About three weeks ago, we purchased a small, digital camera for Pam to carry in her pocket while at work. Since we had quite a number of choices in the near $100 price range that seemed to be of similar capability, we chose to buy one that the believed would be American made and have an American company behind it. Thus we chose a Kodak, Easy Share camera. Pam took care to properly register the warranty with Kodak on-line following all directions, listing the store where purchased and the complete sales information.

After two weeks of use the camera failed to turn on. Replacement of the batteries was no help! With great confidence Pam went back to the email which she had saved, confirming the registration of the camera's warranty. Carefully following the instructions she prepared to attempt to get it replaced or repaired. But wait, the company site informed her that the warranty would only be good if the camera was returned to them in it's origional box and with the origional of the sales recipt. Since we live in an RV we don't have room to keep a large collection of boxes. After extensive contact with Kodak we gave in since they insist that the origional box must be a part of the package for return to be accepted! 

Investigation of the Kodak camera line also lead to another interesting discovery. Every one of the cameras that we found on the store shelf with the Kodak name also carried a lable reading "Made in China!" 

The story has a happy ending in that even though it took a visit with a member of the store management, the Wal-Mart store where we purchased the camera did accept it back and Pam is now the proud owner of a new camera that carries the name "Cannon." Not only does this camera work very well, it was not made in China.