Camtronics

I came home from a trip and transferred my pictures to my computer. When I put in the media again my camera would not function.
I called Camtronics and described the problem and asked if it sounded like something the could fix while I wait as I had a 3 hour drive to get to them. They said it was hard to tell without looking but would try.
Upon arrival the found a bent pin and damaged media. I hated throwing away $ 300 worth of media but my problem would be back if I didn’t.
They suggested they might be able o fix it but is have to drive back the following day. I decided it was more economical to. Have it shipped.
I called the following day and they had an issue and it was not back together when I called.
The following week they were having more issues as it was not functioning with all media. They communicated completely and kept me in track with repair and sent me tracking numbers after normal business hours.
Other reviews mentioned smoking but the only odor I noticed was that of the clothes of a heavy smoker. I saw no evidence of smoking in the shop.

To be fair, I didn’t end up getting anything done here, but here is why. When I walked in it smelled very strongly of cigarettes, as though someone was actively smoking. This seemed a little odd to me in a place with sensitive photo equipment and lenses.
Also, right to the left of the counter where they take your information, there is a «back room» of sorts. I think that this is where the owner smokes. As I was giving them my information, it sounded like a dog was scratching and sniffing behind the door. I’m a dog lover, but again, in a place with sensitive photo equipment, maybe not the best place for a dog.
I dropped the camera off, as this was the only place I could find in Columbus, but when I got back in the car with my husband who had been waiting outside, he remarked that I smelled strongly of smoke (after being there for no more than 5 minutes)
I ended up going back in and getting the camera. I ended up shipping my camera to a place in Michigan that was recommended to me. Not only did they do it faster than this place did, it cost $ 100 less than I was quoted here. Avoid at all costs!

Truly an awful business. These guys not only smoke inside their shop while working on sensitive camera equipment but they are totally dishonest. Took a lens there for repair and now am in the process of taking them to court for never returning it. They avoid phone calls and when cornered lied and said that it was still at the manufacturer, when I contacted the manufacturer directly they informed me it was repaired and sent back 7 months ago. Never visit this place unless you want to throw away time, gear and money.

This place gets the job done well, but I must say, they are a bit strange as well.
After Burning Man I took my camera there for cleaning, and a lens for repair. Seems there are two levels of cleaning, one being $ 50 and one being $ 250; the more expensive cleaning being a full teardown of the camera. Needless to say I went with the cheaper of the two, which was done within 2 – 3 days.
The lens repair took a few weeks and in the end wasn’t done in-​house and was sent instead to Nikon. I did wonder to myself why I hadn’t just called Nikon and sent the lens directly to them, and what additional service Camtronics was offerring at that point if they were unable to do it in-​house. Perhaps it was cheaper through them, but perhaps more expensive? Hard to say, but that value wasn’t conveyed very well.
For some reason to clean my camera, they needed me to bring in the charger, since they didn’t have a charger that would work with my Nikon D7000. I wish I had been told that upfront so I didn’t have to make another 20 mile trip out there. It wasn’t even mentioned when I dropped off the camera.
So what’s strange about the place? Well, a few things. First of all when you’re Googling for them, they don’t come up first. Nor do they come up first for «Camera Repair Columbus» or «Lens repair Columbus». This seems odd since they are pretty much the only place in town to have decent repair services.
When you call them, whoever picks up the phone is often unable to answer your question. They say, «I’m not a tech, call back later» or if the question is about billing, etc they say, «I’m just the tech, call back later». They don’t note down that you need called back by the appropriate party. I think at one point when I called them I just got a ‘voicemail box is full’.
Interestingly enough, the $ 50 camera cleaning I was charged for was $ 20 more than what is on their website, which advertises camera clean and check for $ 30. Overall, their website is just bad I feel.
The location itself is odd. Its beside another camera store and doesn’t have good marking from the street. The building itself seems a bit… faded? Its a weird lobby thing with empty cases that looks like it used to be a tiny jewelry store or something. I don’t know. They don’t have any products on display that they show on their website. Frankly, you’d have a hard time telling its a camera repair place and store from the inside if you didn’t know better. The staff is nice, but they don’t seem to cross communicate with each other very well.
And finally, while they generally take credit/​debit cards, for my camera cleaning I was asked to bring cash for the technician because they were the only one left that evening and «didn’t know how to run credit cards». Not a huge deal, but just weird.
I’ll go here for camera repairs in the future, because its the only real option in Columbus. Overall Columbus is really weak for photography stores, and I basically just wait until I’m in NYC to go to B&H or Adorama for big things and film.