Warranty - how important?

[colourstorm]

How important are warranties with EOS digitals?

For about £880 I can get the 20D body (with accessories, boxed etc.) inclusive of delivery and import duties, WITH A 3 YEAR WARRANTY.

However, if instead I bought camera for £920 inclusive of delivery and import duties, it would come WITH EXTRA BATTERY, HITACHI 2GB CARD, 1 YEAR WARRANTY. (I would upgrade microdrive to sandisk ultra II for £92)

Unfortunately the seller of the package deal doesn't offer any kind of warranty upgrade / insurance package...

I can get the memory card for probably a little under £100 and a decent battery for under £30 elsewhere...

I'm more inclined towards the warranty deal - what do you think? How reliable and problem prone are 20Ds / your EOS digital...
Thanks,
Joe

[MrThanh]

i personally think that the 1 year warranty would suffice. if any major problems do come about with the camera, they would most likely occur within that first year of operation.

[PhotosGuy]

As you know, warranties aren't worth much until you need them? So I got an extra 4 years on mine for $90 US & consider it cheap even if I never use it.
Keep in mind that some credit cards will extend your warranty for you, & if you have a homeowners/renters policy, some warranty issues may be covered in that.

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

I put all my equiptment on my home owners insurance policy. They cover most everything except wear and tear. If a button stops working because of heavy use, they wont cover the repairs, but if you throw the camera against the wall when that button dies, canon repairs it all, and the insurance pays for it anyway. :-) So, it works out pretty well. It's costing me $36.00 a year for what you see in my sig.

[CanonAndy]

Warranty is a challenging subject. There are 3 distinct phases of product field life, and you need to consider how much financial exposure you want during the life of your hardware.

The 1st phase of field life can be referred to as 'break-in'. During this time, most failures are due to defects in the materials or workmanship. The 1 year standard warranties cover most of these failures. A lot of these failures are referred to as 'infant mortality' failures (I don't care for that use of words, but its very common in the manufacturing industries)

The 2nd phase of life is standard life. There are typically very few failures in this phase. Manufacturers define this phase with B10 life calculations. Canon expects 90% of their customers to achieve a predicted life on the product based on endurance testing, predictive models, etc...

The 3rd and final phase is the 'wear-out' phase. In this phase, components and systems literally reach their design life. Mechanical fatigue, corrosion, thermal cycling, etc... all bring components to the end of their design life. This is the wildcard phase, since duty cycle, user methods, and environment can dramatically affect the 'failure point' (where repair costs exceed 50% of replacement value). You may have two consecutive s/n'd cameras that have a 50%+ difference in usable life.

Extended warranties do two things efficiently: 1. They allow a customer to budget operating and asset costs for the purchased warranty period. Personally, I think these 'warranties' should be referred to as insurance policies. You are purchasing insurance to protect you from loss.

The 2nd purpose of extended warranties is to boost net profit for the selling company. These are essentially 100% margin sales, since no product is exchanged at point of sale. Companies like Canon have extensive statistical experience with their products, and know what % of warranty claims will be honored after sale. Its easy math, and chain technology stores often offer incentives to employees for selling extended coverage plans.

Bottom line? Statistically, extended plans aren't in favor of customers. They have a distinct place, and, like leasing a car, a distinct customer base that can justify the extra $$$ for the plan.

My 2 cents...

CanonAndy

[Roach711]

CanonAndy is right about the profit margin on extended warranties. When I worked in sales at Sears they often told us not to sell a scarce item without an extended warranty. We also got (small) bonuses if we aded on enough warranties. That's why salespeople are so hot to sell you one. I never buy them.

Da Roach

[Trumper]

How important are warranties with EOS digitals?

For about £880 I can get the 20D body (with accessories, boxed etc.) inclusive of delivery and import duties, WITH A 3 YEAR WARRANTY.

However, if instead I bought camera for £920 inclusive of delivery and import duties, it would come WITH EXTRA BATTERY, HITACHI 2GB CARD, 1 YEAR WARRANTY. (I would upgrade microdrive to sandisk ultra II for £92)

Unfortunately the seller of the package deal doesn't offer any kind of warranty upgrade / insurance package...

I can get the memory card for probably a little under £100 and a decent battery for under £30 elsewhere...

I'm more inclined towards the warranty deal - what do you think? How reliable and problem prone are 20Ds / your EOS digital...
Thanks,
Joe
If you dont mind me asking,where are you getting that deal from,is it an import?

[cmosdos]

Stay away from 'purchasing' extended warrantees. I have a house and two cars under insurance with an insurance company. In addition to this, I have articles, such as jewlrey, plasma tv, camera, lenses, etc under insurance as well. It only costs about 10-15 bucks a year to insure several thousand dollars worth of equipment under my insurance company. They will pay the amount to have the camera fixed under ANY circumstances, even if its my fault. Oh yeah, and they also cover 'mysterious disapearances'! :lol:

[d'homme]

Most items are covered under a manufactures warranty and warranty of merchantibility for a perioid of time. So unless you get an EXtened warranty... its a toss up. Im like others, i've never had anything break until AFter the warranty period.

[colourstorm]

I should have explained my situation better; because I am under 18, I cannot have a credit card (so have no option of extended warranty there...), because I am under 18 I also cannot purchase my own insurance policy for my camera, and our home insurance only protects against theft (and strict conditions apply).

