Ritz/WolfCamera Extended Warranty ???

[mailguy]

I want to get the Canon 24-105mm f/4 "L" IS USM lens for a 20D. Bought the 20D at Wolf 2 years ago. I had no problem paying the higher price for the camera from Wolf since the guy in the store was very helpful with all of my questions.

This year I visited a few Wolf stores only to find ALL for them staff with teenagers pushing cameras they had been told were good. I'm not an expert, but they could not even answer my basic questions. One guy started to explain the f/4 number but ended up with "it cost a lot so it must be good".

Since I could not get the help in the store I've turned to forums like this and many individual reviews. Doing so I found many places selling the lens for a few hundred $$ less than Wolf.

So this brings me to my point. Is the Extended Warranty option available from Ritz/Wolf worth paying the higher price of the lens itself? I'm told the Wolf Extended Warranty covers ALL damage to the lens other than theft and fire.

[pagnamenta]

You can't get the warranty from Wolf unless you buy the product there. However, they are, IMO, very good about their warranty. I worked for Wolf over the summer, I too am a teenager. I had someone bring in a lens that was scratched, they don't ask any questions, they just send it out for repair. I had another person bring in a a Nikon D70s that fell in a toliet while downtown, we replaced it as well with a newer model.

It all comes down to whether you think you'll need the warranty. I would personally rather buy the lens cheaper online because I am good with my equipment. If you want the warranty, which covers anything, you might consider paying the higher price. By the way, 24-105 f4, amazing. I use the lens for a ton of shooting conditions.

[mailguy]

Thanks for the info. I know the online company and the storefronts are separate companies. Is there any advantage/disadvantage buying from one over the other? Thanks for the info on the lens as well. That's the one I'm going to get. Just need to decide where to buy.


Thanks again.

[TNB]

If you purchase online, you probably won't have to pay sales tax and the price will probably be lower. However, if you purchase it online, you will probably have to ship it to the online store for the warranty to be honored. If you purchase locally, you should be able to return the item to one of the Ritz stores (not the online store) with a copy of the warranty.

[pagnamenta]

When I worked for Wolf, I asked my manager about returning products online. She told me that you can return them to the store, but I don't know how much I trusted her. The returns are managers discretion, she's turned someone down before, I don't know why. I would check out the policy at a local Wolf store.

Buying online really saves you tax, which on a digital slr purchase, can be $100+. The only thing you really lose by purchasing online is the $300 free package whose only use is the free classes.

[BonjiB]

In my opinion... yes. The wolf camera warranty is definately worth paying the higher price for. I bought my tamron 17-50 f/2.8 at wolf and got their service plan because it covers it if i get drunk and decide to play kickball with my lens (basically any kind of damage barring fire.) I paid 450 plus tax and a service plan at wolf versus i think the option then was 409 online because i want to know that for the two year plan my lens will be functional. It makes even more sense on a higher dollar purchase or a camera body purchase. And no, i'm not a sales rep for wolf.