Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
I too have had my SS4000 fail with the same symptoms. This failure occurred ~4 months after I bought the scanner. It was gone for 3 weeks getting warranty repaired. I'm now paranoid about the SS4000's longevity. -JimD At 06:51 PM 10/30/00 -0800, Dana Trout wrote: >Does anyone have experience with Polaroid's Extended Service contracts? > >My SS4000 just died (again -- but just barely in the warranty period). >It looks to me that it may be worthwhile to get the contract because I >have yet to have an SS4000 live a full year. > >The failure mode has always been the same -- the scanner never finishes >its intialization -- it just tries over and over and over > >I have no idea what the average repair charge is, because so far the >repairs have been in-warranty repairs. One time (miraculously) the >scanner started working again several days later, and continued working >for 5 months. But now it's dead, and I've already waited several days >trying to get it going again. > >Anyway, in some ways the "gold" level service contract looks enticing >to me because Polaroid ships out a replacement unit 2nd day air, then I >send back my scanner. Otherwise I'm looking at 2 to 3 weeks for >shipping and repair time. The possible downside is that I don't get my >old scanner back -- at least I knew what it had been through. Is the >devil you know better than the stranger you don't? > >All suggestions welcome, > --Dana
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Well, I had tried similar things for days, but just to be sure (and while waiting hours for Polaroid to call back) I followed the directions given by Luc Busquin. No joy at all for nearly an hour but then -- BUT THEN!!! -- the scanner said it was ready!! So I've been scanning up a storm and maybe it will go another 5-6 months before having another coniption fit. Sure wish I knew how to avoid these outages. --Dana -- From: Luc Busquin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 1:21 AM Hi Dana, The following is coming from Polaroid FAQ about the SS4000 (http://polaroid.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/polaroid/faq). Hope it might help. Good luck. Luc My SprintScan scanner cycles continuously when I turn it on. What's wrong? (Ref. #000321-0074) Description: My SprintScan scanner continuously repeats the scanning cycle (or an internal motor is running) when I turn it on. What's wrong? Solution: The SCSI selector switch on the back of the scanner may be incorrectly set. Follow these steps to set it correctly: Turn off your computer. Turn off your scanner. Set the SCSI selector switch on the back of the scanner to a value between 1 and 6. (Do not use values 0, 7, 8, or 9.) Make sure you select a value that is not being used by any other SCSI device connected your computer. Turn on the scanner. Turn on your computer. If the SCSI selector switch is not the problem, try the following: Turn off your scanner. Gently push a filmholder into the front door of the scanner and pull it out the back. Repeat Step 2 five to six times. Turn on power to the scanner to see if the motor noise has stopped. If the problem persists, contact Polaroid Technical Support. > > The failure mode has always been the same -- the scanner never finishes > its intialization -- it just tries over and over and over >
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Well, it was more like 5 hours instead of 5 months -- the scanner absolutely would not start up last night. So I signed up today for the "gold" level contract and they're shipping me a loaner which should get here tomorrow. One momentary sweaty-palm moment occurred after I gave all the particulars, including credit card info. I was informed that the paperwork would arrive in about 3 weeks. But the nice lady reassured me that I didn't have to wait for the paperwork before I could get service -- she forwarded my call to the person who arranged to send out the loaner post-haste. The adventure continues, --Dana -- From: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: filmscanners <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 5:36 PM Well, I had tried similar things for days, but just to be sure (and while waiting hours for Polaroid to call back) I followed the directions given by Luc Busquin. No joy at all for nearly an hour but then -- BUT THEN!!! -- the scanner said it was ready!! So I've been scanning up a storm and maybe it will go another 5-6 months before having another coniption fit. Sure wish I knew how to avoid these outages. --Dana -- From: Luc Busquin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 1:21 AM Hi Dana, The following is coming from Polaroid FAQ about the SS4000 (http://polaroid.