Probably just screwed myself over Z8 order

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SBurkholder

SBurkholder

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Well, I figured I just messed up pretty well on my Z8 order and it will cost me several months. I originally pre-ordered a Z8 on Friday May 12th at 5:14 pm. The order # was 6457462300. A couple of days later my wife lost her credit card so I called the credit card issuer and cancelled the card. Then today I remembered the order that I had placed with Nikon. Called Nikon and ask if I could substitute a credit card for the pre-ordered one that they received. They told me they couldn't do that. I would have to cancel the current order and submit a new one. They would send a request to HQ to reserve my place in line and promised an email to confirm this. My new order number is now 6459541100 and was placed at 4:13 5/16. I figure that all the orders receive a 00 at the end. This would mean that Nikon received 20788 orders over the last four days. How many were Z8's? Don't know but I'm betting it was substantial. And I never received the promised email confirmation that my place in line was held. Live and learn I guess. Here's hoping that it didn't cost me too many months of waiting.
 
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Supposedly Nikon has more supply than demand for this camera. At least that is what store managers in Canada are saying. The cameras are already in the warehouses in Ontario and they have more there than orders placed. The manager I talked to offered me a discount on a Z8 purchase if I wanted to order one.
That may not directly translate to your location but there have been many reports that Nikon is on top of supply this time around.
Hopefully that means you won't have delayed delivery as much as it would have been back in the Z9 days.
 
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SBurkholder said:
Well, I figured I just messed up pretty well on my Z8 order and it will cost me several months. I originally pre-ordered a Z8 on Friday May 12th at 5:14 pm. The order # was 6457462300. A couple of days later my wife lost her credit card so I called the credit card issuer and cancelled the card. Then today I remembered the order that I had placed with Nikon. Called Nikon and ask if I could substitute a credit card for the pre-ordered one that they received. They told me they couldn't do that. I would have to cancel the current order and submit a new one. They would send a request to HQ to reserve my place in line and promised an email to confirm this. My new order number is now 6459541100 and was placed at 4:13 5/16. I figure that all the orders receive a 00 at the end. This would mean that Nikon received 20788 orders over the last four days. How many were Z8's? Don't know but I'm betting it was substantial. And I never received the promised email confirmation that my place in line was held. Live and learn I guess. Here's hoping that it didn't cost me too many months of waiting.
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Due to these ridiculous practices at the Nikon Store I've stopped using them unless the product I need is in stock. Can't change method of payment, they require a signature and won't allow changing the delivery address. Basically they don't allow any changes at all to an order. And the only solution is to cancel it and start over. No pre-orders through them any more for me.
 
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NorthernFocus said:
Due to these ridiculous practices at the Nikon Store I've stopped using them unless the product I need is in stock. Can't change method of payment, they require a signature and won't allow changing the delivery address. Basically they don't allow any changes at all to an order. And the only solution is to cancel it and start over. No pre-orders through them any more for me.
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I’ve got to admit that I was less than impressed with the young lady who was trying to help me. It took me several times, like 7 or 8, trying to explain what I was trying to do. She just couldn’t understand. Finally had to ask to speak with her supervisor to explain (but unfortunately that was after she had already canceled the order).
 
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I foresee short delays, not several months.
There are reports Z9 production was increase from 1000 to 2500 a month, and initial production of the Z8 started a few weeks ago at 10,000 a month.
 
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To late now. I had a situation like that the credit card company would honor any previously approved purchases....Also had you let it go when the time came to put thought the charge, if it didn't go through they probably would have contacted you for an updated card to complete the purchase....This must happen to them all the time, image all the CC #'s that have changed for people waiting for the Z 600, Z 400, Z9, and Z 100-400 etc....
 
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Hard to know how Nikon would have responded to the situation. You would like to think that they would give their customers a second chance. But maybe not and they might just go on to the next person on the list and call it a day.
 
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I'm very sorry to hear about your experience. Sometimes banks do have the ability to accept charges after a card has been reported stolen. Retailers always CAN make exceptions - but sometimes it's difficult.

I work through a retail store - Hunt's Photo - because of exactly the kind of issue you encountered. Retailers specialize in providing service and special handling to deal with reasonable exceptions. Sometimes they can even get an extra camera allocated by Nikon to deal with a problem. They always have cancellations, and short periods where there is an extra camera or lens available to fix a problem.

I'd encourage you to look for a retailer that will work with you. There are plenty of good ones. Even large retailers like B&H, Gray's, and others can provide remarkably good service if you have an issue.
 
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I agree that even B&H can be helpful in these situations. A very similar situation happened with my 400/2.8 TC VR and my son lost our CC while doing a semester abroad. I simply called up B&H and they switched CC's without a problem.
 
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This is the first time that I’ve gone direct to Nikon, thinking that I would get my order faster than waiting for B&H.

I have found B&H delivery and service to be good, but their sales department is lacking. If you are asking about comparing different products, their online sales order takers really don’t know much. They seem to refer to their online catalog.
I’ll give Hunt’s or Paul’s a call next time I’m in the market for a product and test them out. I’ll need to order a couple of memory cards and spare batteries for sure.
 
