Fuji Finepix A204 Review

Overall Rating

Good looking Great pictures when it works

Slightly too bulky depth ways Fuji's appalling after sales service

I was really happy with this until after a short time it starting producing out of focus shots. Problem was that Fuji are simply refusing to repair it under guarantee, they've just washed their hands of it. They say it has suffered impact damage, but have offered no evidence for this. It seems to be just a convenient opt out for them, and I'm now having to fathom out how I can challenge them, since I can state absolutely that it hasn't had any impact - it's hardly even been used.

Members' Comments onDickyboy.'s Review

• solidsnake. on 22nd Mar 2003

  I do sympathise with this reviewer. We had a fuji mx1200 with exactly the same problem and, yes, this did happen without any impact by us, but fortunately for us the shop where we bought it were very good and simply replaced it with a new one. This new model has worked perfectly with the same treatment as the last one. You're not alone. Good luck in your mission!

• nijaxx. on 25th Jun 2003

  Re focus problems, I have a Fuji 1400Z which failed to focus one week out of guarantee. Has anyone else had this problem? (see above). Would be grateful for your comments
  NB 1 If an item is paid for by credit card, there may be a built-in insurance period as a benefit. This varies from one CC to another, check your CC paperwork for details.
  NB2 I understand that there has been a shift in emphasis with respect to guarantees, so that a manufacturers guarantee for 1 year is, in effect, a "no quibble" period (in effect, a statement of intended quality),but that goods must last a reasonable length of time (ie an extension of "fitness for purpose"). "Reasonable time" is obviously a grey area. Can anyone confirm?

• dickyboy. on 5th Jul 2003

  This is my update on this :-
  
  I eventually managed to get Fuji to repair the camera, but only after enormous effort on my part. Long story short is that I said I wanted them to provide me with a detailed explanation of what had failed and the evidence for the impact damage, so that I could take this to an idependent third party for verification. I also made it clear that if necessary I would recover my costs through the small claims court.
  They conceded and repaired it but when it was returned to Curries, the strap and memory wafer were missing.
  I took this up with Curries whose manager refused absolutley to accept that they had been with the camera when I handed it over, despite the fact that I had to leave the memory card in to demonstrate the faulty pictures. It was the final straw and ended up with me having right royal shouting match in the store. The manager even had the nerve to say "thanks for dropping by" as I walked away fuming.
  In this matter I've been on the receiving end of Curries deserved reputation for truly atrocious customer service and I've vowed not to buy anything from them ever again.