Love my new 100B -- questions about book/rebate

K

Kelly Olsen

Well-known member
AS IT TURNS OUT I AM VERY HAPPY WITH PANASONIC BECAUSE OF BARRY AND JAN: READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.

(Explanation for the tone of this in a post further below)

I have been drooling over the 100b for months and finally was able to get one and what should be a wonderful honeymoon is really a sour start.

I just bought mine this week at EVS and I'm not real happy at all with Panasonic.

EVS was given cameras that do not come with the Barry book/DVD Magic Bullet in the box. After talking with the Panny rebate center yesterday, I was told that some retailers are given cameras with the extras included in the box. Since it is a two to three month wait for the book (which I really was relying on) I can't use the camera to its full benefit. If I had known this in advance I would have looked for a dealer who was included on the list of dealers Panasonic chose to give cameras with books.

(Since I posted this Barry and Jan informed me that some dealers still had cameras with the book/DVD included but that all newer shipments from Japan are without the book/DVD in the camera box and that you must register the camera to get them).

So I'm told by the Panasonic rebate rep (Ms. Goodwin) that mailing the rebate will work but will take longer than the two months that it will take by doing it online. So I try to do it on line.

The Panasonic rebate/registration website form refuses to accept my zipcode as valid for the state of California. I tried it in every way possible and it says that the zip code I have been getting mail at for the past 30 years is not valid. Tried calling Panasonic rep again and just got voice mail with a promise to return call. It's been two days and have not had any call back and can't get through to anybody.

So, the moral of the story is, find out if the dealer is one of the dealers that Panisonic is giving cameras to with the Barry Green book and DVD if this is important to you.

Instead of sitting here really happy with my camera I'm waisting time dealing with this and really have bad feelings about Panasonic customer service and their random policies.
 
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How about instead of complaining, you go out and shoot something? I'm not trolling... There's plenty of incredible information on this board to get you started. Heck, just go through Barry's post history. :)

Seriously, just go out there and experiment. Who knows what you'll find? And when the book finally arrives, you can learn a few new tricks.

Edit: Just so you know, I'm going to be in the same boat. I ordered my camera today. I'll probably have to wait for the book/DVD too but it's not that big a deal. I'll still have plenty of stuff to do with the camera... Like learn to hold it properly. ;)
 
Kelly,

We purchased our DVX100B at EVS about 2 weeks ago. The same night we registered for the rebate (and book/software). My understanding is that Panasonic is not including the book/software because of the way the product is shipped to the dealers. Any dealer that has it boxed that way has older product.

I just checked on our rebate status on-line (which is really cool) and found out that the rebate check and product has already been processed 2 days ago. That's fast (especially as far as rebates go)!

You might consider giving Jan a shout. She's a real busy lady but she does seem to give special attention to DVXUser forum members.

Just my .02.
 
Yes, I am complaining and venting my frustration and if it bugs people I'm truly sorry. I was really looking forward to using the camera to its fullest as soon as possible. Is this unreasonable? Some of us are slow learners and need all the help we can get. At least I do and I'm not afraid to admit it!

I thought this board was for people to get information and give feedback. I said I love the camera, but I think I have the right after spending almost $4000 to say that I think they could do it better.

Barry has informed me that no dealers are getting new shipments with his book and DVD. I defer to him on this. I was only going on what I was told by the Panasonic rep who has some old information and passed that on to me.

I still hope that somebody at Panasonic can fix the website so it recognizes zip codes form my city in my state.
 
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I agree, the broken website thing does suck. And venting is okay but seriously, if I were you, I'd be out there playing with my camera. :)
 
Kelly Olsen said:
I have been drooling over the 100b for months and finally was able to get one and what should be a wonderful honeymoon is really a sour start.
EVS was given cameras that do not come with the Barry book/DVD Magic Bullet in the box. After talking with the Panny rebate center yesterday, I was told that some retailers are given cameras with the extras included in the box. Since it is a two to three month wait for the book (which I really was relying on) I can't use the camera to its full benefit.
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Actually Kelly what you should have found in the box with your DVX100B a letter from me stating that you should go to as very specific website. The day that you register your camera thee book and DVD are mailed. I would say you should have it shortly. Your rebate will take a little time but that I cannot resolve. But your book and Magic Bullet should ship immediately. These two things are not hinged together in the least.


