Sigma in Japan

So i just got a sigma 30mm 1.4 and it front focuses just the slightest bit on my ti1... i'm going to be in Japan for the next 3 months and i was thinking i'd just send it in to sigma with the body while i was there... does anyone here have any experience with sigma in Japan? How fast is their service? I will need my camera for most of my time there, but there is a 10 day period where i could get by without it.

So anyone else use sigma repair while in japan?

FWIW, i'm leaving in a little more than 24 hours so i dont have time to send it in while here in the US... currently i'm using live view to get the focus correct, but i'm so spoiled with my canon 60mm 2.8's sharpness that i think i need to do something about this.

anyone?

I don't have experience with doing anything in Japan, but based on how I've sat around in other company offices with family members trying to get other things fixed directly at the source (like rice cookers!), it might get complicated unless you can speak Japanese well and can provide all of the information required (which can get lengthy).

what kind of information do you think i will need to provide? the language is no problem... even if i struggle, my wife is a native speaker

are you certain the warranty is valid in Japan? Or does that not matter?
Nice to have a Japanese wife...I got one of those too...so there should be no problem with staff fleeing from the gaijin...hey, it`s happened to me...also depends where you will be, the really big cities are less afraid of foreigners. No experience with repairs of cameras...I let my wife handle the repair of our laptop at Yodobashi...I just kinda hung out a few meters away, a safe enough distance so as not to spook the locals. But if you will not be counting on the warranty I can`t see why you should have any trouble, `course I`m not sure on a time frame but these days with people spending less and less on new goods over here, repair people are stepping up their service to keep customers happy.

its me wrote in post #10934274
=it`s me;10934274]Nice to have a Japanese wife...I got one of those too...

i want one of those. where'd you find it? JK

I just checked the warranty and it specifically says worldwide and lists the japanese service center contact info (in addition to the other worldwide service centers), so i think i should be good warranty-wise. Japanese wife does make it easier though. I was planning on just sending it in with the camera body, since thats what they seem to want here.


Thanks guys

bindabinjo wrote in post #10934319
i want one of those. where'd you find it? JK

found mine in Montreal but you should have no trouble finding one in California, better yet come to Japan for a vacation...127 million plus people, you should be able to find one.
For the Sigma I`d bring it directly to them instead of going through a shop, just saves on time...but I`m sure you thought of that.

where you gonna be in Japan? It`s cooling off some at night up here but still in the mid/high 20s daytime though forecasters say that`ll change next week.

i was going to send it directly to them... not through a shop. I'll be there for 3 months and will be all over the place from shikoku to yamagata... but i'll be in yamagata for about a month, so i figure i can send it in to them then.

I'm looking forward to the weather cooling down a bit... its going to really cold in december when we leave

thanks again

yeah I`m in Miyagi...just north of Yamagata. I`m Canadian...it`s never been really cold for me so far...winter here is the occasional single digit, very rare minus temperature but can`t recall a double digit negative temp. Yamagata is quite mountainous isn`t it?...probably colder there with more snow but last winter was extremely mild up here. I see kids in shorts in January...just doesn`t happen in Montreal. You should be able to capture some great fall colors while here. I love going to Yamadera...think thats what it`s called...beautiful part of the country.

lol... i'll probably be in sendai a bit too... how funny. Yamagata is more mountainous, but its kind of obvious based on the name .

I'm looking forward to momijigari for sure... fall is beautiful. You should absolutely head over to yamadera... its stunning. Even with my P&S the last few times, i've gotten great pics of that place.

How long have you been out there?

Your warranty isn't with Sigma Japan, it is with Sigma USA (assuming you bought it here). So Sigma Japan owes you nothing. Don't be surprised if they ask you to deal with it in the US.

you know what they say about Yamadera...if you go there with a girlfriend or wife...the relationship will end.
Been in Japan 17 years...was supposed to stay only a couple of years...but you know, stuff happens.

tkbslc wrote in post #10935408
Your warranty isn't with Sigma Japan, it is with Sigma USA (assuming you bought it here). So Sigma Japan owes you nothing. Don't be surprised if they ask you to deal with it in the US.

really? i briefly glanced over the warranty card and it said worldwide a whole bunch... also, it listed all of the centers where one could have service done, including in Japan. Maybe i missed something