Middleton Banks?

[keifster]

Strange thing about these two sites is that they are so blantantly the same person/people operating both but Middlteon Banks is no longer displaying any Canon products, but Alexander Trents is and also has updated their description of the Canon 5D Mk3 to say that its cameras do not suffer from the light leak issue.

 

[Johnm]

Update:

Today I received my cashback cheque from Canon.

I had supplied Canon with the serial number of the camera purchased from Middleton Banks and I received the cashback today. So everything must have been ok.

With hindsight then, it seems problem was that Middleton Banks didn't give me a delivery date at the start and took a bit longer than I expected to deliver my camera. They did give a delivery date after a few days and it did arrive on that date. In fairness also, they did respond to my queries.

I don't know what other people's experiences have been, I can only say that it seems to have worked out for me.

 

[davidkhardman]

I found this thread whilst searching for Middleton Banks on Google. I purchased a Canon EOS 5D mkii from this company, via Amazon's website, in June 2011. By September 2011 the shutter had stopped working. I contacted MB via Amazon and they arranged for the camera to be repaired. However, as of August 2012 the shutter is malfunctioning again, only now I have received email from Amazon telling me that Middleton Banks' email system is not functioning. Although MB can access messages via the Amazon website, I have not had any response to messages I left in August. Therefore, I can only add my voice to those who have expressed concerns about this company.

On a positive note, Canon have told me that they will repair the camera if I return it together with proof of purchase.

 

[sging1]

As you do, I did my research for the best prices and although Alexandra Trent wasn’t the cheapest it was still £600 under the retail price. Because of this, I emailed and asked them why it was at this cost and got assurances off them it was a UK model. They replied to me that their overheads and margins are kept low to enable them to give the best price.

The camera arrived in around seven days and all seemed well, until I tried to register the camera with Panasonic to gain the extra 3 years warranty and their broadcast business support. Panasonic would not accept the serial number and said it is not a UK-EU camera and went on to say it is a grey import and should have not been sold in the UK but only in the Far East (I have this in writing).

I went back to Alexandra Trent and told them I wanted to return it. I asked for details as I was well within the seven days under the distant selling regulations. Needless to say after several requests over a number of weeks I am yet to be given the details to return it from them.
They did email me and assure me again it was guaranteed for one year with them and was a UK model and again Panasonic told me it is meant to be sold in the Far East.

I requested details on the guarantee and two things jumped out at me, it is void if anyone else uses it or - it’s not covered for normal wear and tear, even in the first year. So really there is no guarantee.

The whole thing is going through my credit card company and trading standards.

I want to point out that, so far as the camera is concerned, except for having no CE mark or being able to register it and obviously a grey import, it does seem like the real deal and works well, but the problems will start when it doesn’t work well.

If I had known all this beforehand, I would have paid more to go to a reputable dealer. It’s a case I’m afraid that I have been caught with “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”

Just to update you, www.middletonbanks.com & www.alexandertrent.com have now gone and he is now operating under http://kamkorda.co.uk/ his eleventh registered company not including the two above as they were not registered.

Looking at company’s house he has started and shut down a business every year since 2005. His latest is KAMKORDA WORLDWIDE LTD registered in January 2012 which is different from the one above, as this one is registered as KAMKORDA LTD which on some sites is showing dissolved even though the website is still selling. :bonk: