My 1D3 was giving me the dreaded and inexplicable error 99. I sent it to a Canon factory service center for repair. It was out of warranty and they had told me they would notify me with an estimate after they examined the camera. I sent the camera the them on Saturday. On Monday I received this message: "We have received your equipment for evaluation and repair. Based on our initial examination, we will start the necessary repairs at no charge to you." On Wednesday, the camera was back in my hands.
On Sunday, the day after I shipped my camera, a lens malfunctioned - giving an error message. The aperture seemed to be stuck. I had bought the lens used several years ago, so obviously it was out of warranty. I waited until the camera had been returned to me, and then last Thursday, as instructed by Canon, I shipped the lens to a different Canon factory service center. On Friday, I received the same message as I did for the camera body. The repaired lens was delivered to me today, Tuesday.
Canon does rock! I've not had many instances of needing repairs due to equipment failure except when I did something stupid like drop it. However, turnaround has always been super and I too have benefitted from some generosity. One of my students broke her LCD on her Rebel, it was out of warranty, the camera store (which shall remain nameless) wouldn't do anything for her and I told her to send it to Canon. One week turnaround, no charge.
So, superb picture quality, excellent equipment performance, wonderful service life and great customer service. And, sponsoring "Nature" on PBS. What more could you want? Canon does it all for me.
JR
Posted by Paul DeCesare on August 5, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Same thing here, fixed my out-of-warranty 70-200mm tripod ring (that I broke out of stupidity) for free. They actually sent me a new one. What amazed me was that I wasn't the original owner... I had purchased the lens used, with a few months left on the original 12-month warranty. Even so, I broke the ring a month after the original warranty ended, and they still covered it! That would have cost $140 to replace.
My experience with Olympus is similar. My out-of-warranty 300mm lens had a problem. I sent it in for repairs; they performed the repairs for free, and loaned me another lens while it was shipped to Japan for repairs.
My total cost was less than $50 shipping from Alaska; my total time without my big glass was five days. First rate service!
Posted by Carol Nichols on August 5, 2009 at 5:42 PM
I dropped my almost new 70-200mm f/4 lens and sent it to Canon for repairs. Although the warranty clearly states that impact damage is not covered, they fixed it anyways for free
Discussion
4 repliesOn Sunday, the day after I shipped my camera, a lens malfunctioned - giving an error message. The aperture seemed to be stuck. I had bought the lens used several years ago, so obviously it was out of warranty. I waited until the camera had been returned to me, and then last Thursday, as instructed by Canon, I shipped the lens to a different Canon factory service center. On Friday, I received the same message as I did for the camera body. The repaired lens was delivered to me today, Tuesday.
Fast service, no charge. Thanks Canon!
So, superb picture quality, excellent equipment performance, wonderful service life and great customer service. And, sponsoring "Nature" on PBS. What more could you want? Canon does it all for me.
JR
I've heard many stories like this, over and over.
My total cost was less than $50 shipping from Alaska; my total time without my big glass was five days. First rate service!