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Specify when ordering Don't send a RETURNED CAMERA FROM ANOTHER CUSTOMER

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Dick Lund

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Below is from thoms website. What has me concerned when buying form the major camera stores they should not be sending me a returned product . Do I when ordering specify only a new unopened box?

I will buy the d800 when I know all the problems have been resolved, but don't want them to send a returns camera to me.

Thank you
****

If you buy a new D800, look for any evidence the box has been opened and the camera been used in any way (i.e. might be a returned unit). If you don't get the prompt for setting the date and time, for example, there's a chance that the camera has been returned and you need to ask some tough questions of your source.
 
Unfortunately Nikon does not seal the boxes. I wish they did.

The only way you will know if it is new is by the exposures recorded in the camera, Nikon is the only one who can reset this.
 
Dennis DH said:
Unfortunately Nikon does not seal the boxes. I wish they did.

The only way you will know if it is new is by the exposures recorded in the camera, Nikon is the only one who can reset this.
Click to expand...
Yes that's how I checked mine. As you say, the box isn't sealed
 
You can check the serial number; and shutter activations for your first picture.
Nikon USA serial numbers for D800 seem to be higher than 40,000.
--
Leonard Shepherd

Many problems turn out to be a lack of intimate knowledge of complex modern camera equipment.
 
Thom is wrong. Nikon SLR cameras do NOT ask for the date and time when you first switch them on. I think the only thing that is different the first time you power on, is that the menu goes straight to the language option.

As others have said, the best way is to check shutter activations on your PC after you have shot your first .jpg
 
So Tom is wrong? What concerns me is if the camera has been sent back more than once there would be considerable actuations. If some one had the camera and they only clicked once or twice and sent it back it should not be sent out by the camera stores as new. The store should alert a buyer that the camera has been returned. Te buyer should have the option wether to take a returned camera or request one that has not been returned.

I feel this is part of the camera stores integrity. I buy mostly from B&H and I would request at the time of ordering not to send me a camera that has been returned.

I am concerned with all the d800's that have been returned to stores that they may send these cameras back out to unsuspecting buyers.

The stores owe us to inform us of wether a camera is a returned or never been sold and returned. I am not aware of any store tat does this, has anyone know of any stores policy to do this?

Thank you

****
 
jonstatt said:
Thom is wrong. Nikon SLR cameras do NOT ask for the date and time when you first switch them on. I think the only thing that is different the first time you power on, is that the menu goes straight to the language option.

As others have said, the best way is to check shutter activations on your PC after you have shot your first .jpg
Click to expand...
So could you explain how to check the shutter activations on the PC? Is a PC needed or can I access this info from the camera menu? In the first case, what software do I need? I have a Windows 7 netbook and want to have it ready to perform the check as soon as I get hold of my camera. Thanks.
 
Many apps available that can check this, I use irfan view. Check the properties (exif data), scroll to the bottom and shutter actuation's count will get you the actual number of shots take for the life of the camera. As noted in a post above only Nikon can reset the camera completely as far as I know.
Judy Stone said:
jonstatt said:
Thom is wrong. Nikon SLR cameras do NOT ask for the date and time when you first switch them on. I think the only thing that is different the first time you power on, is that the menu goes straight to the language option.

As others have said, the best way is to check shutter activations on your PC after you have shot your first .jpg
Click to expand...
So could you explain how to check the shutter activations on the PC? Is a PC needed or can I access this info from the camera menu? In the first case, what software do I need? I have a Windows 7 netbook and want to have it ready to perform the check as soon as I get hold of my camera. Thanks.
Click to expand...
--
http://www.cpetridis.com
 
rufusm said:
Many apps available that can check this, I use irfan view. Check the properties (exif data), scroll to the bottom and shutter actuation's count will get you the actual number of shots take for the life of the camera. As noted in a post above only Nikon can reset the camera completely as far as I know.
Click to expand...
Thanks. And how many shutter activations should the camera have to make sure it's brand new? Should it be 1 (the test jpg I shoot) or the cam may come from factory with 1 or 2 QC shots?
 
Judy Stone said:
rufusm said:
Many apps available that can check this, I use irfan view. Check the properties (exif data), scroll to the bottom and shutter actuation's count will get you the actual number of shots take for the life of the camera. As noted in a post above only Nikon can reset the camera completely as far as I know.
Click to expand...
Thanks. And how many shutter activations should the camera have to make sure it's brand new? Should it be 1 (the test jpg I shoot) or the cam may come from factory with 1 or 2 QC shots?
Click to expand...
Mine came with 0...in other words my first .jpg said 1 actuations. But I think some units get some extra testing, so I would accept anything under 10. Trust me, it takes way more than 10 shots for someone to check the Left AF issue properly. In fact, if you get a bad D800, you are so upset about it, then you take the same test shots 100s of times trying to convince yourself it isn't true!! Anybody that has returned a faulty D800 for AF issues, will likely have an obvious shutter count that you would immediately know wasn't right for a new camera.
 
