Jessops repairs

Scarlett

I took my Fuji Finepix digicam into Jessops for repairs - the lens has fallen out of alignment and nothing shows on the display in camera mode. The CA said they had to send it away to their "appointed repair agents" for an estimate and I had to pay a £40 deposit, which would be subtracted from the final repair bill. I thought it was a bit steep at the time, but I just wanted my camera fixed and it had taken me ages to even get around to take it in.

Anyway, at the weekend I got a letter back from them:

Upon examination...our appointed repair agents have confirmed that your equipment can be repaired under their standard charge...Whilst we understand that you may have requested a detailed estimate we believe that the repair...can be carried out more speedily under the standard charge.

Standard charge + VAT = £132.66

Should you wish to proceed... sign and return. If you have paid a deposit it will be deducted yadda yadda. If you decide not to proceed with the repairs under the standard charge, the deposit paid will be taken as a handling charge to cover our administration costs.

Now, this was never mentioned in the shop, nor is it written on the Customer Repair Acknowledgement sheet they gave me - it's a sheet that I had to sign which has some general T&Cs and lists their receipt of the £40 deposit. I think £40 "administration costs" for obtaining an estimate is extortionate and I feel like they are holding my camera to ransom, and asking for a standard repair charge that equates to the price of a new camera!

Can they do this?

Astaroth

I am surprised that in the T&Cs that it doesnt mention anything about the cost of returning the item/ inspecting it.

If there is absolutaly nothing in it then they would have difficulties enforcing a charge that they were not up front about. It may come down to some degree on the question of if you could reasonably have expected for the estimate to be totally free of charge, if they decide you shouldnt have then a "reasonable" charge for carrage and probably 1hrs labour would be applied which to be honest I would expect to be in the region of £40 though possibly a little lower (£15 for the 2 way journey and £25 for 1 hrs labour)

Scarlett

There is nothing in the T&Cs and the CA only said that the deposit would be taken of the cost of the repair - not that it wouldn't be returned to me if I decided not to go ahead with the repair with them. If I had known that I would have gone elsewhere for the repair.

I'm definitely not going to use Jessops now on principle. They should not be able to hold my camera to ransom - either I get it fixed at their high standard repair charge or I lose £40, which I could put towards a repair elsewhere or buying a new camera!

mikemoate

Have a look at this link for Camera repair at Fuji UK.

Even if the camera is out of warranty they will provide a free estimate of repair costs. I would be inclined to contact Jessops and point this out to them.

Scarlett

ts_aly2000 wrote:

The Fuji repair service is apparently very good, it's said that they practically recondition the camera. But not cheap at about £130 odd.

Sounds like £130-ish is the standard charge, but it just seems so high given the prices of new cameras!

Scarlett

I have just called Fuji repairs and enquired - their standard repair charge for my camera is £99.90.

[thinking/typing out loud] I wonder how much the courier costs will be? [/thinking/typing out loud]

Voyager2002

Yes, Jessops want you to buy a new camera rather than get your old one repaired. When I took mine in I asked about repair costs before sending mine off, and it was clear that the cost of even the simplest little adjustment would be more than buying a new one.

Perhaps the moral is to enquire about repair costs before proceeding. And in fairness, why did you think they charged a deposit if you thought you would ever see it again?

Astaroth

Depends how it goes - if it is by actual courier then £15-20 when you consider the packing (both in terms of manpower and materials etc)

raptorman

I used to work for jessops and can confirm that the deposit you pay is pretty much taken-up in courier costs.

That said you can refuse the repair (although you won't get your deposit back) and your camera should be returned to you. I find it hard to believe they are refusing to return your camera, unless I read the above wrong?

The thing with digital cameras is that they are very sensitive pieces of equipment and it oftens works out more cost effective to just buy a new camera.

When I worked there I always told customers what the standard repair charge was, and then let them make up their own mind.

Hope this helps.

clearvisor

Scarlett wrote:

There is nothing in the T&Cs and the CA only said that the deposit would be taken of the cost of the repair - not that it wouldn't be returned to me if I decided not to go ahead with the repair with them. If I had known that I would have gone elsewhere for the repair.

I'm definitely not going to use Jessops now on principle. They should not be able to hold my camera to ransom - either I get it fixed at their high standard repair charge or I lose £40, which I could put towards a repair elsewhere or buying a new camera!

Has to be about 6 years ago my son whilst drunk dropped his fuji and broke the battery compartment cover off, cost £96 some thing then price rise Id say,

teedy23

I think they should have stated "non returnable" when you put the camera in. As to holding it ransom, have you refused to pay allready? Did you buy the camera in jessops in the 1st place? do you shop in jessops otherwise? even tell a wee fib about how you get all your film ect. from them, they may give you something off the price for goodwill. try going 50-50 with them, may be you,ll get more with sugar than the brown smelly stuff