quality.
Backlogs are perhaps an indicator of quality.
__--
-
True enough, but it is difficult for me here in Bangkok to buy and sell lenses, and I am not likely to be able to replace it with a rigid Summicron that is as good condition as this one. I'm never going to use it on a film M, and my understanding is that if I eventually get the new Leica M I'll be able to focus it for the closeup range as well.
—Mitch/Bangkok
Bangkok Hysteria (download link for book project)
'Butcher' is an extreme word in this case.
seanbonner
Established
There's a difference between instant gratification and expecting someone who has thousands of dollars worth of your possessions to respond to an email or give an accurate turn around time.
It would be one thing if the guy didn't respond to any emails, but as you can see by reading these threads he responds quickly to emails about new jobs, then stops responding which means he is consciously deciding not to reply to people. That's not "too busy" that's "_______"
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Then call him up and have him return your gear. That will free up a spot for someone else.
If you are willing to post something like that here, I'd like to see what you are writing in your emails. Maybe there is a good reason he chooses not to respond...
If you are willing to post something like that here, I'd like to see what you are writing in your emails. Maybe there is a good reason he chooses not to respond...
venchka
Mentor
One more time. Find a Rigid Summicron with a properly functioning (focus, etc.) mount and trashed optics. Remove the optical cell. Install your D.R. Summicron optical cell. This method is quoted from DAG himself.
Wayne
Harryo1962
Established
Dag
Dag
Don recently did a CLA on my Minox 35, with that common sticky shutter issue. He was quick to answer emails, and I had it back, correctly repaired, in less than a month.
Dag
Don recently did a CLA on my Minox 35, with that common sticky shutter issue. He was quick to answer emails, and I had it back, correctly repaired, in less than a month.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
So... here's a question for you lot... what happens when Don passes away?
Cheers,
Dave
Cheers,
Dave
At that point the turnaround time becomes excessive, Dave.