Had to happen sooner or later - after years of taking big risks with my
PC100E, I finally managed to kill it when I got seawater in it. Just a
single drop managed to penetrate into the interior and sufficiently mess up
the main circuit board so that when I switch on I only get a single "error
beep".
Here's my question: Has anyone had any experience with repairs from Sony in
UK (seawater or otherwise)? How long can I expect turnaround to be ( I
return to Middle East in 4 weeks - but even being without the camera for any
length of time and my editing schedule will be well and truly up the creek)?
With the main board in need of replacement is this repair going to be
economical? - My travel insurance is waiting to see the details and the bill
before they will decide on payout or not.
Any info or observations gratefully received.
Rob

In message , Rob Davies
writes
Had to happen sooner or later - after years of taking big risks with my
PC100E, I finally managed to kill it when I got seawater in it. Just a
single drop managed to penetrate into the interior and sufficiently mess up
the main circuit board so that when I switch on I only get a single "error
beep".
Here's my question: Has anyone had any experience with repairs from Sony in
UK (seawater or otherwise)? How long can I expect turnaround to be ( I
return to Middle East in 4 weeks - but even being without the camera for any
length of time and my editing schedule will be well and truly up the creek)?
With the main board in need of replacement is this repair going to be
economical? - My travel insurance is waiting to see the details and the bill
before they will decide on payout or not.
Any info or observations gratefully received.

My view is that you're caught between a rock and a hard place. The Sony
repair centre take between 2 and 4 weeks to give you an estimate for
repair. And they'll charge you £30+ simply to give you an estimate (and
it is an estimate - not a quotation). Repair time is between 1 and 6
weeks depending on whether they have spare parts in stock.

Based on the experience of a friend who did the same thing - he decided
to take his camcorder with him when he went out in a small boat
sea-fishing.

--
Tony Morgan
http://www.rhylonline.com

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...

My view is that you're caught between a rock and a hard place. The Sony
repair centre take between 2 and 4 weeks to give you an estimate for
repair. And they'll charge you £30+ simply to give you an estimate (and
it is an estimate - not a quotation). Repair time is between 1 and 6
weeks depending on whether they have spare parts in stock.

Took a hifi in for repair. They estimated £60, but when the bill came it was
£92.

Loz

On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 09:18:48 GMT, "Rob Davies"
allegedly wrote:

Any info or observations gratefully received.

Rob, that happened with my SLR a few years back. Seawater is nasty stuff,
and it's not like normal water which you can sometimes get away with by
letting it dry out. I went in to Jessops with it. They took one look and
said it was beyond repair, but they want to charge me for a written
version - although I think that money was refundable if I went back to buy
the replacement from them. I suppose they think it's good business
practice. I went elsewhere to an independant... he wrote the necessary
for free, and got the business when my cheque came through.

- Dave.

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...
In message , Rob Davies
writes
Had to happen sooner or later - after years of taking big risks with my
PC100E, I finally managed to kill it when I got seawater in it. Just a
single drop managed to penetrate into the interior and sufficiently mess
up
the main circuit board so that when I switch on I only get a single
"error
beep".
Here's my question: Has anyone had any experience with repairs from Sony
in
UK (seawater or otherwise)? How long can I expect turnaround to be ( I
return to Middle East in 4 weeks - but even being without the camera for
any
length of time and my editing schedule will be well and truly up the
creek)?
With the main board in need of replacement is this repair going to be
economical? - My travel insurance is waiting to see the details and the
bill
before they will decide on payout or not.
Any info or observations gratefully received.

My view is that you're caught between a rock and a hard place. The Sony
repair centre take between 2 and 4 weeks to give you an estimate for
repair. And they'll charge you £30+ simply to give you an estimate (and
it is an estimate - not a quotation). Repair time is between 1 and 6
weeks depending on whether they have spare parts in stock.

Based on the experience of a friend who did the same thing - he decided
to take his camcorder with him when he went out in a small boat
sea-fishing.


Thanks Tony, do you recall what kind of repair costs were involved?
Rob

Tony Morgan
http://www.rhylonline.com

"loz" wrote in message
...

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...

My view is that you're caught between a rock and a hard place. The Sony
repair centre take between 2 and 4 weeks to give you an estimate for
repair. And they'll charge you £30+ simply to give you an estimate (and
it is an estimate - not a quotation). Repair time is between 1 and 6
weeks depending on whether they have spare parts in stock.

Took a hifi in for repair. They estimated £60, but when the bill came it
was
£92.


Don't mind if it's over the estimate by a reasonable percentage - but as it
is I have no idea what to expect - one hundred or one thousand UK pounds.
Rob

Loz

"Rob Davies" wrote in message
...

"Dave R" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 31 Jul 2003 09:18:48 GMT, "Rob Davies"
allegedly wrote:

Any info or observations gratefully received.

Rob, that happened with my SLR a few years back. Seawater is nasty
stuff,
and it's not like normal water which you can sometimes get away with by
letting it dry out. I went in to Jessops with it. They took one look
and
said it was beyond repair, but they want to charge me for a written
version - although I think that money was refundable if I went back to
buy
the replacement from them. I suppose they think it's good business
practice. I went elsewhere to an independant... he wrote the necessary
for free, and got the business when my cheque came through.

I did ask Jessops (Sony store in town suggested I got a second opinion!) -
they said anything in seawater is an automatic write off. I told them I'd
opened it up to see what was wrong and only a tiny drop of water had hit
the
circuitry. Their reply to this was "our repairers won't touch it if you've
opened it as they don't know if *you've* messsed anything else up in it
and
they'll be unable to guarantee the repair"
I once dropped an SLR in the briney and got a new for old on it - but that
was with a specialised photo gear insurance policy when I was a
photographist.
Rob

- Dave.
Problem is that metal parts carry on corroding even when dry including the
case. Its not as bad as Still cameras with high speed shutter blinds But it
is a case of hand building a near complete camera.

"Jerry." wrote in message
...
Took a hifi in for repair. They estimated £60, but when the bill came it was
£92.

That's why it's called an estimate.....
Or was there another point to your remark ?! :~)

Well you might expect estimates to be a bit closer than 50% out.
What is the point of an estimate if it is not (an estimate)?
Or perhaps you would be happy getting an estimate off the folks building the
scottish parliament :-)

On a related topic, we recently asked the local TV shop where we bought our Sky
box to come and have a look at it because it we were having problems with it.
They said they would send it off to Grundig for an estimate. Next thing I knew
they were asking £150 for the repairs that had been done - never having given an
estimate. Had a wonderful row in the shop when I demanded they give me the box
back as I hadn't authorised any repairs. Not surprisingly they refused.

Loz

In message , Rob Davies
writes

Snipped...

Thanks Tony, do you recall what kind of repair costs were involved? Rob

Sorry I can't recall the figures (I can ask him).

As I recall, it wasn't a happy outcome. After paying the excess and
getting the repair (3 moths) the camcorder was never the same again.

--
Tony Morgan
http://www.rhylonline.com

In message , Rob Davies
writes
photographist.

Don't you mean "photographer" smart-arse?
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.rhylonline.com