CLA - Flutot's vs SK Grimes????

[tim atherton]

joe,

I've looked around over the last couple of years, but haven't found any. I tried contacting a couple of places that were suggested by Geoffrey James from his use in the past, but the prices they wanted to charge were ridiculous. One place in Ontario wanted $200+ just to CLA a modern Copal shutter. Another guy in BC wanted $75 or so just to drill a Deardorff lensboard.

I've used Grimes - though I found their more recent (18 months or so ago) general CLA work to not be that great and stuff was very delayed both times. I'd probably try Carol Miller for general CLA's and repairs now.

Not had too much of a problem with the cross border stuff (though it has happened in the past with repairs - and recently, Canada Post/Customs charged me duties and taxes on my own photos being returned from a submission... they did correct that eventually though!)

[Mike Kovacs]

Okay, here's the real question (for some of us) - is there anybody left in Canada doing this kind of work? I've done business myself with SK Grimes in the past myself, no complaints at all, but arguing with the taxman that a lens comming back across the border was orignally yours, it was just sent for service, even when you have the documentation to back you up, is frankly becomming too much of a PITA.

joe

Joe, what do you have? If its just a standard shutter CLA, I can have a look at that for you. Is London Ontario close enough for you? Is two cases of beer cheap enough?

PM me - we should grab a coffee sometime.

[Keith S. Walklet]

Hugh,

Are you familiar with International Camera Technicians on Villa in Mountain View? 650-961-5825. Fred Meuller and son. Very German attitude. Barbara Brudage turned us onto them. They apparently did work for "the big guy."

BTW, how's life in the El Portal cul de sac?

[John Z.]

I have had many lenses (at least 5 or 6) mounted by LensN2shutter by Tim, who does excellent work, and would recommend him. I also have had a lot of work done by S.K. Grimes, and they are very good as well, and have always been very satisfied with their precision work.

[Keith S. Walklet]

Ooops, missed that this was an older thread.

I feel for you guys. Seems that Canadian government is also very protective of local services as well as product.

[Mike Kovacs]

Of course you should not pay duty or sales taxes on items sent out of country for repair and return. You need to cover your tracks and challenge the customs ruling if you do get hit. I sent out a Rolleiflex SL66 camera to California and it came back with no charges. I've sent other things out too but I'm mostly performing my own repairs these days, unless I don't have parts or we're talking about a very specialized camera that I'm too chicken to attempt.

What they can theoretically get you on is PST/GST on the actual cost of the repair work done, same as you would pay for repair work in Ontario.

[Joseph O'Neil]

Joe, what do you have? If its just a standard shutter CLA, I can have a look at that for you. Is London Ontario close enough for you? Is two cases of beer cheap enough?

PM me - we should grab a coffee sometime.

PM sent

..and it'll be one case of beer, but Guiness, the "real" stuff.


joe

[Mike Kovacs]

Sounds good, but "real" Guiness comes from the keg and I'm going to hold you to that.

[JW Dewdney]

Hmmm... the name Mike Kovacs sounds a bit familiar - but I COULD be hallucinating. I'm from London also, though... do you mind me asking how old you are/what high school you went to...? I'm 40 and went to South. But I was at Westminster for a year and had a lot of friends at Central...

[Ole Tjugen]

Of course you should not pay duty or sales taxes on items sent out of country for repair and return.

Contact your local customs office. They should be able to help you by issuing a "transit statement" or similar. At least they did whan I left the country with about $5000 worth of camera gear, and again when I sent a $100 lens for repair in the USA.