Great news from Sigma today...

[G3]

For all that have been following the threads regarding re-chipping the Sigma 170-500. Thanks to information provided by Rusty Shackleford regarding his own lens that is older than mine and was rechipped. Thanks again, Rusty. I sent Sigma an e-mail asking what gives...why can an older one be rechipped, but mine can't? The person I was corresponding with apparently became somewhat flustered because I wouldn't leave them alone and forwarded my e-mail to another person with a note that said something like "He also wrote a long email complaining about our trade-in policy...please help!"

Well, this new person sent me a rather cordial email today saying that the first person was mistaken and had sent me erroneous information and that my lens could, in fact be rechipped at no charge.

Thanks Sigma! You have renewed my faith....I'll be sending it in within the next day or so.

[Scottes]

Good to hear!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'm glad to hear,. :wink:

I was really surprised at the first response you got,. it definately sounded fishy!

[Tom W]

Excellent! Perseverance pays off occasionally.

Sigma has put themselves back on the good list, at least on a probationary basis. :)

[defordphoto]

And all that gnashing of teeth for naught.

Congrats.

[Tom W]

And all that gnashing of teeth for naught.

Congrats.

Maybe Sigma reads photography-on-the.net! :)

[defordphoto]

And all that gnashing of teeth for naught.

Congrats.

Maybe Sigma reads photography-on-the.net! :)

If they are like Canon, they would peruse the most popular ones...

[G3]

Yeah, I'm thinking they might...:) Thanks guys, for all the support. Maybe we've helped more than just me?

[defordphoto]

Yeah, I'm thinking they might...:) Thanks guys, for all the support. Maybe we've helped more than just me?

That's usually the case, yes.

[Chris1le]

Yeah, I'm thinking they might... Thanks guys, for all the support. Maybe we've helped more than just me?

I don't know. You know what they say. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." You did yourself well. But I'm sure others will have to complain just as loudly. Hopefully I'm wrong. I've got a Sigma lens and I hate complaining. But I have been greased a number of times. 8)

[Rusty Shackleford]

It's hard to say if the first person you talked to was actually incompetent or if he earned a bonus check for converting the most money losing free upgrades into money paying trade-in customers last month :wink: Glad it worked out in the end.

[G3]

It's hard to say if the first person you talked to was actually incompetent or if he earned a bonus check for converting the most money losing free upgrades into money paying trade-in customers last month :wink: Glad it worked out in the end.

Well, the guy that sent me the email back saying that they could fix the lens actually sent me the whole email string, starting with my initial email inquiring about rechipping in the first place, followed by "No, we can't rechip that one, but we offer a trade-in ..", followed by "why not, you can rechip older ones." followed by "This guy won't quit...HELP!!" (paraphrased)..

I got the impression from the whole thing that she actually thought that it couldn't be rechipped. Now, that begs the question: Did they previously rechip those and stopped for whatever reason (probably expense), or are there really some lenses out there that can't be rechipped and she was just confused as to which ones?

The good thing is that they have stepped up to the plate in this case. I would prefer to believe that it was simply a mistake.

What would really be good is if they would add a page to their website dealing with this issue and clearly and officially state which models and serial numbers can and which can't be rechipped, then offer a FAIR trade-in for those that truly can't be rechipped.

I really think that would go an awfully long way toward customer satisfaction for their whole customer base....

[kraterz]

It's probably just marketing. Sigma doesn't rechip old lenses... they force you to "upgrade" to newer lenses, thereby making a packet off you. If they offered to rechip all their old lenses, how would they sell so many new ones? Yet another reason I avoid Sickma. My two old Sickma's are paperweights now and I sold them at a fat loss.

[danpen]

I doubt this was a cynical attempt to screw more money out of a customer, no one's going to buy another Sigma Lens if they felt they were treated badly.

Sigma rechipped my two lenses very quickly and when they were lost by the courier (delivered to the wrong place and signed for by god knows who) Sigma sent to brand new lenses out to me as replacements.

I expect this was just a mix up and I'm glad you've got it sorted now.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I said this at the beginning of this episode,. I will say it a third time here..

Untill this instance I had NEVER heard of Sigma turning down this re-chip upgrade.

Since the 10D intro.. ther ehave been dozens and dozens of such threads on this forum as well as dozens on others I frequent. In ALL cases the owner has been able to get the re-chip FREE.

This last thread will bring us to a 100% succesfull rechipping rating.

Unless I missed something along the way,. everyone who has gone to Sigma for a lens compatibility issue has been offered the re-chip FREE.

I can only imagine what motivated this one individula at Sigma to say "no it can't be done"....

But celarly he was mistaken or lieing...

[Cadwell]

As an owner of a Sigma lens (which I am very pleased with), I am delighted (and relieved) to hear that you got a good result, G3. Just goes to show that being persistent pays off :D

[G3]

It's probably just marketing. Sigma doesn't rechip old lenses... they force you to "upgrade" to newer lenses, thereby making a packet off you. If they offered to rechip all their old lenses, how would they sell so many new ones? Yet another reason I avoid Sickma. My two old Sickma's are paperweights now and I sold them at a fat loss.

Well, I certainly hope they do. I just sent mine to them today.

[hickory]

I agree with CDS and cadwell. Also, I was completely apalled by the initial reaction by those casting stones at Sigma based on this one thread.

Yep, I agree if I could afford Canon lenses I would own them, but Sigma is what I consider a premier secondary market manufacturer. As with any large or small company it only takes one person having a bad day to drive business away.

G3 did the right thing by going a step further with his problem and it was resolved amicably. I've found that asking for a persons supervisor when I'm feeling a bit had gets me a better answer or a solution to my problem quicker.

Thanks G3 for starting this new thread to let everyone know that they did in fact solve your problem. If you would please let us know when you receive the lens back and how satisfied you are with the end result.

tom

[G3]

I agree with CDS and cadwell. Also, I was completely apalled by the initial reaction by those casting stones at Sigma based on this one thread.

Yep, I agree if I could afford Canon lenses I would own them, but Sigma is what I consider a premier secondary market manufacturer. As with any large or small company it only takes one person having a bad day to drive business away.

G3 did the right thing by going a step further with his problem and it was resolved amicably. I've found that asking for a persons supervisor when I'm feeling a bit had gets me a better answer or a solution to my problem quicker.

Thanks G3 for starting this new thread to let everyone know that they did in fact solve your problem. If you would please let us know when you receive the lens back and how satisfied you are with the end result.

tom


Will do! :)

[LiquidMantis]

Will do! :)

To be fair, you might want to make a note in that other thread as well. That way when someone finds that thread on a Sigma search they won't be turned off just due to a miscommunication.

[G3]

Good idea. I'll do that.