Panasonic All In One

[spacebass]

I bought a Panasonic all in one printer scanner copier fax for 13,000thb in Rayong Big C Power Buy, after under two years of very very light us, when I turned it on the thing was dead, no lights on panel.

Went back to Power Buy who said could not help because over one year old (i.e. Power Buy do not provide service), but they say Panasonic have service station in Klaeng (50kms away) !!!!

Of course a little research found a proper Panasonic dealer in Rayong 5 Kms from Power Buy, took the machine to them they sent it to Panasonic who wanted 4500thb to fix it it, a brand new looking hardly used machine under two years old with a failed main board, obviously a standard situation for Panasonic. Possibly a great way of exploiting the lax consumer protection in third world countries, ship a container load of suspect product and look to make 30% extra revenue repairing it.

I have since established that the main board retails for 3000thb and Panasonic therefore wants 1500thb to fit it. Which takes 10 minutes.

Now I have ordered the board local man fit it for 500thb.

My Point, don't spend big money on a Premium brand and expect it to last longer then 2 years because it costs money, read the reviews a lot of the stuff that cost half the money from Canon, Samsung and Brother et al, getting great reviews, and I can't imagine being less reliable, I will not entrust big money for dream branding again.

Well it was the wifes' ideas !!!!!!,.................

[sbk]

If you live anywhere near the ocean it wont' matter how good of a quality your stuff is. the salt air and humidity will get it.

[sulasno]

they don't make the things like they used to :-)

[lopburi3]

And in most cases that is a plus. Technology more than makes up for the cost cutting construction.

15 years ago a basic dot matrix printer cost me about 12 (or more) thousand baht. Lasted about 2 years of very light use. Never printed that good. A month ago bought a scanner/printer/copier for 2,200 baht with photo quality and expect will last just as long. Yes more plastic and less metal today but they seems to last just as well for majority of users.

[Eureka]

I do not understand your problem with the warranty. A 1 year warranty means just that and not 2 years. Just because a machine looks new does not mean that it has been treated with due care. As there is very little or no profit in most new printer pricing the manufacturers will seldom provide any extention to the original warranty period.

The main board could have been damaged by the electicity (voltage, frequency or surge) or environmental conditions (heat, humidity etc) which are not covered under the warranty conditions.

Authorised service will always cost more than the alternatives both here and in other countries and companies that aquire the Authorised status raise their pricing to reflect their new level of "professionalism".

Manufacturers make little or no profit on the printers sold and rely on the sale of ink to generate their profits so on a cost basis the hardware is relatively inexpensive. If you need the printer repaired or purchase original ink that is the time you will pay.