Rafe wrote: >Aw, c'mon Lynn, just answer the question. It's really simple. >Ever bought the same brand of film scanner twice? >I sure haven't. Gee, Rafe, since I've been scanning for less than 2 years and only done 8,000 or so scans, how many scanners would you expect me to buy!? :-) Have I ever bought the same brand of car twice? Yes. And regretted the choice--won't make it again. Almost did another time, but the dealer screwed up the prep, and I tore up the check and ran like a scalded cat! I keep looking for a good, repeatable deal, though. I'm a curable optomist. ;-) Have I ever used the same supplier twice? Absolutely, and whenever I can. I figure that "Loyalty" is a two-way street--it's always worked for me! I'll even pay *more* when I know I can trust my supplier to come through in a pinch. This is especially important, I think, in a business environment. I've played the "lowest bid" game (under duress, I might add), and been royally screwed in the "bargain." Even lost a job or two over it. But those kinds of jobs may not be worth keeping anyway, IMHO. Now to one case at hand (and it was probably me and my #@&! HP6300C that started this cockamamie discussion to begin with, with or without Nikon's complicity): an indy tech I talked to this morning (who works for a major retailer) says that the HP scanners are basically "unserviceable," and when you buy the extended warranty their service stations normally just replace the unit--when you're out of warranty, you're also out of luck. Had I bought the extended warranty (which wasn't offered, that I can remember--not that I ordinarily buy EWs--except that on scanners I now do!) the $300+ 6300C would have cost a lot more than their advertised price. Considering that it only lasted 18 months (due to a missing line of code in their setup software, I'm told), I really don't think the original purchase price was good value. And I won't be buying or advising anyone to buy any product with an HP logo on it--they've simply "cheaped out" in the wrong places. More's the pity, because their design ideas are damned good. :-( Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. If I can fix this damned thing myself, it won't cost me a lot more than I've already lost. But I still won't buy another HP. Best regards from the Service Wars--LRA > > Rafe wrote: > > > > >I'd be curious to know, among veteran film- > > >scanner users, whether there's any brand > > >loyalty at all. Anybody out there buy the > > >same brand twice? > > Lynn wrote: > > I'm every bit as "brand loyal" as the brands (and suppliers) are loyal >to me > > and my goals. If it works like it's supposed to work, I'll stick with >it. > > When they stick it *to me*, it's "Adios." :-) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp