Reading mode: Light Dark

Sent a D800 with 20'000 shots for repair, got one with 400 back

Go to last post
Z

Zlik

Leading Member
Messages
990
Solutions
2
Reaction score
234
Location
CH
So, my first D800 (the one I bought as soon as it got released in March 2012), that I used for one year, had a shutter count of ~20'000. Its pop-up flash had a problem (since day 1 I think): whenever I popped it up, the camera would not fire. Pressing the shutter button produced nothing, and as soon as I closed the pop-up flash, the camera would take photos again. Resetting the menus and everything didn't help. I never really needed the pop-up flash so I didn't want to send it in for a repair sooner.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought another D800 (used, I wrote a thread about sensor dust/oil on that camera) and this meant I could afford to be without my other D800 for a couple of weeks, so I decided to send the camera to fix the issue with the flash.

A couple of days ago, I received my D800 back from Nikon. I immediately noticed that it didn't look like the camera I had been using for a year, and indeed, here are all the things that were different (newer) after the repair:
  • the feeling of the rotating wheels feel new (they "click" more than before)
  • the on-off switch is smoother
  • the painting of the af-on button is like new (mine had a scratch inside the white line of paint)
  • the plastic around the tripod hole shows no signs of wear, mine had multiple marks
  • I had GSS protection on both LCDs, they're gone
And here is the strange part:
  • I looked at the serial number on the bottom plate of the camera : same as mine. I guess they can take it off of one camera and mount it on another.
  • I took a couple of shots and opened them with exiftool: the shutter count was 398 !!! and the serial number of the photos was different !! So I now have a camera that has different serial numbers on the camera and inside the software !
  • On the technical paper that they send with the details of the repair, they say nothing about a replacement, they list a number of repairs and checks ("pop-up flash replaced", "general cleaning and checking", etc)
Has anybody experienced anything like that ? Why didn't Nikon change the firmware/software to match the old serial number/shutter count (maybe they can't) ? What are the implications of not having the same serial number on the camera and on the photos it produces ??

And why didn't Nikon just ship the 400-shot-new-D800 with its original serial number (the one that is still engraved inside the software) and say that they replaced it with another one ? Instead of stating that they made some repairs on my original body and actually shipping another !

I guess I'm happy that I got an almost new one back with 19'600 shots less, but it leaves me really perplex !

Thanks for reading.
 
Last edited:
I would be prone to send them an e-mail to confirm that the warranty will continue despite the fact that the external and internal serial numbers no longer match. I would want an e-mail back in writing - but I am generally paranoid about such things. I am wondering if doing that is even legal?
 
tundracamper said:
tundracamper wrote:

I would be prone to send them an e-mail to confirm that the warranty will continue despite the fact that the external and internal serial numbers no longer match. I would want an e-mail back in writing - but I am generally paranoid about such things. I am wondering if doing that is even legal?
Click to expand...
tundracamper said:
AZBlue wrote:

If you ever need service in the future, you will have trouble and Nikon will claim foul play on your part. I would contact Nikon ASAP and have this corrected immediately.

--
"I've been in more laps than a napkin" - Mae West
Click to expand...
Very good answers about the warranty. I will contact them tomorrow.
 
no doubt someone somewhere is wondering why the flash does not work after recent service ...
 
The old camera could have been binned completely ( hence the serial no being put on replacement) and good parts re-used ?.
 
First of all Nikon developed the software so they can do anything they want as far a manipulating it. Also it's a lot less expensive to replace something than to repair it.

Think about it. You need to train a tech, spend hourly rate on fixing the camera, etc. AND you still may have the problem of the tech not doing a correct job and they need to fix it again, and again, and again.

Much cheaper to pull you serial number and info off of your and transfer it to a new camera and ship it out the door.

I actually think the same thing happened to mine. I send my 800E in for before the warranty lapsed for them to "check it out " "clean it" What I got back was an EVEN MORE amazing camera than the one I sent it.

