Frequently asked questions

From every European Union member state: Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, the Nordics and all the others. We do not currently accept shipments from the United Kingdom (post-Brexit customs make costs and timing unpredictable) or from Switzerland and other non-EU countries.

You ship your equipment to our lab in Ancona, Italy at your own cost with the courier you prefer — inside the EU a tracked parcel typically costs €10–25 depending on the country. The return trip is a flat €20 by UPS, tracked, to most EU destinations — per parcel, not per item, so several items can travel back together for one fee. Remote areas, islands and oversized shipments may need a separate quote. Return shipments are not insured by default — transit insurance is available on request, quoted before we ship.

Yes — and it is usually the smart way to do it. Fill in one repair form listing every item (one per line), pack each item separately inside the same box, and ship everything under a single reference. Diagnosis is free on every item, and after inspection you receive a separate quote for each one: you can approve some and decline others. Whatever you decide, everything travels back together in one parcel for a single €20 return fee (oversized shipments may need a separate quote).

No. Italy and your country are both in the EU single market: there are no customs declarations, no duties and no VAT paperwork in either direction. Your parcel travels exactly like a domestic shipment.

It depends on the job, and your exact turnaround is always stated in the quote before you commit. As a guide: simple work such as sensor cleaning or a firmware update is turned around in 1–2 working days; camera-body repairs (shutter, mainboard, LCD) usually take 2–3 weeks; complex lens work (fungus, autofocus, stabilizer), vintage and film cameras take about a month. Add courier transit time in both directions (typically 2–5 working days each way).

Every repair is covered by a 6-month warranty on the work performed and the parts replaced. If the same fault comes back within 6 months, we repair it again at no cost — you only cover shipping to us, and the return shipping is on us.

Nothing is due up front. After the free diagnosis you receive a written quote; if you approve it, we complete the repair and you pay by bank transfer or PayPal before the return shipment. The quote is binding — the price you approve is the price you pay.

The diagnosis is free in every case. If the equipment is beyond economical repair, or you simply decide not to proceed, you only pay the €20 return shipping. If you prefer, we can also recycle the equipment for you at no cost.

Use a double box: wrap the item in bubble wrap inside a small box, then place that box in a larger one with padding on all sides. Remove battery and memory card, fit lens caps, and include a note with your name, email and a short description of the fault. Choose a tracked courier service.

Yes. Mechanical film bodies (Nikon F/FM/FE, Canon A/F series, Minolta SRT, Pentax Spotmatic and K, Hasselblad V system, Mamiya RB/RZ and many others) are a regular part of our bench work: shutter calibration, light seals, full CLA services. Availability of spare parts is confirmed at diagnosis.

Yes, at each stage by email: when your parcel arrives, when the diagnosis is done and your fixed quote is ready to approve, when the repair is completed, and when the return parcel ships — with its tracking number. You are never left wondering what is happening.

While your equipment is in transit to our lab it is covered by the courier you chose, not by us — which is exactly why we recommend shipping with a tracked service, insuring it for its value, and packing it in a double box with padding on every side. Once your parcel is logged as arrived at the lab it is in our care. The €20 UPS return shipment is tracked; it is not insured by default, but we can add transit insurance for the declared value on request, quoted before we ship.