Extended Warranty for HVX

[HerzogisGod]

Im probably going to make my HVX purchase tomorow. Im going to have to get my own extended warrenty...any suggestions where I can go?

[vortex677]

I think your throwing your money away for a mach what ever insurence. They only cover the likley hood where something stops working and even then they question the crap out of you and deny your claim big waste of money.

[HerzogisGod]

So basically im covered for a year, then Im on my own? Kinda scary :(

[avplumber]

I think your throwing your money away for a mach what ever insurence. They only cover the likley hood where something stops working and even then they question the crap out of you and deny your claim big waste of money.

i've only sent in a few cameras to Mack (Sony FX1), and in each case they fixed the problems, but took months to complete the work. i used to get Mack warranties for everything i bought, but now it's more worth it to me to pay the repair and get my equipment back quickly. i would suggest finding a good tech/repair company, then take care of repairs as they are needed. as an example, i have a Sony HDV deck with a Mack warranty that needed repair. i knew it would cost a few hundred to fix, but i would get it back in 2 weeks. i paid for the repair and now its back in my studio capturing tapes. with Mack, i would probably get it back around February, and lost work which is much more valuable than the few hundred for the fix.

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[majormorgan]

Are you in the US or in Europe? If you're in Europe, Panasonic are now offering two year warranty with a 5 working day turnaround thrown in.

Thanks
Richard

[Chris Santucci]

Im probably going to make my HVX purchase tomorow. Im going to have to get my own extended warrenty...any suggestions where I can go?


I always get extended warranties for my cameras from MACK.

I just recently got a MACK extended 4 year warranty on eBay for 150 bucks.

In the past when I've had to use these warranties, I had Canon cameras and since I was in the "owners club" they made warranty service happen fast.

I don't think Panasonic has such a thing, but it's also possible to make calls to the MACK warranty center and harass them if they are taking too long to complete service or repairs.

The other thing about the extended warranty is it allows an easier sale of your camera a few years down the road. A used video camera with no warranty isn't nearly as attractive an option as one with a warranty.

I'd say it's easily worth the money especially if you plan on using the camera a lot and need a drum replacement at some point.

By the way, I've never had to wait "months" for service on MACK warrantied cameras, but again, all you have to do is call them and tell them you HAVE TO have it back if they take too long.

.

[calchip]

General Electric offers extended warranties on pretty much any consumer electronics product you buy through their GE/Zurich division.

We bought our extended warranties through GE for both our DVX and our HVX.

The cost was somewhere around $250 or so for 4 years on the HVX if I remember correctly (they also sell shorter ones) and a bit less for the DVX. The warranty includes annual cleanings, and they work with a number of local or regional providers.

They have been quick to pick up the phone (no long waits) and so far very responsive, though we've used them only for the cleanings because (so far) nothing has broken on either camera.

The last numbers I have for GE/Zurich warranty are

1-888-571-3101
1-800-777-0809

[ase619]

B&H offers one from a 3rd party. It also covers accidental damages from what they told me. Like if your camera is dropped or breaks during use. I bought one with me HVX kit that I bought. Then I actually went to the website for B&H the next day to look it up and show it to a friend, that is when I noticed that there are 3 or 4 states that the warranty is not valid in. Including FL where I'm at.

I did call them back and they are going to refund my purchase of the warranty. Normally I would of been upset but the sales guy was brand new and I think this is a new program that B&H is offering. Hey not like I have ever made a mistake at a job before.

So one thing in looking at when thinking about an extended warranty is to check out the legal issues with your state. I'm sure if you looked it up on the web there has to be a state site with the restrictions and such.

[sthops]

Like Chris, I had canons, and I've never had any kind of service issue with Mack, nor out of the way or unwarranted questions from them. Quite the contray they have always been "EXTREMELY" helpful, even when I called and said I'd need the camera sooner. And yes it always helps to be nice since most people are really very nice teerribly UNDER APPRECIATED and as a result have to operate far below their capabilities.