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/polaroid/faq). Hope it might help. Good luck. Luc My SprintScan scanner cycles continuously when I turn it on. What's wrong? (Ref. #000321-0074) Description: My SprintScan scanner continuously repeats the scanning cycle (or an internal motor is running) when I turn it on. What's wrong? Solution: The SCSI selector switch on the back of the scanner may be incorrectly set. Follow these steps to set it correctly: Turn off your computer. Turn off your scanner. Set the SCSI selector switch on the back of the scanner to a value between 1 and 6. (Do not use values 0, 7, 8, or 9.) Make sure you select a value that is not being used by any other SCSI device connected your computer. Turn on the scanner. Turn on your computer. If the SCSI selector switch is not the problem, try the following: Turn off your scanner. Gently push a filmholder into the front door of the scanner and pull it out the back. Repeat Step 2 five to six times. Turn on power to the scanner to see if the motor noise has stopped. If the problem persists, contact Polaroid Technical Support. > > The failure mode has always been the same -- the scanner never finishes > its intialization -- it just tries over and over and over >
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
This morning the replacement scanner showed up, and was I excited (Ohboyohboyohboy!!). I unpacked it, plugged it in, and turned it on. It initialized! And it said it was ready!! I turned on the computer and fired up PolaColor Insight, and stuck in a filmstrip holder. The scanner recognized it properly (instead of thinking it was a 4-frame slideholder, a mistake mine was making with increasing frequency). Yeah, I like this!! Then I told it to do thumbnails. Uh oh, they were all white. So is a preview, no matter what I stick in the holder. When I check the histogram all the pixels are piled up at luminance 255. I mean WHITE! Brighter brights is great for laundry soap, but this is ridiculous. Now that I check the replacement scanner with the slide holder, I see that it ALWAYS thinks it's a 6-frame filmstrip holder. Time to talk to the nice lady at Polaroid again... --Dana -- From: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: filmscanners <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 2:53 PM Well, it was more like 5 hours instead of 5 months -- the scanner absolutely would not start up last night. So I signed up today for the "gold" level contract and they're shipping me a loaner which should get here tomorrow. One momentary sweaty-palm moment occurred after I gave all the particulars, including credit card info. I was informed that the paperwork would arrive in about 3 weeks. But the nice lady reassured me that I didn't have to wait for the paperwork before I could get service -- she forwarded my call to the person who arranged to send out the loaner post-haste. The adventure continues, --Dana -- From: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: filmscanners <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 5:36 PM Well, I had tried similar things for days, but just to be sure (and while waiting hours for Polaroid to call back) I followed the directions given by Luc Busquin. No joy at all for nearly an hour but then -- BUT THEN!!! -- the scanner said it was ready!! So I've been scanning up a storm and maybe it will go another 5-6 months before having another coniption fit. Sure wish I knew how to avoid these outages. --Dana -- From: Luc Busquin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2000 1:21 AM Hi Dana, The following is coming from Polaroid FAQ about the SS4000 (http://polaroid.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/polaroid/faq). Hope it might help. Good luck. Luc My SprintScan scanner cycles continuously when I turn it on. What's wrong? (Ref. #000321-0074) Description: My SprintScan scanner continuously repeats the scanning cycle (or an internal motor is running) when I turn it on. What's wrong? Solution: The SCSI selector switch on the back of the scanner may be incorrectly set. Follow these steps to set it correctly: Turn off your computer. Turn off your scanner. Set the SCSI selector switch on the back of the scanner to a value between 1 and 6. (Do not use values 0, 7, 8, or 9.) Make sure you select a value that is not being used by any other SCSI device connected your computer. Turn on the scanner. Turn on your computer. If the SCSI selector switch is not the problem, try the following: Turn off your scanner. Gently push a filmholder into the front door of the scanner and pull it out the back. Repeat Step 2 five to six times. Turn on power to the scanner to see if the motor noise has stopped. If the problem persists, contact Polaroid Technical Support. > > The failure mode has always been the same -- the scanner never finishes > its intialization -- it just tries over and over and over >
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Have you/can you try with Vuescan as well as Insight. Or delete and reinstall Insight (it dislikes installs over the top). Just in case the software is implicated. Regards Tony Sleep http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info & comparisons
