CAMCORDERS: Panasonic Repair Hell

Peter C.

Peter C.

Veteran
This is mostly an airing of frustration. I bought a heavily discounted Panasonic X2 camcorder with only 8hrs of use on ebay but still under warranty.

1. Not surprisingly it had a back focus issue so I mailed it to Panasonic for service.
2. They mailed it back with the focus issue fixed but now it had a random issue where the image would have lines through it.
3. Mailed it back and they replaced the LCD screen even though I provided recorded samples of the problem.
4. I received it back discovered the issue was still there. Talked to the tech and shipped back again.
5. I got the camera back a couple of days ago and they said they replaced the pcb board and issue is fixed but now the touch screen no longer works! This after explicitly telling them I didn't want it back until they verified nothing was wrong.

Every time I send it to them they fix one thing while breaking another. I feel like I'm being held hostage by an incompetent company. What the heck am I supposed to do?
 
By now, in your life, you probably know almost everyone does the absolute bare minimum and rarely ever cares as much as they should besides some random poor soul that's wired differently once in a blue moon.

Although I'll add that's nuts and might be a record for the amount of bad luck one could have with a send it-fix it service.
 
NorBro said:
By now, in your life, you probably know almost everyone does the absolute bare minimum and rarely ever cares as much as they should besides some random poor soul that's wired differently once in a blue moon.

Although I'll add that's nuts and might be a record for the amount of bad luck one could have with a send it-fix it service.
Click to expand...
Sadly this is the authorized Panasonic repair facility. I want the touch screen fixed because my other camcorder command dial stopped working but I was still able to access the menu through the touch screen. Now that the focus and recording is fixed I'm nervous what's the next thing they break trying to fixing the touch screen. I know these cameras are difficult to re assemble Because I once tried. Inside is a sandwich of boards attached with ribbon cables in an impossible small space. They must have known that by replacing a major component that there is a good chance of something not being properly attached.

I requested multiple times that it would be simpler to send me a new camera but they insisted that the warranty only allowed for a repair.

Infuriating!
 
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Sorry for your situation. Panasonic is obviously not the company it used to be. Your only option is to keep working with them to get the result you need.
 
Thanks. I boxed it up, will ship it back to them again once I'm done with my job today and hope for the best.
 
Sucks. They used to be a trusted partner but they have clearly backed off their support services. I guess the receding waters of the broadcast world takes a toll over time. Although it is strange that it appears more live stuff if filmed than ever yet the industry is not what it used to be?
 
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