gnassgear

game · Dec 6, 2006

hi forum members,
I have bought a focusing cloth from gnassgear. With your help I decided what should be best for me, and it had to be the gnassgear.
I heard some positive things around here about them, but I have a question.
I completed and payed the cloth almost a month ago, and have not heard a single thing yet...
Are they unprofessional or unreliable? There are no responses to my emails and I have send three or four.
Hope to hear about some experiences you guys have had, or maybe you know a different way to get in contact with justin...

ONE THING: this is not ment to diss gnassgear, or badden their reputation... this is plain desparate behaviour...

Hope thing 'll work out. kind regards game

Bob F. · Dec 6, 2006

From my reading, not answering emails is something of a habit there but the goods are made to order and are reputed to be of highest quality. Do a search on the LFinfo site for "gnass" and you will get a number of threads.

Cheers, Bob.

game · Dec 6, 2006

thankks for the reply.
I am sure their products are top notch, (hoping i will find out one day)
but for a company I think its very unprofessional to not reply to emails.
for me it is enough reason to never come back at a company...

Kind regards sam

Stew Squires · Dec 6, 2006

game said:
thankks for the reply.
I am sure their products are top notch, (hoping i will find out one day)
but for a company I think its very unprofessional to not reply to emails.
for me it is enough reason to never come back at a company...
Kind regards sam

This is a small operation, but really great stuff. In your shoes, here in the states, I have called them and gotten great response. However that's not so easy from Europe. They most certainly will get to your order from my experience. Especially if you have an urgent need as in a trip coming up that you need this for, you might add that to another email if such is the case.

Stew

colrehogan · Dec 6, 2006

I agree with Bob and Stew. I have bought things from them in the past as well. Sometimes they do take longer than expected, but do deliver the product.

naturephoto1 · Dec 6, 2006

As Bob indicated there are threads on the LF website, in fact a current one that I will leave as a link. You will not be disappointed in their products; they are of extremely high quality. Justin Gnass (Justin is Jeff Gnass' brother; Jeff is a well known Landscape photographer living in Alaska and the photo equipment business is an an outgrowth of Jeff's work) is not the best at replying to e-mails. In the US and North America, it is best to speak with Justin on the phone. However, in your case, calling from Europe it would be rather expensive.

Here is the current link from LF forum:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=20900

Hope this helps.

Rich

Stew Squires · Dec 6, 2006

BTW, I have their 4x5 focusing cloth in gray and black. I like it better than my 8x10 in white and black made by someone else. I have adapted it to work with my Wehman. You will be pleased when it finally does arrive.

Stew

scott k · Dec 6, 2006

I have one of their focusing cloths that I got last year and it is great. I had a delay in shipment as well and sent an e-mail that was never answered but the cloth showed up a day after I sent the e-mail The cloth is really nice and worth the wait. I'm guessing they make these when they have enough orders to make it worth their while and that is what accounts for the delay. I built a Bender 4x5 last year and while talking with Jay Bender when I place my order he said his business dropped off so much that he had to get another job. To make selling the kits worth while he had wait till he had enough orders to make up the kits. I waited 5 weeks for the Bender kit and it was a very nice box of sticks that assembled into a VERY nice looking camera.

dr__red · Dec 6, 2006

I've got their dark blue/black 4x5 focusing cloth and it is nothing close to fantastic. My story was: I placed an order for it, waited, forgotten about it, recalled I places the order in 3 month (!), shot a few angry emails, got the cloth.
Communication skills.... there is sertainly a space for improvement... something to put on their anual Personal Development Plan ;-)

dr__red · Dec 6, 2006

... or rather "short of fantastic"...

naturephoto1 · Dec 6, 2006

I would venture to guess that the best GnassGear Photo Products are their 4x5 Field Camera Case, 4x5 Multiple Lens Case (short and long), 8x10 Multiple Lens Case,and Rapid Load File pouches (2 and 3).

Rich

game · Dec 6, 2006

i read the thread globally, but it seems obvious to me. They are notoriously bad in communicating... Too bad. I will give them a call soon.
But I won't order from them again I am afraid.

Thanks guys for poinitng that out. Greetz Game

naturephoto1 · Dec 6, 2006

Don't write them off in the future. As I indicated, I do not believe that their Dark Cloth is their best product. I believe that their Camera Field Case, large format lens case, and their File Cases are their best products. I consider these to be some of the best camera bags that I have ever used and my favorites as well. So much for dealing with a company of only a handful of employees that design and manufacture their own products that deal in the hundreds or more orders.

Rich

StreetShooter · Dec 6, 2006

I've been defending their products to a friend of mine who has had one of their cases on order for well over a month. I was lucky enough to have won mine off of the bay!

But, regardless of whether they're a small company or not, there really is NO excuse for them not answering their emails, if only to let their clients know what is happening with their orders. After all, their purchasers have already paid for the goods ordered.

I don't want to include them in the class of companies that accompany Ron Wisner et al but I'm afraid it's probably happening in more photographers' minds than people care to admit.

Dave Parker, of SatinSnow, even in his most challenging situation, at least had the courtesy of informing his customers either via email or on this forum of production and delivery issues. THAT, IMHO, demonstrates respect and courtesy toward the people who support him through the purchase of his goods.

Lastly, I think we all know that the products Gnass produces is good. If it weren't, their company name likely wouldn't even hit the radar screen on forums like this. And, as an example, there was a Gnass lens case on the auction block a couple of days ago. Including the cost of shipping, it sold for close to the retail pricing. Why? Most likely because the buyer didn't want to go through what some of the other buyers are experiencing.

Anyway, I do wish Jeff and Justin well in their endeavors but I'm afraid I wouldn't order their products UNLESS I really didn't need it for months in advance!

Cheers

BOSS565 · Dec 8, 2006

I also bought an item from Gnass Gear, and it was shipped promptly. Regarding the focusing cloth I recommend Blackjacket by QuietWorks. Their communication is excellent.

Kirk Gittings · Dec 8, 2006

I just ordered a readyload pouch and 2 4x lens csaes. It took over 6 weeks and during that time they never responded to a single email until right before they shipped. The products are absolutely excellent, worth the wait. My only complaint is the lack of communication.

rossb · Dec 10, 2006

I have also bought from Gnass a couple of times, including their darkcloth. Great products, worth the wait, delivery to Oz has been quite good.

Ross

game · Dec 14, 2006

well i received the focussing cloth today, it is lovely.
but i don't think i'll order from them again.
never received any email. plain amateurism.

game

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