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Yes, VueScan gives the same results. I hadn't changed anything except the scanner, so I didn't see any reason to re-install Insight. I just made sure the white and black points were something reasonable. I hope to talk to Polaroid tomorrow. I had left a message today at noon, my time, but that only left them 2 hours to respond (they're 3 time zone earlier than here). I have gotten calls before from them well after their nominal closing time, so these people are working overtime to serve customers. --Dana -- From: Tony Sleep <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Thursday, November 02, 2000 5:00 PM Have you/can you try with Vuescan as well as Insight. Or delete and reinstall Insight (it dislikes installs over the top). Just in case the software is implicated. Regards Tony Sleep http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info & comparisons
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
The loaner to replace the dead loaner is arriving Monday -- I can hardly wait! I vaguely recall that one of the failure modes of the first SS4000s to come off the assembly line was that the data cable from the sensor could rattle off in shipping, which meant that one got a completely black scan. And that's what I got (yes, I said white, but I had told PolaColor I was scanning negatives, so the black scan was inverted to pure white). As I understand it, Polaroid made a small change in how the scanners were assembled by including a tie-down to hold the cable in the socket. I'm surprised that happened to the loaner Polaroid sent to me, because it is a moderately recent model S/N G9005260. The replacement scanner I got almost a year ago is S/N G9004266. Polaroid is being good in that with each loaner they send a prepaid shipper for returning it. The only money I'm out so far is just the cost of the Gold service contract. And, of course, the cost of shipping my original dead scanner to Polaroid. --Dana -- From: Dana Trout <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Thursday, November 02, 2000 10:54 PM Yes, VueScan gives the same results. I hadn't changed anything except the scanner, so I didn't see any reason to re-install Insight. I just made sure the white and black points were something reasonable. I hope to talk to Polaroid tomorrow. I had left a message today at noon, my time, but that only left them 2 hours to respond (they're 3 time zone earlier than here). I have gotten calls before from them well after their nominal closing time, so these people are working overtime to serve customers. --Dana -- From: Tony Sleep <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Thursday, November 02, 2000 5:00 PM Have you/can you try with Vuescan as well as Insight. Or delete and reinstall Insight (it dislikes installs over the top). Just in case the software is implicated. Regards Tony Sleep http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info & comparisons
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Dana, Can you point me to where I can find more info on 'Polaroid Gold service contracts'. Given that my ss4000 failed 4 months after I bought it and used it only lightly I'm starting to think that an extended service contract might be prudent. Thanks, Jim Dobbins At 10:31 AM 11/3/00 -0800, you wrote: >The loaner to replace the dead loaner is arriving Monday -- I can >hardly wait! > >Polaroid is being good in that with each loaner they send a prepaid >shipper for returning it. The only money I'm out so far is just the >cost of the Gold service contract. And, of course, the cost of shipping >my original dead scanner to Polaroid. > --Dana
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
I found the descriptions of their various levels of service at http://www.polaroid.com/service/warranties/digital/scanners.html At the bottom of the (long) page you will find buttons for "Pricing", "Terms", "Features", and "How to Purchase". --Dana -- From: JimD <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts Date: Saturday, November 04, 2000 8:26 AM Dana, Can you point me to where I can find more info on 'Polaroid Gold service contracts'. Given that my ss4000 failed 4 months after I bought it and used it only lightly I'm starting to think that an extended service contract might be prudent. Thanks, Jim Dobbins
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
The replacement loaner scanner arrived Monday, 9:30am and is busily scanning away. The people at Polaroid have been responsive and helpful, but seem overworked. It often takes 3-4 hours for them to return a call, and sometimes that is well after their nominal quitting time (Polaroid evidently has very dedicated employees). Two things I have noticed now that I've had four of these SS4k scanners pass through here: 1. Polaroid's technique of determining what carrier is in the scanner (6-frame filmstrip vs. 4-frame slide holder) is not very robust -- one scanner absolutely would never recognize the slide carrier, and two others often mistook the filmstrip carrier for a slide carrier. 2. Two of the scanners had a lot of backlash in the system. It didn't seem to affect the scans, but it makes a terrible racket as the carrier is being pushed out to get to the index point. It sounds like the gears are ready to fall off.
