Sony Camcorder Class Action (Sony owners PLEASE READ!!)

I have the same problem after using this headache machine for 8 months. Sony asked for $269 labor cost to fix it. I found out RadioShack was cheaper ($119), so I sent it to RadioShack repair center. However, they tried to fix it for 3 months and couldn't fix. So in this case I'll trash this $600-camera. It was a lesson learned for me. I'll never ever buy a Sony product again. Next time I'll buy a camera, I'll buy the extended warranty also. By the way, Mr. Steven Berk also sent me an email, after seeing my post on another website forum. I'm also thinking about contacting him soon.

Please let me know if any of you find a solution. My email is zekih@hotmail.com

Thanks.

Berk

Hi All,

My camcarder (DCR -HC30 )is also having the same problem. I am getting blank screen in recording mode. Not able to record anything. I bought it in 02/2004.

Let me know if any one have more info about this. Is this manufacturing defect or something else? Can Sony will repair it..I don't have any warranty on it?

Thanks,
Kondal Madarapu
kmadarapu@hotmail.com

My DCR-HC-30 which was purchased about the same time now has blank LCDs on record. Menus are OK.

I have the same problem from the same model (DCR- HC30) and bought around the same time as you.

Did you get any solution?

Menus work but LCD screen and viewfinder shows only some garbled lines. Problem happened all of a sudden.

Purchased around Feb 04. Used very rarely (and carefully).

Hi All. I am having the same problem with my sony camcorder. I called Sony, and was told it would cost $211 to fix. But, upon further inquiry, they told me there was a recall for this model for some sort of chip in the camera causing distortion and a blank screen. They are sending me a shipping label, and they are covering all costs in repairing this camera (assuming it is the chip, of course). At least they can troubleshoot it for me, and I can find out what the problem is.

I purchased my camera in Oct 2004, and it was used very rarely and extremely carefully. It has never been dropped, etc.

Thought I would pass along the info about the recall for those of you with the same issue... maybe we can get this resolved.

Wish me luck!!!

I just want to check with you, if sony took care of the problem you had or if you ended up paying for repair !!

( distorted screen DCR- HC 30 "cam corder" ))
Thanks

contacted sony about the problem. they sent me a return label, and fixed the problem at no cost to me. I had my camera back within a week. and the camera is as good as new! give them a call and send it in to them!

good luck!
deenmarck

sony repairedmone trv38 also. there is an added problem they caused and are ogng to fix as well. all free. all the info on the recall is ontheir website.

I have the same camcorder. I first contacted Sony and they had me ship my camcorder to a repair center in Lardo, TX. I could not record anything on my camcorder. When I received my camcorder back I could record again but then I could not play back anything that I recorded. I contacted Sony again about the problem and they told me the same amount $200.00 plus to fix it.

I agree, I have used this camcorder approximately seven times. I paid over $600.00 for this camcorder and now when I need it most (my granddaughter) it doesn't work. I would like to be included in any class action lawsuit against Sony. It is not right that they do not do the right thing concerning a defaulty product!!! My email address is lacy_lacy_sgoodm@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance Steven Burk for your time and consideration in this matter. Sharon Goodman

I purchased a Sony HC-42 Camcorder from Amazon.com in March 2005 and 2 months ago was faced with the 'black screen of death' when I opened the LCD door. At first there was an image when slighty opened, but once you got it fully opened it went blank. After several tries it went blank all together and has been that way ever since. This means no access to the menus, reviews on the move or ability to import the video material to my computer using the Sony software provided. In other words it was like having a film based unit instead of digital capability.
My friend Lawrence Chung bought the identical camera in February 2005 as we were going to Europe together in May 2005 as 2 families, the intention being that we would combine our individual efforts on our return home into 1 travel DVD with our families' memories. We sucessfully made another such trip to Mexico in Sept 2005 and thereafter went our separate ways in 2006 to England and Florida respectively. We always kept in touch about our adventures. Last month he was on a Caribbean cruise and when he returned home he called me to say that his Sony 42 had packed up on him and before he could finish the statement I ask him if it was 'the black screen of death' and he was surprised when I related my plight. Is this a coincidence or by design??
So it seems that Sony may be building cameras to last only 2 years. The problem is compounded by the fact that the accessories we both purchased costed as much as the basic camera and are not compatable with the newer models. But then why should I buy another Sony? - this is torture already!
Ironically my son who lives in England purchase the Sony HC 30 series in 2004 for the Olympics and was glad when I was up there in 2005 that he was able to use all my accessories. Sadly in 2006 he got the black screen problem and took it to a Sony agent and was told it would cost him 200 pound to repair so he abandoned the Camcorder and bought a Nikon DSLR camera instead.
So ther we have it 3 out of 3 gone bad - 100% crap!
Sony should stand behind their products and stop ripping off the consumers.

