Topic: calumet has the worst costumer service (Read 14440 times)

nicolaasdb · « **on:** November 15, 2007, 03:46:28 am »

I ordered a Aptus 65 from Calumet about one year ago...there were already rumours about the 65s back then. Bill Gemberling from Leaf visited me about 3 months ago telling me the 65s would be on the market by the end of August. He promised me to contact calumet (on my request, since they do not have it together...I guess spending 20k is not enough spending power an longer to be of interest).....anyway never heard back from Bill and never gotten a call from calumet to send my 65 back for a replacement (NOT a upgrade...Bill promised me!!)

Anybody with similar experience with leaf and calumet?? We are always talking about 3d and 2d, bit depth etc...but almost never about costumer service, which is very important now-a-days in the digital age!

Dustbak · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2007, 04:18:10 am »

I totally agree.

I had a deal with Leaf to upgrade my A17 to the A65. From that moment on Calumet took over. Every question I asked remained unanswered until I asked 3 times.

I was supposed to do this at the end of september. In august I asked what it would cost me to upgrade to A65s and where I could send my money. I have repeated this question 3 times after which I gave up and bought a Hasselblad CF39.

I am very satisfied with Leaf as a back, manufacturer. I am also very impressed with the level of commitment of Leaf employees but I will never buy from Calumet. Since Calumet is the only Leaf dealer over here, this probably means I will not buy another Leaf.

Mind you this was not the first time I had problems with Calumet. The first time I simply bought my Leaf back in the US.

Dustbak · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2007, 04:35:58 am »

I still have difficulties to believe that all manufacturers are only relying on a dealer network.

There are very good dealers out there but I dare to say they are outnumbered by the ones that don't give a damn about what they are selling as long as they make money.

I still don't believe why none of the back makers has an online entity to support their customers (buying, service, etc..) and starts taking over there where dealers are not performing. This will only hurt the dealers that aren't committed in the first place.

That way when you handle everything via a dealer they make sure they have real added value.

psorantin · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2007, 08:43:57 am »

Gentlemen,
By the way, do you know what the cost model is for upgrading from an Aptus-17 to 22?

Peter

canmiya · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2007, 09:17:04 am »

Quote

I ordered a Aptus 65 from Calumet about one year ago...there were already rumours about the 65s back then. Bill Gemberling from Leaf visited me about 3 months ago telling me the 65s would be on the market by the end of August. He promised me to contact calumet (on my request, since they do not have it together...I guess spending 20k is not enough spending power an longer to be of interest).....anyway never heard back from Bill and never gotten a call from calumet to send my 65 back for a replacement (NOT a upgrade...Bill promised me!!)

Anybody with similar experience with leaf and calumet?? We are always talking about 3d and 2d, bit depth etc...but almost never about costumer service, which is very important now-a-days in the digital age!
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

i contacted the leaf regional mgr for my area directly about another matter, and we ultimately got around to talking about upgrading my back. he sent me a pdf outling the charges, and at that time i was told that i could either send it in directly to leaf or go through my dealer, which was calumet.
i have to say that i have gotten great service from the digital specialist at calumet.
the leaf regional mgrs. are listed on the leaf america contact page.
[a href=\"http://www.leafamerica.com/contact.asp]http://www.leafamerica.com/contact.asp[/url]

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2007, 09:37:13 am »

the customer service is the WORST at Calumet. A year and a half ago I went into the store and asked for a demo of Aptus 22, as was considering purchasing the back. I had a call back a few days ago - one and a half years later!!!!! Will never do business with them.

MarkKay · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2007, 09:37:33 am »

Yes i do agree with you as well. I am not even going to go through my issues just to say that was my one and only purchase I will ever make and had I known, I would not have made that one either. After they received the money it is as if they did not care

Quote

i contacted the leaf regional mgr for my area directly about another matter, and we ultimately got around to talking about upgrading my back. he sent me a pdf outling the charges, and at that time i was told that i could either send it in directly to leaf or go through my dealer, which was calumet.
i have to say that i have gotten great service from the digital specialist at calumet.
the leaf regional mgrs. are listed on the leaf america contact page.
http://www.leafamerica.com/contact.asp
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153048\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Carl Glover · « **Reply #7 on:** November 15, 2007, 09:49:33 am »

Calumet are crummy in the UK too.

Haughty and indifferent is a good description for their attitude to customers.

Fritzer · « **Reply #8 on:** November 15, 2007, 11:10:44 am »

I got my Aptus 75 from Calumet Hamburg/ Germany , and have been quite pleased by the service.
Not perfect, but far more than just satisfying, considering it's just one guy representing Leaf.

