Canon Service Centres

I'm going through my first experience of a Canon Service Centre and its not a happy one!
I bought a used 1DS and there were marks on the sensor. The shop sent it off for cleaning and when it came back there were new marks on it that weren't there before. Back it went and it was decided that it had to go to Canon for cleaning and a service. Canon sent it to their principal repairer Lehmann's in the UK. It came back 4 weeks later and the marks were still there. Back it goes again, and 3 weeks later gets returned to the shop, who test it and yes, you've guessed it, the marks are STILL there. Ffordes, where I got it from, contacted them and harsh words were exchanged, so now its going back again, this time for a new filter to be fitted. This could take another 2 weeks. Ffordes themselves have been great. They even gave me a 'loaner' until this one comes back. This meant that I could sell my other camera to recoup my money.
I was wondering what experience others have had with Canon Servicing? Are they all apathetic or have I been unlucky?

I've been using Canon Service Centers in Finland and Thailand for sensor cleaning. Superb services in both of them. They did the cleaning in both places in 30 min (+ 30 min waiting to get to the service desk).

Seems to be very hit and miss. Some regions seem to be offering great service other regions quite the opposite. And of course the mixed reviews from people in a given region.

In HK the service seems pretty good. They quote a turn around time of 10 days (lens repairs and body caliberation) but every time they've called me back within a day of dropping the camera off to talk through the specific problems. The call to pick up the camera comes within 3 days of that so the 10 days seems to be an under promise, over deliver philosophy. And repairs have come back spot on.

This thread scares me a bit. My camera is right now at the New Jersey service center. This is my first dealing with them so I have no experienced yet to report. I did receive confirmation from them upon receipt of the equipment stating that the work would be complete within 10 days. That 10 day interval falls sometime this week depending on all the ship dates and such.

Anyway, anyone have good/bad experiences with the New Jersey facility? Being in the Midwest I had a choice, either California or New Jersey and I choose east. Should I have gone west? Do we have a east coast/west coast thing here? Is one better than the other?

I've used the NJ facility a few times now...never had a problem...the work has been flawless and it has always been completed on or ahead of schedule.