If I had known this in advance I would have looked for a dealer who was included on the list of dealers Panasonic chose to give cameras with books.
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Frankly I am not sure the dealers are willing to go check because it is becoming a mixed thing. See as it stands what is really happening is that all of the DVX100Bs are being shipped directly to the dealer instead of being first shipped to a warehouse in Kent Washington. There are some dealers that may still have the versions that we stuffed in Kent but soon that will all go away.

[quote[So I'm told by the Panasonic rebate rep (Ms. Goodwin) that mailing the rebate will work but will take longer than the two months that it will take by doing it online. So I try to do it on line. [/quote]

In general this seems to be correct, but only by a couple of weeks.


The Panasonic rebate/registration website form refuses to accept my zipcode as valid for the state of California. I tried it in every way possible and it says that the zip code I have been getting mail at for the past 30 years is not valid. Tried calling Panasonic rep again and just got voice mail with a promise to return call. It's been two days and have not had any call back and can't get through to anybody.
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Please send me a private message and let me know what your zip code is and we can fix that very quickly.

So, the moral of the story is, find out if the dealer is one of the dealers that Panisonic is giving cameras to with the Barry Green book and DVD if this is important to you.
Click to expand...

No this is not the moral of the story. You should have your book very quickly.

Instead of sitting here really happy with my camera I'm waisting time dealing with this and really have bad feelings about Panasonic customer service and their random policies.
Click to expand...

It isn't a random policy at all, it marks a change from doing things one way to doing them another way. The new way cuts approximately 5 days off of the time to get the product from the factory to you. This is ultimately a good thing, just a little confusing at times.

Sorry for your confusion and frustration. I look forward to that Private message letting me know what zip code it won't accept. That can be fixed is less than a day.

Thank you for your purchase, I hope that this clears up some of the haze around your issues today.

Best,

Jan
 
Jan and Barry and everybody else. I'd like to explain why the level of frustration may seem higher than called for here. The night before last my best friend who has no kidneys and has been on a donor waiting list for five years got the call that a donor kidney had became available. I got no sleep that night because the operation was supposed to happen but didn't really happen until yesterday.

After the operation his survival and the success of the operation became in question. Finally after being at the hospital all day and much of the night we saw that he is stable for the time being but that the kidney came from a child who passed away. It made being happy about my friend very hard knowing where the organ came from.

So I want to go home and register my camera and take my mind off things and get the book as soon as possible and then I run into the problems with Panasonic and all the stuff I mentioned in the first posting.

I know now that my level of frustration is colored here by another situation, so if I offended anyone with my tone, I am really sorry and ask for your understanding.

Anyone here willing to rent me their book and DVD for the 100b until I get mine?

Thanks.

Kelly
 
Jan,

Thanks for your thoughtful and patient reply. I did send you a message with my zip code but I don't mind posting it here which is 90404 in Santa Monica, California.

Kelly
 
Kelly,

Perfectly understandable. I was impatient too (just because, like a kid at Christmas time) and Jan knows.

I wish your friend a speedy recovery without complications.

Where are you located? I expect to receive our book/DVD in the next few days and would gladly share it with you (no rent required).
 
Helly, I also wish your friend a trouble free recovery. I am sorry to hear about her problem, and happy she got a donor!
 
Thank you for the offers and support. I'm touched by your understanding and supportive thoughts. This really is a great site that shows humanity besides technology.

Jan (who responded with lightning speed) is working on getting the site fixed and Barry (who is faster than a speeding bullet) is going above and beyond the call of duty and showed great kindness.

The response has really been fantastic and I have renewed faith in Panasonic customer service.

When it came to choosing between a DVX and the Canon, this site and all the support was a major factor in my decision. I know I made the right choice.
 
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