John 3:16/Tamron Agent Service Issue

[mogwai]

Haha, sorry if there was a misunderstanding but I didn't at any time, demand for a 1-1 exchange. I was just quite puzzled why the lens repair took so long as this is the first time I sent my lens in for servicing to Japan.

Anyway, thanks!

hi

if this is the point of your thread, then it's been answered. we've heard in this thread alone of repair periods that range anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks and up to 3 months.

either close the thread or move it to 'consumer corner' where it is more relevant

 

[jeremyterabyte]

Update 10/01/09: Been 3 months since I sent the lens in at John 3:16. Samuel has been very unhelpful thus far, cannot reach him at all on both his cell and shop. On occassions that I do go down all the way to his shop, he cannot offer any help at all, blaming the agent instead. Heng has thus far informed me that my lens was LOST in Japan, and they are going to get me a replacement, but only when stock comes in. Heng called me on Christmas Eve to say he's trying to get me a lens from shops in SG to no avail.

In anycase, it's been more than 3 months since I sent my lens in, issue still unresolved and till this date, the following has happened since 4/10/08:
1) Accused of opening the lens
2) Accused of dropping lens
3) Lens went missing in Japan
4) Offered a replacement when stock comes in, no idea when.

 

[mutant]

Wah.. That bad ah their service.. Hope my Tamron grey set lens can last me without any problems.. (Fingers crossed)

 

[swiftcode]

My goodness....

After reading about this thread, i am having 2nd thoughts about buying Tamron lenses as i was contemplating the 18-270mm lens...

Anyone with similar thoughts?

 

[andretan]

That's why a lot of people say buy first-party lens is better...

 

[mybearbrick]

My goodness....

After reading about this thread, i am having 2nd thoughts about buying Tamron lenses as i was contemplating the 18-270mm lens...

Anyone with similar thoughts?

why let one incident affect your confidence when there are many more people who haven't had any issues with TAMRON lenses?
most of the time, people only post the bad incidents/problems they have, but hardly share the good experiences they have (since they are already enjoying it).
i had very good experiences with my TAMRON 17-50 f2.8 and TAMRON 18-270 VC.

if it is the customer service that you are not confident, then you can opt for cheaper export sets.
if it is the quality of TAMRON lenses, then you worry too much, cos other lenses can malfunction too (its more or your luck than QC of the lens makers).

dun let this affect u too much.
the TAMRON 18-270 VC is still very popular, and what's more, you get to enjoy $100 voucher!
see here

if u decide to just listen to the bad incidents, then you will have one lesser choice of 3rd party lenses to choose from.
why restrict yourself?

 

[mybearbrick]

That's why a lot of people say buy first-party lens is better...

cannot really agree on that.
if you read Nikon and Canon forums, you can also find that some of their lenses have reported problems.
Nevertheless, I must say '1st-party' lenses do indeed have better IQ.

 

[swiftcode]

Thanks, i guess u r rite, a lot of it depends on luck. I only looked at the thread from one perspective, i should not narrow my frame of mind.

I suppose that puts the 18-270mm back into my shopping cart again.

 

[bhybhy]

Hi i dun know about you guys going thru the shop to send in ur lens for repair. I took the trouble to send in personally my 28-300vc to JELCorp at changi on 1 december 08.

the lens took one month to turn around which was considered good, as December is the busy festive month of the year, many worker singapore and oversea japan would have taken long leave. Alvin at jel corp has been helpful in pushing to get my lens back before Christmas( did not happen) and before the new year(did not happen) but never the less i got it back on the 2 of Jan 09.

I took the chance and send in my 28-75 to japan for regular servicing when i collected my 28-300vc on 2 jan 2009.

My tammy 28-300vc fail completely. now working perfectly.

There was some dirt in my 28-75. now its on it way to japan for a regular check up plus removal of dirt.

All under warranty. Just lose a bit of petrol nia, you will have a good night sleep knowing that you send in yourself and the agent is responsible for any missing or faulty or delay. U can call them to check on the status.

well the after service was acceptable to my standards.

 

[cktancktan]

Update 10/01/09: Been 3 months since I sent the lens in at John 3:16. Samuel has been very unhelpful thus far, cannot reach him at all on both his cell and shop. On occassions that I do go down all the way to his shop, he cannot offer any help at all, blaming the agent instead. Heng has thus far informed me that my lens was LOST in Japan, and they are going to get me a replacement, but only when stock comes in. Heng called me on Christmas Eve to say he's trying to get me a lens from shops in SG to no avail.

In anycase, it's been more than 3 months since I sent my lens in, issue still unresolved and till this date, the following has happened since 4/10/08:
1) Accused of opening the lens
2) Accused of dropping lens
3) Lens went missing in Japan
4) Offered a replacement when stock comes in, no idea when.

