Cheap CLA?

[charles_stobbs3]

CLA, 99 cents? EBay item 120485798096

[sd_woods]

<p>I smell a rat.</p>

[charles_hess2]

<p>Sounds like they would do a CLA for $.99 and never return the camera.</p>

[hal_b]

<p>I don't think it's even in the eBay Terms of Use Agreement to sell services instead of goods.</p>

[t_nu_tamm]

<p>This guy says that "CLA" and "scam" are always synonyms:<br>

http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_cla.shtml<br>

But "CLA for $.99" sounds like an extreme case of CLA.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>A real CLA is very good for the camera. Gets all the accumulated dust, fragments, and other debris along with assorted camera smegma out of the inside works.<br>

However, in addition to the link given by Tonu, there are other posts (e.g., <a href="http://www.exaktaphile.com/fraud/0.html">link</a> in that case for Exakta CLAs ) that have exposed that even well-known repair outfits sometimes just slop a little naphtha over it and send it back to the owner.</p>

<p>However, the eBay link is not really for a 99¢ CLA. That is the <em>starting</em> bid only, so theory it could go for much more. However, I could see only one completed sale (for, ta-da, 99¢) for a Nikon service, and the other various camera repairs went unsold. Apparently other persons have seen this auction setting less than attractive for the service. The retailler has over 11,000 transactions on eBay with a 99.3% positive rating, although most of these seem to be for film sales.</p>

[robert_hooper1]

<blockquote>

<p>This guy says that "CLA" and "scam" are always synonyms:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_cla.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_cla.shtml</a></p>

</blockquote>

<p>CLA horror stories abound. That's why I am reluctant to try any service technician without a long and impeccable reputation. </p>

<p>Nikon F2 specialist Sover Wong actually sends a CD back with your serviced camera containing photos of your disassembled Nikon F2 illustrating each step of his CLA process, (before and after shots), including any problem areas. Superb service. I wish every service person did the same.</p>

[robert_hauser1]

<p>Couple years ago I bought a cla/repair for my Hasselblad CF 50mm lens.<br>

I sent it off , and two or three weeks later it came back looking and working beautifully.<br>

So, Maybe I was lucky, maybe not.<br>

I think it was an attempt for this company to build up business.</p>

[t_nu_tamm]

<p>I don't really think that all the repairmen are scammers, it's simply that a proper CLA effectively consists of a complete rebuild of a camera + cleaning + new materials, and should cost today at least as much as it did cost to original manufacturer. But at today's market prices, typical owner treats their classic cameras as toys, and expects to pay the repairman just for toy-mending, too. And then, often, we are given what (or who?) we have paid for. <br>

One dollar would probably amount for front-lens cleaning only, without insurance.</p>

 

[Richard Williams]

<p>Even if it's legitimate, the wording (which hardly inspires confidence!) suggests you're effectively paying for an estimate of the actual cost of a repair (which would include a CLA), not the repair/CLA itself. But obviously nobody should trust their Leica to anyone without an excellent reputation in servicing these specific cameras.</p>

[dan_b.4]

<p>I love this quote from his item "Canon 35mm Camera Checkup": Our technician can repair all models manufactured in the year 2000 to present date.</p>

<p>The Golden Age for 35mm cameras!</p>