I was curious how many people here are members of Canon Professional Services and what your experiences were with having the membership. I know the general perks that are outlined on their website, but wanted to see how people's real world experiences have been with getting gear fixed/cleaned with them, prices and turnaround times. Also, what are your views with using CPS for repairs and equipment maintenance versus going to a local camera shop that does the same work?
Your first repair will pay for your membership. You get overnight return shipping from the people that designed and built your gear. It will take longer for you to get your gear to them than for them to fix it and return it to you.
There are stories out there where a camera may have been sent in for something like a free mirror fix and they discovered it needed a shutter replacement. At least you get a unit returned with a new lease on life.
I have never used them for anything other than the occasional clean and check. Still trying to figure out why I have gold membership, especially now that I can't make money selling the stuff on eBay. I guess it's good to have around if any of my bodies start acting act up. That's the only thing that keeps me from feeling I like I'm giving money away for no reason.
I had a great experience with CPS back in January. The pins got bent in the memory card slot on my 7d. There are no places for camera repair here in TN. With a wedding coming up in February, I needed both bodies in great working condition. I contacted them and received immediate responses to my emails. Sent off my camera and the turn around time for the Gold Membership was exactly what they said it would be. Quick! They were very courteous and professional.
Here is my latest experience with CPS. Had the 2 free cleaning coupons you get when yearly so I sent in my Mark3 and Mark4 for cleaning. Sent them overnight on a Monday, got them back on Friday of the same week. Not only did they clean , adjust them 1 got a new LCD and one got a new shutter at no charge. That is pretty good return on the $100 I spent on my CPS membership.
Here is how I feel about CPS. Every time I send my equipment in for service, there is a team of professionals sitting around with one purpose in life - to provide service for me and only me. To them, I am the only customer on the planet. Once a year when they receive my package, they are elated that finally they have something to do and they waste no time getting it handled. Within an hour of my package arriving, I had 4 emails (one for each camera) with status and cost updates (two free cleanings, two charge), as well as expected turn around time, which was 3 days, but is never more than one day in the shop.
When one of my cameras is found to require a new circuit board which exceeded the initial estimate, I received a call from the rep who was very nice and explained everything to me before taking payment, which of course included my 30% discount. I received all four cameras back two days later via overnight FedEx. That's red carpet service!
As a professional, I want one thing - peace of mind. Never mind the cost, which is the best deal deal going; CPS gives me peace of mind and that is all that matters.
I haven't had to use it for repairs yet (knocks on wood) but I use the cleanings and loaners. That alone payed for my Gold membership. I'd have a Platinum if it were a little less $$.
another cool perk, if you are at an event where they are providing services, you can drop your stuff off and pick it up later and I found out that when they offer the service, they don't even need your coupons, so I got both of my top bodies cleaned and checked and still have 2 more coupons for the year, for me the bonus was not having to ship my gear off and getting it done the same day, I think it took like 1.5 hrs and the CPS lounge was packed full of free snacks and refreshments when I first got there, and while I was there checking in I got even more freebies, I knew I was going to take advantage of this while attending the show, so I renewed and upgraded my membership before it was time to renew to make sure I got my membership package before the show thinking I would need those coupons.
Yup to all of the above. Well worth the money. Turnaround is incredibly fast, service is top notch, and the pricing is fantastic. I am on year 5 with them and will continue to do so.
NJ is my service center and they are polite, knowledgeable, and quick
I'm a CPS gold member, wish their platinum was less expensive though. Their service is top notch. I've sent and received my clean & checks within a week.
I just got it and over the phoone they told me it was only clean and check for all exteriors. Ie. they'll just wipe it clean. Didn't make sense to me. But when I sent my body and the 70-200, they changed the focusing screen for the body and sent it back. The lens had bad some internal issues with focusing ring and they fixed it free. I was expecting them to send me an invoice, but I was surprised.
Very speedy service. But also probably because they're about 100 miles from where I live.
it's great. service is great, turnaround time. A warning on loaners though. It's free, but it's expensive to ship back! =) I had a 300 2.8 loaner, and spent about 100+ dollars to ship it back. (Insurance, etc) --USPS only insures up to 4000 dollars per item btw). But someone was correct. Your first repair will nearly pay for itself.
I love it, I am a Platinum member and send things in for checks and repairs all time, the loan program is very nice too. I asked to evaluate a 1Dx and I got it yesterday just in time for 2 weddings this weekend
CPS is great... One major repair and you have pretty much paid for a CPS gold (mid-teir) membership. You also get free equipment loans, which can save you a TON of money over renting locally for big bucks.
