Anyone Used a Company Named Camera Leather Out of Waitsfield Vermont?

Andre Noble · Mar 24, 2020

About 5 weeks ago I did a web research for camera body rubber replacement for 3 Nikon F100s...

So I contacted the owner (Morgan Sparks) of this company named Camera Leather http://www.cameraleather.com via email and sent him three (3) Nikon F100 film doors to cover in leather. (One was gooey with melting Nikon rubber) - a known issue with Nikon bodies.

Well I sent him the 3 film doors about a month ago. He has gone radio silent and has not answered an email inquiring if he recieved items ok.

USPS tracking confirms the items arrived to his P.O. box in Waitsfield Vermont just a few days after I sent them about 4 weeks ago.

I've never been burned before (theft) as far as camera gear and service, though I know it happens.

Any insight into past experience using Morgan Sparks of Camera Leather, Waitsfield Vermont - and his level of service appreciated.

Thanks Andre

removed account4 · Mar 24, 2020

Hi Andre
He usually mails people the leather bits to put on themselves ( self service )
I've gotten things from him in the past, he was quite slow in sending things out
I''ve heard of people getting PayPal involved if paid for that way, to hurry him up.

John

BobD · Mar 24, 2020

I've only bought from him once. It was an uncut sheet of leather. It came fairly quickly.

I've seen lots of complaints from others online of slow delivery and no communication.

eli griggs · Mar 24, 2020

Andre, I've done business in the past with him, and recently made an inquiry that he answered quickly, and found his product good, as well as the service, however, it may be he has had to shut his door, due to 1. Ilness, his own or his family/friends, or workers, or, 2. the same economic hit everyone else in the Nation has taken, has forced him to shutter production until Wuhan 19 is run its course or been otherwise dealt with, or, three, he was caught out of the Country, as my eldest son was when hours before New Zealand's Prime Minister closed that Nation to returns of non-citizens, Thomas and his Girlfriend were just had taken off for England, where he was stuck for several day, and may have no made it home, at all.

The are other things as well, so, like every other person in America, these are no 'Normal Business as usual' and we, you and I and that guy over there, will have to endure and cope with the new "War Time" paradigm.

By the way, did you receive his OK, to send the doors, before shipping?

NB23 · Mar 25, 2020

Stay away from that guy. A total moron if you ask me.

beemermark · Mar 25, 2020

I'm amazed he's still in business. I dealt with him for a long time, he's been in business for at least 20 years and has a real nice product BUT. He was always either real fast or real slow in delivering a product. About 5 years ago I ordered something and never got it. It's about this time all the complaints started. If you pay by PayPal you only have so many days to file a claim (60 or 90?) and my mistake was in waiting too long. So money down he drain. I do hope you get your door back. I don't think the guy is an intentional thief but an extremely poor businessman, And it's a shame because his offerings and final product was excellent.

Johnkpap · Mar 25, 2020

Basically Camera leather is a waist of space

Morgan took my money and sent me ....nothing!!!
He owes me and many others $$$$
If you really need to use him pay with Paypal. If you do not get your order in 30 days.....claim it before the time is up do not trust him he may say it has been sent ........he is full of it

Johnkpap

Jim Simmons · Mar 25, 2020

http://aki-asahi.com/store/

Aki Asahi leather in Japan, a 3-5 person shop that I've used them several times. The goods are excellent, shipment is fast. Totally professionally.

Andre Noble · Mar 25, 2020

Thank you everyone who took the time to provide feedback on Morgan (Gordon?) Spark’s Camera Leather business out of Waitsfield, VT. Morgan finally emailed me last night.

Another APUG member kindly PM’d me with his phone number. So I feel more confident that I will at least get my stuff back. I will update this thread on how things go.

Andre Noble · Mar 25, 2020

eli griggs said:
By the way, did you receive his OK, to send the doors, before shipping?

Thanks for taking the time to provide a balanced feedback. ‘Yes”, I did receive his ok to ship the doors, it was his suggestion. Thanks again.

Born2Late · Mar 25, 2020

I've made several purchases from him. Never had any problems.

Kodachromeguy · Mar 25, 2020

NB23 said:
Stay away from that guy. A total moron if you ask me.

And that means what? He does it does not ship product? He cheats? You had an issue? Provide some real data.

btaylor · Mar 25, 2020

Strange. I was concerned a couple of years ago when I ordered some replacement leather for a Rolleiflex. Order fulfillment was prompt, quality was good. Yet I keep reading these other stories so I must have been one of the lucky ones.

NB23 · Mar 25, 2020

Kodachromeguy said:
And that means what? He does it does not ship product? He cheats? You had an issue? Provide some real data.

He’s a major bullshitter and stole A LOT of people’s money.
And please note that he only ships griptac. All the rest is iffy.
By the way, I’d post his phone number right here for all to see. The guy has been very careful to hide it from the public. I’d post it right here and let him face all the phone calls from people he owes money to.

At last, he probably answered the op’s email because someone forwarded this discusion to morgan sparks, and morgan felt he needed to stop what would have been yet another blood bath against his scammy company.

Jason Berge · Mar 26, 2020

Andre Noble said:
About 5 weeks ago I did a web research for camera body rubber replacement for 3 Nikon F100s...

So I contacted the owner (Morgan Sparks) of this company named Camera Leather http://www.cameraleather.com via email and sent him three (3) Nikon F100 film doors to cover in leather. (One was gooey with melting Nikon rubber) - a known issue with Nikon bodies.