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
> two > others often mistook the filmstrip carrier for a slide carrier. This does seem to be a very common glitch. Most units seem to do it fairlt frequently. Regards Tony Sleep http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info & comparisons
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Today I got my scanner back -- Polaroid shipped it to me exactly 3 weeks after they had recieved it. In the meantime I have scanned about 50 rolls of film using the loaner they sent me because I subscribed to the "Gold" extended service contract. $250/year is a noticeable hunk of change, but being able to continue production for those three weeks (four, after counting shipping 2nd-day air each way) was important. So here's the dilemma: 1. Is the scanner going to fail within the next year? 2. If so, is the prospect of being without it for 4 weeks (3 weeks repair + 2-day shipping each way) going to make spending $250 look like a good idea? I was "fortunate" in that the scanner died two weeks before its warranty expired. I could have saved the $250 and had it repaired under warranty, but then I would have forgone 4 weeks of use _and_ been out of luck if it fails again within a year. My sense is that these scanners are not very robust and have a short (measured in months, not years) mean time between failures. When I bought the scanner I had foolishly thought that the capital cost would be the total cost of ownership, but that does not appear to be the case. A friend owns a Kodak RFS 2035+ and has recently had to send it in for repair. He was quoted "eight forty-five" for replacing the lamp which sounded just fine until he learned there was no decimal point in there (i.e., the price was $845, and he was thinking $8.45). When he learned what was involved the price didn't sound so unreasonable, but still that's half of what I paid for the Polaroid SS-4000! So, a word of caution: if you are thinking about buying a high-end scanner be sure to realise that the initial price is not the total expense. You are either going to have to pay for expensive repairs that occur with disturbing frequency or you are going to have to get a service contract. Have a nice day, --Dana
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
The fact that the service contract is so expensive tells you how reliable Polaroid thinks these things are. I have a similar contract for my Cornerstone p1700 21" monitor, which costs almost as much as the SS4000. The price of the contract? $35. It works the same way. You call them up and tell them it's broken. They send you a new one. When you get it, you send them the broken one. In this case, however, I don't think you have to send the new one back. It's a trade. Obviously, Cornerstone doesn't think their monitor is going to break (what's the break?). Frank Paris [EMAIL PROTECTED] Julie, female Galah (3 1/2 years and going strong at the moment) Little Birdie, male Splendid Parakeet (13 years) Snowflake, male cockatiel (12 years) http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62684 > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Dana Trout > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 7:45 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts > > > Today I got my scanner back -- Polaroid shipped it to me exactly 3 > weeks after they had recieved it. In the meantime I have scanned about > 50 rolls of film using the loaner they sent me because I subscribed to > the "Gold" extended service contract. $250/year is a noticeable hunk of > change, but being able to continue production for those three weeks > (four, after counting shipping 2nd-day air each way) was important. > > So here's the dilemma: > > 1. Is the scanner going to fail within the next year? > 2. If so, is the prospect of being without it for 4 weeks (3 weeks > repair + 2-day shipping each way) going to make spending $250 look like > a good idea? > > I was "fortunate" in that the scanner died two weeks before its > warranty expired. I could have saved the $250 and had it repaired under > warranty, but then I would have forgone 4 weeks of use _and_ been out > of luck if it fails again within a year. My sense is that these > scanners are not very robust and have a short (measured in months, not > years) mean time between failures. When I bought the scanner I had > foolishly thought that the capital cost would be the total cost of > ownership, but that does not appear to be the case. A friend owns a > Kodak RFS 2035+ and has recently had to send it in for repair. He was > quoted "eight forty-five" for replacing the lamp which sounded just > fine until he learned there was no decimal point in there (i.e., the > price was $845, and he was thinking $8.45). When he learned what was > involved the price didn't sound so unreasonable, but still that's half > of what I paid for the Polaroid SS-4000! > > So, a word of caution: if you are thinking about buying a high-end > scanner be sure to realise that the initial price is not the total > expense. You are either going to have to pay for expensive repairs that > occur with disturbing frequency or you are going to have to get a > service contract. > > Have a nice day, > --Dana
