Frustrated and Angry!!!

Three months is indeed too long for any product that goes back for repair. 1 month and I would be asking for a refund or a replacement as I have done in the past.

Hmm that is a bit drastic I think, though I certainly agree with the refund/replacement.

Canon is supposedly pretty good with turn around, but I would venture to say "someone" has not always been satisfied with Canon's service.

You have clearly never worked in the service industries, otherwise you would know that everyone has this problem from time to time....

WRT to the lens, kick up a major fuss, threaten to get solicitors involved, etc, normally makes people sit up and pay attention - they would rather get a problem solved than explain to their manager that they should be on the lookout for legal papers coming through the post...

Works in the UK fo' sho'.

I recently sent back my Sigma 30mm for adjusting the auto focusing. I got it back in 2 or 3 weeks.

Thanks for the replies, I am going to ring them today and demand a refund. I am undecided on whether I will buy another Tamron 28-75. I actually loved that lens, it was so sharp in the middle, I wish I could just get it back fixed. But living in Australia means its probably better to buy Canon as they are local and nothing needs to be sent overseas for repair.

Clipper thanks, great info! I will definitely use VCAT if it comes to that. I bought it at 'Camera Action Camera House' so I think they will be ok, being such a big retailer.

All the best with the refund shniks and keep us posted.

I went through the same problem with the same lens. My far left side was soft. It took 2 1/2 months to get them back. That is crazy. I feel your pain. It's fine now, but that is rediculous. I sent both my 20D's in for service back in March and had them both back in a week and a half.

In the future I'm going to do my best to by Canon lenses. The turn around time is awesome. I'm a CPS member and they will turn your stuff around ultra quick.

I'm was wanting to to wait for the Tamron 18-50, but I may go for the sigma until I can spring for the new Canon 18-55 2.8. I've heard mixed reviews about the sigma, but I think overall it's a pretty good lens and sigma's turn around time is much better than Tamron's.

I agree. Three months is beyond acceptability. I would ask for a refund, but also follow up with a politely-worded, but straight to the point letter of complaint to the company.

UPDATE, YOU WONT BELIEVE THIS!
I rang the store and asked for a refund/replacement. They agreed that it was a ridiculous waiting time and got in contact with the Australian rep, who finally said he will send me a new lens. I was happy with this and eagerly drove down to the store.

This is the crazy part, the store tells me my 'new' lens is here, here you go. I take it thinking, this box isnt new, but I trust them. So I go back to my car, and open the box to check the 'new' lens out. Immediately I notice the lens isnt packed as well as a new one would be, there is old wrapping, the instruction manual looks tampered with, etc. So I check the lens out and there is a HUGE DEEP scratch on the front element! I cant believe this is happening! They replaced my lens with a second hand copy. Can you believe it? By this time I am fuming and storm back into the store demanding an explanation. The manager hears my story, and thankfully he grabs a new lens off the shelf and gives it to me. I am thinking, lucky I checked the lens before driving off, imagine they didnt believe me and tried to say I scratched this 'new' lens myself.

Ok so I am home now and this new copy seems to be perfect on initial tests. Finally a happy ending, but what I had to go through to get it. I am still upset about what happened, and will never buy from Tamron again. I love this lens but all the crap that went with it is unacceptable. The Australian rep (Maxwells) has a lot to answer for, how horrible that they take so long to repair, then have the nerve to replace your lens with an old copy. Aussies beware!

Its bad that some people in the business world take customers for fools. On the other hand its good you prevailed in the end. This Tamron lens is very good for what it is.

Would that be the same Canon who had to recall early shipments of the 24-105L due to flare issues?

Or the same Canon that had to recall & repair thousands of 20D battery grips?

The same Canon that had serious firmware issues with early 20D's leading to camera lock-ups etc?

Any manufacturer can and WILL have issues like this. No-one is perfect.

Shniks, congrats on getting the new lens and hope it's perfect for you. If this forum helped you at all to get the idea to get what you deserve, I am glad. Sometimes it is reassuring to hear from others that you are right. The store should not have given you a used lens. That is absolutely bad business. You did the right thing checking it out first. Have fun with your new again toy.