I was searching for a thread I remember, recommending a dealer for colimation/calibration/cleaning of a non-robotic Topcon total station, and I came across a few that were down on Hayes, up or neutral on Geo Shack (whose support of this site does not go un-noticed), and very positive on Deaton's Geo-Tronics. I'm ready to go on this and thought I'd solicit updated opinions.
I have no complaints about Hayes, but I haven't used them for calibrating instruments in a long time. I've always been very satisfied with Deaton's work. I have no experience with Geo Shack.
I have used all three at different times in the past and have only good things to say about all three. The current topcon robot that I have came from Troy Deaton used and if it needed service, it would go back to Deaton. Most of the levels on the construction crews came from Hayes and most of the topcon rotating lasers came from GeoShack. Not sure why it happened that way, it just did.
James
Both Hayes and Deaton's have been great for me. I use both for supplies, but have migrated to mostly Deaton's for almost all of my service work. Troy and Shane have been friends for a long time, and I just followed them when Troy went out on his own.
Terry is the manager at Hayes now, as least he was, and he has been very helpful as well.