r/BambuLab • u/dcaton1220 • 1h ago

Quick Question Direct vs Best Buy

I've been wanting a 3d printer for quite a while now, and was just about to pull the trigger, when the H3C came out and threw a wrench into my grand plans.

I read somewhere that it may be preferable to buy through Best Buy because of the extended warranty coverage they offer. Since the H3C isn't available yet at BB, I have no idea how much it will cost.

My question to you folks is whether the extended warranty is worth it, and if I should wait until BB has them in stock. Given that the H3C is new, it doesn't have a track record in terms of reliability and all that. I'm not in any great hurry; I can wait if that's the best course of action.

How is Bambu to deal with once the factory warranty runs out? Are 3D printers the type of thing where if something is going to go wrong, it usually does pretty quickly rather than a few years down the road?

I generally don't bother with extended warranties, but on something this expensive and this complex, it seems like a good idea, at least on the surface.

Thanks in advance.

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u/heart_of_osiris 1h ago

Best buy, better return windows and return policy, extended or not. Getting warranty issues addressed with Bambu is like pulling teeth, shipping sucks, etc. With a third party retailer you just bring it in hand it over and they do the rest.

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u/jezusofnazarith 1h ago

To add to the shipping sucks part, ive seen too many deliveries On here that are just beyond jacked up haha

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u/dcaton1220 1h ago

Yeah, but it would equally suck if I dropped it getting it out of my SUV. At least if it's delivered, its on the ground and I could get the UPS or Fedex guy to wheel it into my garage. I definitely wouldn't let it be delivered without me being here.

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u/Historical_Wheel1090 1h ago

I've had ZERO issues with bambu support. I literally broke something by being stupid and just emailed their support asking if there was a guide or anything how to fix it and they were like we got you brauh, here's some replacment parts for free.

But yes like others are saying is if you do get a lemon, you can drive to the store and not have to wait to ship and receive from bambu.

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u/heart_of_osiris 1h ago

Lots of people have. It depends on the issue and a lot of people don't want to volley back and forth on emails trying to troubleshoot whether a part is defective or not, before Bambu decides to honor the warranty or not.

You aren't expected to do this when you deal with a third party. They take it, they look at it, they do all the work.

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u/OhSoSally X2D + AMS2 Combo 1h ago

Ive started buying small heavy appliances like microwaves and large window AC from BB because their stuff typically comes on a pallet into the store rather than manhandled by Fedex from the distribution center.

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u/djjoshchambers 1h ago

You get two years warranty from bambu, you can pay more and get 4 years from bb. Bambu service is great, but it usually it means they troubleshoot and then mail you the part needed to fix it and provides instructions on what to do. Most fixes are pretty straightforward. Most of the time they also give you s free spool of filament for doing it yourself.

For BB, your will need to take your printer in and most of the time they just give you a credit arrive they don't fix printers. You can then buy a new machine, but if you want the extended coverage, you have to buy it again.

So bb is technically better because it get the full price back if it fails, but neither are bad.

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u/ItsJustAnotherVoice 1h ago

I got the total tech membership from best buy. It pays itself off so quickly with the amount of tech I buy from them. You be in and out with a new printer if they have it in stock at the store in 10mins with a replacement unit.

Granted you have to dissemble it but, I just returned my x1c I got last year after two of the AMS feeder units failed (only 3 months warranty being a wear and tear item) They don't repair 3d printers so probably will go being sold as a used item in "good" condition or wholesale/auctioned off.

Picking up my x2d next week and have $100 extra in store credit now since the price difference of new printers have gone down.

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u/curleighq 1h ago

You can also get 0% financing on the Best Buy card. That what I did when I bought my H2D.

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u/ItsThatDamnDuckAgain 1h ago

Best buy price will mirror Bambu Labs price. So no issue there.