Can my camera be replaced under warranty?
August 27, 2005 12:06 AM   Subscribe

In California, can my broken Casio camera be fixed or replaced under warranty even if it broke from me accidently knocking it against my chair?

Just today I bought a Casio digital camera and getting up from my computer, knocked it against my chair chair. The camera now does not turn on and the lense is stuck in place (except for when I forcibly moved it in a stupid, futile attempt of fixing the camera). I bought the camera at Circuit City and did not purchase their warranty.

Of course, upon reading the included Casio warranty the camera may not be fixed or replaced under warranty if the camera was incidentally damaged. However, the following is also included: "Some States or jurisdictions do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and some States or jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages."

I live in California. Does California have laws that do not allow the exclusion of incidental damages?

Should I just go back to Circuit City and say the camera just stopped working? Should I send it to Casio saying the same?

Thanks in advance!
posted by Korou to Law & Government (6 answers total)
 
My friend dropped his camera and had a similar problem -- the lens dented and wouldn't go back into the camera body. He sent it back to the manufacturer (I don't know which one though) and just said it was broken. They replaced it, no questions asked. YMMV, of course, but if you play your cards right, you might get it fixed for free. I wouldn't mention that you broke it -- I'd just say that it stopped working. At this point, what do you have to lose?
posted by incessant at 12:24 AM on August 27, 2005


Or try the "I get it out of the box broken" excuse.
posted by stovenator at 12:50 AM on August 27, 2005


Here's the Californian Consumer Affairs site.

I'd go for the 'It was broken out of the box' line with Circuit City. In Britain, this would be a non-brainer: items are subject to being 'of merchantable quality' under the Sale of Goods Act, which means that they should be able to put up with the wear and tear of ordinary use. 'Knocking it against a chair' doesn't sound like extraordinary damage.

Oh, and ask for a refund or replacement, not a repair.
posted by holgate at 4:15 AM on August 27, 2005


Just how hard did you knock it? Accidental bump or "oh crap, that's gotta hurt" hard?

Because if there's an obvious denting or some sign that you were responsible, it might be harder.
posted by madman at 6:49 AM on August 27, 2005


My AmEx card offers a Purchase Protection Plan that would cover you. Perhaps your card offers similar?

As far as taking it back, my partner dropped her PowerBook, then dropped a backpack on top of it, bending it, took it back to the Apple Store, and they gave her a new one. So if you're into that sort of thing, it's certainly worth a try. But I hope I'm not around for the karma payback on that one.
posted by trevyn at 10:55 AM on August 27, 2005


Doesn't Circuit City still have their no-questions-asked refund policy?
posted by jimmy at 11:59 PM on August 27, 2005


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