Panasonic electronics company issue: Having some difficulty with FZ200 and so I contacted the Companies customer service department for advice. What I found made me mad as hell. They...

VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

Having some difficulty with FZ200 and so I contacted the Companies customer service department for advice. What I found made me mad as hell. They wanted $40.00 to answer my question. Have never been confronted with this with other companies. Is this normal for a company to do this?

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I don't think I would have become mad. Disappointed - yes. Increasingly for many large companies today, the individual customer means little. Especially after the purchase has been finalized. One of the reasons is the shift from long term strategies (which includes customer satisfaction and brand loyalty) to maximizing quarterly profits to satisfy shareholders in an uncertain global market. I think we will be encountering less and less free customer service over the coming years, replaced by pay-for customer service. Fortunately there are internet search options and forums to resolve problems with specific products.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

VHD-Tex wrote:

Having some difficulty with FZ200 and so I contacted the Companies customer service department for advice. What I found made me mad as hell. They wanted $40.00 to answer my question. Have never been confronted with this with other companies. Is this normal for a company to do this?

Only $40? Try asking Microsoft for advice - $99 for a one off or $149 for one year support.

Anyway you get your cameras much cheaper in USA than we do in Europe and I have no doubt Panasonic would charge us more for advice.

Graeme Loc: El Cerrito, California

And what is the problem with your FZ200?

VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

Graeme wrote:

And what is the problem with your FZ200?

Graeme-- Thanks for responding. I have the problem solved as of now. Had something to do with the 1.7 converter and adapter. This forum is awesome when it comes to helping people.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

VHD-Tex wrote:

Having some difficulty with FZ200 and so I contacted the Companies customer service department for advice. What I found made me mad as hell. They wanted $40.00 to answer my question. Have never been confronted with this with other companies. Is this normal for a company to do this?

gee, never had that problem with any of my film cameras when the companies were real camera manufacturers, as opposed to electronics organisations.

VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

wj cody wrote:

gee, never had that problem with any of my film cameras when the companies were real camera manufacturers, as opposed to electronics organisations.

Nor have I. You might enjoy this: Yesterday I visited my Suburu dealer to get my car inspected and was told I needed a set of new wiper blades. They wanted $35.00 bucks to install plus the cost of the blades. I told them where to stick it and bought the blades and installed them myself. I had to return for the inspection which took more time Point---my retirement seems to be getting smaller because of the greed all over the place. Having bought 4 cars from this place you would think I am due for a little consideration. How long does it take to install wipers anyway? Sorry-Mad as hell.

VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

wj cody wrote:

gee, never had that problem with any of my film cameras when the companies were real camera manufacturers, as opposed to electronics organisations.

Nor have I. You might enjoy this: Yesterday I visited my Suburu dealer to get my car inspected and was told I needed a set of new wiper blades. They wanted $35.00 bucks to install plus the cost of the blades. I told them where to stick it and bought the blades and installed them myself. I had to return for the inspection which took more time Point---my retirement seems to be getting smaller because of the greed all over the place. Having bought 4 cars from this place you would think I am due for a little consideration. How long does it take to install wipers anyway? Sorry-Mad as hell.Sorry about the double post.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

i know, don't you just love these "golden years"? i think it means golden for the companies and just years for us!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

VHD-Tex wrote:

Having some difficulty with FZ200 and so I contacted the Companies customer service department for advice. What I found made me mad as hell. They wanted $40.00 to answer my question. Have never been confronted with this with other companies. Is this normal for a company to do this?

Yeah, that's the way corporations work. They have to hire people and set up switchboards to answer your questions, so they feel that you owe them for the service. Customer Service is no longer a cost of doing business. The customer must now pay for service. I remember when it was possible to call a company, speak to a person, and get an answer.

"Hey, buddy, what time is it?" "For $5.00, I'll tell you." :D

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

Doesn't surprise me...for a long time they advertised showing a Leica lens on an FZ70...which it doesn't have. If you are having a problem with a purchase and they want $40 to talk with you
I'd take that as good advice to never purchase anything made by Panasonic again. I haven't since I filled out one of their customer service forms..twice...and never got a reply to either.
A good company serves their customers....doesn't try to rip them off....

Budnjax Loc: NE Florida

have you noticed that over the last ten years the price of most everything involving computers has come down....but not Microsoft or Adobe software...oh well...there's quite a few free or lower-cost alternatives to Windows and to Photoshop....

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

VHD-Tex wrote:

Nor have I. You might enjoy this: Yesterday I visi... (show quote)

Go to someplace like O'Reilly's or AutoZone, etc...... Their wipers cost less for better quality and generally offer to install them FREE!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Wahawk wrote:

Go to someplace like O'Reilly's or AutoZone, etc...... Their wipers cost less for better quality and generally offer to install them FREE!!

$35 to install the wipers? And they probably would have been $35 each. :D

I don't think the condition of the wipers is part of the NY inspection. That sounds like a judgement call.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Yep I got a coupon for the Toyota dealer for a sale on wiper blades $29.95 and I was scared to ask it that included labor. Of course in some instances a turn signal bulb could run as high as $96 because the bulb and holder are one piece and the bulb can only be replaced by replacing the signal which is the holder