I don't know about other companies, but in the past I'm sure Mack cut "deals" with the manufacturers. I know they had one with Canon, since for one of my repairs. I think it was the one when they had to put a new drum in for the 2nd time. They did it without so much as a whimper.

I got the best price on my current Mack warranty from Zacuto,
– too bad I can't afford their rails.


S_

[Demistate]

MACK denied my warranty claim for my camera when the firewire port stopped working.

They told me it was "user abuse"

I asked them what part of plugging a firewire cable into a comptuer is "user abuse?" Of course they said they didn't have to service it. Lost $40 on shipping a product, and 3 weeks of my camera use.

NEVER buy a MACK warranty. Try to get it insured under production insurance from a non-profit place like FracturedAtlas (http://www.fracturedatlas.com) They'll cover all of your gear for a reasonable monthly rate.

[Barry_S]

MACK is terrible--a complete waste of money. Like most 3rd party warranty outfits they routinely delay or deny repairs and do not deliver anything approaching professional service. I've gone through nightmares just trying to get MACK fix gear in any time frame. If they see they can't fix things, they will claim to have fixed it or deny your warranty for fraudulent reasons. You might get lucky with a repair, but just google their name if you want ot read some horror stories. Most warranty companies works the same way--they contract out for ridiculously low prices that allows the vendor to make a pile of money on the warranty and there is not enough money left to actually perform the service. They frequently claim user abuse, corrosion, and impact damage to void the warranty. Maybe the FTC will check into their fraudulent practices one day.

[Spec-Comm]

We had a client that bought a MACK warranty and their DVX broke, so they sent the camera to the MACK service center (Panasonic Authorized) and it was there for three months! They kept giving her excuses after excuses as to why it took so long. Finally they told her that they are Panasonic Authorized for Microwaves, not professional camcorders. So not only did she have to spend the money on the warranty, she ended up sending the camera to us and had to pay for the repair because we don't support MACK warranties. BUT, she got it back in 3 DAYS and was back to work.

Save your money for repairs, don't waste it on useless warranties.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman

[See tukka]

I have to say that I disagree with you on the warrantie issue. I bought Mack warranty for my xl2 2 years ago and firewire port broked up. I live in finland and we don´t have any mack repair centers here. So I took the camera to normal Canon repair center and sent the receipts for the repair to Mack. They transfered the same amount to my bank account. The whole thing was over in less than two weeks and I had my money and new firewire port.

Maybe I was just lucky then...

[Spec-Comm]

This was just an experience that I thought I'd share, not just an opinion. It actually happened.

I'm glad that it worked out for you though.

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman

[Chris Santucci]

Well... I had my old XL1 serviced through the MACK warranty like 4 or 5 times over a 4 year period. Even had the drum replaced once under warranty. There's NO way in hell I'd wait anything like 3 months for service I know that. And I was never denied service. They dragged their arses once and I had to call, but the woman I spoke to gave me her extension and was very helpful pushing it through when I told her I HAD to have it back. And I don't see how a $150. investment for an extended 4 years of coverage is any kind of "waste" as far as I can tell. I'D never want to pay $500+ out of pocket for a drum replacement or whatever...

.

[David Saraceno]

If the MACK warranties are so bad, why are they still in business?

Generally, people tell horror stories here rather than good service stories.

But there are some people who clearly have had good experiences with MACK.

It's cheap insurance even if you have to push the company.

[Barry_S]

If the MACK warranties are so bad, why are they still in business?

...

Maybe the same reason there are still a hundred crooked Brooklyn camera stores? Why are they still in business? Because people don't always make informed buying decisions. I'm not saying these guys screw 100% of their warranty holders, but problems are frequent enough that everyone should accept the fact their extended warranty may be worth nothing. The economic model for extended warranties ensures there's always some pressure to deny repairs.