Disappointed with Primos

[fasteddie]

I sent an e-mail to Primos as I have 2 cameras that don't work and are Junk :

 

I have 3 of the Primos TC 35's and they work fairly well . I have a TC 40 Ultra and a TC Ultra Blackout of which neither works . The Blackout doesn't work at all and the 40 Ultra turns on , takes worthless pictures and reverts back to an older date no matter how many times the date and time are set . Junk .... over $200 in junk . The only use for these are paperweights or to use as decoys or targets . Totally disappointed with the quality of the Primos Brand . I called a few months ago and was told because of the manufacture you could give me a percentage off if I ordered a newer camera . Really ! No more Primos cameras for me . You not only fooled me once , you fooled me twice . Bye Bye Primos ! A totally dissatisfied ex-customer !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I received a reply today :

 

Hello

 

    I do apologize for your frustration. All cameras come with a 1 year warranty. If your cameras are in warranty, and you have proof of purchase, then we can get you the forms that you will need to send in with it for new replacement cameras. If your cameras are out of warranty, then yes, we offer our Out Of Warranty Replacement, which is a new camera at a discounted price. Again, I do apologize for all the frustration this has caused you. We would hate to lose you as a customer.

Thank You

 

Darlene Fears

Customer Service Specialist

Vista Outdoor LLC | Primos Hunting

Phone: 800-523-2395 ext. 3

 

So , I have roughly $200 worth of cameras that don't work and if I want to spend more money I can buy a replacement camera at a discounted price . What a deal ! I think I will purchase another brand

[Dom]

With my exp of Primos their products are not worth the $$ spent.

[Dom]

I purchased the tc 40 and it also did not work no time and dates at all

[Merlot]

Fasteddie,

Sorry to hear of your Primos problem. I was considering buying a Primos, but will swerve away from that brand and continue looking. Shame to spend good money on stuff that is sub-par. The primos boys don't care. They just keep cranking out their videos, yuck it up during the porch scenes, laughing all the way to the bank taking their cut from the revenues generated from the stuff they endorse. Sonofabee....

[HectorBuckBuster]

Stealth Cams are the same way Junk after about a year or so,and they don't have a repair service

 

[dbHunterNY]

a lot of cameras out there are the same way.  idk how many times I sent back WGI cams.  eventually I got all new ones.  I've got one left that still works.  So far Bushnell Trophy Cam HDs have been bullet proof for me.  If you want something to last forever go with Reconix but know you're paying $500 per cam.  Many companies go through others for cameras and that's their down fall.  they aren't a cam company.  Primos otherwise for game calls is extremely good in my opinion.

[phade]

The one with the date issue sounds like there is another battery in that camera that has went dead. Have you taken it apart to see? Alot of times that battery is responsible for maintaining the date and time.

 

Are the ultras the smaller cameras?

[dbHunterNY]

Phade has a good point some have a watch battery to keep time.  others capacitive storage with a slow discharge.

[sbuff]

I have heard nothing but bad about primos cams , Moultrie for me , no issues at all. My one cam is going on 6 years and it stays out 365 days a year.

[fasteddie]

The one with the date issue sounds like there is another battery in that camera that has went dead. Have you taken it apart to see? Alot of times that battery is responsible for maintaining the date and time.

 

Are the ultras the smaller cameras?

 

Phade --- They are the small cameras . I had called Primos a few months ago and asked if there was a backup battery inside the camera and could the camera be repaired . I was told that they are not repairable .

I have nothing to lose so I may take them apart and see if I can do anything with either one .

 

I have been tempted to take some of these crap cameras to the woods with video cam and rifle and make a video for some of the Trail Cam Companies to show a use for Junk Cameras !

[phade]

Phade --- They are the small cameras . I had called Primos a few months ago and asked if there was a backup battery inside the camera and could the camera be repaired . I was told that they are not repairable .

I have nothing to lose so I may take them apart and see if I can do anything with either one .

 

I have been tempted to take some of these crap cameras to the woods with video cam and rifle and make a video for some of the Trail Cam Companies to show a use for Junk Cameras !

 

Pretty much any camera made in China will result in the distributor/vendor saying they do not repair cams. This isn't so much a repair as it is replacing a battery if one exists. Usually the batteries you insert (AAs) will charge the internal battery to maintain time. Somtimes there is a watch battery used as well. You have nothing to lose by opening it, really.

 

Primos also moved to a new camera manufacturer in 2014, so the 2014 models have marked improvement. The software still needs to be worked on (largely because of sd card reading issues) and there is some interest in their new 2015 line. The 2014s when they work, take pretty good pics.

[fasteddie]

The Truth Cam 35's work pretty good but don't have much of a flash range .

 

It seems all of the trail cameras are manufactured in China . Even the Coverts . Are any trail cams manufactured in the States ?

[phade]

The Truth Cam 35's work pretty good but don't have much of a flash range .

