Great news for New 300D buyers

[morenoar]

Hello everyone. Just wanted to let ALL of you know in case you are looking to buy a new 300D. As we all know, this camera is selling like hot cakes. Many places can't keep them in stock. But if you can handle waiting a little bit for this particular store to get them in, IT IS WELL WORTH IT. This is what happened to me today.

Thank you BEST BUY. Took it to Best Buy so that they can send it back to have the sensor cleaned because of spots on my pictures (had my roll of towels, stopped off at Sam Club and bought a WHOLE BAG of Wash Clothes, to help with the Tears). Gave it to the Tech, with picture samples of what it is doing. He agreed, the sensor probably is dirty. Would have to send it in to thier repair center, would be 2-4 weeks before they get it back. I started to get weepy Eyes and he was looking at me funny. He looked in the computer to make sure that I realy bought it there. He comes back with some UNEXPECTED NEWS. He can't send it to the repair center, the 4 year Best Buy warranty I bought states that this item is EXCHANGE ONLY. I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK. I asked are you sure (which I should have just accepted it), he said yes, go back to the camera section and get a new one. I did not even wait for him to say that he would hold the old one. Camera section here I COME. Talked to the camera sales person and was heart broken. Have to wait till middle of week for new shipment and she was also going to see if any other stores had it. They where OUT OF STOCK. Got my bad camera back and will continue to play with it until the new one comes in. OH MY GOD, EXCHANGE for New Camera anytime that something goes wrong. And if they don't have this model anymore, I get a voucher for 999 (plus tax of course) towards the purchase of the next new model

[tpinchback]

Its true! I work in the Camera Dept at a Best Buy in Texas and this happens everyday.

We can exchange it unlimited times within the first year of the warrenty, but after that you will have to pay another 100 bucks for the four year perfermance service plan. So make sure it works perfect before the one year is up. Also, you get free batteries out of the warrenty if the old one does not charge like it is new.

[robertwgross]

Somehow there is a little voice in the back of my head asking, "What happens to all of those cameras after they have been through the repair shop?"

---Bob Gross---

[Nolz]

Somehow there is a little voice in the back of my head asking, "What happens to all of those cameras after they have been through the repair shop?"

---Bob Gross---

funny, i heard that same voice! :roll: hrmmmmmm

[defordphoto]

Somehow there is a little voice in the back of my head asking, "What happens to all of those cameras after they have been through the repair shop?"

---Bob Gross---

They get re-sold eventually, somewhere as refurbs. I can't believe BB exchanges cameras for dust.

[timmyquest]

wow, i almost didnt get it, thats great....i bte there will be a 300d replacement in the next 4 years, and i'ms ure my sens will collect some dust in that time. :twisted:

[CyberDyneSystems]

This is what I was told re: my 10D when I bought it at Best Buy.. (it was last April and the local Best Buy had the ONLY 10D in America! (Well,. no one.. NO ONE had any on, line at the time)

Now dust didn't come up per se... but with the extensded warranty I goit which was only $80.00... they clearly said I could bring it back for ANY reason,. and if they can't replace it,. they would give me $1500.00 towards whatever new version was available...

My advice .. live with the dust untill the newer version comes out! :)

You can bet your sweet @$$ I will finally be worrying about the dust problem when the 10D repleacement comes out... it hasn't even been a year yet on that extended warranty... :)

[morenoar]

It was not so much about the dust. I followed the instructions from
http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning
and I still could not get the spots off. I did not want to part with my camera AT ALL. Especially reading some of the articles here that some cameras have come back even worse. I got the 4 year warranty, that covers ALL on the camera. My only concern will be, since Best Buys extended warranty states that after 3 times of bringing devices in, they will replace (or give credit) with new one on the 4th return. If they are replacing the 300D every time, HMM what will I get? I am just ESTATIC that I don't have to me without my LOVE for long periods of time. I still can practice with this camera till the new one comes in.

[Chris1le]

Well, I was thinking about ordering my camera from B&H with the Mack extended warranty. I might have to give Best Buy a try. It would be much more convenient to just have them replace my camera if I have a problem. :D

[burkdog]

I bought a 300D at Best Buy this past Sunday. They had 2 in stock at the particular BB in Dallas that I bought from.

They had an awesome deal on the financing, too: 18 months no interest. The great part about that is that everything that you buy on the same purchase gets the no interest thing. I got a couple of cf cards and the 4 year extended warrenty.

The guy told me that if I have any problems with the camera, dust, whatever, that they pretty much will give you a new camera. What a deal.

I shop at a lot of different places, but I tend to buy at Best Buy, when I can.

[Bruce Hamilton]

I can't believe BB exchanges cameras for dust.
Especially when a $2 can of DustOff will do the job. :lol:

[billhercus]

I just got offered a 3 year extended warranty from Canon UK for my 300D.

£147 no less = US $275.

Rip off Britain again!!

[banjobob]

My experience with bestbuy has been fantastic. Bought a G2 two years ago, took it back after a focus problem. They gave me an in-store credit and I bought the then new G3. had it for 6 months and another problem developed. Another instore credit, a few extra bucks and now I have a 10D with a 4 year warranty. They are great, I always buy from them when ever possible. May not always be the lowest price in America, but with a return policy like that, its hard to argue.