There is a very simple solution:

DON'T BUY FROM A STORE WITH A RETURN POLICY.

Guarantee that you will not get a returned product if the store doesn't take returns.
**** Lund said:
Below is from thoms website. What has me concerned when buying form the major camera stores they should not be sending me a returned product . Do I when ordering specify only a new unopened box?

I will buy the d800 when I know all the problems have been resolved, but don't want them to send a returns camera to me.

Thank you
****

If you buy a new D800, look for any evidence the box has been opened and the camera been used in any way (i.e. might be a returned unit). If you don't get the prompt for setting the date and time, for example, there's a chance that the camera has been returned and you need to ask some tough questions of your source.
Click to expand...
 
jonstatt said:
Mine came with 0...in other words my first .jpg said 1 actuations. But I think some units get some extra testing, so I would accept anything under 10. Trust me, it takes way more than 10 shots for someone to check the Left AF issue properly. In fact, if you get a bad D800, you are so upset about it, then you take the same test shots 100s of times trying to convince yourself it isn't true!! Anybody that has returned a faulty D800 for AF issues, will likely have an obvious shutter count that you would immediately know wasn't right for a new camera.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Someone mentioned that it's not true what Thom Hogan said about the time/date prompt check upon first powering on, but instead it prompts for Language Set. Can you confirm this? And can this be taken as a reliable check as the shutter activation count? Thanks
 
Judy Stone said:
jonstatt said:
Mine came with 0...in other words my first .jpg said 1 actuations. But I think some units get some extra testing, so I would accept anything under 10. Trust me, it takes way more than 10 shots for someone to check the Left AF issue properly. In fact, if you get a bad D800, you are so upset about it, then you take the same test shots 100s of times trying to convince yourself it isn't true!! Anybody that has returned a faulty D800 for AF issues, will likely have an obvious shutter count that you would immediately know wasn't right for a new camera.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Someone mentioned that it's not true what Thom Hogan said about the time/date prompt check upon first powering on, but instead it prompts for Language Set. Can you confirm this? And can this be taken as a reliable check as the shutter activation count? Thanks
Click to expand...
There simply is no way to tell if the camera is new from the camera itself. The camera powers up on the same menu option you last used. On a brand new camera, it will highlight the language option on the menu, but it does not force you to go into any time/date or language screens. If someone takes a used camera, chooses the language menu and switches off, it will come back to that menu on switch-on again. So the ONLY way to be sure its new is to take a picture and check the activation count using an advanced .jpg tool as already mentioned.
 
jonstatt said:
There simply is no way to tell if the camera is new from the camera itself. The camera powers up on the same menu option you last used. On a brand new camera, it will highlight the language option on the menu, but it does not force you to go into any time/date or language screens. If someone takes a used camera, chooses the language menu and switches off, it will come back to that menu on switch-on again. So the ONLY way to be sure its new is to take a picture and check the activation count using an advanced .jpg tool as already mentioned.
Click to expand...
Thanks, very useful info.

What about the serial number? Someone said that if it's greater than 40000 it should be fine, from the new batch.

In case I verify that it has a significant number of shutter activations upon first check, I hope that the seller will trust this as true to accept a refund/replacement, specially since I'll purchase it online from either Amazon or B&H. Also, I'll do the purchase by end of October, maybe by then this issue is gone.
 
I would wait until you really know what serial number ranges have the AF correct from production before I would buy.

Bob P.
 
**** Lund said:
If you don't get the prompt for setting the date and time, for example, there's a chance that the camera has been returned
Click to expand...
This "Thom" character is wrong. Still not sure why people keep quoting him. Mine did not ask for a date/time and my first exposure indicated release one when I read my EXIF info. My packaging did not show any signs of being previously opened.
 
now why do you think that the US boxes are not sealed, yep, so they can resell retured items with ease. Why do you also think that most US goods returned must have no filled out warranty cards also, yep, same reason.

Bob P.
 
Just went to my local cam store to check out a D600...

It would not function until language time and date were set. It was a brand new copy
Prolly the same with other new Nikons..but can't be certain.
g

http://skylightvistas.weebly.com/index.html
 
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