belly
14th of June 2002 (Fri), 03:28
I would like to share an experience I had with Canon Australia and Camera Land (Oxford Street Leederville).
I noticed a missing pixel on the photos taken with my camera. Looking through these forums it is quite a common feature with these cameras and I thought I may as well get it fixed before the warranty expired. Other than that the camera was working perfectly, with the very last picture being of identical quality to the first, with all missing one pixel (green dot).
Camera Land rang and said the warranty would not be honoured and it would cost over $470 to fix. When I took this up with them, they dropped out of the scene and passed me onto Canon.
Eventually Canon agreed that the repairs would cost $150 for parts only, and they would waive the normal labour cost as it was under warranty. I paid this as I have found it (with other suppliers) usually doesn't pay to push too hard as you'll get a product that will just make it to the end of the warranty period if you do.
The optical unit was replaced - it looks pretty much like a sealed unit to me, incorporating just about everything.
The reason initially they would not honour the warranty is that they found foreign particles had penetrated the optical unit. Later this was modified to sand was stopping the lens opening. Remember that this camera was working perfectly when it was given to Camera Land for return.
So, I've learnt a few lessons from this.
1. If you have a missing pixel - live with it.
2. Camera Land has big margins.
3. IXUS cameras have poor sealing. The worst thing this camera has had done to it is be put in a pocket.
4. When taking a camera back for service, take it to the supplier and demonstrate the problem and that the camera otherwise works, or you won't have a leg to stand on if another fault occurs later.
5. The customer no longer gets any benefit of the doubt.
I can remember a couple of years ago I sent an Epson printer back because the printhead blocked. Their response - do you want a new printer, or would you prefer to pay the difference and get a laser - I guess companies just don't have the margins they used to.
I noticed a missing pixel on the photos taken with my camera. Looking through these forums it is quite a common feature with these cameras and I thought I may as well get it fixed before the warranty expired. Other than that the camera was working perfectly, with the very last picture being of identical quality to the first, with all missing one pixel (green dot).
Camera Land rang and said the warranty would not be honoured and it would cost over $470 to fix. When I took this up with them, they dropped out of the scene and passed me onto Canon.
Eventually Canon agreed that the repairs would cost $150 for parts only, and they would waive the normal labour cost as it was under warranty. I paid this as I have found it (with other suppliers) usually doesn't pay to push too hard as you'll get a product that will just make it to the end of the warranty period if you do.
The optical unit was replaced - it looks pretty much like a sealed unit to me, incorporating just about everything.
The reason initially they would not honour the warranty is that they found foreign particles had penetrated the optical unit. Later this was modified to sand was stopping the lens opening. Remember that this camera was working perfectly when it was given to Camera Land for return.
So, I've learnt a few lessons from this.
1. If you have a missing pixel - live with it.
2. Camera Land has big margins.
3. IXUS cameras have poor sealing. The worst thing this camera has had done to it is be put in a pocket.
4. When taking a camera back for service, take it to the supplier and demonstrate the problem and that the camera otherwise works, or you won't have a leg to stand on if another fault occurs later.
5. The customer no longer gets any benefit of the doubt.
I can remember a couple of years ago I sent an Epson printer back because the printhead blocked. Their response - do you want a new printer, or would you prefer to pay the difference and get a laser - I guess companies just don't have the margins they used to.