Canon Cameras "e18" Error

Canon • Cameras • "e18" Error • Printers & Scanners • "Worldwide" Warranty • Rebates --- News • Canon Class Action Denied • Canon Leaves Camera Customers in the Dark • Canon Addresses Some Camera Problems But Not Others • Class Action Suit Charges Canon Ignored e18 Error

Dora of Bayside, NY March 8, 2006

I purchased a Canon Powershot A80 digital camera about a year and a half ago. I use this camera very infrequently, and I believe I paid close to 400 for it. All of a sudden last weekend, it stopped being able to take pictures, and all that the screen displayed when I tried to take pictures was 'E18'. I just called customer support, and they offered me no explanation for the problem, but rather automatically started explaining how much it would cost to get it fixed. Namely, 108 as a starting estimate, and they said it could be more. They also offered me the option of sending me a refurbished camera in exchange for the one that I have plus 149. I believe that this is unacceptable. I paid a lot of money for this camera, and it all of a sudden stopped working, and now canon wants me to pay a lot more money to get it repaired.

They offered me no other solutions, no troubleshooting tips, and didn't seem at all concerned that their product just stopped functioning. After doing some research on the internet, I saw hundreds of other examples of people in situations similar to mine. If so many people are having the exact same problem with the same company, I would venture to say that their product is defective. They should replace it free of charge and apologize instead of expecting consumers to dish out more money for faulty products.

I lost about 400. The camera is now useless.

Ramy of Memphis, Tn, TN January 21, 2006

In May 2003, I bought a Canon Powershot A60. It was a great camera indeed, until-after less than 6 weeks-it was totally paralyzed displaying a weird message: Error-E18. I was so disappointed. It seemed there was nothing I could do. The camera started working again for two days, then died completely. I tried over and over, called the Canon warranty who offered to fix it for no price and give it back to me. I told them that I wouldn't trust a fixed camera.

I went back to Target, who were very nice and let me return it (it was within their 3-months return policy. I thought this was a bad incident with that particular camera. At that time the A-70 came out; I bought a Powershot A-70 in September 2003, and it worked fine. Since I knew then about the horror of the E-18 error, I was using the camera very carefully and only when necessary.

However, less than two years later, in May 2005, the E-18 appeared again. I failed to get it to work back. I called Canon, they offered to fix it for a minimum of 100 or give me a refurbished A-75 for 100. At that time, I checked the internet, I knew that the A-75 is as bad as the A-70, and since it was refurbished, I felt it probably had the same bad lens sensor. I was also so busy with other stuff, so I didn't get back to them until Jan 2006: same answer, fix it or pay 110 and get the Powershot A510 (which requires a different memory card, another 60).

Now I was relieved to learn that this is a common problem, because I felt that I couldn't have treated my camera better. If Canon expects customers to spare 340 every 2 years to get vulnerable cameras, they should really expect to go out of business soon. Their photocopiers are good though!!

Economic damage: I lost over 330 Other damage: I waste lot of time trying to contact customer service and discussing with them but they wouldn't take any responsibility and claimed that I mistreated the camera. When my first baby was born, I couldn't use the camera and I had to buy another one.

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