MACK warranty - TRULY authorized or a GO BETWEEN?

The word from Canon (from one of their employees) is that Mack is NOT an authorized Canon DSLR repair center, but rather a "go between". If this is true, why buy the Mack warranty in the first place? From all the feedback I'm getting, they're a nightmare operation. Cameras just sit on their shelves for several weeks collecting dust when they should have already been sent off to Canon for the REAL repair.

Now I know that Mack warranties are often PUSHED by Adorama, B&H and Calumet as well as a few others. Calumet corporate department wants EVERY camera sale to have Mack AND a filter sale attached to it, otherwise the workers get "dinged" on not making their sales numbers.

SO...Why buy Mack warranties? IMO, a waste of money and time to the end consumer.

PM01 wrote in post #8312641
SO...Why buy Mack warranties? IMO, a waste of money and time to the end consumer.

That's true of all extended warranties.

Willie wrote in post #8312689
That's true of all extended warranties.

UNless your camera needs a major repair within the warranty period which would cost more than the warranty did.

It is insurance. Most often it is a waste of money - until you are the one that needs it.

I'm not willing to shell out money to find that out.

If I look at all the electronics I bought and all the ones that broke outside of the warranty period, I would be out a ton of money had I purchased extended warranties.

That may be true, but there are people who needed a $400 repair one month out of warranty that was covered by a $75 warranty. Would you not call that a smart decision for them?

I don't buy them as a general rule, but they have come in handy for some. If it helps you feel better and worry less, then it is a good buy just for that.

I would call that luck, not a smart decision.

Most people don't win the lottery, but there are those who do. Does that make it a good bet?

Vegas was built on the lottery and 100:1 longshot type bets.

I bought a used camera(30D) which had 3 years of a 5 year mack warranty left on it for $475.

The warranty is really what sold me on the camera. So my point is I think the warranty can help with resale value.

Coincidentally, the shutter button broke and the camera is currently our for repair @ Mack (we'll see how that goes -- so far so good). I've heard the button repair costs $300.

Willie wrote in post #8312831
I would call that luck, not a smart decision.

Most people don't win the lottery, but there are those who do. Does that make it a good bet?

Vegas was built on the lottery and 100:1 longshot type bets.

Do you have insurance on your car and home? Odds are that you will not need them.

tkbslc wrote in post #8313309
Do you have insurance on your car and home? Odds are that you will not need them.

that's different, it's generally not a good move (financially) to buy extended warranties for small consumer goods

It is a personal decision no doubt! I am generally not "an extended warranty person" either. I did purchase one through Circuit City on my 20D (5 years with acidental damage for $200 and yes it is coverd after they went out of business) which has proven to be a reliable model. 9 days out of factory warranty the shutter went out and a couple of weeks ago my flash mount was knocked lose by a man tripping in a stadium at a theme park and when he reached over to brace himself ( I was sitting ) he hit my flash.

Both times I had the camera out and back in 7 days. My 40D went bac after I only had it for about a month with an AF problem (covered under factory warranty) and needed some parts.
It just depends on the person and the circumstances.

Trique Daddi

there were some best buy trolls on here proclaiming how great their extended warranties are.

i think they are a waste of money unless they are super cheap.

I once overheard a camera department employee telling (with a dead straight face) a buyer that they should buy the extended warranty because the camera was going to break down the day after the factory warranty expired.

roopaw wrote in post #8313691
I once overheard a camera department employee telling (with a dead straight face) a buyer that they should buy the extended warranty because the camera was going to break down the day after the factory warranty expired.

Which camera was this? I used to be in sales and if a camera model had such poor reliability, I would tell them up front and have them pick another model.

As for anything out of warranty, I usually just call up Canon, buy the part and work on it myself. The shutter release button is inexpensive, but the labor is time consuming. I'm a DIY Canon guy when it comes to repairs. They're not too tough to work on if you have the skills.

PM01 wrote in post #8313764
Which camera was this? I used to be in sales and if a camera model had such poor reliability, I would tell them up front and have them pick another model.

IIRC it was a little point and shoot of some kind, perhaps not even Canon. The funny part for me was this young sales assistant, who'd probably heard the old ironic comment about things breaking down the day after warranty expires, but taken it as gospel, passing it on to a customer so earnestly.

I don't know if the guy bought the unit or warranty as I moved on, but I often think about the event.

It really depends. I have a friend from California that was visiting here in Orlando a couple of years ago and her Olmpus DSLR went out and Best Buy located one here and she picked it up on vacation. I am not saying it is the norm and I know that there is unprofessional practices used in some retail establishments but just do your research and decide what works for you.