On 2007 April 17 I called Beach Camera at: 1-800-572-3224 and spoke with Bill (ext 234) and ordered the Cannon S3 bundle. For camera features click on the link above. I saw some photos an English couple, here in the park, had taken with their older S2 and was very impressed.

I am very happy with Canon, so here is a bit of help in exploring their web site. I got it from "Steve" when I called Canon to inquire about the rebate I am supposed to get from Beach Camera. The promised Rebate Coupons were not in any of the boxes.

It turns out the "Rebates" promised by Beach Camera were not Canon Rebates. I will call Beach Camera, and see what gives. If I get the Rebates I will post the fact here. My experience in the past with "Mail In Rebates" has not been good.

I never got the promised $100 rebate from Fujitsu when I bought the LapTop I am typing on. I never got the promised $30 rebate from Maxtor when I bought a 120 Gig external USB hard drive. And I never got the rebate from APC when I bought an Uninterruptible Power Supply. I did get and send in the Rebate Coupons. I called the companies, and complained to Fry's Electronics in each of these cases. But, it was all just a waste of my time. Maybe not getting the coupons was just a Beach Camera oversight?

I am planning on calling Beach Camera for two problems.

1. Never received any mail in rebate forms or information.
2. I think there is shipping damage. The camera was in a larger box, but there was no packing material except for two, ruptured air bags at the bottom. One corner of the larger box showed some damage, however inside the Canon box there is a moulded tray for the camera. It the jolt was sufficient for the camera to break the tray it was in. A photo of the box and tray.

   When I tried to take pictures of a cactus blooms I could not get it to focus on an area about 7 inches across. Then a couple nights ago I tried to take a photo, using flash, of a toad from a distance of about 4 feet. It was under Tom's yard light, and I could see through the finder the camera would not focus. Sometimes it would find focus for just an instant then would go out of focus. Both the cactus and toad I am only able to get viewable photos one out of three or four. I have two prior digital cameras: an Olympus and a Sony and never had any focusing problems. I can't believe this is a Canon feature.

   Yesterday, I was in Staples in Lake Havasu. They have the S3-IS3 for $350 instock. I like the camera very well, but it is so frustrating and agonizing to not trust it. If Beach Will not do anything I think I will just go buy one and trash the one I got from Beach.

I called Beach 2007 May 2 13:17

On May 7 I received an e-mail from Beach stating: "Your order, BX156401, has been shipped." With a tracking number: 278616977079841. According to FedEx the delivery should be today, May 11 11:05. However, I have not received the promised Rebate Forms.

I called Beach 2007 May 11 11:10

After a fairly long wait for "Customer Service" I told the gentleman I had earlier talked with JoAnne. He immediately said "I'll transfer you there and was gone. After a fairly long wait Joanne answered, again she said would she would send out the two Rebate Forms: One for $50 and the other for $30; on Monday May 14th. I ask why I had not received them, she said they were shipped to the "Receiving Address". This time she is supposed to send them to P.O. Box 2754; and she said to call back if I didn't receive them in a week, her phone extension is 532. It is my guess that when I send them in they will say it is too late, and they can't honor it! I don't think the stalling is accidental. The Rebate forms should have been included in the first shipment. They were not. They should have ben mailed, they were not.

I did decide to get the Five Year Warranty for $39.95 which was additional to the Bundle.

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