deardorf company

[csxcnj]

I suspect that 100% of the people bashing Deardorff are not potential customers anyway. In all honesty what I strongly feel we have here is an owner that is seriously underestimating his delivery time and overestimating his ability to perform on schedule. If one were to double the time for delivery you would not be disappointed. I have yet to hear of anyone that legitimately lost their deposit.

When I left a message for Barry I was kind and very polite and he returned my call we had a very pleasant conversation. And he took care of me just fine and I would do business with him again in a country minute and likely will. I did not go ballistic and start leaving threatening and personally demeaning voice mails which he intimated was the case on this subject. If you must have a new Deardorff there are no other options so you either accept the fact that your camera will likely be completed beyond the estimated time or rethink your objectives. It is that simple. Until someone can point to a lost deposit or a case of financial loss in this business I say this situation has been document ad nauseum and it is time to move on. The viewing audience clearly gets it.

Merry Christmas!

Michael, I ws a potential Deardorff buyer while researching my first field camera purchase. That ended very quickly after a google search exposed all the problems with the company.

In regards to it being simply a time to completion underestimation on the Cochrans part, I have read accounts from numerous people who have been lied to over and over for better than a year. If that was the problem they could solve it easily by taking stock of the orders, prioritizing them, and comunicating honestly with their customers.

Your statement that if they simply doubled their estimated delivery time everything would be fine does not add up. Two times three months is six months. Many complaints are from people who have been waiting one to two years. And have been told over and over "the camera is almost in the mail".....

I would still buy a Deardorff If the Cochrans righted the ship, but they are not going to. They can afford a trip to China but can't deliver merchandise bought and paid for, give customers false promises, avoid customers and have sent out reported shoddy goods. They are in a business death spiral. I'm in the construction building/maintenance business as a self employed subcontractor and have seen this show countless times. It is sad.

Merry Christmas

[William Whitaker]

It's very disappointing to see this issue continuing on. A few years ago I spent time with Barry over several dinners as he told me of his great plans to resurrect the Deardorff company. We discussed at some length the pitfalls associated with it, especially in light of other large format camera businesses that had generated a lot of mistrust in our small corner of the econo-sphere. The "Wisner business model" was one which we agreed wholeheartedly he should avoid. I'm neither a sage nor a business wizard, but I did tell him at that time that I felt it was paramount that he maintain full communications with his clients, something he has not done. And I count myself among those since he has stiffed me for $500 since that time with no explanation. But somehow he found the funds for a trip to China. I don't care whose definition of "minute" we use, I won't be doing any business with him. Period.

[Noah B]

A few years ago when I had a V8 I ordered parts on ebay to upgrade the leather strap. They didn't come with instructions so I called them up and they emailed me the installation info. I also orderd a brand new 8x10 back from them on ebay and I got it within a few days of purchase. I've read all the horror stories about Wisner company and you have to take into account how small of an operation they have going on. The orders pile up and there aren't enough workers to fill them as fast as they can. More orders pile in over time and it just adds up. I mean really, Deardorff cameras are an American classic and who wouldn't want a chance to get a brand new one from their shop? The LF community here is huge and there are more people out there who absolutely have to have a brand new Deardorff. 1 to 2 years is an absurd amount of time to wait without prior knowledge of that wait time. It's poor business to have customers wait that long when you didn't say it in the first place. If I had the money I'd get a chamonix because they seem to be able to fulfill their orders and you don't hear anybody bad-mouthing them. BBB is a great source though, I had to report a camera repairman once because he kept my camera for 8 months and never replied to my phone calls. He sent my camera back and called me a "dumby" LOL.

[Sal Santamaura]

...I have yet to hear of anyone that legitimately lost their deposit...Until someone can point to a lost deposit or a case of financial loss in this business I say this situation has been document ad nauseum and it is time to move on...

There's only one thing that, when lost, cannot be recovered by any one of us: time. It's the most precious commodity we finite mortals possess.

..."Would I rather have no Deardorff Camera Company or one that operates at 50% efficiency?"...

My answer is "c. No Deardorff Camera Company and a re-started R.H. Phillips and Sons camera company." I declined Dick's recent suggestion to take up repairing existing and/or manufacturing new Phillips cameras. Fortunately, I bought all the Phillips products I'll ever need when they, and his honorable business practices, were still available. Unfortunately not everyone had that opportunity, so they are restricted to inferior designs and "manufacturers" like Deardorff.

[Jac@stafford.net]

There's only one thing that, when lost, cannot be recovered by any one of us: time. It's the most precious commodity we finite mortals possess.

So true to individuals who live in the moment; brief opportunities for captures.

I do not want to stir controversy, but to me Deardorff is a studio camera, or one not to be carried more than a thousand feet from the vehicle.

I wonder why anyone really wants one. It is an overweight, tedious to use appliance.

And yes, I have one.

Peace,
J

[sanking]

"Unfortunately not everyone had that opportunity, so they are restricted to inferior designs and "manufacturers" like Deardorff."

Actually the Chamonix cameras, and many cameras in Shen-Hao line, incorporate some of the fundamental design characteristics of the Phillips cameras. The imitation is fairly obvious, and has been discussed before on this forum.

Deardorff is a very old design and, yes, a bit overweight IMO compared to many other designs.


Sandy

[Fred L]

I have friends who are serious amateur astronomers and what they spend on gear makes our expenditures seem like small change. One company (Astrophysics) is so in demand that people will go on their waiting list, with no deposit as I understand it, and sit in line for many years. When their name comes up they can still buy the scope or mount or let the next in line get it.

I understand this is apples and oranges but just a different perspective on a business model and demand. I also have no dog in this scrap but it's just sad to read about members here being, imo, stiffed and lied to.

[karl french]

All things considered, I'd rather have a Deardorff.

[calibre61]

I am a supplier of an item for Deardorf cameras, which without you cannot sell a camera. I have outstanding invoices from the company which are more than long overdue, if people are not receiving cameras i am not surprised " they are not able to complete any" i know this is an inappropriate thing to write (and i apologise to the Forum heir achy) but i think people have the right to know the facts before they part with their money

[zelph]

As for Philips cameras, beautiful and a lot for Dick Philips to be proud of. Well made and he is one of the finest gentleman around.
Would love to have one but he never made them with bellows long enough for what I need.