So I'm volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and tripped over a broken concrete sidewalk and smashed the hot shoe on my otherwise pristine A7Rii. The camera appears to be working in other aspects so I call Square Trade immediately and get a HUGE RUN AROUND!! I purchased my insurance policy through Amazon from Square Trade following a link in a thread on DPReview. The "Customer Experience Specialist" informs me that since I didn't purchase my camera from Amazon that I needed to purchase my insurance policy from Square Trade's website, not Amazon. WTH? So now it has to be approved as an "exception" to have a covered repair authorized. I'm so disheartened! Why in the world was I able to make the purchase of the warranty without being warned that I may not be covered if I didn't also buy my camera from Amazon? There is NOTHING in the Terms and Conditions that state this either. I don't know what to do or where to take my camera. Does anyone know if this is something a local camera shop would be able to repair? People may criticize Apple but when I buy Apple Care and need warranty service it is completely NO HASSLE!!!

>>>Why in the world was I able to make the purchase of the warranty without being warned that I may not be covered if I didn't also buy my camera from Amazon?<<

Jay A wrote:>>>Why in the world was I able to make the purchase of the warranty without being warned that I may not be covered if I didn't also buy my camera from Amazon?<<

Jay A wrote:>>>Why in the world was I able to make the purchase of the warranty without being warned that I may not be covered if I didn't also buy my camera from Amazon?<<

I queried Warrantech, the company selling the "Smart Guard" extended warranty offered on Amazon about a similar situation. I purchased a camera at B&H, and a warranty on Amazon. Here's the reply."Dear Graham-Thank you for your interest in our accidental damage camera plans. Our Amazon plans can be purchased on products from other top tier dealers assuming the cameras are new with full manufacture's warranty. Thanks again and if you have any additional questions please let me know.Sincerely,Michael Neuman Senior Account Manager Warrantech, An AM Trust Company"

>>>Why in the world was I able to make the purchase of the warranty without being warned that I may not be covered if I didn't also buy my camera from Amazon?<<

Graham Best wrote:I queried Warrantech, the company selling the "Smart Guard" extended warranty offered on Amazon about a similar situation. I purchased a camera at B&H, and a warranty on Amazon. Here's the reply."Dear Graham-Thank you for your interest in our accidental damage camera plans. Our Amazon plans can be purchased on products from other top tier dealers assuming the cameras are new with full manufacture's warranty. Thanks again and if you have any additional questions please let me know.Sincerely,Michael Neuman Senior Account Manager Warrantech, An AM Trust Company"My camera was brand new and purchased at Best Buy.

JimKasson wrote:Jay A wrote:>>>Why in the world was I able to make the purchase of the warranty without being warned that I may not be covered if I didn't also buy my camera from Amazon?<<

Square Trade came through and is going to honor my claim. Now to find a repair option...

AnnJessup wrote:! I purchased my insurance policy through Amazon from Square Trade following a link in a thread on DPReview.There is the culprit. These insurances (which are restricted to Amazon-purchased goods, and to a period of hours or days within the purchase) are not listed on Amazon except from the pages in the camera buying process. But apparently third parties can make them accessible to non-buyers by posting a link - and you will also get to them by aborting a (pretended) purchase.

AnnJessup wrote:Square Trade came through and is going to honor my claim. Now to find a repair option...All these insurance companies will have unstated policies to reject claims out of hand at first. It saves them millions per year in people who just give up and go away.

Dear @Annjesup I my country you would be able to claim your damage on "Habitat for Humanity". They would have a legal bussiness obligation to get you sorted. So for next time, try that route.

First sorry to hear of your issue, but what I have learned over the many years is you don't get something like camera insurance for a low price! Square Trade is a scam because they won't loose money, when I was going to order a Sony A7rII from B&H I read many reviews and what it came down to is Square Trade IS A SCAM, so many people posted how Horrible Square Trade is about supporting people and even B&H WON'T HELP or step in!I don't think Amazon will do ANYTHING for you as they just want to make profit and yes they should have listed that if you don't purchase the item you are buying the warranty for may not be covered, to me that's a scam but maybe Amazon does not know and they may feel if they sell it it should cover anything with in the cost zone, but I hope they will you...The Square Trade warranty was I think about $100 for a $3200 camera, no way would they cover something that will cost $500 to fix, and in their contract they my just refund the purchase price of the warranty then WHY buy it!My point is get insurance from your home insurance like State Farm, cost more but they won't pull that crap like ST or others like them.This is a problem and it will take a Class Action lawsuit at best to change this but don't hold your breath!ChristopherP.S What I did is where I did purchase a camera ( a real camera store ) I got a Mack warranty and cost more BUT we had a main board go out on our Canon 70D can Canon wanted $300 to repair and the Mack covered and in fact they sent the 70D to Canon for repair, the Mack cost $150 and well worth it and we still have more than 2 years left and it was ADH covers dropping.

cengell wrote:First sorry to hear of your issue, but what I have learned over the many years is you don't get something like camera insurance for a low price! Square Trade is a scam because they won't loose money, when I was going to order a Sony A7rII from B&H I read many reviews and what it came down to is Square Trade IS A SCAM, so many people posted how Horrible Square Trade is about supporting people and even B&H WON'T HELP or step in!Did you not read the OP'spost(9+ hours prior to yours) reporting Square Trade is going to honor her warranty?

Graham Best wrote:cengell wrote:First sorry to hear of your issue, but what I have learned over the many years is you don't get something like camera insurance for a low price! Square Trade is a scam because they won't loose money, when I was going to order a Sony A7rII from B&H I read many reviews and what it came down to is Square Trade IS A SCAM, so many people posted how Horrible Square Trade is about supporting people and even B&H WON'T HELP or step in!Did you not read the OP'spost(9+ hours prior to yours) reporting Square Trade is going to honor her warranty?No I did not but my point won't change, but lets see if they do in fact do pay for the repair?ChristopherAl my point is FOR NEW people and just not only this case...

If you bought with a credit card, they should cover accidental damage in first 90 days of purchase.  Less hassle.

If you bought a new Grey A7RII is there an insurer who will warranty it?

mdb1986 wrote:If you bought with a credit card, they should cover accidental damage in first 90 days of purchase. Less hassle.I wondered about that! I need to check with the cc company because I'm still in that 90 day window. Or I could just never use the hotshoe for anything... 😖

Square Trade screwed me around a few times.  I refuse to use them now.Instead, I found out my American Express will automatically give me an extended warranty on my camera because I bought it using an Amex.    Its not drops and spills coverage, but they will cover the cost of any manufacturer faults after the 12 month Sony warranty is gone

Sounds like BS from Square Trade, I'd call them out on it, especially if nowhere in the warranty does it state you have to get it from the same place you buy the camera.