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
I forgot to mention that my contract is also for five years. What does that work out to be? Cornerstone estimates that their monitor is about 40 times more reliable than Polaroid estimates the SS4000 to be? That should tell us something. Frank Paris [EMAIL PROTECTED] Julie, female Galah (3 1/2 years and going strong at the moment) Little Birdie, male Splendid Parakeet (13 years) Snowflake, male cockatiel (12 years) http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62684 > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Frank Paris > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2000 8:57 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts > > > The fact that the service contract is so expensive tells you how reliable > Polaroid thinks these things are. I have a similar contract for my > Cornerstone p1700 21" monitor, which costs almost as much as the > SS4000. The > price of the contract? $35. It works the same way. You call them > up and tell > them it's broken. They send you a new one. When you get it, you send them > the broken one. In this case, however, I don't think you have to send the > new one back. It's a trade. Obviously, Cornerstone doesn't think their > monitor is going to break (what's the break?). >
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
> I was "fortunate" in that the scanner died two weeks before its > warranty expired. I could have saved the $250 and had it repaired under > warranty, but then I would have forgone 4 weeks of use _and_ been out > of luck if it fails again within a year. My sense is that these > scanners are not very robust and have a short (measured in months, not > years) mean time between failures. I think (hope) you have just been very unlucky. Until recently I had heard very little of failures apart from the initial cable detachment problem. Perhaps there has been a deterioration in QC or changed production method which has resulted in a bad batch. > When I bought the scanner I had > foolishly thought that the capital cost would be the total cost of > ownership, but that does not appear to be the case. A friend owns a > Kodak RFS 2035+ and has recently had to send it in for repair. He was > quoted "eight forty-five" for replacing the lamp which sounded just > fine until he learned there was no decimal point in there (i.e., the > price was $845, I have had mail from several sources who have paid this amount only to find that tube replacement on RFS scanners did not rectify the colour defects which had caused them to seek service. > So, a word of caution: if you are thinking about buying a high-end > scanner be sure to realise that the initial price is not the total > expense. You are either going to have to pay for expensive repairs that > occur with disturbing frequency or you are going to have to get a > service contract. Touch wood, my 4000 has been completely trouble-free. It's a concern with any bit of kit which is mission-critical. Service contracts generally seem bad value to me, as price must be based on statistical probabilities + a healthy profit element. My attitude is generally to believe that the company knows what it is doing, therefore I'd be more likely to come out ahead if I don't buy the contract . If the scanner goes pop, I would have to buy another one immediately while the original was repaired - but since prices fall during product lifetime (the 4000 is now on sale in UK for approx half of it's initial price) this isn't such a bad idea. Especially as I could resell the spare once no longer needed. I think I'd have to be pretty unlucky to lose more by this route than a service deal would cost, and of course there's a possibility of it costing nothing. Regards Tony Sleep http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info & comparisons
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
> The fact that the service contract is so expensive tells you how reliable > Polaroid thinks these things are. I have a similar contract for my > Cornerstone p1700 21" monitor, which costs almost as much as the SS4000. The > price of the contract? $35. Yeah, but fixing a monitor will usually be a quick swap-out of a board, if done by a mfr, electromechanical bits aren't often so modular and require more workshop time. Regards Tony Sleep http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info & comparisons
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
> > Service contracts generally seem bad value to me, as price must > be based on statistical > probabilities + a healthy profit element. My attitude is > generally to believe that the > company knows what it is doing, therefore I'd be more likely to > come out ahead if I > don't buy the contract . My five year service contract for the Nikon LS-30 was only $100, which seems like a good deal to me. By the time that is up I'll probably be buying a better one anyway. They initially wanted $165 for a 3 year contract, and when I said I wasn't interested, the seller wanted to negotiate and I ended up with a five year for $100. Plus the repair center in right down the road in Atlanta, Georgia. Hopefully I'll never need it, but the $100 seemed like money well spent at the time.