Well I sent him the 3 film doors about a month ago. He has gone radio silent and has not answered an email inquiring if he recieved items ok.

USPS tracking confirms the items arrived to his P.O. box in Waitsfield Vermont just a few days after I sent them about 4 weeks ago.

I've never been burned before (theft) as far as camera gear and service, though I know it happens.

Any insight into past experience using Morgan Sparks of Camera Leather, Waitsfield Vermont - and his level of service appreciated.

Thanks Andre

Hi Andre,

I just ordered a kit to re-cover my 553elx. Morgan was easy to deal with via email, this time. He sent me a PayPal invoice which I paid, and I had the "kit" within a week, and I am in New Zealand. So I was impressed.

However, In the past I have tried to buy leather from him and received no response at all, literally crickets. He seems to be working on a new website, but absolutely nothing works on it, not one single link. There is an email address and that is it.

As I said, I have had poor (none at all) service from him in the past, but this time was excellent, so who knows what is going on. I certainly don't. Maybe he has some shit going on in his life, and the business does not have his full attention.

So unless you do know, perhaps some people who have posted could be less "dickish" (is that a word?) about it. Calling someone a crook is pretty harsh, he could just be useless, or as I suggested, dealing with personal issues.

Just a thought.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 26, 2020

NB23 said:
Stay away from that guy. A total moron if you ask me.

What is your evidence to say that?

I just dealt with him a couple of month ago, super nice and quick responding. Had kit mailed same day and received in Poland 7 days later. Most certainly his is NOT what you baselessly claim.

Given my recent dealings I would have to assume there are reasons he has not responded.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 26, 2020

NB23 said:
He’s a major bullshitter and stole A LOT of people’s money.
And please note that he only ships griptac. All the rest is iffy.
By the way, I’d post his phone number right here for all to see. The guy has been very careful to hide it from the public. I’d post it right here and let him face all the phone calls from people he owes money to.

At last, he probably answered the op’s email because someone forwarded this discusion to morgan sparks, and morgan felt he needed to stop what would have been yet another blood bath against his scammy company.

This is a load of bullshit. He does not only have Griptac, I got leather for Rollei 4x4 and great quality at that.

When you accusse someone of crimes, better be telling truth yourself.

As for the rest of what you said ... there are laws to deal with that, specifically deal with what you said on a public forum.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 26, 2020

Jason Berge said:
Hi Andre,

I just ordered a kit to re-cover my 553elx. Morgan was easy to deal with via email, this time. He sent me a PayPal invoice which I paid, and I had the "kit" within a week, and I am in New Zealand. So I was impressed.

However, In the past I have tried to buy leather from him and received no response at all, literally crickets. He seems to be working on a new website, but absolutely nothing works on it, not one single link. There is an email address and that is it.

As I said, I have had poor (none at all) service from him in the past, but this time was excellent, so who knows what is going on. I certainly don't. Maybe he has some shit going on in his life, and the business does not have his full attention.

So unless you do know, perhaps some people who have posted could be less "dickish" (is that a word?) about it. Calling someone a crook is pretty harsh, he could just be useless, or as I suggested, dealing with personal issues.

Just a thought.

He actually says links do not work and email is the only way to make purchase for the time being.

Jason Berge · Mar 26, 2020

Witold said:
He actually says links do not work and email is the only way to make purchase for the time being.

Fair enough,

although it has been that way for quite a while. Makes things a little difficult if you want anything out of the ordinary.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 26, 2020

Jason Berge said:
Fair enough,

although it has been that way for quite a while. Makes things a little difficult if you want anything out of the ordinary.

Agree just pointing out he is not hiding it.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 26, 2020

I wonder if this thread will end up closed without due diligence, this time to the accussed.

There was a thread about camera sent for repair to some guy who for months did not respond. In the end OP got the bad end if the stick for ... asking and being upset about it. Thread was shut dead with OP hanging high and dry with no option for anyone to counter accusations landed on OP.

Jason Berge · Mar 26, 2020

Witold said:
Agree just pointing out he is not hiding it.

Fair point.

I was not suggesting otherwise. Just pointing out that the website was a bit useless, and had been that way for quite a long while. Implying that perhaps the business does not have his full attention as per my post above.

"Maybe he has some shit going on in his life, and the business does not have his full attention."

Cheers.

ericdan · Mar 26, 2020

Just bought from him last week.
Was a lot slower than last time but he was responsive. He said he doesn’t have access to his office/workspace due to the corona situation.
He did ship my piece out and gave me tracking details.

thuggins · Mar 27, 2020

NB23 said:
Stay away from that guy. A total moron if you ask me.

Well, there was certainly a total moron involved on one side of the transaction.

I have bought from Morgan an number of times and never had any problems. Plus, the quality of his product is top notch, both in material and fit. He is a typical guy serving a niche market, a one man show balancing a business along with everything else people normally deal with. We're lucky to have folks like him.

Huss · Mar 27, 2020

My first set of leathers from him fit perfectly but his instructions to use 99% alcohol Purell to assist in fitting resulted in the leather being stained. He later changed those instructions, but too late for me.
My next order for my Leica 1f resulted in a terrible fitting kit. Took a really long time to arrive and the fit was way off. No response to emails. No offer to help. Done with him.
Aki Asahi in contrast ships immediately, their fit is perfect every time, and the last few times they included a spare set in a different colour just for fun!

Crap fit from CameraLeather:

Anyone Used a Company Named Camera Leather Out of Waitsfield Vermont?

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