Warranty or no warranty on new vx2100? at DVinfo.net

Chris Harvey · June 25th, 2004, 09:56 AM

I am about to purchase a vx2100 from B&H and have a question about the extended warranty. Has anyone dealt with the Mack extended warranty in the past? It covers one head cleaning per year along with other services. How long is their turn around time? I plan to use this camera for wedding videography but the mackcam.com website states that the warranty is not for professional use. The B&H rep told me that B&H doesn't offer a professional warranty for the vx2100 since it is a consumer camera. Any thoughts on what should I do?

Thanks,

Chris

Chris Harvey · June 25th, 2004, 10:11 AM

I did just talk to someone from Mack. They said B&H will sell me a professional warranty for the vx2100. Also, the professional warranty has a turn around time of 5 business days. I guess I am leaning to buying a professional warranty but would still like to hear from anyone out there who has used the Mack warranty, especially the professional warranty.

Thanks,

Chris

Glen Elliott · June 25th, 2004, 01:14 PM

Is there a price differencial between the standard warranty and a professional warranty?

I have a PD170 w/o warranty but plan on picking up a VX2100 soon as my primary work-horse camera (so I can baby my 170). I most definitly will be purchasing a warranty for the 2100. How does the professional warranty differ from the regular warranty other than the turn-around time?

Chris Harvey · June 25th, 2004, 01:37 PM

Glen,

It's my understanding that the warranties work basically the same. The price for the upgraded professional warranty is on $20 more for the 4 year extended warranty. I think the main difference is that they will process your repair/service faster than a standard warranty.

Chris

Steve McDonald · June 27th, 2004, 01:21 AM

I bought my VX2100 from another of the DV Info sponsors, Express Video Supply, in Glendale, Calif. They sold me the Pro version of the 4-year Mack warranty for
$189., compared to their $149. price for the Mack consumer warranty.

Whether or not they give better or quicker service on the Pro warranty, I don't know, but that's what the dealer said was the case.

You might have to pay more for the warranty if you buy it directly from Mack. If you live in the eastern part of the U.S., it wouldn't be so costly or take so long to ship the camcorder to Mack's repair center, as it would for me, from the West Coast.

Personally, I prefer extended warranties that allow for service to be performed by your hometown repair shops, if they are capable. Having to pay for shipping to New Jersey, plus putting a $20. check inside, to pay for return shipping, doesn't appeal to me. But, both B&H and EVS offer only Mack warranties and rather than buying the VX2100 from an unproven
dealer, I accepted their warranty. I hope I never have to use it. The main value of the extended warranty to me, is
a sense of assurance it gives, regarding who will pay for breakdowns. Always, the best bargain in insurance is to have a policy for which you pay premiums, but have the good fortune to never need to file claims. I'm sure the Insurance Industry agrees with that philosophy, as well.

Here's the link to Express Video Supply:
http://www.evstape.com

Steve McDonald

June 25th, 2004, 09:56 AM	#1
Chris Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 72	Warranty or no warranty on new vx2100? I am about to purchase a vx2100 from B&H and have a question about the extended warranty. Has anyone dealt with the Mack extended warranty in the past? It covers one head cleaning per year along with other services. How long is their turn around time? I plan to use this camera for wedding videography but the mackcam.com website states that the warranty is not for professional use. The B&H rep told me that B&H doesn't offer a professional warranty for the vx2100 since it is a consumer camera. Any thoughts on what should I do? Thanks, Chris

June 25th, 2004, 10:11 AM	#2
Chris Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 72	I did just talk to someone from Mack. They said B&H will sell me a professional warranty for the vx2100. Also, the professional warranty has a turn around time of 5 business days. I guess I am leaning to buying a professional warranty but would still like to hear from anyone out there who has used the Mack warranty, especially the professional warranty. Thanks, Chris

June 25th, 2004, 01:14 PM	#3
Glen Elliott Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,898	Is there a price differencial between the standard warranty and a professional warranty? I have a PD170 w/o warranty but plan on picking up a VX2100 soon as my primary work-horse camera (so I can baby my 170). I most definitly will be purchasing a warranty for the 2100. How does the professional warranty differ from the regular warranty other than the turn-around time?

June 25th, 2004, 01:37 PM	#4
Chris Harvey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Dakota Posts: 72	Glen, It's my understanding that the warranties work basically the same. The price for the upgraded professional warranty is on $20 more for the 4 year extended warranty. I think the main difference is that they will process your repair/service faster than a standard warranty. Chris

June 27th, 2004, 01:21 AM	#5
Steve McDonald Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 366	I bought my VX2100 from another of the DV Info sponsors, Express Video Supply, in Glendale, Calif. They sold me the Pro version of the 4-year Mack warranty for $189., compared to their $149. price for the Mack consumer warranty. Whether or not they give better or quicker service on the Pro warranty, I don't know, but that's what the dealer said was the case. You might have to pay more for the warranty if you buy it directly from Mack. If you live in the eastern part of the U.S., it wouldn't be so costly or take so long to ship the camcorder to Mack's repair center, as it would for me, from the West Coast. Personally, I prefer extended warranties that allow for service to be performed by your hometown repair shops, if they are capable. Having to pay for shipping to New Jersey, plus putting a $20. check inside, to pay for return shipping, doesn't appeal to me. But, both B&H and EVS offer only Mack warranties and rather than buying the VX2100 from an unproven dealer, I accepted their warranty. I hope I never have to use it. The main value of the extended warranty to me, is a sense of assurance it gives, regarding who will pay for breakdowns. Always, the best bargain in insurance is to have a policy for which you pay premiums, but have the good fortune to never need to file claims. I'm sure the Insurance Industry agrees with that philosophy, as well. Here's the link to Express Video Supply: http://www.evstape.com Steve McDonald