At what point does it become funny?
Last year when I was in Hawaii, the command dial on my Nikon camera stopped functioning for half a day (it would only change settings in one direction). It was fine the next morning, so I didn’t think much of it and completely forgot to have Nikon check it out when I sent the camera in for repair last November (there were lots of dead pixels in the images). In mid-June I was taking some pictures and discovered the command dial was completely non-functional. The camera is no longer under warranty, but the store manager informed me that Nikon sometimes doesn’t charge to fix small problems. Wouldn’t that be nice.
6/20/2006: I drop off camera at the store so it can be sent to Nikon for repair. I’m told they should know within 2-3 weeks how much it will cost to repair and that the camera should be back within 4-5 weeks.
7/6: I receive a call that camera has been returned. I’m happy because it’s been less than 3 weeks and since I wasn’t asked to authorize the repair that means there’s no charge. Yay!
7/7: I go to the camera store to pick up my camera, only to learn that the repair center returned the wrong camera. People at the store don’t know where my camera is. (Ummm… you couldn’t have called me back?)
7/10: I speak to the store manager, who tells me that Nikon has fixed my camera and they’re sending it back. It should arrive in 3 days. Once again I’m happy because I’m not being charged for the repair. (Yay!)
7/15: I’d sort of hoped to hear from the store, but I had to call them. They don’t know where my camera is, but hope to find out on Monday. (Sigh.)
7/18: Again, I would have liked to hear from the store, but I had to call them in the afternoon. It’s the manager’s day off, and he’s the one who’s been tracking this issue. The sales associate with whom I speak mentions they’re holding the camera that was originally returned as a hostage until they receive my camera. I wonder if this policy is actually necessary to get Nikon to resolve the issue more quickly. All I know is that if I were the owner of that camera I’d be pissed.
7/19: I had to call the store and spoke to the manager. He’s still trying to get a tracking number from Nikon. Rumor has it that Nikon is sending me a new camera, but he hasn’t been able to confirm this information. (I wonder whether it will be new or refurbished.) (Grrrr.)
7/21: The store called to let me know that a camera has arrived for me. It’s most likely to be refurbished. If I can leave work early enough tonight I’ll pick it up on my way home, otherwise I’ll get it tomorrow. Then I’ll run it through some tests (and you can be sure I’ll be testing for dead pixels and focusing problems, which is why I sent the camera in for repair last November). Assuming it’s a refurbished camera, I wonder if the store has the diagnostic capabilities to let me know how many pictures the camera has taken.
I realize the camera is back within the promised 4-5 weeks, but I can’t say it’s been an overly relaxing experience, and I wonder how long it would have taken had I not kept bugging the store for updates.