Mind you there was nothing wrong with mine, yet Nikon took a week to "fix" it?
 
tundracamper said:
tundracamper wrote:

I would be prone to send them an e-mail to confirm that the warranty will continue despite the fact that the external and internal serial numbers no longer match. I would want an e-mail back in writing - but I am generally paranoid about such things. I am wondering if doing that is even legal?
Click to expand...

A little bit of paranoia is a good thing.... :-P
 
Event_shooter said:
Event_shooter wrote:

First of all Nikon developed the software so they can do anything they want as far a manipulating it. Also it's a lot less expensive to replace something than to repair it.

Think about it. You need to train a tech, spend hourly rate on fixing the camera, etc. AND you still may have the problem of the tech not doing a correct job and they need to fix it again, and again, and again.

Much cheaper to pull you serial number and info off of your and transfer it to a new camera and ship it out the door.

I actually think the same thing happened to mine. I send my 800E in for before the warranty lapsed for them to "check it out " "clean it" What I got back was an EVEN MORE amazing camera than the one I sent it.

Mind you there was nothing wrong with mine, yet Nikon took a week to "fix" it?
Click to expand...
You are right, but in my case, the strange thing is that Nikon exchanged the camera, took the plate with the serial number of my old camera, put it on the new one, and shipped it back to me without changing the serial number in the software. I would think that changing the software would be the easy part to change for them...

Now I have a new camera, with a new serial number inside the software, but with my old serial number plate. Weird.
 
thomas2279f said:
thomas2279f wrote:

The old camera could have been binned completely ( hence the serial no being put on replacement) and good parts re-used ?.
Click to expand...
This is probably what happened. It's impossible that they sent me the wrong camera back, because the serial number on the plate is the same as the one I sent. They MUST have put it on the new body, it can't be accidental. They just forgot (?) to change the serial number inside the camera...
 
Last edited:
Remember that part where I said Techs WILL SCREW UP - there ya go. You won't be in trouble because you have a paper trail, and NO WAY you can change the serial number.
 
Sometimes it's easier and cheaper to swap a defective product with a refurb than to tear down and do repairs. I'm guessing that Nikon has a ton of inventory with returned D800's. BTW, Apple has similar policy. They will often just swap out your defective product with a refurb if you're no longer within the 14 day return policy. However, they wouldn't bother to swap a plate containing a serial number. Given that your swapped unit seems to be in a better condition than the one you sent in you came out ahead. However, you should do all the usual checks to make sure this unit is working properly.
 
tundracamper said:
tundracamper wrote:

I would be prone to send them an e-mail to confirm that the warranty will continue despite the fact that the external and internal serial numbers no longer match. I would want an e-mail back in writing - but I am generally paranoid about such things. I am wondering if doing that is even legal?
Click to expand...
If the original camera was bought in March 2012 the warranty has now expired.
 
is the software serial number much higher than the old serial number on the plate? not that it will definitely be higher but if it is chances are you got a new one.
 
michaeladawson said:
michaeladawson wrote:
michaeladawson said:
tundracamper wrote:

I would be prone to send them an e-mail to confirm that the warranty will continue despite the fact that the external and internal serial numbers no longer match. I would want an e-mail back in writing - but I am generally paranoid about such things. I am wondering if doing that is even legal?
Click to expand...
If the original camera was bought in March 2012 the warranty has now expired.
Click to expand...
 
KevL said:
KevL wrote:

is the software serial number much higher than the old serial number on the plate? not that it will definitely be higher but if it is chances are you got a new one.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Mike,

In Europe we have consumer laws.
2 years production warranty at (expensive) electronic equipment at least. Batteries not included.

Michel
michaeladawson said:
michaeladawson wrote:
michaeladawson said:
tundracamper wrote:

I would be prone to send them an e-mail to confirm that the warranty will continue despite the fact that the external and internal serial numbers no longer match. I would want an e-mail back in writing - but I am generally paranoid about such things. I am wondering if doing that is even legal?
Click to expand...
If the original camera was bought in March 2012 the warranty has now expired.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top