Repair of Bowens Flash unit?

[psybear]

Our camera club has a couple of Bowens flash heads - one of them has been damaged. Local Calumet doesn't do repairs other than checking bulbs/lamps and fuses and suggested that we send it back to Bowens.

Any other suggestions or recommended repairers? can't imagine Bowens will be the cheapest.

Thanks.

 

[Garry Edwards]

There used to be plenty of people around who repaired Bowens but Iv'e been told that Bowens will no longer supply parts to independent repairers, and that all of their flash heads have to be sent by them back to China for repair - I've heard that from various sources, but I don't know whether it's true or not.

 

[psybear]

There used to be plenty of people around who repaired Bowens but Iv'e been told that Bowens will no longer supply parts to independent repairers, and that all of their flash heads have to be sent by them back to China for repair - I've heard that from various sources, but I don't know whether it's true or not.

Not good news if true....

 

[MidnightUK]

If its true, its another negative for bowens customer service - I was put right off them as a company when they let everyone down with the very last minute pull out of the Photo Show stand last year.

If there are any local camera shops near you they might be able to recommend a local repair service you can approach, or just do an internet search.

 

[Nionyn]

Oh poo.

When I bought my Bowens units one of the primary reasons was their excellent UK-based customer service.
I haven't needed it often but have always been very happy with my dealings with them - so far.

If they really are insisting on everything being sent to China for repair it's utterly insane - and going to be insanely expensive too.
For god's sake, all they need is a little workshop with a decent technician and a few bins of spare parts and they'd be sound.

Luckily for me my three monoblocks have been very reliable, but when I eventually need to replace them maybe Bowens will be completely out of the running. It's a great pity - and easily avoidable from their end.

Grrrrr...

 

[Nionyn]

can't imagine Bowens will be the cheapest.

Have you actually got in touch with Bowens to ask them for an estimate/quote?

Garry's post notwithstanding, that's the first thing I would do.
If they threaten to send your gear to China for some exorbitant price you can tell them to b****r off, obviously, but it's got to be worth a phone call.

 

[psybear]

Have you actually got in touch with Bowens to ask them for an estimate/quote?

Garry's post notwithstanding, that's the first thing I would do.
If they threaten to send your gear to China for some exorbitant price you can tell them to b****r off, obviously, but it's got to be worth a phone call.

That's the next step - another committee member has the task of getting this sorted, I just thought I'd seek advice here.

 

[simonbarker]

What's the model of the damaged unit and the nature of the fault?

 

[psybear]

What's the model of the damaged unit and the nature of the fault?

I don't know to be honest - just last night I asked another member to get those and other details and call the Bowens Repair Diagnosis number.