Was I unlucky with Canon lens?

Hi all first post,

I bought a Canon 18-200mm EFS lens 2 years ago and it has been used very gently - it cost about 600 Euro at the time so I was very carefull with it! But now it is 'broken'.
Recently the Zoom zammed for no apparent reason and will not budge (stuck half forward).
I hear a small rattle inside like something small had come loose.
I googled this problem an found that there was a Canon 'Advisory' on this lens in Australia (USA too?) (late 2011) describing this exact problem (seeminging an internal screw comes loose) and Canon fix it for free. I check my lens serial number against the range of number listed as affected and and mine fits.

http://www.canon.com.a​u …ces/EF-S-18-200mm-service

Problem is I live in Ireland where I bought the lens and am told that as Canon UK has not issued any notice and that I'm on my own and need to pay near 300Euro to have it fixed (by Canon) or buy a new one for 440Euro (they came down in price). Seems very unfair. Would love to stick with this lens- but am afraid to buy another 18-200mm incase this happens out of warrenty again. Was I just unlucky?
I see Tamrons give a 6 year warrenty.

here's the notice for US.
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …il&docId=0901e0​2480296b8f

i'd complain a lot to them...keep asking to speak to someone higher up...it's clearly a fault of the lens

Does Canon Europe cover your territory?

http://www.canon-europe.com …t&faqtcmuri=tcm​:13-822396

Nathan wrote in post #15014959
Does Canon Europe cover your territory?

http://www.canon-europe.com …t&faqtcmuri=tcm​:13-822396

Thanks, I never noticed this. I am told by the shop I purchased it in that any Lens to be fixed (under warrenty) goes to the UK Canon agent. As there was no UK 'Servive Notice' then that was the end of that.
This 'Europe' has given me something to work with!. Will follow up in morning.
On their 'where to buy' they mention Ireland.

Click on Telephone Support and there's a phone number listed for Ireland. Better yet, click on Repair Contacts; you can select Ireland and Lenses as product type and find your way to this info:

lchester Camera Repair Services
Professional Camera, Lens, Professional Lens, Flash, Analogue Compact Camera, Digital Compact Camera, Analogue SLR Camera, Digital SLR Camera

6 Kings Court
Off Newcomen Way
Severalls Business Park
Colchester
CO4 9RA

Tel: +44 (0)1206 843 322
Fax: +44 (0)1206 843 323

Web: www.camera-repair.co.uk


Hope it works out for you.

Nomic wrote in post #15015078
This 'Europe' has given me something to work with!. Will follow up in morning. On their 'where to buy' they mention Ireland.

Did they fix your lens?

Hello.
Well it seems that I was unlucky too. My Canon EF100-400L IS USM just gone for almost a month, to the warranty in a certified Canon center in Lisbon to fix a problem with the lock/unlock and zoom rings... for the second time. My problem was the lens was stuck at 100mm and no more zoom available, as well as no focus!
Was first fixed in January with this same problem and since September 7th I’m waiting for it to get fixed.

Nomic wrote in post #15014603
...
Problem is I live in Ireland where I bought the lens and am told that as Canon UK has not issued any notice and that I'm on my own and need to pay near 300Euro to have it fixed (by Canon) or buy a new one for 440Euro (they came down in price). Seems very unfair. Would love to stick with this lens- but am afraid to buy another 18-200mm incase this happens out of warrenty again. Was I just unlucky?
.. .

Makes no sense to me. All lenses are created at the same factory, and if yours has a serial # in the affected range it should be fixed free of charge. I would stress this fact to whoever you end up speaking to at Canon quoting recall notices for the US, Canada, and Australia. This manufacturing defect should be fixed with no charge to you.

Ireland, being part of the EU, will have similar consumer protection laws to us in the UK. Our laws state that we have 5 years to return a faulty product to the retailer. For the first 6 months it's up to the retailer to prove that the fault was not inherent but was caused by the purchaser. After 6 months it's up to the purchaser to prove that the fault was inherent.

If I were in your situation I would write a letter to the shop where I bought it, stating the relevant laws and including the Canon Advisory note as evidence that this was an inherent fault and, as such, I was entitled to a free repair.

Now, I know that UK law gives better protection that the EU guidelines (where only 2 years protection is mentioned) and I've no idea what consumer laws in Ireland are like. But if I were you I'd be googling to find out just what cover the law gives you.

Canon UK do support the fix for the zoom issue on that lens, it's on their website:

http://www.canon.co.uk …t&faqtcmuri=tcm​:14-822396

Regards

Kev

Nomic wrote in post #15015078
Thanks, I never noticed this. I am told by the shop I purchased it in that any Lens to be fixed (under warrenty) goes to the UK Canon agent. As there was no UK 'Servive Notice' then that was the end of that.
This 'Europe' has given me something to work with!. Will follow up in morning.
On their 'where to buy' they mention Ireland.

Dont rely on the shop where you buy stuff to give you impartial advice when you can go directly to the source. Local shops tend to be focused on their own needs, large stores tend to be indifferent.

I want to thank everyone for their replies and website links & telephone numbers. Initially I just relied on Google with the description of the fault - which was a mistake as it only gave me USA and Asia recalls. I know it should have been obvious that I look at Canon UK or EU but I didn't - never bother with corporate web sites! In fact I called an 'alternative' Canon repairer in Dublin who assured me the Canon UK had no 'Advisory' or 'Recall' on this lens and I should dump it in the bin and spend 450 Euro on a new one. Then I got advice from you people and a few phone calls later left it into a Canon dealer in Dublin who sent it to UK for me who FIXED IT LIKE NEW and it cost me not one brass penny!
I could ill afford any repairs (believe me) and now it is all perfect again. I can not thank enough for your advice - Thank you all so much!

Glad it worked out. Hope you come back and post often.

Great news, glad you got it sorted out.

Regards

Kev