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
That is precisely my point. Highly mechanical things are less reliable and so the service contracts are more expensive. I generally get them for mechanical things but not for purely electronic things, unless they're dirt cheap like that Cornerstone monitor. I always get them for CD players because they invariably pay for themselves, because eventually the manufacturers don't have the parts to fix the old machines when they inevitably break and they have to replace them with a brand new one. I invested $60 in (two) three year service contracts ($30 apiece) for a Philips CD player over the course of five years and this is exactly what happened. I got a brand new machine from them (that actually had more features than the original) when they couldn't repair the old one. Did I pay the $30 for a new contract for the new machine? You betcha. Frank Paris [EMAIL PROTECTED] Julie, female Galah (3 1/2 years and going strong at the moment) Little Birdie, male Splendid Parakeet (13 years) Snowflake, male cockatiel (12 years) http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62684 > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Tony Sleep > Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 3:46 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts > > > > The fact that the service contract is so expensive tells you > how reliable > > Polaroid thinks these things are. I have a similar contract for my > > Cornerstone p1700 21" monitor, which costs almost as much as > the SS4000. The > > price of the contract? $35. > > Yeah, but fixing a monitor will usually be a quick swap-out of a > board, if done by a > mfr, electromechanical bits aren't often so modular and require > more workshop time. > > Regards > > Tony Sleep > http://www.halftone.co.uk - Online portfolio & exhibit; + film > scanner info & > comparisons
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
> Hopefully I'll never need it, but the $100 > seemed like > money well spent at the time. Hopefully you WILL need it, but after parts are no longer available to repair it. Then you'll get a brand new machine probably higher performance and reliability than the last. Frank Paris [EMAIL PROTECTED] Julie, female Galah (3 1/2 years and going strong at the moment) Little Birdie, male Splendid Parakeet (13 years) Snowflake, male cockatiel (12 years) http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=62684 > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Edwin Eleazer > Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 5:50 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts > > > > > > > > Service contracts generally seem bad value to me, as price must > > be based on statistical > > probabilities + a healthy profit element. My attitude is > > generally to believe that the > > company knows what it is doing, therefore I'd be more likely to > > come out ahead if I > > don't buy the contract . > > My five year service contract for the Nikon LS-30 was only $100, > which seems > like a good deal to me. By the time that is up I'll probably be buying a > better one anyway. They initially wanted $165 for a 3 year contract, and > when I said I wasn't interested, the seller wanted to negotiate > and I ended > up with a five year for $100. Plus the repair center in right > down the road > in Atlanta, Georgia. Hopefully I'll never need it, but the $100 > seemed like > money well spent at the time. >
RE: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
> Hopefully you WILL need it, but after parts are no longer available to > repair it. Then you'll get a brand new machine probably higher performance > and reliability than the last. You have a point, Frank! But my luck has never run that good. By the way, we have 7 (that's right, seven) cockatiels and 1 dog here at the house! Edwin
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Tony Sleep wrote: >> The fact that the service contract is so expensive tells you how reliable >> Polaroid thinks these things are. I have a similar contract for my >> Cornerstone p1700 21" monitor, which costs almost as much as the SS4000. The >> price of the contract? $35. > > > Yeah, but fixing a monitor will usually be a quick swap-out of a board, if done by a > mfr, electromechanical bits aren't often so modular and require more workshop time. > I'll challenge that ;-) Monitors require major realignment after some types of repair. In fact, a lot of repairs require no parts and just resetting of internal adjustments. This stuff can take a fair amount of time, even with computer assisted re-calibration, especially since there so many resolutions within one monitor these days, and this can make labor costly. Much of CRT manufacturing technology is so well perfected (even if the actually CRT technology itself isn't) that, in general, if these things leave the factory in good shape, and aren't damaged during shipping, they work for years. Admittedly, I have seen more bad solder joints than I care to acknowledge, due to heat stress, poor ventilation design, or poor use of solder alloy, but that's in older low end products, but in the last few years a lot of these problems appear to have lessened. Obviously, the SS4000 is not a "low end product", and the ones that keep on chugging prove the fact that they can leave the factory in a state that allows them to work "flawlessly" for many cycles. So... what's going on here? I suggest the problem is lack of quality control, or designs requiring such tight tolerances that they can barely be kept during the manufacturing and construction. Obviously, the SS4000 is a great scanner; that's something almost everyone agrees upon. However, it is also obvious that the production goes through "spells" of units which are either manhandled on the way from Asia to their final homes, or, are out of spec when they leave the factory, and slowly self-destruct. Our television (A Toshiba) is now over 25 years old. It has never been services... not once and it is still fully functional, other than a very slightly higher contrast image. It came with a 5 year parts and labor, 10 year parts warranty, as I recall. Now, it doesn't have any moving parts, like scanners do, but obviously Toshiba knew they has a well designed product that wasn't likely to be a liability to them even 10 years later. Seems to me, Polaroid knows how costly these units can be to "support", and charges high rates to cover themselves on extended warranty. I believe extended warranty fees are a good indication of cost of upkeep, and statistical possibility of failure. Art
