Jessops return if opened?

CP26

I purchased an on camera microphone from a Jessops store today for my Canon DSLR.

I tested it out this afternoon and there is barely any difference between the sound quality of the external mic v the inbuilt DSLR mic. The advert says it should produce high quality sound...but after various tests with and without auto gain enabled, there really isnt any benefit in having the mic.

The policy on the receipt says happy to refund...if unopened. However, I have obviously broken the seal and taken it out the box.

It's a decent drive to the store and I'd need to pay for parking so I was going to ring first to ask about a refund.

However, I was just wondering what my chance might be? Any thoughts?

Fosterdog

How are you playing back the video? If it is on the camera or something with limited speaker quality then it won't sound better. It really needs to be tested on some decent speakers to hear the difference.

If it is actually faulty or not as described you have the right to reject it within 30 days, however they may require you to prove the fault, or they may just take your word for it or even test it themselves and agree the fault. If it is as described and not faulty then you don't have the right to reject it.

CP26

I played back the video using both laptop speakers and via noise cancelling headphones. There was no discernible benefit to having the mic. My husband also listened to the clips and he couldnt tell them apart.

There is a chance it could be faulty but its not easy to tell I dont think. The mic is plug in power but there is no power button to confirm if it was drawing power, nor was there anything on the camera to confirm the mic was being used instead of the inbuilt one. All I had to confirm that the camera was picking up sound were the sound bars in the settings menu...but it doesnt say if they were caused bh the inbuilt or external mic.

I might be able to try it in a mobile phone to see if it works any better...however the device has to supply plug in power.

I didnt have a massive budget to buy a more advanced on camera option so this mic seemed perfect on paper and the online reviews I watched did seem to boost the audio quality. It'll be a shame if Im stuck with it as it did promise high quality audio which a Im sure a reasonable person would expect to mean 'at least a step up from the inbuilt mic'

Jessops chat said refunds at managers discretion so best I can do is ring up and try my luck.

Fosterdog

Which microphone did you buy and what model is your camera? Did you check compatibility before purchase?

CP26

It is compatible...the canon 100d supports plug in power. The mic is a rode videomic go. It was tricky to find reviews with the exact combination but many of the reviewers were using canon cameras and I felt there was a difference.

Just tried it on a mobile phone instead...again no real difference, you could argue that the mic version has a smidge more richness but it is barely noticeable from the phones own mic. Doesn't seem worth the £59 at the moment.

All I can do is try my luck I think.

TheGardener

I don't know the answer - but if I was in your shoes - I'd be taking it back - take your camera with you so they can hear themselves. If it doesn't do what it says on the package - then its not fit. If the item is faulty, the open packaging is irrelevant.

CP26

Very understanding customer service from Jessops...they refunded me with no issue so turns out I needn't have worried. Well done Jessops, really appreciate it!

SouthUKMan

An item has to be 'fit for purpose'. The complication in this case is whether the microphone you've bought is just a bit rubbish and therefore not fit for purpose, or whether the inbuilt microphone on your camera is so good to start with that you're unlikely to improve on it. As has already been said, Jessops do have good customer service. Try and catch them in a quiet moment and explain your problem. I'd like to think they'd be understanding even though you've opened the item.

mije1983

SouthUKMan wrote: »

Try and catch them in a quiet moment and explain your problem. I'd like to think they'd be understanding even though you've opened the item.

OP has got their refund already

CP26 wrote: »

they refunded me with no issue