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Answered!

Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

September 11, 2007 11:27 AM

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Sony DSC-P200 Camera flash does not work at night or indoors.

Bought in 2005- the pictures are too dark when taken at night. The flash does not appear to work. In the day time it's fine though.
I have called Sony customer service after viewing complaints of the exact nature online but they refuse to acknowlege that this is a PROBLEM they need to address.

How can I take this further?

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Matt (MAK1981) 6009 pts

September 12, 2007 6:26 AM

How far are you trying to use the flash at night? More than 10 feet? If you're getting a dark picture at under 10 feet, then there's definitely a problem. You should start by writing Sony directly for a written response that they won't help, and then respond back with your intentions of contacting the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General with follow-up complaints if they refuse to help or at least service the camera (especially if under a warranty).

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58449 pts

September 13, 2007 1:02 AM

I'd also recommend getting your credit card company involved. If they wont' repair it because the warranty is expired, you may consider checking with your credit card company (if you paid for it that way), often credit card companies offer a feature where the warranty is extended as a benefit of being a card holder.

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

September 13, 2007 5:01 AM

Thank you very much! Yes the pics are under 10 feet and the warranty has expired as it's only valid for 1 year. I got the camera as a present for Xmas 2005. I have contacted Sony directly and they refuse to acknowledge there is a problem- stating that I would need to repair it paying the standard cost of £114. If you google 'problems with sony dsc-p200' you'll see it is a COMMON problem which they are either ignoring or customers aren't highlighting enough because why pay £114 to repair a faulty camera when you can add another £150 and buy a new one??

It makes me furious that they did not have the common courtesy to at least investigate it further.

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Matt (MAK1981) 6009 pts

September 13, 2007 6:33 AM

Time to write a few letters. The best thing is writing a complaint letter directly to Sony... and in the first paragraph, emphasize you'll be sending the same letter to the BBB and AG for corrective action.

It wouldn't hurt to include a few pages of things you've found on line with other people having the same problems.

If you argue enough, you may just get a free repair. Either way, the cost of 3 postage stamps should be worth it :) (Maybe fewer than 3, since the Attorney General and Better Business Bureau usually have websites you can just copy/paste your letter to and upload to them directly).

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

September 13, 2007 12:21 PM

Ace advice Thanks a lot Matt!

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58449 pts

September 13, 2007 1:07 PM

When you do write the letter, mention that you've complained to forums like this one. Remind them that when a customer has a good experience, they tell 2 people, when they have a bad one, they tell HUNDREDS (with the internet, that is). Also, if the person who gave it to you as a gift bought it with a credit card, you may have an extended warranty available to you. But the clock is ticking. Often credit card companies offer a feature where the warranty is extended as a benefit of being a card holder.

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Matt (MAK1981) 6009 pts

September 13, 2007 1:40 PM

You and your credit card warranties, James, haha! I swear I see that in every post :)

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58449 pts

September 13, 2007 6:05 PM

Hey, I'm all about giving people every weapon they can to get satisfaction. THere's nothing wrong with that, Matt. Many don't even realize they have that benefit until it's too late.

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Matt (MAK1981) 6009 pts

September 13, 2007 7:52 PM

Heeeyyyyyy, I hear ya. I'm just playin'. It's just funny, seeing it so often. :)

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Ahmad Nadeem Syed 2 pts

November 13, 2007 5:22 AM

Dark picture at night seem to be common problem being a manufacturing defect. At times, the flash works at the right time from the same distance. My camera is out warranty now and I have to live with it.

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

November 13, 2007 5:28 AM

That is so unfair! They should be held accountable! I bought a new one and I am sure that's what most people do and most of lead busy lives and don't have the time to follow through.

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Ahmad Nadeem Syed 2 pts

November 13, 2007 5:50 AM

So far none of the answers are helpful. It appears that it is a manufacturing defect. Is there any (make home) solution as Sony does not listen.

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

November 13, 2007 5:54 AM

Quite frankly- its a matter of following up with them and as Matt says above: write the BBB and AG notifying them. I meant too but never got around to it.....!!

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Matt (MAK1981) 6009 pts

November 13, 2007 7:46 AM

Suzette: You still can. Give these horrible companies the black marks they deserve, so the consumer doesn't have to deal with it anymore! :)

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Ahmad Nadeem Syed 2 pts

November 13, 2007 7:58 AM

Thanks Matt. The flash's behaviour is surprising. Quite frequently, it only flikers (with delay) resullting in dark pictures. Sometimes, on repeated attempts it works perfectly from the same distance. I have not noticed 10 feet distance.

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

November 13, 2007 8:08 AM

The problems are common to this type of camera......Sony knows they have a problem but refuses to recall them or offer a service. They only offer repair services that no one in their right mind would accept at a cost of £114.

Their customer rep said to me that nothing has been reported in their system yet there are lots of people complaining about this camera.

Bullshit if you ask me!

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58449 pts

November 15, 2007 8:15 PM

Well sadly, it's also the nature of the point and shoot beast. These cameras are designed around portrait and small group shots. In low light conditions, a flash will dissipate after about 10 feet anyway and be rather useless, the result is motion blur, underexposure, noise, etc. Couple that with the problem here, and you have an exercise in low light futility.

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stevenxz 0 pts

November 21, 2007 10:23 AM

I have the same problem. I will call Sony and see what answer I can get from them.

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

November 21, 2007 3:26 PM

Let us know how you get on.....

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jdj 1 pts

December 18, 2007 10:08 AM

I am having the same problem with my DSC-P200. I have spoken to Sony and they have said that there is nothing in their database that indicates there is a problem with the product. I guess all of us here on the internet are just crazy and are imagining this same problem up. What a bunch of crap. I'm hoping to escalate this matter further and hopefully get some resolution. Like Mel Gibson said in the movie Payback...There's always a top guy...sooner or later you will get to the top guy!

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Suzette Webster (Suzette) 3 pts

December 18, 2007 10:15 AM

I was told the same thing! The customer rep got quite aggressive on the phone as well.

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Matt (MAK1981) 6009 pts

December 18, 2007 10:16 AM

Let the CSR at Sony know you'll be contacting the Better Business Bureau if you don't get the situation resolved. :)

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by James DeRuvo (byjamesderuvo) 58449 pts

December 18, 2007 2:37 PM

Which is why I go to the top guy first! If you can get to the president's secretary, you'll end up getting call from a VP and get some help from there.

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Chuck Stein (Butchie74) 0 pts

December 25, 2007 4:46 PM

I also have a Sony DSC-P200 and it sounds like I'm having the same problem. at first I thought it was a setting in the camera and it started out very intermittantly but now is getting worse. If I take a picture in low light the flash goes off but the picture doesn't show it. It's almost like a timing problem, The flash does not go off at the same time as the photo is taken. After reading all of the above problems that everyone else is having I now see the truth. I would like to hear from someone that has resolved their problem and how they went about doing it. Then I would know what steps to take.

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Maria 0 pts

December 26, 2007 1:40 PM

I am also having the same problem with my camera. You can take the same picture ten times and it will be too bright or too dark; very few will be OK. The flash is inconsistent so it's hard to tell if the problem is resolved. It's very frustrating. I just finished an online help chat with one of their technicians and got absolutely nowhere. He had me reset the camera and basically reread the entire trouble shooting manual to no avail. I'm very frustrated. I, too received the camera as a Christmas gift two years ago and the flash worked for maybe a year!

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Sony DSC-P200 Camera flash does not work at night or indoors.

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