Sending Camera to Nikon for Service Question

[Snappy in OK]

It looks like I will be sending my D90 off to Nikon for service - the flash pops up, but won't fire. I had asked the techs via the Nikon website, and their suggestions didn't work - and the next suggestion was to send it in.

So, my question is - how does does it normally take to send it in and get it back? I am leaving for a trip north in 2 weeks, and I would love to take my camera along. I don't know if I want to send it in now and hope I get it back before I leave, or wait until I get back home and send it in then.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has sent their equipment in on how things went and how long it took to get it back. If it helps, it looks like I need to send my camera to their CA location.

TIA

Oh, one more thing - do I need to send a lens (the kit lens would go if needed), or just the body. The website said to send only what is having a problem. I just don't know if I should send the lens or not.

 

[msummers]

Since this is a flash problem you don't need to send a lens. I don't know about the CA location, but NY takes a minimum of 2-3 weeks to return gear.

 

[Suburbanmom]

I dropped a lens on a tile floor and had to send it into Nikon for repair. The glass was fine, and the auto focus worked, but the zoom ring was stuck and wouldn't move off 42mm.

It was only 10 days from the day I sent it via UPS to the day it was delivered back to my house. It worked perfectly again. I thought Nikon did a fabulous repair job and charged me a fair price. I was impressed.

 

[TC09]

If you can do without the pop-up flash during your trip, then I would wait until after, especially since it's in two weeks. I don't have any experience with sending my gear to Nikon, but I wouldn't cut it too close. Oh, and just send in the body (no battery, no lens, no card.)

 

[mom2rtk]

If it's the flash, can't you use an external flash for your trip? If you don't have one, now might be a great time to get one.

I wouldn't take a chance on sending it in 2 weeks out.

When you do get home and mail it in, be sure to take photos of the contents in the box where you ship it. There was a recent thread here detailing how someone had to send their camera off for service and all that arrived was an empty envelope. Nikon eventually replaced the camera, but I think there was a lot of wringing of hands until that offer came (at least on the part of those of us following the thread!)

 

[Snappy in OK]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the the feedback. I think I am going to send it in right before we leave.

My wonderful DH reminded me that we still have the D60 to use. I could take the D90 since most of my pictures should be taken outside so the flash would not be necessary, but I think I will send it in so it can be worked on while we are gone. Plus, I won't have to worry about it arriving back at the house while we are gone.

I do not have an external flash yet. I have been looking at them, but have not figured out which one would work best for me.

Thank you for the list of what I need to be sure not to send to Nikon - I would have forgotten to take out the battery, memory card, etc. And I will definitely take pictures of the package contents before I seal it up. DH is able to ship UPS from work, and I will just have him ship it from there. Hopefully it will arrive safely - and come back working like new!!

 

[TC09]

Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[msummers]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the the feedback. I think I am going to send it in right before we leave.

Just keep in mind that once they determine the problem and put together the repair estimate that they won't start the repair until you have approved the estimate. They will mail you a copy of the estimate that you can sign and mail back or you can approve it online.

 

[Snappy in OK]

Here it is several weeks later. I decided to get an external flash and wait to ship my camera to Nikon. Since school was starting right after we got back from WI, I decided to hold off until now to send out my camera. It will be heading out on Monday - and I hope it will arrive safe & sound. Better yet, I hope it will arrive back here in working order without any problems!!

Keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed!

 

[Snappy in OK]

I sent my D90 to Nikon on 8/29. It went to the CA location, which was a good thing since the hurricane/tropical storm (not sure what category it was when it hit the NY area) was causing problems on the east coast.

I got it back today!! I had been watching the website, but it never showed a shipped status. They fixed the issue with the pop-up flash not firing, and repaired the LCD screen. I noticed some areas were showing brown before I sent it off.

I did some quick test shots earlier, and it appears to be working great. I am glad to have it back - soccer games start on Saturday!

Service was good, except for the update on the status to showing that it shipped. My camera seems to be in "like new" shape again! And most of the time it was gone it was en route there & back.

Now, back to trying to get some good pictures of my kids!

 

[thomas998]

I sent my D90 to Nikon on 8/29. It went to the CA location, which was a good thing since the hurricane/tropical storm (not sure what category it was when it hit the NY area) was causing problems on the east coast.

I got it back today!! I had been watching the website, but it never showed a shipped status. They fixed the issue with the pop-up flash not firing, and repaired the LCD screen. I noticed some areas were showing brown before I sent it off.

I did some quick test shots earlier, and it appears to be working great. I am glad to have it back - soccer games start on Saturday!

Service was good, except for the update on the status to showing that it shipped. My camera seems to be in "like new" shape again! And most of the time it was gone it was en route there & back.

Now, back to trying to get some good pictures of my kids!

I'm curious... can you verify that it was your camera that you got back (serial number the same)... or was it just another refurbed camera the same model as yours?

I've always wondered if Nikon actually repairs your stuff when you send it in or if you get someone elses refurbed stuff like Apple.

 

[GrillMouster]

When I got the sensor on my D50 replaced they sent back the same camera, good as new, with a thorough cleaning job for good measure.