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SBurkholder said:
I’ll need to order a couple of memory cards and spare batteries for sure.
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Somewhat off topic - sometimes buying in advance can be important - and sometimes Nikon are difficult to predict.

When the 1 .4 S converter fitted only the 70–200 S I got the 1.4x at a discount.
Since numerous other lenses released they tend to be on back order to long back order.

Many in the UK are hoping to be in the first batch of Z 8 and most will want a fast CFe card.
I am getting a Delkin Black in advance as they can sell out.

I suspect Nikon initial availability in any country is dependent on how many pre-orders Nikon in the territory place with Nikon Japan.
As yet negligible 85mm f1.2 in the UK - yet the 100-400 was always easy in the UK and is currently discounted by 10%.

A UK market challenge is we are "more different" with 240 volts electrical supply, a special 3 pin electric plug type and for taxes we are a relatively small market outside the larger EEC.
Some products common in USA do not make it to UK - or after 6 months extra delay with inflated prices.

When I went Z9 14 months ago, Delkin was the only fast card without over-heating available retail in the UK.
 
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Len Shepherd said:
Somewhat off topic - sometimes buying in advance can be important - and sometimes Nikon are difficult to predict.

When the 1 .4 S converter fitted only the 70–200 S I got the 1.4x at a discount.
Since numerous other lenses released they tend to be on back order to long back order.

Many in the UK are hoping to be in the first batch of Z 8 and most will want a fast CFe card.
I am getting a Delkin Black in advance as they can sell out.

I suspect Nikon initial availability in any country is dependent on how many pre-orders Nikon in the territory place with Nikon Japan.
As yet negligible 85mm f1.2 in the UK - yet the 100-400 was always easy in the UK and is currently discounted by 10%.

A UK market challenge is we are "more different" with 240 volts electrical supply, a special 3 pin electric plug type and for taxes we are a relatively small market outside the larger EEC.
Some products common in USA do not make it to UK - or after 6 months extra delay with inflated prices.

When I went Z9 14 months ago, Delkin was the only fast card without over-heating available retail in the UK.
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Good points made. Thanks
 
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I was offered at FTZii at 100 dollars off with my camera order. I don't need it but I bought it.
B-H said my Z8 will ship May 25 and arrive at my house May 26, 2023 - Friday. The FTZ will be a week later, I may cancel it.
 
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Charles Loy said:
I was offered at FTZii at 100 dollars off with my camera order. I don't need it but I bought it.
B-H said my Z8 will ship May 25 and arrive at my house May 26, 2023 - Friday. The FTZ will be a week later, I may cancel it.
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Did they confirm your order was in the first allocation? They told me today that Nikon hadn't said how many they were getting yet and they're couldn't tell me my place in line other than I'm very high on the list since my order was placed in the first minute orders were open.
 
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maverick777 said:
Did they confirm your order was in the first allocation? They told me today that Nikon hadn't said how many they were getting yet and they're couldn't tell me my place in line other than I'm very high on the list since my order was placed in the first minute orders were open.
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No, no confirmation as to when it would be shipped. My impression was that she didn't have access to that information. See Charles's response above. He implies that B&H already has product in stock and they plan to ship on Thursday.
 
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I think defiantly wait a little before rushing out and grabbing a new camera.

Most of the parts are all the same so to speak between the Z8, Z9, the only real difference is the body, so as the Z9 demand falls off which it has the Z8 hopefully is an opportunity to continue with production/sales.

I guess Nikon can switch the conveyor line so to speak to make a Z8 today and tomorrow they can make a Z9, that's clever, efficient, profitable, also solves the supply or pipeline issue experienced so much in the past which buyers and dealers don't want to experience again the Z9 availability fiasco.

The Z9 to me seems a little gutted and obsolete in ways with the Z8 arrival, be it psychosomatic or not.

I think the Z8 is an excellent model and respectable value and sets the bench standard for the sub Z9 models.

Only a thought: Maybe coming soon, i feel even possibly December 23, if not early 2024 and depending on how the Z8 numbers flow, a Z9 II or next level body will appear, i mean think about it, the Z9 needs to differentiate it self more from the Z8, how better to do it than with a Z9 II, all the Z9 owners will want to update to stay on point, but first its important to get out that Z8 fast, so the Z9 II can follow.
I think the Z8 is pivotal for converting DSLR owners, and Z6 Z7 owners, its quite a bargain and wow, but it does gut the Z9 in my mind, sorry.

I hope things go well but i feel the Z8 take off may surprise us all.

The Sony A1 II and the Canon R1 is looming as we all hear etc.

Its usual to create hype about supply as it stampedes the heard into pre orders, SOB. On the other hand, Stock on the shelf while good also makes buyers these days take their time to buy, if at all.

How do you feel as a Z9 owner !!!!!!!!!, don't try and sell your Z9 its very likely its going to get a massive hit a) the Z8 arrival, B) demand has fallen as have prices.

Only an opinion
 
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I prefer to deal with local store which is much more flexible about credit card, etc. Cost the same though may take a few days longer as two package shipments are involved. But the local store will thank you as helped them make a small profit (not sure what the mark up is) But ever bits helps
 
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