Rael K

Wear and Tear failure of Yamaha BD1060A DVD player

In December 2020, I purchased a Yamaha BD1060A DVD player, to compliment my home theatre system. This machine is considered a "high end" DVD player for home theatre systems and came with a hefty price tag for a machine that is essentially not very common any more due to streaming video and audio. Over the years of ownership, I have used the machine on average 2 hours per month, which calculates to approx. 120 hours of use over 5 years. (I am being generous here as well). I recently discovered that the drawer would not open and took the machine the Yamaha Music Repair Centre in Woodmead. I received a report stating that the DB Mechanism has a mechanical failure due to wear and tear and the replacement part and labour is R 7 365.00. More than 50% of what the machine cost me 5 years ago. Obviously this is now out of warranty and the cost is for my account. My insurance refuses to pay for it as it is "Wear and Tear". I am really disappointed with this product, I cannot understand that a high end unit like this has a "wear and tear" mechanical failure with my usage. Surely this is not right. Yamaha no longer make these machines, and the spares are 5-7 weeks delivery. This is also concerning because I don't know if the new BD mechanism will last more than 100 hours and then I have just thrown good money to bad. The alternative to replace this machine is over R16k, and its not Yamaha.