What's with Jobo?

A couple of day ago I called Jobo to order a new pump for a CPP-2 only to be told that they didn't have the parts and that they were closing the shop. Apparently the parent company in Germany is closing their US operation (Jobo Fototechnic) and looking for a different distributor. I was told I could place an order and wait for the new distributor to fill it, but this seemed more than uncertain to me. This strikes me as bad news. Does anyone have more information about this?

Thanks,

John

P.S. If anyone happens to have a new pump assembly for a CPP-2 that you're willing to part with, please let me know.

B&H still sells the jobo stuff.

This was discussed yesterday in a different thread. Basically you've got all the info any body seems to have.

Did they mention who the new distributor would be?

I did a search for Jobo yesterday but didn't find that discussion. They are saying they don't know anything. I called B&H but they order parts directly from Jobo so they were helpless.

John

Here you go.

John Snyder said:

I did a search for Jobo yesterday but didn't find that discussion. They are saying they don't know anything. I called B&H but they order parts directly from Jobo so they were helpless.

John

Click to expand...

Here is the thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists), started by, (ahem), me.

great. I guess this means I can say goodbye to the parts support for my printo...I sympathize with you--this is the same problem I've been having with Ilford. Ilford US is gone, from what I can tell. I called them two days ago looking for a gear for one of their machines, and they answered the phone in French. I guess they're in Canada, now? They told me they didn't have the part in stock and when I asked when they would get it, they said "never". I said, "like, never again?" and they said no more parts...

BUT--for jobo--loss of a US distributor, might mean the parts are still available overseas. Ilford's parts are still available--only they won't tell anyone who makes them. The parts for this machine, are still being made, it's just this bonehead secret of the company not to name the vendor. Like they lose sales to someone else, who they have no interest in contracting with.

So--hang in there. You can get a pump easier than the gear that I need. We even bought a junk mahine to get some parts, but this gear is all worn out on the parts machine...

It surprises me in some ways that jobo would shut down in the US, since they never had a pro lab market. It was all hobbyists--but in other ways, it could be digital has really eaten into their market, what with inkjets and all. I hate to see them go, they had good customer service & support.

Who or what is TBE?

TBE is said to be taking over JOBO's US operations. Does anyone know what TBE is or the letters stand for? I ran a couple of searches and didn't come up with anything definitive.

Thanks!