Hopefully....

So after getting on the phone with the manufacturers of my lens, I found out that all I would need to do is find my warranty card and my receipt.

DAMMIT!!!!!

I can't FIND my receipt... wouldn't have any idea where to start looking and who the hell keeps them that long anyway?!?!?!? (I know my dumbass will from now on! I mean... your equipment is a business related expense right? DUH!!)

So then the woman I was talking to on the phone asked how I purchased the lens... if it was online, or cash or credit card. Of course it was credit card and I am not too thrilled about making large, important purchases like that ONLINE, especially when (at the time) I live 20 minutes away from Manhattan where the home of the largest camera / photography supply store in the world is... (B&H) as well as some highly noted and reputable competitors... Tri-State Camera, Adorama, to name a couple. So the woman suggested checking for my bank statement. I mean... I knew when I purchased the lens, because I immediately started doing contract work for one of the companies I still work for, soon after getting the lens home.

So now the only potential problem was being able to access that bank account online... since I closed that account. So I went to the website, tried logging in. Great... I'm in!!!

I scour the site, looking for a link to view past statements...

Click.... October 2007...

Click.... DAMN... not there...

I purchased it at the end of the month... so it would be on the November statement....

November 2007... Click... GREAT!! Print!

Called the lady back... told her of my good fortune. She said to print out JUST that particular page that the purchase is on... the whole statement wouldn't be necessary. Print out the repair request form on the website, and ship it off. I asked if I could drop it off instead because I may be moving soon so I need it back as quickly as possible.

"Not a problem at all. Is there anything else I can help you with, Mr, Tyler?" "No, not really. But by the way... how long do you think it would take to get it back?"

5-10 days... depending on what the problem is and whether any parts needed to be ordered.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! Ok, ok, ok... that's not too bad... I better get moving then.

So I hop in the car and drive 45 minutes to Duluth to Camera Repair Japan. The intake person takes my information and my lens and fills out some paperwork of his own. I then ask him the same question... "about how long do you think it would take because I'm probably going to need to have it shipped back to me instead of picking it up"

7 days - 3 weeks.

HOLY SHHHHH**!!!" Are you serious???? "It depends on what needs to be done and whether or not there are parts that need to be ordered from the warehouse or from the manufacturer. We are an authorized service center.

Wow.... so no matter what... it is going to have to be shipped to me either way. I hope they are finished with my lens before June 4th... I'd really hate to have to leave it here in GA... instead of in my camera bag, on the road, going back up north with me!

Oh well... just have to wait and see....

Dammit!!

Today I decided to go out for a little walk by the river close to my house, to just enjoy a day in the sun and take a few pictures. I took my 28-75 2.8 lens and my 70-200 2.8 lens and clicked the shutter a few times along my travels. I captured a couple of interesting images that, from my vantage point, were breath-takingly beautiful. Very inviting and appealing to those that would stop and take notice. I decided to change lenses to get some close-up shots of this little patch of some kind of water foliage... click, click... then nothing.

I didn't think anything of it... I kept walking because I felt I would just get that shot when I turned around and started my trip back home. I snapped a few more shots (still with my 70-200 lens), zooming in on this rock formation that was right in the middle of this dammed off area. The water cascading over it like a tiny waterfall. As I moved to get a different angle of the rocks, I noticed that the focus was a tad off (I had it set for auto focus). So again, not thinking anything of it, I just depressed the shutter half way again for it to adjust itself. It didn't. Inside the viewfinder, I saw one of the lights flashing, alerting me as if it was over exposed. I pushed the shutter again... then again... then again. I could feel the motor in the lens adjust left and right for a brief second, then stop. I pushed it a couple more times, this time I looked at the depth meter and saw that it wasn't moving as I pushed the shutter while pointing at different things at different distances. I then switched to manual mode, pushed the shutter and took a picture. Out of focus! Damn!!!!!!

At that point I knew that I was in trouble. And at a somewhat inopportune time. While I don't have any immediate need for that particular lens at this moment, I don't really have the time or the finances to get it fixed.

I can't find the warranty card for it (the lens is less than a year old).

Monday is a holiday.

I'm screwed!

I have to find out what the process is to get it fixed without the warranty card and receipt.

I'm screwed!

I have to wait until Tuesday to call the manufacturer in NY to ask what to do.

There is an authorized repair facility in Duluth, but they are definitely going to want the warranty information... which I can't find!!

I'm screwed!

I need a vacation!

I need an investor to invest in my ideas and my experience to keep things moving in the right direction.