Steve'sDigicams

csd · Dec 17, 2003, 10:36 AM

Also note - as far as the additional warranties - every consumer magazine I've ever read has recommended against these. These make the stores a lot of money (which is why they push them so hard) with very rare payoffs to the consumer.
In the state of MA - the service place for the A1 is $99 at Best Buy. You can buy a new battery for $42 if you should wear yours out.

D-Lemma · Dec 17, 2003, 11:24 AM

True that the mags tend to shy away from extentions on manufacturers (sp?) warrantees. However Ritz Camera offers an ESP that covers if anything happens except for fire, theft or loss, Best Buy will buy you a new battery not only if it's dead but when after a year or two it's not charging like it used to. Most Manufacturers consider the lcd disposible and in some cases won't repair with out a hefty fee. IE: a generally carefull individual ( who shall remain nameless) likes to go snowmobiling. He/She gets home late and leave all gear in the car and in the climate they live in it gets very cold overnight. The lcd freezes and cracks. :shock: Will the manufacturer take care of this because the owner had a innocent mishap. Nope but several retailers will. The 200 or so dollars saved could easily turn into over that spent on repair issues after the included manufacturers defect warrantee. I don't expect everyone to agree with me but I like to play devil's advocate sometimes. :twisted: I fully agree that mft. extentions are a rediculous waste of time and why gamble on an "if". But if it's a "when"...

Lem

csd · Dec 17, 2003, 11:47 AM

Its also a matter of what you can afford or want to spend

I didn't want to spend more than $600 - $700.
Ritz price on the A1 is $899 - if you believe in their ESP/warranty - slap on another $138 for one year or $276 for two years! (and with my luck - my LCD, if its going to crack, will crack on the 25th month anyway - unless so unless I shell out another $138 after two years I'm in trouble) so that would be another $376 if I want to buy from Ritz with two years of their service plan. I will probably be able to buy another A1 on e-bay for less than that in two years. (Not to mention that if you are like me, you'll be upgrading by then anyway).
Ritz does nothing but make loads of extra money on those service plans. If you want to buy the ESP - and will sleep better knowing that you have a level of insurance against some types of damage, then you should - just realize the extra premium you are paying for it.

csd · Dec 17, 2003, 12:10 PM

Actually - someone just pointed out a typo in my previous post - the premium you would pay at Ritz with the 2-year ESP is $476! ($200 more for the camera, $276 for the ESP - then you have sales tax too depending on your state).

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Dec 17, 2003, 10:36 AM	#11
csd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 169	Also note - as far as the additional warranties - every consumer magazine I've ever read has recommended against these. These make the stores a lot of money (which is why they push them so hard) with very rare payoffs to the consumer. In the state of MA - the service place for the A1 is $99 at Best Buy. You can buy a new battery for $42 if you should wear yours out.

Dec 17, 2003, 11:24 AM	#12
D-Lemma Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 6	True that the mags tend to shy away from extentions on manufacturers (sp?) warrantees. However Ritz Camera offers an ESP that covers if anything happens except for fire, theft or loss, Best Buy will buy you a new battery not only if it's dead but when after a year or two it's not charging like it used to. Most Manufacturers consider the lcd disposible and in some cases won't repair with out a hefty fee. IE: a generally carefull individual ( who shall remain nameless) likes to go snowmobiling. He/She gets home late and leave all gear in the car and in the climate they live in it gets very cold overnight. The lcd freezes and cracks. :shock: Will the manufacturer take care of this because the owner had a innocent mishap. Nope but several retailers will. The 200 or so dollars saved could easily turn into over that spent on repair issues after the included manufacturers defect warrantee. I don't expect everyone to agree with me but I like to play devil's advocate sometimes. :twisted: I fully agree that mft. extentions are a rediculous waste of time and why gamble on an "if". But if it's a "when"... Lem

Dec 17, 2003, 11:47 AM	#13
csd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 169	Its also a matter of what you can afford or want to spend I didn't want to spend more than $600 - $700. Ritz price on the A1 is $899 - if you believe in their ESP/warranty - slap on another $138 for one year or $276 for two years! (and with my luck - my LCD, if its going to crack, will crack on the 25th month anyway - unless so unless I shell out another $138 after two years I'm in trouble) so that would be another $376 if I want to buy from Ritz with two years of their service plan. I will probably be able to buy another A1 on e-bay for less than that in two years. (Not to mention that if you are like me, you'll be upgrading by then anyway). Ritz does nothing but make loads of extra money on those service plans. If you want to buy the ESP - and will sleep better knowing that you have a level of insurance against some types of damage, then you should - just realize the extra premium you are paying for it.

Dec 17, 2003, 12:10 PM	#14
csd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 169	Actually - someone just pointed out a typo in my previous post - the premium you would pay at Ritz with the 2-year ESP is $476! ($200 more for the camera, $276 for the ESP - then you have sales tax too depending on your state).