Quote Originally Posted by icanon


Ok so returned to the store where I bought it from, they sent it back to Canon Canada in Toronto. It took three weeks before I got it back. Well you know what it started acting up again a few weeks later, same problem! Sent it back again June 28 09 and on my repair ticket the store stated "2nd repair same problem please Rush". So nearly a month later still no Camera, called the store no idea when it will be repaired or ?


I sent it in early so I can have it for vacation I figured a month before vacation should be enough time.


Anyway I hope they'll call me back tomorrow and let me now what's going on with the repairs. If not I'm asking them to sent it back repaired or not as I need it by next friday, July 31. I already lost a week vacation without my camera.


Lesson 1: "Second repair, same problem" should be written on the outside of the box. A group of people seem to work at each facility doing nothing more than checking in equipment, and somehow they have so much process around it that they apparently check in equipment in the order it was received (i.e. I'm guessing a day's worth of check-in work arrives each day). Return repairs should supposedly get priority over initial repairs, but there's no sense losing time in the check-in group if you don't need to.


The unfortunate reality is that Canon never promised you quick repairs, only that they'll warranty the camera. That said, electronics with all sorts of different circuitry (motors, sensors, switches, detachable lenses) lead to challenging troubleshooting, and I suspect your camera is on a bench somewhere in tens or hundreds of pieces. For return repairs like yours, I'm told that a supervisor checks the work when the camera arrives, a technician performs the new repair, and then a supervisor checks the repair work before the camera is ready for return.


Sadly, the best advice is to have a backup camera, and for that backup camera to be "good enough" to shoot with when you need it most. I for one have been learning this the hard way, with a Rebel XTi trying to back up a 1D Mark III. Mine went in for a service bulletin (turns out they replaced a washer), and 16 shots later it became essentially a brick, requiring the replacement of the entire mirror box assembly. I lost a week of vacation without my camera too.


I really wish Canon would offer some sort of flat-rate loaner program, i.e. for $X we'll send you an equivalent camera to use while yours is in for repair. I know it'd never work for them (collection of the loaner camera could be a nightmare), but it sure would motivate them to turn repairs around quicker. I don't even bother suggesting it, as I know they wouldn't listen.