useless extended warantees . . . or camera repairers
Discussion
Younger brother bought a D70 some time ago from a large high street photographic retailer, also bought a 3 year extended warantee with it . . .
Camera was fine for 2 years then developed the green flashing LED of death . . . went in for repair and was ok for a month or so, then developed a sensor fault (wee white line on all images), returned the camera again to be told it had been sensor cleaned (despite this clearly not being the problem) and of course this didn't resolve the issue, returned again and sensor changed . . . got the camera back today and the AF doesn't work on any lenses, camera now back with retailer . . .
Retailer claims it's going back to Nikon who are 'screwing' up . . . but I'm struggling to believe this level of ineptitude from the manufacturer . . .
In the last 4 months he's basically not had any use of the camera and is now getting somewhat close to nuking them from orbit (it being the only way to be sure) . . .
What would you do ?
He's demanding a replacement camera (our family never being backward about going forward) and some compensation . . .
Personally I'd probably send it to someone trustworthy (greys probably) for eval or chuck it in the bin and accept that the extra warantee is worthless . . . then nuke them from orbit . . .
thoughts ?
Fd
Camera was fine for 2 years then developed the green flashing LED of death . . . went in for repair and was ok for a month or so, then developed a sensor fault (wee white line on all images), returned the camera again to be told it had been sensor cleaned (despite this clearly not being the problem) and of course this didn't resolve the issue, returned again and sensor changed . . . got the camera back today and the AF doesn't work on any lenses, camera now back with retailer . . .
Retailer claims it's going back to Nikon who are 'screwing' up . . . but I'm struggling to believe this level of ineptitude from the manufacturer . . .
In the last 4 months he's basically not had any use of the camera and is now getting somewhat close to nuking them from orbit (it being the only way to be sure) . . .
What would you do ?
He's demanding a replacement camera (our family never being backward about going forward) and some compensation . . .
Personally I'd probably send it to someone trustworthy (greys probably) for eval or chuck it in the bin and accept that the extra warantee is worthless . . . then nuke them from orbit . . .
thoughts ?
Fd
3 year extended warranty usually means 12 months + 24.
I'd contact Nikon directly to see if they can sort it for you. They're pretty geared up for dealing with consumer enquiries and issues with their SLR cameras so should be able to sort it, or at least find some way to help. They should be able to tell you who your local authorised repair centre is and you would be fully within your rights and quite reasonable to insist that the local branch of your retailer where you purchased the product cover any costs involved in getting the camera repaired there.
Personally I wouldn't have taken out the extended warranty unless perhaps if it was from Nikon themselves in which case you should be able to send the camera off to Nikon yourself and get them to sort it. If it really has being going to them for repair, twist their arm like crazy and get a D80 or something out of them as an apology: this is not the Nikon we know and love!
Ultimately, how long a product can reasonably be expected to work for is quite clearly defined in the sale of goods act and both manufacturer and retailer will be well aware that in this case it is blatantly in your favour: an SLR should last for years...
I'd contact Nikon directly to see if they can sort it for you. They're pretty geared up for dealing with consumer enquiries and issues with their SLR cameras so should be able to sort it, or at least find some way to help. They should be able to tell you who your local authorised repair centre is and you would be fully within your rights and quite reasonable to insist that the local branch of your retailer where you purchased the product cover any costs involved in getting the camera repaired there.
Personally I wouldn't have taken out the extended warranty unless perhaps if it was from Nikon themselves in which case you should be able to send the camera off to Nikon yourself and get them to sort it. If it really has being going to them for repair, twist their arm like crazy and get a D80 or something out of them as an apology: this is not the Nikon we know and love!
Ultimately, how long a product can reasonably be expected to work for is quite clearly defined in the sale of goods act and both manufacturer and retailer will be well aware that in this case it is blatantly in your favour: an SLR should last for years...
Regardless of the actual warantee length the camera is still under the warantee . . .
I think the vendor is being economical with the truth about sending the camera to Nikon . . .
I would also never take out an extended warantee, but I would go further and say that I quite simply never pay extra for any additional warantee on anything, ever . . . IMHO they are a total waste of money . . . as, I hope, this experience will demonstrate to my brother . . . :-(
Fd
I think the vendor is being economical with the truth about sending the camera to Nikon . . .
I would also never take out an extended warantee, but I would go further and say that I quite simply never pay extra for any additional warantee on anything, ever . . . IMHO they are a total waste of money . . . as, I hope, this experience will demonstrate to my brother . . . :-(
Fd
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