Engineering/manufacturing defect responsible for short lifespan of this machine
Pros:
good service while under warranty, useful features
Cons:
inferior quality, poor engineering, can't expect lifespan beyond 1-year warranty
The Bottom Line:
Don't expect lifespan beyond the 1-year warranty
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
We purchased this model (Panasonic KX-FPC95)in May 2001, for $165 after rebate at Sam's Club. It suited our needs well as a fax/cordless phone/answering machine/copier, however a "weak link" renders it a poor investment.
We've used the phone/answering machine functions daily with no problems. We use the fax/copier about once a week or less, certainly not anything that could be considered heavy use.
10 months after we purchased it I found it displaying the message "cover open". I tried to close the "cover"- the portion one lifts up to replace the ink rolls, but it wouldn't latch and stay closed. I found the latch inside had broken off.
I couldn't figure out how it had broken until I tried to see if I could still make a copy/fax by holding the cover down. As it made a copy, there was so much tension on the cover that it required a great deal of effort to hold it down in place. I realized immediately that the tiny plastic pieces which had broken off the latching mechanism were subjected to enough force to weaken them over time and eventually break them.
If that portion of the latch had been steel, or even just heftier plastic it would hold up better. One poor-quality part ruins what seems otherwise to be a good-quality machine.
Fortunately, this happened within (just barely) the 1-year warranty period. Panasonic quickly sent a replacement and we sent back the original in their postage-paid box.
I wondered how long the replacement (a refurbished unit) would hold out. It did better than I expected, but worse than should be expected for an expensive electronic device. Now, two years after receiving the replacement unit, its' latch also gave out, the same weak plastic parts breaking off. As it is no longer under warranty, we are stuck with a giant phone/answering machine. If we're desperate we could copy/fax and get a work-out at the same time holding the cover down.
I guess we are lucky that the first one broke down at 10 months instead of 12 1/2. But I guarantee I won't trust Panasonic to provide a well-engineered, high-quality piece of electronic equipment again.
