A Warning for Those Considering Sagemax, Asurion, Lifetime Service Center

http://mizamook.com/?p=246

Sorry to hear (read) about all of your issues. I have never, and never will purchase extended warranties of any kind on any electronics ever. It is a pure profit center for the likes of the Best Buys, B&H's and many other retailers that we are all familiar with. By the time you read the fine print, you will realize that this is what it is.... a pure profit center. Insurance usually does not cover such things either. Their job is typically to cover loss, complete damage or theft. I always take this into consideration when purchasing such equipment. So far I suppose I have been extremely lucky. (Knock on wood).

Use a Gold or Platinum credit card when buying and that will double the manufacturers warrantee up to an additional year and at no additional cost.

I would add a couple of comments. First, an extended warranty is not always a waste of money. I bought an extended warranty from B&H several years ago for an EX1. The camera developed a problem with the prism block, a replacement was needed, cost around three grand, the policy covered it. I think $199- for $3000- was a pretty good investment. Second, if you need a repair on Sony gear DO NOT send it to an “authorized service center”, that’s like taking it to the corner TV repair guy. Send it directly to Sony. They have two repair centers in the US, one in NJ and one in CA. You can do that even with a Sagemax policy, you just need to ask. Third, even if you send it directly to Sony it’s gonna take a LONG time. The fastest turn around I ever got was four weeks. Because of this I always have a backup camera.

Great thoughts and comments, guys. Thanks.

So what do you think about "Damage Waiver" from BorrowLenses (I've a trip coming up, and having super wide and tele lenses only means I'm missing something in the middle - so looking at renting the lens for the duration (the 18-200mm workhorse) since mine is tied up for idiotic reasons. (I could have fixed it myself but failed to realize that!)

Great news!

They are sending back my lens. This will save me money. It will make me money, since I can then use it to get shots.

The bad news is that they are sending it to the wrong address, wrong town, wrong ZIP even for that town. But they got my name and state right, I'll give 'em that.

What idiots. Sorry - I should be more civilised, but these people have screwed everything up from the get-go. They are supposed to be professionals.

Too bad B&H could not have the willingness to back me up on this. I really thought they would, so I am disappointed in them.

Very frustrating Gene, it's the kinda thing that makes me scream as well. It would be alright when the guffaw's occur these people put there hands up and apologized but it's always the system's error, as if it's been designed by robots, on second thoughts, these people are robots!

Man we are living in Idiocracy, and the only way to cope is to close your eyes, breath slowly and get in a place where these clowns don't exist; go filming.

Thanks Bill. Indeed, it's true - best to do something meditative, like clean one's chimney. Ah, better....

I am totally fine with people making mistakes. I should be, since I know how many I make. But when it is one after another, and another, topped with a mighty helping of unapologetic negligent indifference, that's when I get upset.

In retrospect, for future purchases, I am attempting to figure out how I would have better protected my investment(s) ... spending many thousands of dollars is not an easy thing for me, so it was through that vector I got snookered.

Right now I'm watching/listening to the "Jeff Orlowski - Behind the Scenes of "Chasing Ice" on YouTube and I'm in zone, would love to have some kinda experience like that, sounds fantastic.

I think Sony sells their own extended warranty directly from their corporate site. I have no personal experience with that but it might be something to check out.