I'm not a new owner of XHA1s. I own a personal one and recently we ordered one at work.

It arrived 3 days ago. I used it yesterday, filmed, imported. Stored it and now it won't turn on. I tried with battery and direct power cord, it won't turn on. it does just a clicking Sound.

The problem is... I will send it back to the seller, but I need to eject the tape in it!!! How can I do it manually?

Please let me know asap.

Ok.
I don't know how, but touching the cassette assembly a little it just ejected itself.
Still the camera isn't turning on. :(
I guess I got the 1 in X defective camera

You already did check the "standby/lock" switch by your right thumb?

the XHA1 does have the standby switch, the A1s doesn't have that switch anymore.

What it does is just a clicking noise. Now I have the cassette tray up and I cannot close the lid.
At least the job on the tape is safe out!

Thanx for replying!

Sounds like a job for Canon factory service. Glad to hear that you've recovered the cassette.

My personal camera didn't act like that. This one is brand new with just 2 hours operation (1 field assignation)
Problem is, that my superiors wanted to opt for Panasonic and I worked hard to make them change opinion, and this little brand new incident is a total point loss!

10.33 pm UPDATE

I was commenting to a coworker the problem and turn the switch on and the camera started to tick again.
I opened the cassette lid (since the tape carrier was raised) and it reset and went down.
I turn it back on and the camera started to switch on and shut down, intermittently, for about 2 seconds, I tried to grab my GL2 to film the crazy XH and it finally went on.

I've been playing for several minutes, it's like everything OK... I'm stumped I don't know what to think! Shall I send it back to the seller? it's perfectly working now... the seller won't be able to see the defect.

Sounds like the loading sequence, which is fairly complicated, got out of whack...always remember to shut the little inner door and let the tape load itself, then close the outer door....the tape drive mechanism is the Achilles' heel of all tape cameras (that I know of), they are fairly fragile.... / Battle Vaughan

My little Sony HC3 would not lower the tape housing once I took a tape out. It just wouldn't! Even after turning it on and off, trying with external power or in different modes. No response.... until I took the battery off and put it back on. All was well again....I think it cleared the memory.
Could be similar to your problem.
It hasn't happened with the Sony again, but I know how to deal with it, if it does.