[Man-Fai Wong]

Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but I suggest you read the fine print before buying any extended warranty. Do NOT simply trust what the salesfolk say.

I'm not sure if the BB EW for cameras work exactly the same as TVs -- probably yes for replacements -- but the EW I bought for my HD RPTV a year ago explicitly says that the EW is fulfilled and expires as soon as the TV is replaced w/ a new one.

Now, I'm not saying $100 for 4-year EW on a $1K-1.5K DSLR is not worth it -- 7-10% of camera cost is not bad -- but I would hold off on getting a replacement, if it's not really needed -- assuming I'm right of course.

Also, in general, EW's replace manufacturer warranty, and starts as soon as you buy the item, not after the end of manufacturer warranty. If you buy a 4-year EW from BB, it most likely means you have 4 years from date of purchase, not a year later.

_Man_

[banjobob]

man, I think you are right. It's my understanding that if they replace the camera after the manufactures warranty is expired than you must purchase a new warranty, if you want it. This is not as good as it used to be and one would certainly be foolish to do this if all his camera needed was to be cleaned. But think how nice it will be when the new 10D or rebel replacement comes out. I have a feeling my camera will need to be cleaned at that time. And I will only be too happy to pay an additional $100 to get the replacement and a new 4 yr warranty.

Rob

[theoldmoose]

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Either the waranty deals don't work as well as some folks might believe, or if some folks have managed to get units exchanged for new for just some dust, that hole will get plugged up pretty quick.

Otherwise, exchanges like that will do nothing but drive prices up for everyone else. This all doesn't come for free, you know (except possibly to the lucky first few). Engineering exchanges like that pretty much constitutes retail fraud. At least your conscience should hurt you. This is not just a case of you vs. "the man". Real people depend on working at stores like Best Buy for their livelihood. Enough of this kind of stuff can drive a store out of business.

On the other hand, Consumer Reports (and others) have repeatedly warned folks to never buy in-store extended warantees. They are only designed to pad the razor-thin margins on electronics that most stores operate under these days. If stores aren't making a ton off of those warantees, then why would they be pushing them so hard? The sales folks get commissions or spiffs off of every extended waranty they sell. And, as a previous poster pointed out, any verbal representations made to you by the sales person (or any store employee, for that matter) are worth the paper they are written on (which is to say, none/zip/nada).

As a final note, the local BestBuy in my area had a rather embarassing revelation recently. Some of the local store employees were gathering personal information from the extended waranty applications, and using it to make fradulent charges on customer's credit card numbers. I guess nothing like being in business for yourself. :twisted:

[timmyquest]

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Either the waranty deals don't work as well as some folks might believe, or if some folks have managed to get units exchanged for new for just some dust, that hole will get plugged up pretty quick.

Otherwise, exchanges like that will do nothing but drive prices up for everyone else. This all doesn't come for free, you know (except possibly to the lucky first few). Engineering exchanges like that pretty much constitutes retail fraud. At least your conscience should hurt you. This is not just a case of you vs. "the man". Real people depend on working at stores like Best Buy for their livelihood. Enough of this kind of stuff can drive a store out of business.

On the other hand, Consumer Reports (and others) have repeatedly warned folks to never buy in-store extended warantees. They are only designed to pad the razor-thin margins on electronics that most stores operate under these days. If stores aren't making a ton off of those warantees, then why would they be pushing them so hard? The sales folks get commissions or spiffs off of every extended waranty they sell. And, as a previous poster pointed out, any verbal representations made to you by the sales person (or any store employee, for that matter) are worth the paper they are written on (which is to say, none/zip/nada).

As a final note, the local BestBuy in my area had a rather embarassing revelation recently. Some of the local store employees were gathering personal information from the extended waranty applications, and using it to make fradulent charges on customer's credit card numbers. I guess nothing like being in business for yourself. :twisted:

Say what you want but $25 a year to protect a $1000 peice of electronic equpiment is not too shabby in my book.

[morenoar]

I am not just trying to get a new camera. Heck, I would have cried my HEAD OFF to send it in for a proper cleaning. But that is what Best Buy is doing. All my other stuff with them is under Warranty and they will repair it 3 times. After the 3rd time then they will replace it. We are kind of the Best Buy Family. All of our stuff has worked well durring the warranty. Only had to take a few items back for repair and have not had to take them back. I feel comfortable having the warranty for 4 years, saves me the charge of having to pay just the Repair costs. By the time the 4 years are up, the device that breaks is obolete and something better and cheaper comes along. So we buy it, with warranty. Of course if he item is $25 and the warranty is $50, then no we don't get the warranty. I don't want to just get a new camera every time I have to send it for repairs, you are right, someone has to pay for it. Should I just tell them, No send it for repairs. When they don't do that. Don't know if it is thier policy or ? I have read over and over on how to clean the sensor. But it did not help this time. Other times it has, the spots are gone. Not this time. Same spots same place before and after I cleaned the sensor.