My Canon 5D needed its sensor cleaned, and there aren't many places in Portland to get that done. Pro Photo Supply recommended I go here, so I did.
Upon entering the store, I was greeted with many signs behind the equipment for sale that read, "If you plan to buy *online*, don't waste our *time*." I suppose that is supposed to be a clever rhyme. Not to mention that "online" and "time" don't actually rhyme -- but my reaction was, "Maybe the reason I go to online storefronts is that they don't antagonize their potential customers."
So I walked up to the counter and said I needed a sensor cleaning. The fifteen-year-old behind the counter told me it would be $65. I asked, "Can you tell me about the process you use to clean the sensor?" He was confused by this question so spun around and asked the woman in charge. She replied, "We don't tell you how to clean the sensor. That is a service we charge money for." This frustrated me even more than the rude signs. All I was asking for was a description of what I was paying $65 for, but she assumed I was trying to learn how to clean a sensor for free. Once I corrected her that I just wanted to know what I was paying for, she gave me some marketing mumbo-jumbo about how cleaning a sensor is veeeery complex and complicated and should not be approached by amaterus. Basically, her answer to my question was designed to scare me into paying them rather than trying it myself.
So, in fairness, they did clean my sensor, and from what I can tell did a good job of it. But the whole experience left me feeling unsatisfied as a customer. Next time I need a sensor cleaned, I will seek out other local options.
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