Update 22/11/08: Issue still unresolved as of yet. Going to check with Sameul from John 3:16 in a bit.

Update 15/11/08: Sameul from John 3:16 called to let me know on the status. He mentioned that he would help me get this matter resolved and he has called the agent to rectify the issue. Very kind of him, will wait for Monday to see how things go as advised. Whee!

Hi Everyone,

About 6 weeks ago, I came back from China with a lens problem. I have bought the Tamron 17-50 F2.8 Canon Mount from John 3:16 sometime in August and it malfunctioned, the zoom ring got stuck and the front lens element became loose. I was not aware of the lens element becoming loose until I was at John 3:16.

On 4th October 2008, I brought the lens to John 3:16 for some help. Background Info: When I bought the lens, Sameul from John said that if there was any problem with the lens, he would give me a 1-1 exchange. When I brought the lens to him, he pointed out the front lens element being loose and refused to give me a 1-1 exchange, citing the possibility of the lens being dropped before. Sameul then suggested helping me send the lens to agent for servicing.

I want to make it clear that the lens was not dropped or improperly handled at any time.

Quite reluctantly, I let Sam handle the matter, and the lens was taken in by him on 4th October 2008 to be sent to an agent named "Heng". The lens was sent and confirmed to be in Japan about a week (11/10/2008) after it was sent it.

From then till now (14/11/2008), the lens was alleged by the factory, to be opened before. When I asked how did they come to that conclusion, agent Heng said we have to wait till the technical report comes back. Heng at this point said, along the lines of, if the factory didnt point out that the lens has been opened, they'd have given a 1-1 exchange.

I want to make it clear again, as this point, the lens was not opened, not improperly handled, nor dropped, at any time.

From then on, I have repeatedly asked Heng where is my lens and when my lens will be returned to me, to which Heng said he'll check and get back to me repeatedly on many occassions.

My very latest contact with Heng, today, have him telling me that the lens is still in the factory, with no date of return in sight. He claimed that they have called the factory several times to which there was no reply.

It's been more than 6 weeks since I sent my lens in for servicing, and I still have not got it back yet.

Any suggestions, guys? Thanks. :dunno:

Bro, I feel for u man. Spending big bucks and getting crap copies of lenses. Well, the consolation is that at least they have given u their word to replace it with a new one. Well, hope u got it in writing. 6 weeks wait is a bit long, I won't chase them everyday, but a couple of times a week would be fair enuff to obtain some kind of feedback on the progress. I personally dun have problem wif this shop, but will NEVER buy from ms colour. Dun like the way they treat customers. ms colour's attitude is akin to a very popular hawker who has long queue of customers: their biz so good until they are not interested to serve u. Well, after a few occasions wif MS color, what i'll do is test their lenses and buy from lords, :thumbsup:cathay, orient, :thumbsup:tcw, anywhere else except :thumbsd: mscolor.:thumbsd:

 

[mybearbrick]

Bro, I feel for u man. Spending big bucks and getting crap copies of lenses. Well, the consolation is that at least they have given u their word to replace it with a new one. Well, hope u got it in writing. 6 weeks wait is a bit long, I won't chase them everyday, but a couple of times a week would be fair enuff to obtain some kind of feedback on the progress. I personally dun have problem wif this shop, but will NEVER buy from ms colour. Dun like the way they treat customers. ms colour's attitude is akin to a very popular hawker who has long queue of customers: their biz so good until they are not interested to serve u. Well, after a few occasions wif MS color, what i'll do is test their lenses and buy from lords, :thumbsup:cathay, orient, :thumbsup:tcw, anywhere else except :thumbsd: mscolor.:thumbsd:

isn't the topic on "John 3:16/Tamron Agent Service Issue"? what has that got to do with MS Color?
and furthermore with the many 'thumbs down'.
I believe there are many people who have patronized and loved the service given by the people at MS Color, and were returning customers.
So it all boils down to individual's experience?

some customers go in shops, act like king and test here and test there, ask for this free that free, more discounts, and tell their friends that they would rather visit other shops to buy. or they actually enter without the intention to buy.
if you are the retailer who depends on this as a livelihood, seeing so many of such customers everyday, you will also be fed up right?
If you happen to enter some shops and try this, you will get it big time from the retailers. I have personally seen tourists in tourist-popular malls/shops, geting shouted at in their faces for openly claiming that other shops give better offers.
so end of the day, lords, cathay, orient, tcw, mscolor, these shops are already having very good service. at least they let you try. some shops won't even care to let customers try and give the obvious "you cannot afford it and still want to try!!" look.

 

[cktancktan]

My goodness....

After reading about this thread, i am having 2nd thoughts about buying Tamron lenses as i was contemplating the 18-270mm lens...

Anyone with similar thoughts?

