For Crying Out Loud

So many of you know about my camera debacle.  I almost can't talk about it I'm so mad.

Just under a year ago Bob bought me a new camera.  He knows that I can be a little hard on cameras, or more accurately, I'm a little careless with them and leave them within reach of the 3 and 5 year old...who are rough on cameras.  So he bought the diamond warranty.  Basically I could drop kick the camera off of the house and they would fix it for me.

So when I had to take it in a few months after I got it we both had a good chuckle.  It surprised neither of us.  The lens was having some difficulty opening and we assumed the 3 year old had gotten a hold of it again.  7 weeks later I got the camera back.  This time it lasted for another couple of months before the same problem started happening.  The lens won't open properly and then it shuts down.  I was slightly irritated this time because I really had been vigilant about putting it away in it's case.  The man working commented that it sounded like it may be a lemon and they should just give me a new camera.  8 weeks later it came back.  This time it only worked for about a week.  I went back to the store livid.  The saleswoman made the same comment about it being a lemon.  "Great, so can I get a replacement?"  She explained that the manufacturer had to determine if it was a lemon....which would take the same 6-9 weeks as the repair.  I turned it in just before Christmas.  12 weeks later I got my postcard saying it was done.  I anxiously awaited Bob to return with it.  This time it didn't even open. AT. ALL.  Several swear words escaped and I immediately called them.  They said to again bring it in and they would send it back.  "You're kidding right?"  At least this time it was the same woman who I had turned it into before so not only had she already heard the whole story but seemed equally upset on my behalf.  She spoke to a manager who again explained that only the manufacturer could determine if it was a lemon.  She promised me that she was not going to just turn it in but she was going to contact the manufacturer rep that they worked with and plead my case.  She got all of the documentation in order and has promised to call me tomorrow.  The kicker?  The manager explained that if the company replaces their lemon then the terms of the warranty have been met so we would not have a warranty on the new camera? So what you're telling me is I have basically bought two cameras (the warranty was basically the same price as the camera) and now won't have coverage? That doesn't seem fair to me at all.  And what about customer satisfaction? I half expected the store to offer me a warranty for having had to go through this for the last year.  But no. Customer service is a thing of the past and it's more about bottom line.

That said, they did loan me a camera until this gets resolved since it has been since before Christmas since I have had one at all.  What made me sad was the gap in how big they all grew.  I know that I was more in those moments rather then trying to capture them, but still just a little sad that I missed documenting them....

BEFORE:

Yep. I last had a camera at our first snow of the year.

Stella was still doing tummy time.  (Don't let this smile deceive you, she hated every second!

Some play ground play before the first snow....

Castle building....

Naked fort building...(what? That's not how you play it?)

AFTER:


Ah brothers...

I can't promise the best pictures with the camera on loan....it's not great. (and I have few requirements) but at least it's something.

Good grief.