Best warranty options for new or used cameras

arie · Aug 1, 2013

Hello,

I purchased an A77 with a 3 year extended warranty from Squaretrade, and they serviced my camera, but not within their promised 5 day turnaround because they had to send it to Sony for a bad scroll wheel.

What are my best options for buying a new or slightly used camera if I want to get accidental damage coverage too? Square seems pretty expensive for a $2k+ camera, and this isn't even accidental coverage either, only "normal usage" coverage.

Thanks.

RichV · Aug 1, 2013

The best option I know of (for a non-pro) is to add a rider to your homeowner's policy; during the times I carried this kind of coverage (not at all expensive) I've been fully satisfied.

RussAdams · Aug 1, 2013

RichV said:
RichV wrote:

The best option I know of (for a non-pro) is to add a rider to your homeowner's policy; during the times I carried this kind of coverage (not at all expensive) I've been fully satisfied.

RussAdams · Aug 1, 2013

arie said:
I purchased an A77 with a 3 year extended warranty from Squaretrade, and they serviced my camera, but not within their promised 5 day turnaround because they had to send it to Sony for a bad scroll wheel.

You have to tell them you want your money. It's in the policy, they will do it. They might try to talk you out of it, but if it's in the policy they have to do it.

arie said:
What are my best options for buying a new or slightly used camera if I want to get accidental damage coverage too? Square seems pretty expensive for a $2k+ camera, and this isn't even accidental coverage either, only "normal usage" coverage.

I still like Square Trade. But they are expensive and you do have to insist on your rights.

Sony sometimes offers extended warranty's on their cameras, but I don't know how to go about getting the warranty when it's not purchased up front.

I did have good luck with Mack warranty's in the past, but they don't sell in Florida anymore so I'm no longer using them.

Insurance, especially in the US, is a very tricky business.

Try to get an insurance company to pay off if the airlines take your stuff at boarding due to lack of overhead space...

Not an easy subject. Very difficult to get all the information you need to make a meaningful decision.

Russ

MiamiDolphin · Aug 1, 2013

Smart Guard has recently shown up on Amazon. They seem to be similar to Square Trade and less expensive. I've never used them though, so can't tell how good their service is relative to Square Trade

arie · Aug 1, 2013

Thanks, I'll take a look.

MiamiDolphin said:
MiamiDolphin wrote:

Smart Guard has recently shown up on Amazon. They seem to be similar to Square Trade and less expensive. I've never used them though, so can't tell how good their service is relative to Square Trade

Hawaii-geek · Aug 2, 2013

Sony shooters s/b singing praises about, SONY Insurance.

I have not used it , or any Sony repair yet.

But, just from Price quotes ... the Sony Accident and extended Service plan is pretty competitively priced. and probably s/b Sony shooters "First" Choice. imho.

So many reasons for that. One of them being Sony has a vested interest in making that Insurance/Service experience a good one.

If they don't, that's just bad marketing. In addition to bad service. Which would be basically dumb of them to do. Seriously, it would be like wasting Advertising dollars to somehow blow the Insurance experience.

and it is in Sonys Best interest that the Repair is done Right. And they should have the parts and expertise to do it. Now , "if" the particular Service Center has enough experience, the right equipment well that's another story.

Sony can UP there "total brand" experience "thru" Sony Insurance. Make it a competitive Price. and make the experience a trouble Free one. And the Insurance biz for Sony will make money. because it's basically a calculation.

Just my opinion,

HG

arie said:
arie wrote:

Hello,

I purchased an A77 with a 3 year extended warranty from Squaretrade, and they serviced my camera, but not within their promised 5 day turnaround because they had to send it to Sony for a bad scroll wheel.

What are my best options for buying a new or slightly used camera if I want to get accidental damage coverage too? Square seems pretty expensive for a $2k+ camera, and this isn't even accidental coverage either, only "normal usage" coverage.

Thanks.

Cope · Aug 2, 2013

A claim like that should not affect your rate if you are with a good insurer, but many are now limiting coverage on cameras, jewelry and firearms.

RussAdams · Aug 2, 2013

Cope said:
Cope wrote:

A claim like that should not affect your rate if you are with a good insurer, but many are now limiting coverage on cameras, jewelry and firearms.

Steve Cohan · Aug 2, 2013

your camera repaired, get the Sony warranty. You can purchase the warranty anytime up to one year after the original purchase date. I put a manufacturer's warranty on every costly piece of electronics that I purchase. Peace of mind meaning for the warranty period I won't suffer an expensive repair cost.

RussAdams · Aug 2, 2013

Hawaii-geek said:
Hawaii-geek wrote:
<snip>
So many reasons for that. One of them being Sony has a vested interest in making that Insurance/Service experience a good one.

Hawaii-geek said:
HG

I agree that Sony extended warranties are a great value.

Just don't expect them to provide great service. Scan this forum for complaints, they are not hard to find.