Hey swiftcode, i got a couple of tamrons, the 17-50 f2.8 is really very sharp, AF very fast too. comparable wif canon's equivalent but more expensive f2.8. I wouldnt avoid buying tamron just bcos of a few bros bad experience. I'll still buy and recommend tamrons but i'll avoid buying from john and ms color though. tamron wif its new distributor and its voucher freebies is an added incentive to get them while promo still on.

 

[jeremyterabyte]

Update 13/01/09: Finally got a replacement for the lens. Heng has been really helpful. But here's how the story goes: Lens was sent in to John 3:16 for after-sales service due to malfunctioning zoom ring, which was in turn sent to old Tamron agent, which then sent the lens in to TCW to send to Japan for servicing. Confusing? Haha.

After more than 3 months, the lens's still retained at the Japan service centre, citing accusations that the lens has been opened before - factory demand payment. Heng, the tamron agent, got me a replacement on 13/01, but the filter is still missing.

I got a HMC filter on the lens that I sent in and this was reflected in the reciept that John 3:16 issued. This item, however, was not reflected in TCW's inventory. Heng will be looking for my filter in his workshop/office and will let me know if and when I can get my filter back.

A replacement for the filter cannot be offered on the spot by Heng and John 3:16, apparantly, because John 3:16 does not at the moment, have a Hoya HMC UV Filter 67mm filter.

Out of goodwill, John 3:16 issued a new 'purchase' receipt which will lengthen the warranty, starting Dec 24 08. Heng, the tamron agent, has said he would send me a new warranty card.

Items still not got back... filter.

 

[dada677]

A little OT here cause i saw this video clip of a tamron having a loose front element. Is this the way your problem started?

 

[kumhoo]

Hey swiftcode, i got a couple of tamrons, the 17-50 f2.8 is really very sharp, AF very fast too. comparable wif canon's equivalent but more expensive f2.8. I wouldnt avoid buying tamron just bcos of a few bros bad experience. I'll still buy and recommend tamrons but i'll avoid buying from john and ms color though. tamron wif its new distributor and its voucher freebies is an added incentive to get them while promo still on.

I got my tamron 1750 from ms color, is reli a sharp copy too. Btw, wat happen to ms color and john? Is their service attitude got problem? i found their service is quite ok. Maybe u can share abit buddy.

 

[dawgbyte77]

Interesting experience. It's nice to know your bad experience is almost over. I think the problem is a combination of small unfortunate incidents which snowballed into 1 big issue and you got the whole brunt. At least J316 is somehow compensating for the headache you had.. hope you get your filter back.

But what is really dumb are most of the reply here which concentrated too much on your "1-on-1 exchange" instead of the focusing on the actual topic... some things never change in clubsnap...

 

[Big Kahuna]

I got my tamron 1750 from ms color, is reli a sharp copy too. Btw, wat happen to ms color and john? Is their service attitude got problem? i found their service is quite ok. Maybe u can share abit buddy.

Not sure why, I bought my camera stuffs from MS color, Lords, Cathay and Alan Photos before....never encounter any mistreatment at all......somehow I just felt that it takes two hands to claps :sweat:

 

[jeremyterabyte]

Update Jan 30: Went down to J3:16. Heng, the service agent sent me an sms a week or so prior to my trip down saying he had contacted a staff at J316 and my filter is ready for collection. I head down, only to be informed that the replacement filter was nowhere to be found. Samuel offered to let me buy a B+W equivalent for $40, which I refused. I really just want my filter back and get this thing over with.

So anyway, the filter that was supposed to be waiting for me is 'out of stock'. Samuel then asked me to contact the agent for my filter. I asked why, to which he replied along the lines of "Agent lost your filter, go find them". I said no, I sent in my lens with the stuck filter to you, which you signed for, so you are responsible for it, so I expect the get the filter from you.

At this point, I was quite impatient already. You must understand that due to this particularly issue, I have made no less than 4 trips down to John 3:16, with answers always going to and fro. Now, I can't even get my filter back.

Anyway, after I said I expect to get the filter from Samuel back since he was the one who signed for it, he kinda lost his temper and raised his voice, saying I have been very rude to him.

Well, pardon me for being a little pushy, but my experience over the last 4 or so months has not exactly been pleasant, being thrown end to end like ping pong. And so, I left the shop, being thrown back again, to the agent - who said he'd contact me once he clarifies with Samuel.

Sigh.

 

[Entertainer]

hum..why did u send in the lens with the filter? like HP repairs which takes out your memory card, SIM card, battery and battery cover... so i am curious why did u send the lens with the filter in, and Sam actually did not take out the filter and return you.

 

[jeremyterabyte]

Filter was stuck, couldn't remove - so no choice but to send it together.

dada677 - exactly like so. I only realise the front element was loose upon inspection by J316 staff. Didn't had it wobble prior.