Say you’re are in the middle of a 3D printing job — not just a toy but something your were actually commissioned and have to deliver to a deadline — on your new MakerBot Fifth Gen. And something goes wrong. It happens! Who are you gonna call? If you purchased the new MakerBot MakerCare plans, for up to three years, you can call them anytime, even on weekends from 9 am to 6 pm the company reports.
MakerBot appears to be on quest to make 3D printing with its machines as easy and hassle free as possible, so, in light of the fact that a growing number of people are using their MakerBot 3D printers for professional prototyping and personalized manufacturing, the NY based company is adding new plans to its line of care services that offer full care for their entire line of machines.
This is how it is going to work: Customers who buy the Fifith Gen 3D pritners (the new Replicator, the Mini and the Z18) can purchase one, two or three year plans. They do not come cheap (the three year plan for the Replicator is $1,540 and for the Z18 it goes up to $2,365) but they guarantee MakerBot top notch support on any issue, through email, call center and live chats. Personally I am not a great fan of extended warranties but a 3D printer is not just a tech toy: it is a factory, and factories need maintenance.
Customers who already purchased a MakerBot Fitth Gen 3D Printer can extend their current plan until September 2014 while those who have a previous gen MakerBot 2 or 2X can extend their current MakerCare plan for one year or – if not already covered – purchase a new one-year plan.
Along with the full customer support, the warranty covers repairs and and replacements to hardware that does not work to specifications. Like for most other mass distributed technology products, it does not cover repair or replacement due to wear and tear or accidents. The company is also currently working on rolling out a comprehensive plan for offering service parts through its website. And maybe, one day not too far away, even refurbished machines. Apple does it!
