Nikon USA Service: A Cautionary Tale

[KimM]

They have charged you $800 to replace the AF Motor...and will do that to you lens. However, there is no history available to you on the AF motor in the refurbished they have sent as a replacement. Nobody knows if that motor will last several years or a few weeks. Given that this motor is a known item in need of replacement, this seems really unfair to you. I had to replace the AF in my 600 just before I sold it last year. And then there is the issue that they did this without your permission along the trunk situation. Let's hope they at least replace the trunk for you.

 

[O]

They have charged you $800 to replace the AF Motor...and will do that to you lens. However, there is no history available to you on the AF motor in the refurbished they have sent as a replacement. Nobody knows if that motor will last several years or a few weeks. Given that this motor is a known item in need of replacement, this seems really unfair to you. I had to replace the AF in my 600 just before I sold it last year. And then there is the issue that they did this without your permission along the trunk situation. Let's hope they at least replace the trunk for you.

Mine is a new component $1295 AUD including labor. 300 2.8 vr II
The current motor squeals when focusing, yet works perfectly, often when this happens its due to the lube drying, a trick is to turn the focus ring back and forth many times real quickly with the lens standing in the opposite position its normally stored in.

This works and solves the issue 80% of the time, it has not in this case for me, so its inevitable that the motor will fail eventually due to the lube not being available.
Buying the motor is the most important thing, installing it when needed is next.

My Old Sigma 150-500 makes the same loud noise because it been laying in the boot of the car without that much use, then after a i use it a few times its all good, not so with the 300 2.8 vr II.

I can understand Nikon cant keep parts forever, but i think focus motors for exotics is something they should be able to supply at least for a while.
My friend needed his second sensor for his million plus actuation's D3X, Nikon couldn't supply one so for the price of a installed D3X sensor they gave him a refurbished D810, very good of Nikon.

 

[O]

They have charged you $800 to replace the AF Motor...and will do that to you lens. However, there is no history available to you on the AF motor in the refurbished they have sent as a replacement. Nobody knows if that motor will last several years or a few weeks. Given that this motor is a known item in need of replacement, this seems really unfair to you. I had to replace the AF in my 600 just before I sold it last year. And then there is the issue that they did this without your permission along the trunk situation. Let's hope they at least replace the trunk for you.

Had a look at your Flicker albums, gee you get around, amazing, lovely collection of great memories, enjoyed looking through them.

 

[ButlerKid]

is that sept 23rd? or sept 2023? lol

Just wanted to let folks know that the 600mm f4 I sent to Nikon Repair USA in early June was finally returned to me last Tuesday, Sept 25th. 4 month repair cycle due to part availability. They assure me that they replaced the SWM with a new one, not a refurb...... No chance to use it yet.

 

[O]

They have charged you $800 to replace the AF Motor...and will do that to you lens. However, there is no history available to you on the AF motor in the refurbished they have sent as a replacement. Nobody knows if that motor will last several years or a few weeks. Given that this motor is a known item in need of replacement, this seems really unfair to you. I had to replace the AF in my 600 just before I sold it last year. And then there is the issue that they did this without your permission along the trunk situation. Let's hope they at least replace the trunk for you.

My 300 2.8 VR II motor arrived, AUD $658 labor AUD 615 Parts, got the lens back last week.
I specifically asked if it was a new motor, they guarenteed me its and not refurbished, yet i never received my old motor back after specifically asking for it.

My friend went to get his second shutter for his D3X approx 1 million actuation's over 2 shutters each rated to 300k, their is truth in

OLD IS GOLD

They said they don't have parts for the D3X anymore, they offered him at the cost of parts and labor total for the shutter replacement a refurbished D810.
Now this took him back a little, he was overwhelmed, he took the D810, apparently they had many of them on the shelf old stock unsold or refurbished i guess we will never know, when he unpacked it he said it was totally brand new, and the shutter count was Zero or just 10 which was the shots he took ?

I recall a conversation with a smaller Nikon dealer now retried, when the subject of refurbished stock on his shelf came up in conversation, he said the word refurbished in many cases is used to lower prices or move surplus or redundant stock without damaging full retail pricing.

He said why would you refurbish a 50mm 1.8 or a 35mm 1.8 DX lens that sells new for $120-$150.

Then there was a surplus of some D4s units left after the D6 was selling out, so they went on sale with a Hybrid dealer who took 12 of them and listed them as REFURBISHED 30% off full retail.

On a very expensive lens like a 600 F4 the value is significant and refurbishment may be warranted as it can carry labor and parts cost.

Can you believe them if somethings are refurbished or just the use of the word being another means of moving stock heavily reduced in price or value.

Who Knows but yes in this case the customer should have been asked.

Only an opinion