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Business Profile

Photographic Equipment Repair

Spartan Photo Center

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Photographic Equipment Repair.

Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 1 complaint in the last 3 years.
  • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

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The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/20/2025

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    Resolved
    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I have an all black Canon AE-1 Program that I took to Spartan Photo Center on 9/7/24 for repairs - something they advertise on their website. I paid $35 on the day of dropping off the camera for them to ship the camera to the person they partner with for repairs (they have not provided any information about who does these repairs). I was told it would take 8 weeks, and they would call in a couple weeks with a quote and to take repair payment. 6 weeks go by without contact so I called the store on 10/22, I was told to expect a call back and I never received one. I called again on 10/25 and was told to be patient and that getting parts take time. By January, I still had not heard anything about my camera or received a quote so I called again on 1/6 nd was told to expect a call back. I did not receive a call back so I emailed. I did not receive a response to my email so I called again on 1/8. I was told my camera "slipped through the cracks" and they contacted the repair company, gave me a quote, and took payment ($70) over the phone. They estimated 3 weeks for repair. At the end of February I had not been contacted, so I called again (2/24). They said they were supposed to get a shipment in of the repaired cameras. On 3/5 I finally received a call that my camera was repaired and ready for pick up. On 3/14 I drove 1.5 hours to pick up my camera, only for them to try to give me the wrong camera (a black and silver Canon AE-1). The serial number did not match the serial number on the camera I dropped off for repairs. They could not give me any information about where my camera is or the status of repairs. They said they would not be able to find out until 3/17 and that they would call. They did not call on 3/17. I called today, 3/19, and spoke with someone who knew nothing about this issue. They say they will call back tomorrow with answers and I highly doubt that given their track record. I want my camera back, repaired or not. I am worried it was stolen or lost.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 03/24/2025

    I hope you have a nice weekend. I picked up my camera Friday afternoon and it is the correct camera. The owner of Spartan Photo Center was not happy about my complaint and made it a point to print it out and sarcastically thank me for it when I picked up my camera, which is the only time he has spoken to me at all about the ongoing issue despite attempting to make contact with the company several times between dropping the camera off for repairs in September and now. 

    I no longer need this issue resolved since they repaired and returned my camera. I appreciate your help. 

    Best,
    ******

Spartan Photo Center is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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