wetware
Registered
I had an accident the other day.
First, I'd like to say I really love my Ikelite gear. I got my new second Ikelite arm, for my soon new Ikelite DS-160 (and dual eTTL cord ... well before the accident) to match my Ikelte ds-125 for use with my Ikelite housing for my canon 20D. I'm very happy with the products, and I've even upgrade my Ikelite wide-angle port from the small cheapy to the big Ikelite modular 8" one.
But tragedy struck. While packing for a dive trip, the the suitcase I carefully placed the housing on (with camera in it) that was sitting on a table slowly folded under the weight, with the housing and camera making a loud impact on the floor.
The result : a large compound fracture in the main front acrylic housing and one dead 20D.
Now a 20D in this day and age is worth about the same as a good triple espresso and piece of Bannofi. A 50D is where it is all about.
Again ... I want to commend Ikelite, because upon sending back the housing, they will fix it for the princely sum of some (*price omitted but let me say it is very good*) including new acrylic case, upgraded electronics, and reseating and refurbishing all the buttons and bits.
Now this price is ridiculously good value. I can't say how impressed I am with how I feel as a customer and how I'm being looked after in such way. I read the blurb on the Ike history and the family values. Kudos.
The painful part is that I have to buy another Canon 20D, which is a bit like you guys going out and instead of buying a blueRay player, spending your cash on a Betamax video player. I ask Ikelite, "Hey, if I need a new acrylic housing. Can't you take all the buttons and frames and such and reconfigure the new acrylic housing to a 50D? I'm happy to pay any extra for bits missing!"
Sad answer : "No, we don't offer an upgrade option from 20D to 50D."
No reason was given, no further comments or pleads prompted a reply.
OK, here's the problem! For Iketlite to offer this incredible service (and from my experience and what I read on here it IS incredible!) on fixing old equipment, they need you to buy their new stuff (Business and Money Making 101). Otherwise, every git with a 20D housing would accidentally back over it with their pickup and for the nominal specified price merely upgrade, and thereby save themselves the $1600 upgrade cost to a new housing. This would contrevene Money Making 101, Rule #1.
Now to our good U.S. compatriots, have some sympathy to your poor Aussie cousins. The exchange rate now means that a new 50D housing is about $2800 - 2900 in this exciting economic climate. This starts getting near the price of a Seacam being the A$ hasn't faired as badly against the Euro or pound.
My comment about "almost exemplary service" is based on presuming there is a customer need to upgrade housings (which last for years and years), to keep up with electronics which are outdated as quickly as the previously mentioned triple esspresso and Bannofi are consumed?
Am I disgruntled. Please no! I don't want to sound like I'm whining, just identifying a need or niche! As mentioned, the amazing value repair cost just really makes me feel like this is a company, a brand, that I want to support! But I feel there is an incredible environmental waste here where an obsolete housing will be created and perhaps never used because the cameras are no longer produced to fit it. I think it's sad this will end up in a garage like old mobile phones, laptops and printers that are so obsolete you can't give them away.
I don't think anyone would gripe about your making it financially worth your while.
nb - if anyone is interested in buying a mint condition 20d Ikelite housing please contact this address. (If I haven't got Ikelite offside)
Disclaimer : If a second hand 20D is as cheap second hand as I suggest where is the problem ... the gist is I'm ready to move forward, if the acrylic is that cheap a component of the whole setup, can't we salvage the expensive components when upgrading? It's about recycling!
Disclaimer 2 : Bannofi, a banana and toffi, caramel pie. No sorry, I don't have the recipe.
First, I'd like to say I really love my Ikelite gear. I got my new second Ikelite arm, for my soon new Ikelite DS-160 (and dual eTTL cord ... well before the accident) to match my Ikelte ds-125 for use with my Ikelite housing for my canon 20D. I'm very happy with the products, and I've even upgrade my Ikelite wide-angle port from the small cheapy to the big Ikelite modular 8" one.
But tragedy struck. While packing for a dive trip, the the suitcase I carefully placed the housing on (with camera in it) that was sitting on a table slowly folded under the weight, with the housing and camera making a loud impact on the floor.
The result : a large compound fracture in the main front acrylic housing and one dead 20D.
Now a 20D in this day and age is worth about the same as a good triple espresso and piece of Bannofi. A 50D is where it is all about.
Again ... I want to commend Ikelite, because upon sending back the housing, they will fix it for the princely sum of some (*price omitted but let me say it is very good*) including new acrylic case, upgraded electronics, and reseating and refurbishing all the buttons and bits.
Now this price is ridiculously good value. I can't say how impressed I am with how I feel as a customer and how I'm being looked after in such way. I read the blurb on the Ike history and the family values. Kudos.
The painful part is that I have to buy another Canon 20D, which is a bit like you guys going out and instead of buying a blueRay player, spending your cash on a Betamax video player. I ask Ikelite, "Hey, if I need a new acrylic housing. Can't you take all the buttons and frames and such and reconfigure the new acrylic housing to a 50D? I'm happy to pay any extra for bits missing!"
Sad answer : "No, we don't offer an upgrade option from 20D to 50D."
No reason was given, no further comments or pleads prompted a reply.
OK, here's the problem! For Iketlite to offer this incredible service (and from my experience and what I read on here it IS incredible!) on fixing old equipment, they need you to buy their new stuff (Business and Money Making 101). Otherwise, every git with a 20D housing would accidentally back over it with their pickup and for the nominal specified price merely upgrade, and thereby save themselves the $1600 upgrade cost to a new housing. This would contrevene Money Making 101, Rule #1.
Now to our good U.S. compatriots, have some sympathy to your poor Aussie cousins. The exchange rate now means that a new 50D housing is about $2800 - 2900 in this exciting economic climate. This starts getting near the price of a Seacam being the A$ hasn't faired as badly against the Euro or pound.
My comment about "almost exemplary service" is based on presuming there is a customer need to upgrade housings (which last for years and years), to keep up with electronics which are outdated as quickly as the previously mentioned triple esspresso and Bannofi are consumed?
Am I disgruntled. Please no! I don't want to sound like I'm whining, just identifying a need or niche! As mentioned, the amazing value repair cost just really makes me feel like this is a company, a brand, that I want to support! But I feel there is an incredible environmental waste here where an obsolete housing will be created and perhaps never used because the cameras are no longer produced to fit it. I think it's sad this will end up in a garage like old mobile phones, laptops and printers that are so obsolete you can't give them away.
I don't think anyone would gripe about your making it financially worth your while.
nb - if anyone is interested in buying a mint condition 20d Ikelite housing please contact this address. (If I haven't got Ikelite offside)
Disclaimer : If a second hand 20D is as cheap second hand as I suggest where is the problem ... the gist is I'm ready to move forward, if the acrylic is that cheap a component of the whole setup, can't we salvage the expensive components when upgrading? It's about recycling!
Disclaimer 2 : Bannofi, a banana and toffi, caramel pie. No sorry, I don't have the recipe.
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