How [not] to protect your [digital camera] investment

A number of months ago I cracked the LCD panel on my Canon SD200 (the 3.2 megapixel predecessor to the Canon SD450) even though I babied it as much as possible. I don’t even know when exactly it had happened, but it did.

The worst part: I was holding off buying a nice case for it because I “couldn’t afford it.” After all, I had already spent so much on the camera and a high capacity memory card. Now I needed a $100 repair and a good case. Oh, irony, you must have so much fun toying with us!

I held off sending it in for a few months so that I could actually afford the repair and the case. But I finally had to do it as the warranty was going to run out. Why pay for the LCD to be replaced if something else might have gone wrong in the months it sat on my shelf?

I filled out Canon’s online repair request which stated I’d be contacted if the repair was determined to be user damage, which was definitely the case, and mailed it in. About two days after they received it, I got an e-mail containing the return tracking number.

I couldn’t help but wonder whether they had decided to refuse the repair without getting ahold of me or maybe they couldn’t get ahold of me. But, they had my e-mail address, they could have just e-mailed.

When I opened up the box, there was my SD200 with what appeared to be a shiny new LCD. Huh? Was there a warranty mixup?

Upon digging through the warranty paperwork, I came across the following line:

IMPACT/PRESSURE DAMAGE TO LCD, REPAIR TO GOOD WORKING ORDER.
No Charge, Repair.

Wow! Now that’s customer service! In tiny print at the bottom of the page was stated:

The problem necessitating this repair is not covered by the limited warranty for your product. Accordingly, this repair is being provided to you as a courtesy only, “As Is” and without warranties of any kind, express or implied.

No problem! I was prepared to pay for it anyway and I’ll be more than happy to pay for it if I break it again.

However, this time, I bought the case. When it comes to Canon’s PowerShot Digital Elph series, there’s really only one way to go: the Canon PowerShot Digital Elph Accessory Kit . It includes the stylish leather case (with matching strap), a second battery, and a metal lanyard… all for the same price as buying the battery by itself.

The case is great. It’s a thick, sturdy, holds firmly (but not too tightly) onto the camera, and has a magnetic snap the makes it difficult to forget to close it correctly. I wish is had a slightly softer interior, but it doesn’t seem to have scratched my SD200, so I guess it’s not too abrasive.

Moral of this story? I hope you figure it out quicker than I did. 🙂