buster37862
06-30-07, 01:26 PM
Thanks to some poster(s) on this forum I'm finally getting a new DVD drive for my ailing Panny E-85 and I couldn't be happier about it. I love my E-85 when it's working properly and did not want to purchase a new unit --- especially a non-HDD unit.
For months it has been acting up and I've tried every trick I could find here and elsewhere to resolve the problems. The hard drive works perfectly, but it won't read most disks (especially RAM -- which I use a pile of). When it does read a disk it thinks that the protection is turned on (even though it is not) and it won't let me change it since it says "disk is locked, cannot change protection". I've done the manual resets, washed the disks, turned off DST, etc. and nothing worked.
Of course my unit is well beyond the warranty, but I sent it to Panny a few days ago under the "fixed fee repair program". Yesterday I got the call from Panny. Diagnosis: Need to replace the DVD drive. Total cost to me (including all shipping, parts, labor and sales tax) $131.75
Still sounds like a chunk of change... so why am I so happy? Just consider the alternative.
From the Panny website parts (only) listing:
VXY1814--- RAM DRIVE UNIT--- $394.17 (plus labor, shipping and tax)
Keep in mind that this DVD Ram drive is totally proprietary. Thus, you cannot substitute another brand or model of DVD drive in order to save bucks. Others will not communicate with the software/firmware.
I've known about the high cost of a replacement DVD drive for quite some time and was stuck because I didn't want to pay the tow... yet I did not want to buy a non-HDD unit to replace this one.
Believe me, before learning about the fixed fee repair program on this board I called Panny Parts and Customer Service several times and gave them every pitch and sob story known to mankind.
I offered to send pictures of little Johnny who badly needs an operation. I offered to send pictures showing where the monkey bit me. Pictures of my dog. I even tried to shame them into a discount by expressing how disappointed I am that they make units that barely last for 2 years. I also pointed out that I have been a loyaly Panny customer since I also own an HS2 DVDR and an RP-82 player. Nothing worked. No discount avilable off the $394 price for the Ram drive.
I don't know who originally posted the info, but whoever you are I just want to say thank you. In a week or so I will have a "like new" unit that will hopefully last me another 2 years or more. But if it doesn't last... at least I should be able to get it working again (if I choose to) for no more than another $131.75 and I'd still be well ahead of what I would have spent otherwise.
Yes, it could have been something fairly minor and I would have had to still pay the full fixed fee of $130 plus $1.75 sales tax, but I was certain it needed a new DVD drive since my HS2 had the same exact problems while still under warranty. They initially tried 2 other fixes on my HS2 and finally ended up replacing the whole drive. It has worked perfectly ever since.
Oh, one other point. You do have another safety net against paying the full fixed fee of $130. Once they receive the unit they do an initial diagnosis and call you. When they call, you have the option of saying NO to the repair and they will simply ship the unit back to you (un-repaired of course). Since they paid for the initial shipping... you only pay for the return UPS shipping cost.
:)
For months it has been acting up and I've tried every trick I could find here and elsewhere to resolve the problems. The hard drive works perfectly, but it won't read most disks (especially RAM -- which I use a pile of). When it does read a disk it thinks that the protection is turned on (even though it is not) and it won't let me change it since it says "disk is locked, cannot change protection". I've done the manual resets, washed the disks, turned off DST, etc. and nothing worked.
Of course my unit is well beyond the warranty, but I sent it to Panny a few days ago under the "fixed fee repair program". Yesterday I got the call from Panny. Diagnosis: Need to replace the DVD drive. Total cost to me (including all shipping, parts, labor and sales tax) $131.75
Still sounds like a chunk of change... so why am I so happy? Just consider the alternative.
From the Panny website parts (only) listing:
VXY1814--- RAM DRIVE UNIT--- $394.17 (plus labor, shipping and tax)
Keep in mind that this DVD Ram drive is totally proprietary. Thus, you cannot substitute another brand or model of DVD drive in order to save bucks. Others will not communicate with the software/firmware.
I've known about the high cost of a replacement DVD drive for quite some time and was stuck because I didn't want to pay the tow... yet I did not want to buy a non-HDD unit to replace this one.
Believe me, before learning about the fixed fee repair program on this board I called Panny Parts and Customer Service several times and gave them every pitch and sob story known to mankind.
I offered to send pictures of little Johnny who badly needs an operation. I offered to send pictures showing where the monkey bit me. Pictures of my dog. I even tried to shame them into a discount by expressing how disappointed I am that they make units that barely last for 2 years. I also pointed out that I have been a loyaly Panny customer since I also own an HS2 DVDR and an RP-82 player. Nothing worked. No discount avilable off the $394 price for the Ram drive.
I don't know who originally posted the info, but whoever you are I just want to say thank you. In a week or so I will have a "like new" unit that will hopefully last me another 2 years or more. But if it doesn't last... at least I should be able to get it working again (if I choose to) for no more than another $131.75 and I'd still be well ahead of what I would have spent otherwise.
Yes, it could have been something fairly minor and I would have had to still pay the full fixed fee of $130 plus $1.75 sales tax, but I was certain it needed a new DVD drive since my HS2 had the same exact problems while still under warranty. They initially tried 2 other fixes on my HS2 and finally ended up replacing the whole drive. It has worked perfectly ever since.
Oh, one other point. You do have another safety net against paying the full fixed fee of $130. Once they receive the unit they do an initial diagnosis and call you. When they call, you have the option of saying NO to the repair and they will simply ship the unit back to you (un-repaired of course). Since they paid for the initial shipping... you only pay for the return UPS shipping cost.
:)