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Speedotron Customer Service?
Hi Everyone.. I've been deliberating over which lighting system to buy into and because I'm in Australia it's been a nightmare of a process. I narrowed it down to either Hensel monolights because they're multi-voltage and seem to be one the best monolights for the money, or White Lightning because of their customer support; as I'm an Australian customer buying lighting from the other side of the world I want to know that if I need service or repair it'll be done quickly and efficiently without any hassles, and I get the impression I'll get that from P Buff. I've just contacted Speedotron and they're now making 220-240v systems (major bonus for us Australian residents!) I'd really like to hear from Speedotron users in regards to their customer service? Is it quick and efficient and do you think I can rely on them from 10,000 miles away! Thanks. Jan 04 08 09:45 pm Link I have the speedotron for series (a force 10 and two force 5's), I do not know about their customer service because I have never had a problem with them. the things are built like tanks. overall I really like the lights, but cannot comment on customer service and hope I never have to. Jan 05 08 12:25 am Link bevels wrote: Funny, I do not think I know anyone who ever used it for anything, they really do not break and the worst I know is someone who smashed one of the flash tubes and had to have it replaced, but it was ten years old so he bought a new tube. I do know some people who had brownline issues over the years but generally it was very old equipment and they went to flashclinic and for 100 they had whatever it was fixed in two days. Sorry I am not much help Jan 05 08 12:52 am Link Stephen that was really helpful! Well... reassuring I guess, but ultimately that's what I want to hear. Thanks for the positive comments on the force series Hope. Jan 05 08 01:17 am Link if you do get the speedotron force series, then make sure you get heavy duty light stands.. these things are very heavy I have a friend who shoots for penthouse and a few weeks ago while shooting near a pool knocked one over into the pool, killed it.. but that was his doing and not speedotrons...he loves the force series and has a boat load of them. bevels wrote: Jan 05 08 01:22 am Link Hope Parr wrote: Thats it I am selling all speedo gear and getting some waterproof lights!!!! Jan 05 08 01:28 am Link I am a black line user and although I did not have to deal with their support directly, the support dealt with an authorized reseller/repair here in Los Angeles and the repair service informed me what the support informed them. Does the make sense? My Explorer 1500 got smoke coming out from the sync chord while I was shooing and that had to be taken into service which was still under warranty--which ultimately had to be sent to Chicago for repairs. I would think that it would be practical for you to buy into a lighting system that's convenient for you to take to your local repair service in case something happens instead of (worse case) shipping to Chicago for Speedotron repairs. If there is a local reseller in your area, I whole heartedly recommended these Speedotrons for their built. Jan 05 08 01:33 am Link I use to work for Macy's in Atlanta we used blackline for all the product photography.We would send stuff in for repairs they was pretty good on turn around time.Most time it was from a head got knocked over and broke the fan or dented it up. The packs would smoke some times have to send them in but they got a lot of heave uses.The pricing for repairs was not to bad.But was not my money so I did not care.Think the most we spent on a pack was $500 it was a 4800 pack.When those packs blow sounds like a shot gun going off.Make you poop on yourself. Jan 05 08 01:44 am Link I've owned a number of Speedotron products over the last 10+ years, and have only had one contact with their customer service people. That was to inquire about a product I'd bought used, and wanted to buy a manual. Turns out to have been discontinued 5+ years earlier--but they sent me a manual free anyhow. Total of 5 packs (4 bought used-and-battered  ), 7 heads (4 bought used), a focusing spotlight (the discontinued version), and some monolights. No service required on any of them.Jan 05 08 01:48 am Link I have never had to deal with service with my Speedotrons (now about 25 years old), but I can tell you that if you need a flash tube or a modeling light, you can find them in every major city. Something you may not be able to do with other brands. Jan 05 08 01:57 am Link Just Shoot Me Photograp wrote: OK I have to say I once had an assistant knock a stand over that was 13 feet high the light crashed down smashed the side of the case, modeling light was out and it made this grinding noise, not feeling like going and getting another head, I ripped open teh side by the fan and pulled it back the fan was hitting it and that was the source of that annoying sound coming from it, once that was removed the noise went away and without a modeling light its worked great, and was quite well ventilated, never sent it to be repaired as I figured for a studio back up back up it worked fine even the ML when it was tried out, plus we have a lot of heads, a Lot. OK, OK really I figured if I sent in a 15 year or older can light that had the side ripped open they may ask what happened and why was it ripped open and I would of course had to come clean about how someone else knocked it over and than ripped it open without my knowledge or approval or even awareness, so as to save that other someone the embarrassment and possible blacklisting from the blackline patrol I did the right thing and never sent it in. Jan 05 08 02:14 am Link Kevin Connery wrote: Having met the owners at several photoshows I can safely say that they very likely have one guy that looks much like the maytag man that sits around just waiting to be called for a real problem before he retires Jan 05 08 02:16 am Link Jan 05 08 02:31 am Link I've used Speedotron for over 30 years. Some of the equipment I have is older than that. I can count on my hands the number of times I've had stuff in for repair. Mind you, I've probably popped the trigger on each pack at least a million times. Before any of you lurkers say to yourself, "he must be full of shit", I am currently working on job number 7,576, and most of the jobs had layouts requiring more than one shot. Some of the room scenes required brackets of 30, 40, 60, 90, 120 flashes each (view cameras at F45 or F64). Most of my work for 25 years was table top, food and room scenes. You can buy better lighting systems such as Profoto and Brauncolor, but you can't buy a more durable system. Jan 05 08 02:21 pm Link Sold Speedotron Black and Brown. Never had a bad unit -- and thats a long time ago. Very heavy. Jan 05 08 05:55 pm Link Thanks very much for all your replies. There's no doubt that the overall opinion of Speedotron is very high. I've got a couple of other questions I'll address in another thread but I thank you all for your replies, I think I've got the assurance I was looking for. Jan 08 08 05:47 am Link |
