Canon Japan - Great Customer Support

I sent in 3L lenses, my 5D, and 7D to Canon Japan for AF calibration. It's free in Japan.

When I got it back, they also replaced my low-pass filter on my 5D, and put a new eyecup on it because I had lost the old one - all for free. This is why I love Japan - great customer service. I feel like a valued customer. They should do this kind of stuff in the U.S. too.

Pretty sweet deal, that would cost $1000 if you had to deal with Canon in the US.

Certainly the customer service in Japan is second to none. They have a saying, "Okyakusama wa kamisama" which translates to customer is god. They don't necessary worship their client like god BUT they really treat their customer with great appreciation and respect. Something that is lacking greatly here in Aus as well.

It is nice to hear a good story, too many people are quick to complain but never relate the good customer service stories.

Certainly service is going to vary from country to country much like the prices that we pay for the product in the first place. I have had many good experiences, more than bad, with Canon Canada and in particular the service center in Montreal west. I know I have paid alot in gear but I also don't expect them to work for nothing. If every Canon center world wide offered free calibration of lenses to bodies the cost would be astronomical and thus we would pay for it somewhere in the process.

tomhide wrote in post #11549550
Certainly the customer service in Japan is second to none. They have a saying, "Okyakusama wa kamisama" which translates to customer is god. They don't necessary worship their client like god BUT they really treat their customer with great appreciation and respect.

sometimes true...maybe more so if they don`t have to deal with a non Japanese directly, I have more than a few stories about not being able to get served in shops in this Japanese city, seems more common my first time entering an establishment, doesn`t happen with shops that I`ve been in before and always if I`m not accompanied by a Japanese person but most recently was in the local Apple store. So yeah, if your Japanese you are treaded like a god...in my case more like a big nosed devil. Haven`t had to deal with Canon so far so can`t comment.

Japanese are renowned for the service. They are very proud of their products. Have been living in Tokyo for many years before I came back home. Even the small little shops, the sale staffs take great pride in they're packaging. After buying, you don't feel like open it up and eat.

its me wrote in post #11550686
=it`s me;11550686]sometimes true...maybe more so if they don`t have to deal with a non Japanese directly, I have more than a few stories about not being able to get served in shops in this Japanese city, seems more common my first time entering an establishment, doesn`t happen with shops that I`ve been in before and always if I`m not accompanied by a Japanese person but most recently was in the local Apple store. So yeah, if your Japanese you are treaded like a god...in my case more like a big nosed devil. Haven`t had to deal with Canon so far so can`t comment.

I'm half Japanese and Australian but my experience in retail stores have always been pleasant. Even though I might be a mixed up ugly fella that doesn't look Japanese or Australian, I always get the "irashaimase" (welcome) greeting as I enter stores and very helpful staff when I have any questions. (btw, I do speak Japanese)
I wonder if your negative experience has anything to do with those sales individuals not being confident in English? Or not knowing that you can speak Japanese.
I'm not saying all the stores are perfect but I'm quite surprised to hear that you feel great customer service is sometimes true.
Perhaps your shopping experience would differ if you tried larger cities where they are more English speakers?

yeah I get the welcome thing too...everybody does, it`s automatic. I have been to bigger cities and it doesn`t happen in Tokyo, nor in Sapporo...didn`t happen in Kyoto. I know, when I speak of my experiences here some people find them hard to believe...I had the same stereotypes as most westerners have of Japan before I got here...but after 18 years in the country I have come to the conclusion that Japan is no different from any other country...good folks, less than good folks. Not saying it happens every day but I have other stories as well, and read the Japan Times on the day when they print stories foreigners write, about things that happen to them here, you may be surprised. I don`t know about Australia but in Canada it is illegal to put signs in shop windows that say " no foreigners", it isn`t here. I know there is a Canon office in this city so I may have to visit them one day, but I am a very happy Canon customer and have been for many years.