Professional Electronics — Local services in Deerfield Beach

The following is a saga regarding Panasonic and Professional Electronics for their miserable customer service. I sent my Panasonic camcorder to Professional Electronics, which is a Panasonic authorized service center in Deerfield Beach, FL. I mailed the camcorder to them on August 21, 2023, for repair and have regretted it ever since. It was still operational other than the screen was loose. The company notified me on October 19 that the parts were no longer available. My assumption was that the company would return the camera in the same condition in which I shipped it. When I had not received it, I contacted them via email on December 10 asking for them to return it and they replied, “No problem, this item will be shipped today.” On December 14, I received a camcorder which was not mine nor was it even the same model in addition to being inoperable. When I called it to their attention and at their request, I sent them pictures of the box used for shipping and the camera including its serial number, the email response was, “This item you received has never been in our facility.” The implication was clear. During the next six weeks, I submitted eight emails asking for the return of my camcorder and each time they completely ignored my requests. They did offer to sell me a new camcorder. The cost of replacing my camcorder plus the cost of the camcorder they offered exceeded the list price of the camera they were offering. I followed up with two more emails informing them that they were illegally holding my property and demanded they return it. Once again they ignored the fact they had possession of it and repeated their offer that I purchase a new one from them. Out of total frustration, I finally contacted Panasonic directly asking for their assistance, spending several hours preparing the documentation of my contacts with their Professional Electronics. The next day, I received a call from a legal representative of Panasonic and all he could offer was $125 off the purchase of a new camcorder. I finally got his attention when I told him that if I did not receive my camcorder or reasonable compensation, I would file small claims court for their refusal to return my camcorder. The next day I received a call from the CEO of Professional Electronics asking me to give them time to find my camera. By the end of the day, he called back and said it had been “tucked away in a drawer” for several months and it would ship out that day. After all my requests for them to send me my camcorder, it is clear the reason they made no attempt to locate it in their facility because they were convinced they sent it to me and I was trying to somehow rip them off by claiming they sent the wrong one, expecting a free or greatly reduced new camcorder. I have never been treated with such suspicion and disrespect by any business. I was made to feel this whole fiasco was somehow of my own doing. How can Professional Electronics be run so poorly and get away with such woeful tactics and still be recommended by Panasonic? I am appalled that 1) Professional Electronics questioned my honesty by implying that I received my camcorder when I had not, 2) after eight requests, they never bothered to take the time to locate it, 3) thanks to their ineptness, I was without my camcorder for six months, 4) and the most shocking fact is that Panasonic continues to partner with this anti-customer and incompetently run company as despicable as Professional...

AVOID. Horrible customer service, and even worse service.

Their technicians must not be trained very well. They wouldn't change a part on my Panasonic camera even though I told them exactly what was wrong with it (I'm the one that broke it.) Their reasoning was that it was "submerged in water" and there's water damage on the sensor which is absolutely ridiculous. Then they said it was probably the humidity. I live in Los Angeles, its a desert. That excuse might work in Florida but not here. I don't even think they took off the lens cap and looked inside. I will update this post with photos.

After an email exchange where I was called the wrong name, I finally got a phone number where Hazel Velazquez, "head of repairs" was extremely rude.

I have a feeling the technicians here are very lazy and collect the $50 for an assessment and just send your camera back.

Edit: I added the photos that clearly show there’s no water damage on the sensor. Saying that my camera was submerged in water is ridiculous.

Edit2: after climbing the chain of command I spoke to a supervisor that refunded my $50. Edit2.5: they offered to sell me a refurbished one but won’t fix my original camera. Terrible.

Edit 3: forgot to mention that they marked my camera as bricked and the manager said they can’t change it back in the system so now I can’t get my camera fixed by any Panasonic dealer.

Edit 4: I’m not taking this down

Edit 5: came back to this post because google keeps emailing that another 1000 people have seen it, and I read the other reviews that confirm how sketchy this business is. Don’t let this business handle...

First off let me say that this is not a paid comment or fake post. Im real a customer of Professional Electronics in Florida.

I recently had an issue with my Panasonic S1H camera not powering on. I went in to stress and panic trying to figure out what to do or who to repair it. My camera is $4000 body only 1 years old. I couldn’t find no company in Maryland to repair Panasonic cameras. So I went on Panasonic website an created a ticket an was referred to Professional Electronics.

I reached out to them directly about my ticket for repair. The first phone call was great, customer service was great. They instructed me on how to mail it off and once received they will contract me.

My point of contact was Hazel she was the best and made my process easy and stress free. Communication was key with her. Anytime I emailed her or called she would respond. She didn’t just treat me as a ticket number. That made me feel special.

I mailed it off FedEx next day, I got a email saying it was received. A week later I got another email with the diagnosis. A few days later I spoke to Andrew and said the repair was done and my camera shipped off. It completely made me happy.

These folks are great and professional for sure! If you have a Panasonic camera I highly recommend this company hands down. They are great people so don’t pay attention to all the negative comments people say it’s not true.

Thanks again Professional Electronics...