Are your battery mount tabs broken?

Are your battery mount tabs broken?

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UGH. I voted a couple of days ago, and now have to change my vote! Just looked, and sure enough, broken tabs and a loose battery! Man, there are a few really weak links on this camera.
I'll also add that the camera has never been dropped. This is just through regular use. I do store the battery on the camera when it's in its case though.

So to get it fixed, I need to send it to Panasonic?
 
I've got broken tabs and don't know how I got them.
I'm holding my batteries in with velcro strung around the back.
Its pretty Rube Goldberg though it does work.

How much does this repair cost? Will pasnasonic pay for the repair?
I already lost a battery that broke after falling off.

What about the shipping cost?
 
Lenilenapi said:
I've got broken tabs and don't know how I got them.
I'm holding my batteries in with velcro strung around the back.
Its pretty Rube Goldberg though it does work.

How much does this repair cost? Will pasnasonic pay for the repair?
I already lost a battery that broke after falling off.

What about the shipping cost?
Click to expand...

If it has been less than a year since you have purchased your camera, Panasonic will cover it under warranty.

The tabs break because there is no support around the battery. What may seem to be a slight jolt (sitting your camera down on concrete etc...) places excess torque on the battery tabs causing breakage. Panasonic has provided us a new battery compartment which has been improved and a new back panel which has some battery support tabs to help support the battery better.

We have parts in stock for this repair and will take no longer than a week.

Here is a link to our web page to fill out a repair order: http://www.spec-comm.com/repairorder.php

Here is a link to shipping instructions: http://www.spec-comm.com/shipping.php

I hope to see everyone's broken babies soon! :)

Best regards,

Andrew Hoffman
Senior Operations Manager
Specialized Communications Corp.
20940 Twin Springs Dr.
Smithsburg, MD 21783-1510 USA
800-359-1858
301-790-0103
Fax: 301-790-0173
andrewh@spec-comm.com
www.spec-comm.com

Please visit our new online store at ( http://www.spec-comm.com/store ). New products being added daily!
 
Spec-Comm said:
If it has been less than a year since you have purchased your camera, Panasonic will cover it under warranty. !
Click to expand...

Andrew:

Is it your understanding that Panasonic won't cover this clear design defect out of warranty?

The reason I ask is that company has admitted it is an issue, and the fact that some of us have been careful past year shouldn't act as a penalty.

This defect is not heavily prevalent, but it exists. Our cam is a couple of weeks past a year, and if it breaks, Panasonic should repair it in my (sometimes) humble opinion.

Jan?
 
I have to agree. My camera has been babied and it has 3 tabs broken! Seems like a clear cut design flaw that they later DID fix on new models.

Jan?
 
I'll have to triple that call for Jan.

I'm out of warranty by about 2 months but my batterries have been falling off for a long time. I had no idea until I saw this that it was a design flaw and Panasonic had a fix. I would have it sent it for a repair over the holidays when I didn't need it for work.

Jan???????

Lenny Levy
 
I've had two tabs broken for some time now but haven't had the down time to get mine in under warranty either.

It'd be nice if it was like a car and if there was a design flaw, they'd take care of it in or out of warranty.

I still have to much going on to get it sent in until this Summer sometime but it would be nice to know if it will be covered or not. If not, how much will the repair be?
 
Hi,

This subject is pretty old, and frankly they changed the design almost a year ago in June. I think those of you that have the problem should hurry up and send your cameras in and have them fixed.

Best,

Jan
 
David S. said:
Jan?
Click to expand...


David,

You posted your first note at 12:00 or so and this second, rather impatient note, at 4:00. Did it occur to you that perhaps I might be working a show and that is why I had not answered? What if I was in meetings all afternoon, or out on an account call? Thanks for understanding.

My understanding is that they will repair it but I would not sit around on the issue. I believe they will cover it for up to 2 years. So I would say, do not dally around and if they are broken, you should get them fixed.

Thanks,

Jan
 
Its not old news to me Jan. Did I miss a public notice about this?
Where was it?

I remember a thread a long time ago where people were complaining about baterries falling off but never anything about a design change or a warrenty replacement or recall. I thought it was a battery problem . Never heard of broken tabs and I check this forum almost daily. How come there's no sticky about it?

If Panasonic redesigned a flaw (obviously they did) was it publicly noted here? I could have had my camera fixed in plenty of time to stay within warrenty. As its is I have a broken battery from this.


I realize you don't set personally set policy but this doesn't make me happy about Panasonic customer service. Most of us here are loyal early adopters of the P2 system that Panasonic is betting the bank on. We're out here trying to convince wary producers everyday that this is a reliable way to go. Panasonic ought to be standing by us as well. There's a right way and a wrong way to do business.

Maybe I missed that announcement though in which case I'm sincerely sorry for the rant.
 
Lenilenapi said:
If Panasonic redesigned a flaw (obviously they did) was it publicly noted here? I could have had my camera fixed in plenty of time to stay within warrenty. As its is I have a broken battery from this.
Click to expand...

I don't know where the thread is here, but I didstinctly remember participating in it. I do recall talking abaout cameras being manufactured after June 2006 would have a slightly different desing.

Sorry you missed it, but if you have broken tabs, you should arrange to have them fixed.

Best,

Jan
 
Hi Jan:

I'm not certain how you can conclude that my second note could be characterized as "impatient" over the internet.

No impatience nor disrepect was intended.

However, I have asked since the battery mount issue first arose for someone at Panasonic to assure me (and others) that my first generation HVX200 will be covered for a battery mount replacement past warranty should it break.

In fact, I would appreciate simply sending it to Panasonic now and having it replaced BEFORE it breaks. Atleast then I can not be concerned with a breakage at a peak time.

I am much, much more careful with this battery issue than for any other camcorder I've owned in the last 12 years -- because it will put my cam out of use for a couple of weeks, and can be expensive past warranty.

I didn't design the mounts this way, and Panasonic redesigned the mounts following the initial concern.

In fact, that is the only reason I asked for your response.

Could you by PM assure me that despite my careful attention to the battery mount that Panasonic will cover a breakage past warranty? Or allowing me to having the cam's battery mounts replaced now before they break?

Best regards, and my apologies for your impression of my post.

No disrepect or impatience was intended, nor do I ever recall any impatience with respect to your presence on this board or elsewhere.

David
 
Jan,

I'll give it a shot, thanks.
Do they have record of my registration or do I have to hunt down my receipt?
 
David,

Several posts down I say they will cover it for 2 years. I have know idea whether they will cover it for three. I do know they will cover it for two.

Best,

Jan
 
n8ture said:
Jan,

I'll give it a shot, thanks.
Do they have record of my registration or do I have to hunt down my receipt?
Click to expand...

You should hunt down your invoice or else they only thing they have to go on is your serial number, which may not match you date of purchase.

Best,

Jan
 
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