I would have thought that the average camcorder in most households is the
least used piece of electronics they have. I bought a JVC camcorder in
November 2003 which has been used for just three events. This was Christmas
2003 and 2004 plus my annual 2 weeks in the sun. Total usage less than 6
hours including the initial play with it when I first got it. Well 15
months later the picture on playback has 5 large green or grey bars going
through it which occupies around 50% of the picture. I emailed JVC last
week and explained the 6 hours usage and can I have a free repair. So far
they haven't replied.

If it were a TV I would have passed 6 hours usage on the first day but
camcorders are rarely used by Joe Public so I think that companies like JVC
should be a little more generous with their warranties.

"informer" wrote in message
...
I would have thought that the average camcorder in most households is the
least used piece of electronics they have. I bought a JVC camcorder in
November 2003 which has been used for just three events. This was
Christmas
2003 and 2004 plus my annual 2 weeks in the sun. Total usage less than 6
hours including the initial play with it when I first got it. Well 15
months later the picture on playback has 5 large green or grey bars going
through it which occupies around 50% of the picture. I emailed JVC last
week and explained the 6 hours usage and can I have a free repair. So far
they haven't replied.

If it were a TV I would have passed 6 hours usage on the first day but
camcorders are rarely used by Joe Public so I think that companies like
JVC
should be a little more generous with their warranties.



Sounds like you need to give the heads a clean to me.

"Bill" wrote


Sounds like you need to give the heads a clean to me.


After so little use?

"informer" wrote in message
...
If it were a TV I would have passed 6 hours usage on the first day but
camcorders are rarely used by Joe Public so I think that companies like
JVC
should be a little more generous with their warranties.


Seems that most companies try to get away with the minimum they can. I know
that warranty details can vary from country to country (if you've got the
original instructions/warranties etc have a look, generally France / Germany
get longer warranties than the UK) and I suppose this is in part due to
legislation and partially what they can get away with culturally.

"informer" wrote in message
...
"Bill" wrote

Sounds like you need to give the heads a clean to me.


After so little use?


Depends more on the tape(s) used and how they have been stored, one dirty
tape and you'll have dirt on the heads.

In message , informer
writes

"Bill" wrote


Sounds like you need to give the heads a clean to me.


After so little use?

Seems unlikely to me too, but I suppose it's worth a try.

If it does clear up the trouble, I'd lose the tapes and get some better
quality ones.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

"Tony Morgan" wrote

If it does clear up the trouble, I'd lose the tapes and get some better
quality ones.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

The tapes are JVC own brand tapes so they should be pucker.

The 5 bars that cross the screen are evenly spaced and cover 50% of the
screen. They are solid bars of grey or green with no picture underneath.

I was never impressed with the JVC as the pictures were often over exposed.

Anyone know what the repair charges are for just taking the machine apart?

Time to look at the Sony range I think.

"informer" wrote in message
...

snip

Anyone know what the repair charges are for just taking the machine apart?


Probably 60 to 100 quid just to have a look [1], a bit silly if all they
need to do is clean the heads.....

[1] although that might be discounted if they are then authorised to carry
out a repair.

"informer" wrote in message
...
I would have thought that the average camcorder in most households is the
least used piece of electronics they have. I bought a JVC camcorder in
November 2003 which has been used for just three events. This was
Christmas
2003 and 2004 plus my annual 2 weeks in the sun. Total usage less than 6
hours including the initial play with it when I first got it. Well 15
months later the picture on playback has 5 large green or grey bars going
through it which occupies around 50% of the picture. I emailed JVC last
week and explained the 6 hours usage and can I have a free repair. So far
they haven't replied.

If it were a TV I would have passed 6 hours usage on the first day but
camcorders are rarely used by Joe Public so I think that companies like
JVC
should be a little more generous with their warranties.



Items have to be "fit for purpose" under the "Sale of Goods" act. No
warrenty can limit your rights under this act. It has been argued
successfully by consumer groups that electrical companies have to abide by
their own industry's "life time expectancy" figures. So if the companies say
a washing machine should last for 10 years, then it dosn't matter if they
say the "warranty" is for 3. Providing you can prove that the item has only
had normal, or less than normal usuage, the companie has to fix it, or
replace it, or offer a fair discount on a new model. You would have to
threaten to, or in deed go to, the small claims court. Citizens Advice
should be able to offer free advice on this.

On Wed, 02 Mar 2005 20:59:44 GMT, "informer"
allegedly wrote:

Total usage less than 6
hours including the initial play with it when I first got it. Well 15
months later the picture on playback has 5 large green or grey bars
going through it which occupies around 50% of the picture.

Don't forget that any warranty is offered in *addition* to your statutory
rights, which entitles you to expect an item to work for a reasonable
period. I'm not sure of the wording, but it's in the Sale of Goods Act.

I had my camcorder repaired by Sony outside of the warranty period.