My A77 went bad in the first two weeks I owned it. Sony took 90 days to decide they couldn't fix it and replace the camera. Hey, they DID replace it with a new one, I will give them that!

Fortunately for me I had purchased my A77 not from Sony but from a local camera dealer who has a policy of giving you a loaner if and when your camera goes bad.

Conns Camera in Dublin, Ireland. Michael gave me a brand new A77 to use at a time when they were hard to get and he could have easily sold it instead of giving it to me as a loaner. I have nothing but praise for Conns Camera.

Sony service, on the other hand, is pretty much an oxymoron.

I've had nothing but grief from every Sony product I've owned that needed service by Sony. TV, Walkman, Stereo, PC, et al. They do NOT have a reputation for good service.

My advice: go into this with your eyes open.

I like Sony products enough to continue buying them. I just don't have high expectations for service.

Russ

RussAdams · Aug 2, 2013

Steve Cohan said:
Steve Cohan wrote:

your camera repaired, get the Sony warranty. You can purchase the warranty anytime up to one year after the original purchase date. I put a manufacturer's warranty on every costly piece of electronics that I purchase. Peace of mind meaning for the warranty period I won't suffer an expensive repair cost.

+1 on a warranty on expensive electronic products. Too many failures over the years.

Mack used to offer a 7 year warranty. It was great. Fixed my Minolta 7D twice in that period and MORE than paid for itself.

Used the same repair center as Sony. In Laredo.

But don't rely on the camera coming back to you in a reasonable timeframe.

BTW - I don't think this is a Sony only problem. Go over to the Canikon forums and you'll see similar issues.

Cope · Aug 2, 2013

RussAdams said:
RussAdams wrote:

RussAdams said:

Cope wrote:

A claim like that should not affect your rate if you are with a good insurer, but many are now limiting coverage on cameras, jewelry and firearms.

Click to expand...

RussAdams · Aug 2, 2013

Cope said:
Cope wrote:
Actually, I have filed multiple claims in one year, although it's been several years ago. I have had the same company since 1986, and have had great luck with claims. However, each year they lower coverage for many items.

Hawaii-geek · Aug 2, 2013

Russ,

Interesting.

Sony does have PRO Video service. They probably need a SPS , Sony PRO Services ... like Canon where you can Pay for certain levels of Service.

Nikon NPS is very good. not cheap but good. Not just on Service and Loaners, but on First ship of new product. imho, that is very smart of them. Because you get more experienced users getting the first delivery, helpful on bug fixes. Also PROs that will probably use it a lot right from the start.

and your customers with the most gear will complain less, and defend you more. Great advertising.

The nightmare in my view is when you start getting a lot of PROs complaining. Huge problem. Which N & C probably already knows.

I think Sony could do SPS for any user with two FF bodys and three FF lens. and/or charge for certain levels of Service with Loaner.

In Hawaii Sony does have a Service Center. But as I have said, new to Sony.

Sony needs to work in there Insurance with SPS Service to Improve both and still have it Profitable.

Just a thought,

HG

RussAdams said:
RussAdams wrote:

RussAdams said:

Hawaii-geek wrote:

<snip>

So many reasons for that. One of them being Sony has a vested interest in making that Insurance/Service experience a good one.

HG

Click to expand...

I agree that Sony extended warranties are a great value.

Just don't expect them to provide great service. Scan this forum for complaints, they are not hard to find.

My A77 went bad in the first two weeks I owned it. Sony took 90 days to decide they couldn't fix it and replace the camera. Hey, they DID replace it with a new one, I will give them that!

Fortunately for me I had purchased my A77 not from Sony but from a local camera dealer who has a policy of giving you a loaner if and when your camera goes bad.

Conns Camera in Dublin, Ireland. Michael gave me a brand new A77 to use at a time when they were hard to get and he could have easily sold it instead of giving it to me as a loaner. I have nothing but praise for Conns Camera.

Sony service, on the other hand, is pretty much an oxymoron.

I've had nothing but grief from every Sony product I've owned that needed service by Sony. TV, Walkman, Stereo, PC, et al. They do NOT have a reputation for good service.

My advice: go into this with your eyes open.

I like Sony products enough to continue buying them. I just don't have high expectations for service.

Russ

clearzoom · Mar 13, 2014

has anyone actually submitted a claim with Smart Guard, sold by Amazon.

how are they in doing claims

the49er · Jun 17, 2018

Keep in mind, insurance isn't a warranty (someone else may have mentioned this already, I didn't see it in the thread). You originally said you were concerned about the camera becoming defective or something like that. Home or renters insurance normally doesn't cover that kind of thing.

Personal property policies can be written for specific high value items, but again, that is insurance, not warranty.

I took a policy out with Farmers for my drone, it was $60 a year. It is for loss / damage.

A warranty for used equipment is going to be difficult. You may try calling Square Trade and see if they do something special, and you could ask your insurance rep if they do any kind of warranty coverage with their personal property type of coverage.

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Best warranty options for new or used cameras

arie

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arie

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