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Frank Paris wrote: I always get them for CD players > because they invariably pay for themselves, because eventually the > manufacturers don't have the parts to fix the old machines when they > inevitably break and they have to replace them with a brand new one. I > invested $60 in (two) three year service contracts ($30 apiece) for a > Philips CD player over the course of five years and this is exactly what > happened. I got a brand new machine from them (that actually had more > features than the original) when they couldn't repair the old one. Did I pay > the $30 for a new contract for the new machine? You betcha. > My Sony CD player came with a 5 year warranty, plus an extra year via my credit card. It's now going on 12 years, again, never needing any service. It seems there was a period of time, and a price point, where electronics were well enough designed and manufactured to last well beyond their rather lengthy warranty periods. More recently, one can pretty much consider themselves lucky if the device lasts through the short warranty period, and these days one pretty much has expectations that the product will need to be replaced soon after the warranty period due to obsolescence of defect anyway. Often seems poor economy to me. Art
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
Edwin Eleazer wrote: > >> Service contracts generally seem bad value to me, as price must >> be based on statistical >> probabilities + a healthy profit element. My attitude is >> generally to believe that the >> company knows what it is doing, therefore I'd be more likely to >> come out ahead if I >> don't buy the contract . > > > My five year service contract for the Nikon LS-30 was only $100, which seems > like a good deal to me. By the time that is up I'll probably be buying a > better one anyway. They initially wanted $165 for a 3 year contract, and > when I said I wasn't interested, the seller wanted to negotiate and I ended > up with a five year for $100. Plus the repair center in right down the road > in Atlanta, Georgia. Hopefully I'll never need it, but the $100 seemed like > money well spent at the time. For one thing, this shows you the mark-up on these service contracts, that allow for so much "negotiation" space. The truth is some electronics store make their full profit on the extended warranty sales, selling equipment at or near cost. I've bought extended warranties twice. The first time, the item failed within weeks after the manufacturer's warranty ended, boy was I lucky... until I tried to get the top of the line VCR fixed. It went to one local repair shop, as directed by the warranty, and came back in worse shape than it entered, from there it went to the another local repair shop who further damaged it, blowing a circuit out, requiring it to need a full factory realignment and a replacement board. Oh, did I mention I was left without the VCR for 6 months and this ended up in court because the extended warranty contractor refused to repair it or to replace it? During the trial, they tried to imply I went into the unit and tried to "fix" it myself and mis-aligned it. Luckily, my wife was home when the unit as returned, and saw the result of the repair at the same time I did. In the second instance, the warranty underwriter went bankrupt and the warranty ended up worthless. Yeap, sure like those extended warranties... Art
Re: filmscanners: Polaroid SS4000 Extended Service Contracts
I'm sorry if you have seen this already but I understand that digest readers can't post, which is what I was ... Tony Sleep writes: > Until recently I had heard very little of failures apart from the initial > cable detachment problem Well here's another. My SS400 is at Polaroid UK again. It was first there in October after it failed to initialise. I sent it back again because it is making an unhealthy straining noise when scanning. > Service contracts generally seem bad value to me, ... If the scanner goes pop, > I would have to buy another one immediately while the original was repaired - > but since prices fall during product lifetime ... this isn't such a bad idea. > Especially as I could resell the spare once no longer needed. I think I'd have > to be pretty unlucky to lose more by this route than a service deal would > cost, and of course there's a possibility of it costing nothing. I should do a bit more homework, Tony! Polaroid UK offer two levels of cover, Silver at £200 gets an additional two years guarantee with a ten day turn around. Gold is £300 but they bring you a loan scanner while yours is away. If you buy a second scanner for £800, thats more than the service contact. And if you were to sell it after two years for (say) £500 it will have cost £300 - the price of a contract! In the meantime if your original scanner goes pop it will cost a minimum £240 to have Polaroid just look at it. If you are out of luck you might have to pay £350 depending on the type of repair (they have three levels). So even if you don't have a brakedown, buying and selling a spare will likely cost the same as a contract - but, you will have to front up more than double money. Of course you would never sell the second scanner but having £800 worth of capital equipment just sitting there is madness. You'd end up using it - better get a spare spare then - for which you will need even more computers. A slippery slope! I plan to buy the Silver cover, but as my scanner has been away for more or less ten days now and CRC (the service contractor) are "waiting for something from Polaroid". -- David Gordon [EMAIL PROTECTED]
