How mail-in repair works
No repair shop nearby? It does not matter where in the EU you live: the courier network is our counter. Here is exactly what happens from the moment you decide to send us your equipment to the moment it is back in your hands.
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STEP 01
Ship your gear
Pack your camera or lens and ship it to our lab in Ancona, Italy, with the courier of your choice (at your cost). No customs paperwork inside the EU.
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STEP 02
Free diagnosis
Our technicians inspect your equipment and identify the fault, usually within 2–3 working days of arrival. Diagnosis costs nothing.
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STEP 03
Fixed quote
You receive a written quote with a fixed price and turnaround time. No hidden costs. You decide whether to go ahead.
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STEP 04
Repair & warranty
We repair, test and calibrate your equipment. Every repair is covered by a 6-month warranty.
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STEP 05
Return shipping — €20 flat
Your gear travels back to you with our contracted courier, tracked and insured, for a flat €20 anywhere in the EU.
Nothing is repaired without your explicit approval of the written quote. If you decline, or if the equipment turns out to be beyond economical repair, you owe nothing for the diagnosis — only the €20 return shipping (or we recycle the equipment for free if you prefer).
Typical timeline
- Transit to Ancona
- 2–5 working days (depends on your courier)
- Diagnosis
- 2–3 working days from arrival — free
- Repair after your approval
- 5–10 working days for most jobs; longer only if a rare part must be sourced (we tell you in the quote)
- Return shipping
- 2–5 working days, tracked and insured — €20 flat anywhere in the EU
How to pack your equipment
Almost all transport damage we see comes from poor packing. Two minutes of care avoids it entirely:
- Use a double box: the camera or lens wrapped in bubble wrap inside a smaller box, then that box inside a larger one with padding on all six sides.
- Remove the battery and memory card (keep them — we do not need them unless the fault is power-related; if it is, mention it and include the battery).
- Detach the lens from the body and pack them separately, each with front and rear caps fitted.
- Do not ship loose accessories, straps, bags or filters we did not ask for.
- Put a note inside with your name, email address and a short description of the fault.
- Choose a tracked service. Inside the EU there are no customs forms — it ships like a domestic parcel.
Where to ship
European Camera Repair (c/o Fotoriparatore)
Via Primo Maggio 16
60131 Ancona, Italy
Include the confirmation of your repair form inside the parcel, ship with a tracked and insured service, and every incoming parcel is logged on arrival.
EU only — why not the UK?
Since Brexit, shipments between the UK and Italy require customs declarations in both directions, with possible duties, VAT handling and delays entirely outside our control. To keep prices fixed and turnaround predictable, we currently accept repairs from EU member states only. Inside the EU single market there are no customs, no forms and no surprises.
Ready to get your gear working again?
Tell us what is wrong, ship your equipment to our lab in Ancona, and we take care of the rest. Diagnosis is always free — you only pay if you approve the quote.