Crap service

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
No its not Nikon, its a company that makes large white lenses:D, a guy on another forum paid £6000 for a new telephoto 7 years ago, its had heavy sports use and the contacts are worn so showing an error too often.He contacted the camera official importers who initially took it in for repair, they then contacted him to say they had had instructions not to repair a lens of this age,they gave him a contact number for an independent company that would do it.

It sounds unbelievable if i had not been following the thread i would not have believed it.
 

Iansky

Senior Member
Not a good advert for the big boys who often ride high on their own perceived invincibility and obviously a big frustration for the owner/user.

My own recent experience of having to contact the UK MD of Nikon to get them to supply a part to a well respected 3rd party repair agency here in the UK (6 weeks it took) is a reflection of the arrogance of the big boys and how they feel they are the only ones who matter.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
No its not Nikon, its a company that makes large white lenses:D, a guy on another forum paid £6000 for a new telephoto 7 years ago, its had heavy sports use and the contacts are worn so showing an error too often.He contacted the camera official importers who initially took it in for repair, they then contacted him to say they had had instructions not to repair a lens of this age,they gave him a contact number for an independent company that would do it.

It sounds unbelievable if i had not been following the thread i would not have believed it.

Last year when I sent in my Nikon flash for repair, it took at least one month. Something was shipped from Japan--I think they used a rowboat because it took forever. My guess is either the part(s) needed are not readily available, or it is a painstakingly slow process to repair (meaning the cost might outweigh the value of the lens if it is an intricate repair). Just a guess though.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Last year when I sent in my Nikon flash for repair, it took at least one month. Something was shipped from Japan--I think they used a rowboat because it took forever. My guess is either the part(s) needed are not readily available, or it is a painstakingly slow process to repair (meaning the cost might outweigh the value of the lens if it is an intricate repair). Just a guess though.

I doubt it was a cost thing its a 400 f2.8 a new one is £9499
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
This is one reason I love my brick and mortar store. They have been in business many years, and have a great repair department. I'm sure they would fix an old C$#@n lens. :)
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Also, this reminds me of how every time we have called a repairman, our Sears appliances would always cost more to repair than to replace.
 

Moab Man

Senior Member
I too support my brick and mortar for what they will do for me when no one else will. I once went to Yellowstone on a shoot and had rented a lens from them for $20 - actually I didn't even pay $20 as they don't charge me. Anyway, they didn't check the lens that was in the bag and I hadn't either; we were both at fault. After arriving, pulling out the lens to make this photograph and I realize I have the wrong lens. After contacting them, they paid to overnight me the lens into the middle of nowhere on a lens I didn't even pay the rental for. However, they know the value of taking care of me because I have a following and word of mouth is the best advertisement. So just like @Woodyg3 I am all for my local brick and mortar.
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
That's like taking your car to the dealer and they say sorry its too old take it down the street they will fix it ::what::

I've actually encountered this before. The dealers couldn't get the factory part for the repair, and could neither use a third party to obtain it, nor use used parts. They did point me in the direction of a mechanic who was able to do the job satisfactorily.

WM
 

spb_stan

Senior Member
This is pretty common, if the replacement part are not available from the factory, since the next largest assembly is usually replaced, not the defective part. Manufacturers across the board are limiting stocks of parts for older models whether cars or TV or cameras. Camera electronic repair is way beyond the component level repair capabilities of camera service departments so only larger assembles are stocked. The factory shop probably has rules about only using new old stock parts, of which there likely are none in the supply chain. An independent can attempt a component level repair or use a used part that is not allowed in factory shops.
Years ago I bought a Sony PCM3324 reel to reel tape deck that was $125,000 in 1985 money or about $400k now, plus the remote controller for $22,000. 2 years later they release updated version and stopped production of my model so based on their company wide policy, remaining parts prices were increased 10x over night and another year, stopped stocking any parts. Many parts are wear items that needed replacement from normal operation. So suddenly my investment was worth almost zero. I never bought any Sony product again and discouraged others from buying them. My Swiss made Studer 24 track analog tape decks had new stock parts available for a couple decades. When Studer was purchased by t Harmon , a US holding company, they dumped all the spare parts for older models so killed off their customer loyalty. Few companies support products like they did when they were intended to be long term purchases, now that everything is considered throwaway.
 
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