you can get his number here:
Steve Berk
www.cuneolaw.com
btw, I sent him an email, filled out his form, and joined the class action

I only posted this message because he WANTS people to call him. I got permission before posting it from them. He needs your stories and has had plenty of them poring in. He is looking into a number of problems with Sony so even if you have not had the "blank screen" feel free to call him with the problems you have had.

I called him yesterday and he wasnt there im gonna try again today, thanks for the number

If he is not in you may also ask to speak to his paralegal. Her name is Nadia Snoddy. She knows everything about the case and is a pleasure to talk to.

I purchased the sony TVR250 about 1 1/2 years ago and have only used it about 15 times. The screen is black and I see nothing when I look through the lens. I am going to try to get in touch with Steven Berk tomorrow. How do I get in the class action suit against sony. Thank you Donna

If you want to be part of the class action simply call the attorney. They are collecting all of the stories about this problem.

I have the sane problem with my DCR-TRV33. This is a very annoying problem that needs to be fixed. I would be happy to state my case if needed. I also have several examples of this problem.

Thank You,
Rick Parker
5809 Stonehaven Dr. Kennesaw, Ga. 30152
404-379-9675
seabisquit2@mac.com

We first purchased this camera because it got great reviews at Consumer Reports and here on Amazon. I was pleased overall with the features of the camera and felt we had gotten a decent deal for the $600 we paid for it. But, about two months shy of two years of ownership, the CCD chip died in the camera. This was odd because we had never abused it. In fact, we rarely used the camera at all (we have recorded about six tapes on it). Now, we can only use it to play back tapes we recorded before, otherwise it is useless. Apparently, this is a common problem since there is currently a class action lawsuit in Michigan (http://www.sheller.com/Practice.asp?PracticeID=175). Calls to Sony were useless. They kept telling me the camera was out of warranty. I told them of the lawsuit and mentioned this was clearly a design/manufacturing defect since exactly the same problem was showing up for thousands of others. They simply told us to pay $269 to send it in for service. For what? So they can install another faulty CCD chip that will fail on us on vacation? I am frustrated because they must clearly be aware of the problem (as hundreds of posts on CNET will attest) but will not inform customer service. The right thing would be to recall these cameras and install a non-faulty CCD chip, but they have refused to do so. I will NEVER buy a Sony product again. We're now looking at Canon/Minolta/Samsung for a replacement.

I am wondering if a class action lawsuit has been filed for California residents. The link I supplied is for Wisconsin residents. If not, we should definitely get either a national class action or a CA suit going. I am really disappointed with Sony on this. They should have just admitted the problem and recalled the affected cameras. But, now they deny knowing anything of the problem.

The class action you found for Sony is the same one that Steve Berk is working on. They have teamed up with other lawyers in the respective states to file. If you contact Steve Berk (his office is out of D.C.) he will let you know if there is one . Even if there is not you may still be able to jump in on one that is currently being filed.

Okay, thanks for the info. Incidentally, when I got a call back from one of their "customer satisfaction representatives," and gave them the whole story, they said they could not help me because there was no "service bulletin" about this problem. I find this a little hard to believe given the large numbers of complaints found here and in other places for exactly the same problem. After asking the "customer satisfaction representative" if I could speak with a supervisor to deal with this issue, I was told to contact the following person:

**** Komiyama
12451 Gateway Blvd
Fort Meyers, FL 33933

So, I did a little check on this person. It's the president and CEO of Sony Electronics! Thanks for the help!

I also recommend to folks out there that feel burned to post negative reviews on Sony Handicams on various store websites like Amazon, BestBuy, etc.