In general Calumet is pretty good and professional in Hamburg, but that might also have to do with the town being a media stronghold - and German .
No offence meant, I spent a lot of time in the US and like it there, but service can go from exceptional to beyond 3rd world, no matter what kind of business or money involved...

nicolaasdb · « **Reply #9 on:** November 15, 2007, 12:34:44 pm »

and where is yiars comment now?? he is always the first to defend and tell how great leaf is as a company...part of this greatness is your dealer network and reps!

waiting for a satisfying answer leaf people!!!

yaya · « **Reply #10 on:** November 15, 2007, 01:54:04 pm »

Quote

and where is yiars comment now?? he is always the first to defend and tell how great leaf is as a company...part of this greatness is your dealer network and reps!

waiting for a satisfying answer leaf people!!!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153104\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Check your email

Yair

SecondFocus · « **Reply #11 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:22:14 pm »

Quote

I ordered a Aptus 65 from Calumet about one year ago...there were already rumours about the 65s back then. Bill Gemberling from Leaf visited me about 3 months ago telling me the 65s would be on the market by the end of August. He promised me to contact calumet (on my request, since they do not have it together...I guess spending 20k is not enough spending power an longer to be of interest).....anyway never heard back from Bill and never gotten a call from calumet to send my 65 back for a replacement (NOT a upgrade...Bill promised me!!)

Anybody with similar experience with leaf and calumet?? We are always talking about 3d and 2d, bit depth etc...but almost never about costumer service, which is very important now-a-days in the digital age!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=152991\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I obviously cannot speak to your individual circumstance. However I will say that Bill Gemberling has been nothing but helpful to me going out of his way a couple of times.

When I lived closer to a Calumet store they were also very good to me with excellent care, but not much price competition.

With that said, I have for the last year been doing business with Bob Wilde, the pro rep from Samy's Camera here in Southern California. I have been treated exceptionally well, excellent service and prices.

Just relating my own experiences...

pixjohn · « **Reply #12 on:** November 15, 2007, 02:38:16 pm »

I purchased my Leaf back from Calumet in LA. I will say they had, and still have very little knowledge of the product but the service and price with the purchase was very good. I receive better prices from Calumet then BH Photo.

Bill Gemberling is a nice guy and will try to help and go the extra mile. One problem Bill has is Leaf not having anwser or solotion for him to give. I know Leaf and Bill himeself read the fourm.

I have asked Calumet and Leaf for help to solve the same problem over a year and half with my Aptus 75 back with no solotion.

nicolaasdb · « **Reply #13 on:** November 15, 2007, 04:02:42 pm »

Bill has been very helpful to me to...but he hasn't come thru since our last meeting and that makes me wonder if he left leaf...since he didn't return my email.

Yair thanks for your email..I hope that someone here (USA) will take action.

pixjohn · « **Reply #14 on:** November 15, 2007, 05:10:57 pm »

I just looked at the Leaf america site and bill's name is no longer listed? Maybe he did leave? i know Leaf hired the Local Los Angeles Sinar rep to work with Leaf.

nicolaasdb · « **Reply #15 on:** November 15, 2007, 07:33:13 pm »

thanks john, that is what I expected, since Bill didn't reply back at all! Still I expected Bill to email me or give me a courtesy call to let me know. I guess that is how the world is today! Nobody really gives a S..T anymore!!

sanvandur · « **Reply #16 on:** November 15, 2007, 07:39:03 pm »

Calumet sucks in San Francisco too. A few nice people work there, but mostly they are very unhelpful and rude.

pixjohn · « **Reply #17 on:** November 15, 2007, 07:47:23 pm »

Maybe call Mike Edwards, National Sales Manager. Mike was the first person I was in contact with before Bill.

Quote

thanks john, that is what I expected, since Bill didn't reply back at all! Still I expected Bill to email me or give me a courtesy call to let me know. I guess that is how the world is today! Nobody really gives a S..T anymore!!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153199\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Chris_Brown · « **Reply #18 on:** November 16, 2007, 10:31:04 pm »

In 1982 I began purchasing equipment from Calumet Bensenville. They were a mail order facility then, phone calls only. I got good, knowledgeable service. After five years I began purchasing equipment from a local vendor who provided service to my strobes and LF lenses, all of which I'd bought at Calumet Bensenville. Fast forward to my purchase of an Epson 9600 with ImagePrint and rolls of paper and they didn't know anything about the products other than price. They couldn't even track the order for me (the Epson printers manifested from another distributor). It was the last time I've ever purchased anything of significant cost from them.

Conversely, when I work in San Diego I'll rent from the Calumet in Escondido. I find the counter service is helpful and friendly. The rental department is on the ball, too, able to reserve lighting and grip for me weeks in advance of my arrival, with everything clean, fully functional, charged and ready to go.

RicAgu · « **Reply #19 on:** November 17, 2007, 12:59:26 am »

I have said it before here and I bave said it countless times at the old RG forums. If I had to walk into Calumet for anything, I would rather go back to using a holga for the rest of my career. They are by far the worst shop I have ever been to in the world. From the German location to the LA location. THEY FLAT OUT SUCK.

You have places like PPR, Capture Integration, DODD Camera, Image Productions, Samy's and countless guys that will spend hours on email and phone conversations with you until you make the right decision.

Then you you have other shit like Fotoscare and Digital Transition that won't talk to you until you hand over a credit card number.

Making a 15 to 30 thousand dollar investment is not an easy decision. Especially when that product is going to capture your "ART" and then help translate that to the world.

Author Topic: calumet has the worst costumer service (Read 14440 times)

yaya