 

It seems all of the trail cameras are manufactured in China . Even the Coverts . Are any trail cams manufactured in the States ?

 

Reconyx for the most part, but I am not sure if they are 100% USA parts. Another cam company is coming out soon with a large % of US parts (some China) but assembled in US, which should bode well for quality control.

 

The key with China cams isn't the fac they break, its the customer service of the distributor.

[Five Seasons]

With my exp of Primos their products are not worth the $$ spent.

 

generally i tend to agree. They're on the level of walmart brand cereal. If what you need something basic and cheap they're ok. Still enjoy some of their older educational DVDs though.

[bubba]

Your response letter sounds exactly like the one I got for wild game innovations.  I boxed it up sent it back and put in a note that said you can throw it away, and I will save room in my trash.  I never heard back. 

[Paula]

Your response letter sounds exactly like the one I got for wild game innovations.  I boxed it up sent it back and put in a note that said you can throw it away, and I will save room in my trash.  I never heard back. 

LOL

[growalot]

I have a lot of "decoy" cams out there ...the old Stealth...seriously I DO NOT KNOW how they are still in business....moultrie...yep when they said that a diode(? )goes bad after a year and they can't repair...I stopped buying...Oh ya the replacement discount...what a joke...their "discounted replacements" cost more than what I can buy from a store or Amazon. Now thats insult to injury...

[88GW]

Sounds like the customer service I received on my Bushnell scope with a "lifetime" warranty.  Oh wait a second its because Bushnell bought Primos.  Shocking!!

[Doc]

Out of 7 cameras, I have only 5 still working. My Moultries (2) are dead, 1 Bushnell is dead and the other is working. I have a Primos that is working (again), a Covert that works, and a Cuddeback that works and a Tasco that works but takes crap pictures.

 

That isn't a very good track record for something that consists of some cheap optics and a p.c. board. Something made of those kinds of static parts should last absolutely forever. And for them all to offer just a 1 year guarantee tells me that they all know they are crap and really don't expect these $200+ things to last much beyond that year. I am done buying cameras. I will use what I've got until they too crap-out and then I'll go back to the old way of doing business. I've been a sucker for too long and too many times.

[wooly]

I've had nothing but GOOD experience with Primos.

Any troubles I've had in the past with their products were addressed politely and courteously over the phone and they were very accommodating to correct the issues.

I think I returned 3 cameras total, each of which was replaced with a new unit of greater value at no cost to me with no questions asked. As a matter of fact, the last camera I returned was even past the 1 year warranty period but they insisted on sending me a new one so I graciously accepted it.

Like they say..."you catch more bees with honey"!

I'd buy another one of their cams in a heartbeat if I'm ever in the market for one again.

[stabe710]

The primos 35's are great cameras for the money. Long battery life and easy to use. Not the quality pics as a cuddeback but for just scouting purposes the 3 shot burst gets the job done. My experience is that all the ultra cameras are junk. Stick with the 35 or 46 and they will get the job done.

[phade]

Out of 7 cameras, I have only 5 still working. My Moultries (2) are dead, 1 Bushnell is dead and the other is working. I have a Primos that is working (again), a Covert that works, and a Cuddeback that works and a Tasco that works but takes crap pictures.

 

That isn't a very good track record for something that consists of some cheap optics and a p.c. board. Something made of those kinds of static parts should last absolutely forever. And for them all to offer just a 1 year guarantee tells me that they all know they are crap and really don't expect these $200+ things to last much beyond that year. I am done buying cameras. I will use what I've got until they too crap-out and then I'll go back to the old way of doing business. I've been a sucker for too long and too many times.

 

This is where the disconnect is. Cameras are out in the elements with alot of factors that give them problems. That's not to say quality can't be better, but the expectation that a $100 cam should last more than a year or two outside, seems foolish to me. Do you know how much stuff this winter stopped working? Yet we think a $100 cam should be infallable? Cams aren't static either...they have boards, lenses, filters, filter arms, sensors, sd card slots, etc. You have currents/voltage attempting to make a mechanical arm move and a camera shutter operate.

[phade]

The primos 35's are great cameras for the money. Long battery life and easy to use. Not the quality pics as a cuddeback but for just scouting purposes the 3 shot burst gets the job done. My experience is that all the ultra cameras are junk. Stick with the 35 or 46 and they will get the job done.

 

Primos moved to a new factory in 2014. Ultras made in the new factory are much better - not perfect, but definitely not the cams of 2013.

[fasteddie]

I had called Primos a few months ago about the 1st camera that crapped out . The response I got was I could send it back and they would send a replacement higher priced camera for 20 percent off . I was already out about $100 at the time so I should spend another $100 and take a chance that the camera might last a week or two ........... No way !   The faulty cameras will make a couple of 3 3/4 X 5 1/4 inch targets !

[landtracdeerhunter]

When I was working 8 cams a field, I had a failure rate better than 20% / year. Just expected on purchasing 2 new cams a year, to replaced failed ones. Business inclined though.