Matt Stevens Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I write this with a very heavy heart. Back in January I sent my beloved Canon 1014 XL-S to Steven Willard of Willard Engineering for a clean/lube/service with an agreed upon price of $200. The camera was shipped insured and delivered on January 30th. Up to that time Steve was lightning fast with all his communications via email and text. But once my camera was in his hands all communication stopped. He would not answer me to verify he had the camera. Not until I left a forceful voice-mail in mid February did he finally return my call and explain the camera was in his hands, but that he had been ill. He promised all was well and he would get to my camera in a week. Okay, I can accept that. Two weeks pass and nothing. I start emailing. I hear nothing. I text and hear nothing. I call and eventually leave a vm explaining I fear he has stolen my camera. The next day he calls and says his wife is ill. Okay, but I have NOTHING via text or email stating he has my camera. He agrees to send me an email stating he has the camera and also explains he will do the job next week. I receive the email on March 12. Since then, silence. Nothing. No response to any methods of communication. This camera is very important to me and it cost me big bucks. I cannot just eat the cost. Has anyone had an experience with Steve Willard? I have only heard good things about the man, which is why I sent the camera to him. But it appears I may have made a terrible mistake. Should I not have this situation settled by the end of the week I will probably have to look into filing charges of mail fraud. That's a felony. I'll also have to go to the BBB. I'd rather not do that to the man if it can be avoided, but fact is HE HAS MY CAMERA and will not fix or simply return it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 Just an update: Mr. Willard and I spoke today. He has been ill and unable to work on cameras due to his health. He has improved and promised to fix my camera this weekend. I take him at his word and want everyone to know it looks like this situation will be resolved. Once the camera arrives I will update you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose luis villar Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 I'm glad you were able to contact people who repair our beloved cameras, today are often older people and it is normal that sometimes are ill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dunn Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 There's a lesson in patience and temperance here. Having a 40-year-old camera repaired isn't the same as clicking through and waiting from the postman. If the poor man gets too much grief he may just retire and that won't help anyone get their kit fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Matthew W. Phillips Posted April 19, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted April 19, 2014 There's a lesson in patience and temperance here. Having a 40-year-old camera repaired isn't the same as clicking through and waiting from the postman. If the poor man gets too much grief he may just retire and that won't help anyone get their kit fixed. Are you implying that Matt was some how in the wrong for wondering where his camera was? Some people rely on their gear for a living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 I'm glad you were able to contact people who repair our beloved cameras, today are often older people and it is normal that sometimes are ill. In case you hadn't put two and two together, I am bending over backwards to be diplomatic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Bill DiPietra Posted May 12, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted May 12, 2014 Ever get the camera back?... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 Not yet. Mr. Willard is working on it. We are in contact and the problem seems to be a real p*sser. It requires taking the camera completely apart to get to it. Such is life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Matthew W. Phillips Posted May 15, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted May 15, 2014 January 30th til now? Wow, how much work have you lost on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 I wouldn't have cared had he communicated with me. It was the weeks of no communication and ignored phone calls, texts and emails begging him for answers that pushed me over the edge. As of right now Mr. Willard is being responsive and working hard on the camera. he has been for a few weeks now so I am grateful for that. All i want is my camera repaired so I am praying he can do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viktor Gibarti Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 I sent my nikon R8 camera to Mr. Willard last year november… I have not got any news since…:( He wrote me only one answer, but after nothing!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andries Molenaar Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 I noticed the Willard website quite some ago and didn't like the style of writing and attitude to potential customers in these these texts. Clearly an omen how things work there. Illness or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Gaunce Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Have these issues been resolved? I was looking for a "reputable" place to have a s8 camera serviced. Thanks- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted May 21, 2014 Author Share Posted May 21, 2014 Not yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Burke Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Have these issues been resolved? I was looking for a "reputable" place to have a s8 camera serviced. Thanks- Try Duall Camera in NYC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Gaunce Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Bill DiPietra Posted May 23, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted May 23, 2014 I didn't know DuAll was still operating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Gaunce Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 They're still around, I purchased something from them a few weeks ago. Didn't know that they repaired S8 cameras though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Burke Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I have and will again have my Nizo serviced there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 Mr. Willard has informed me that he will be mailing me my camera by June 1st. Fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Gaunce Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Hope you get it back in proper working order- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 My camera is in the mail to me. I will report back once I have it and then again after I use it and then again after I get the film processed and scanned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viktor Gibarti Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Good to you… Mr Willard not answer for me…..since april!!!!! So starnge!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Alessandro Machi Posted June 17, 2014 Premium Member Share Posted June 17, 2014 I went to great lengths to have back up when I was doing work for other people. Why not own 3 Canon's instead of one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Stevens Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 I'm not exactly rich. Owning two or more top level 8mm cameras is not exactly practical for me. My Canon arrived last week. I tested a cartridge over the weekend and it went fine. I'll test another this week then send them off for processing and scanning. Fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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