After about ten days using my A2 I had a problem where the camera locked up not allowing anything to work. Had to remove battery to power it down. Since Dell has this 100% customer satisfaction guarantee I assumned there would be no problem returning the camera. I quote Dell's policy for returning defective merchandize: "Any product you purchase that Dell determines to be defective can be returned to Dell only if accompanied by a credit return authoriazation number, within 30 days of invoice date. Dell will arrange to pick up the re-packaged defective item via a shipping carrier. Dell will then ship a replacement product to you, the original customer, at no charge." Sure sounds good doesn't it. So where is the problem? I spent over 6 hours on the phone trying to reach a Digital technincal specalist who would verify the camera is defective and then put me in touch with a return specialist who would issue the all important credit return authoriazation number. You really have to experience what I went through to believe how impossible it is to get through thier complicated phone menu system. Over six hours and I never could get through to the digital camera specialist. They sent me to the computer specialist, to customer relations, but never to where I wanted to go. does this sound like Dell was blocking me from returning the camera? I think so! I contacted Minolta to see if they could help me and I was told to send it to them for repair, but when I suggested if I did that I would be buying the camera instead of trying it for 30 days. At this point I wanted to cancel the contract and get a refund. I called my credit card company to stop payment and was told I would have to enter a 10 day dispute period before any action would be done. Ten more days and my 30 day trial would be nearly over with. The credit card company suggested I return the camera using Certified return receipt mail and then pursue the 10 day dispute period. Dell is no dummy as they have this avenue covered to: At the bottom of the 'Mater Packing Slip' that shipped with the camera is the following note: :Please Note, any product returned to Dell without a credit return authoriazation number becomes the property of Dell, and Dell is not obligated to provide a refund or replacement for such returned products." I appoligize for the length of this thread but feel that outfits like this need to be exposed for what they are. Lesson learned, buy a camera from a reputable photographic dealer who truly wants to satisfy thier customers.
Why did I buyit from Dell - it was on sale for 15% less and I had brought a computer from them and was pleased with the service. Funny thing is I will be shopping to replace my computer soon and Dell would have been a contender.
BTW my camera is working again and I have no idea what caused it to fail. We will see what gives in the days to come.