As you can now see, the 3 year extended warranty is my only option of extended protection - however, how would paying for the price of repairs compare with the cost of the extended warranty? You're saying it works out cheaper paying yourself? If this is the case - the big bundle pack (with 1 year standard canon warranty) it is...

d'homme - I don't quite understand your language! (american idiom?), do you mean you think getting an extended warranty is important?

The extended warranty is a Mack one, and for mr. Trumper, you can find the deals on eBay - they are imported from HK - but state they are UK models (with full UK accessories etc).

As always - your help is appreciated enormously,
Regards,
Joe

[triangle]

Read my two posts of what my experience with the warranty was. It made me pay just a bit more and buy my 20D with warranty also. Here they are; http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=74903 and
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=75484.

[d'homme]

I just meant its a personal call. I know people where purchasing the extended warranty was a life saver for them. I've only purchased an extended warranty on a few items, only to never use it, or it not be valid when I DID finally need it. I don't know how much an extended warranty would be on the 20D, but sometimes the warranty is more than actually repairs might be.

[CyberPet]

In Sweden you are lucky (maybe a good excuse to pay those 25% in sales tax), Canon gives you the 1 year factory warranty, but the seller is by law giving you another year, a "buyers warranty". So if the camera breaks, you send it in and they have to pay for the repair (unless you really did something to screw it up - like dropping it from a tall building).

[cmosdos]

Since you are under 18, how will you be purchasing the product? If you will be the purchaser, the warrantee could be null and void. I say this because in the US, a signature from someone under the age of 18 is not valid. The laws where you live might be different, so check it out. You will most likely have to sign paperwork for the extended warrantee (that you understand and accept the terms of the warrantee).

If someone else (like your parents) are buying the camera. Then you can always ask them to add the camera to their insurance and you can give them the money. Although the insurance would be under their name, as long as your on good terms with your parents, I don't see a problem.

Either way you go at it... cameras, and ESPECIALLY the lenses are expensive items. It would be a good idea to have some kind of insurance on them. But be sure the insurance can be used and isn't just 'fluff'.

I should have explained my situation better; because I am under 18, I cannot have a credit card (so have no option of extended warranty there...), because I am under 18 I also cannot purchase my own insurance policy for my camera, and our home insurance only protects against theft (and strict conditions apply).

As you can now see, the 3 year extended warranty is my only option of extended protection - however, how would paying for the price of repairs compare with the cost of the extended warranty? You're saying it works out cheaper paying yourself? If this is the case - the big bundle pack (with 1 year standard canon warranty) it is...

d'homme - I don't quite understand your language! (american idiom?), do you mean you think getting an extended warranty is important?

The extended warranty is a Mack one, and for mr. Trumper, you can find the deals on eBay - they are imported from HK - but state they are UK models (with full UK accessories etc).

As always - your help is appreciated enormously,
Regards,
Joe

[tim]

I can get the memory card for probably a little under £100 and a decent battery for under £30 elsewhere...

http://sterlingtek.com for good batteries, they're like £4.

[colourstorm]

I had thought about paying my parents to take out an insurance policy for all my kit - will tackle that this evening (after next exam!)...

In the UK under 18s can make use of warranties - for any kind of product; for whoever was wandering...

If I did manage to get an insurance policy - an extended warranty wouldn't be neccessary, right?

thanks the sterlingtek link tim, and thankyou everyone!

[buginajar]

Look at it this way. I bought a surround sound system about 5 years ago at Circuit City that was on clearance. (Only $250) Anyway, I "splurged" and bought the 5 year protection plan/warranty; I never do, but for some reason it was enticing this time. It cost about $40 bux. My warranty expires this year in November, and believe it or not, I actually had to take my system in to Circuit City for repairs/replacement the past week. Some of the speakers quit working for reasons unknown. I take care of my things, but stuff happens. Better be safe than sorry.

[d'homme]

Cmosdos correction.

The signature of a minor is not null and void. Minors can enter into a contract at any time, but can also rescind at any time, provided that the purchase is not a necessity. Contracts made by minors are voidable at the election of the minor (keep in mind that minority age varies by state), if the contract is not for a necessity (as in a promise to support an illegitimate child, or food, clothing, or shelter.). Once the minor reaches the age of majority, she has the power to affirm the contract, in which even the minor is bound. Upon reaching the age of majority, the minor must act wihtin a reasonable period of time to disaffirm the contract or the minor will be deemed to have affirmed the transaction.

[cmosdos]

Cmosdos correction.

The signature of a minor is not null and void. Minors can enter into a contract at any time, but can also rescind at any time, provided that the purchase is not a necessity. Contracts made by minors are voidable at the election of the minor (keep in mind that minority age varies by state), if the contract is not for a necessity (as in a promise to support an illegitimate child, or food, clothing, or shelter.). Once the minor reaches the age of majority, she has the power to affirm the contract, in which even the minor is bound. Upon reaching the age of majority, the minor must act wihtin a reasonable period of time to disaffirm the contract or the minor will be deemed to have affirmed the transaction.

You make it sound so much more legal! :lol: And correct too!

[colourstorm]

My dad has agreed to let me take out an insurance plan in his name! I've taken a look at E&L and got a quote - £69 for All Risk worldwide unlimited cover for £2000 of kit (except unattended car - for that they require that it's locked in an additional separate compartment! What?!)

If the camera stops working due to product fault - that isn't covered by their policies - so a warranty is a good idea still? (don't like the idea of deliberately breaking the camera even more in order to file a claim)

what do you think?
thanks again!