How long to wait for Z9 availability?

[Chris911]

The dealer I got mine from in the UK is quoting 18months for new orders - this is what they have been told by Nikon. I have posted this before and it was discounted but the more I hear the more I believe that this could just be correct.

I can't even get the second battery I ordered at the same time as the camera. Nikon UK have no idea when they can supply.

 

[msstudio]

All I know is that I got one late December and another body 2 weeks ago, the serial numbers increased by 5200 in about 3 month (US purchase). It’s an amazing camera. I already loved the lenses on my other Z cameras, the Z9 just elevates the experience to another/pro level. Don’t give up hope, be exited (I’m earning my money with these, so I plead for understanding, and btw. NPS only gets you one body, which actually sucks for a working pro).

 

[just Tony]

I know how you feel. I bought mine from B&H on 28 October 2021, the day it was released. Not an NPS member. Not received the camera as of today, 1 April 2022.
People write all sorts of stuff about the demand for the Z9, how many are produced and how many are shipped to the US. All without any facts.
My best guess is I will know when I get mine when B&H sends me a "it's on the way" notice. From my experience having to wait a year for the camera if ordered today is probably not far off. I have already waited 5 months for mine. Since B&H and all the big camera stores push NPS members to the head of the line I'm dropping all the big camera stores from stores to do business with. Trouble is, little retailers like Best Buy and even Amazon have a huge demand list but get few cameras.
I have my name in for a Z9 with Best Buy for months now and have not heard a thing.
I see a refurbished Z9 on sale at Amazon today for $7500.

There is little reason to believe that pre-orders placed in the afternoon on the 28th have matched the pace of the first few minutes. Of course the wildly enthusiastic crowd were heavily piled up at the start.

We have no reason to believe that the day 2 rate matches the day 1 rate, or that week 2 will match week 1.

At some point the rate of clearing the list will go from seconds between sequential pre-orders, to minutes, to hours, eventually days and then will they will become essentially current. The lists will go “poof” in a hurry at the end when the cancelation rate of the phantom pre-orders skyrockets.

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

I can't even get the second battery I ordered at the same time as the camera.

As these have been with USA retailers for about 2 weeks, and the EU gets a similar number of Z9 bodies to USA - they should be available in the EU - though as yet nothing in the UK.

Nikon UK have no idea when they can supply.

ASK YOUR RETAILER!

Nikon UK plays no part in distribution in the European Union and probably does not have the information you seek - though your retailer does.

Your retailer has access to a Nikon web-site which shows all their pre-orders, deliveries etc.

When a batch arrives in the Netherlands they are allocated by Nikon in the Netherlands to retailers. They possibly have to clear EU customs before they can be shipped to EU retailers. This part of the shipment process takes about 7 days.

Items for UK retailers have to to clear UK Customs for VAT (with a VAT refund to the EU). This takes around another 5-8 working days.

Your retailer can easily tell you if any batteries have been allocated to them (step 1) and if they have been shipped (step 2).

Nikon UK possibly/probably do not have access to this information - as they are not involved in product distribution.

As the batteries are available in USA there seems no legitimate reason why they should not be available in the EU, and on the way to at least some UK Nikon retailers.

When it comes to new product delivery many UK retailers inflate their initial order in the hope of getting a bigger slice of early supplies.

They came unstuck with the FTZ II as Nikon delivered masses of them several weeks ago - and hardly any Z 9.

My usual retailer in Harrogate has apparently had a second 105 S within 3 months of initial release - better than nothing - but not many as I know of others on their pre-order list.

Amazon UK seems to have bought a batch of 14-24 S from Nikon - and seem to be having trouble selling them at 20% below the usual UK street price - possibly because many Nikon users want a Z9 and second battery first - and cannot get them.

Slightly off topic Amazon UK have the 14-24 (mine was an official import) for under £2,000 - and they have been on offer for over 2 weeks.

Buying tactically the Amazon price varies between £1976 and £2086 - sometimes being cheapest before 7am in the morning.

You have to have a credit card set up with Amazon with sufficient credit - and you do not get a delivery time until shortly before arrival. You also need to be home during the day as Amazon email a security number shortly before delivery which has to be given verbally to the delivery driver.

--
Leonard Shepherd
In lots of ways good photography is much more about how equipment is used rather than anything else.

 

[Dibyendu Majumdar]

I was told end of january mine is on the next shipment .... well, that next shipment has not arrived yet. It is like supply has dried out

ordered 4th feb direct with Nikon still waiting.

 

[pclarktx]

I found one on Craigslist from a guy who bought it and didn't like the way it felt in his hands. Zero shots on it. Perfect condition. He was not an NPS member and bought it from Best Buy in Dallas and was at the right place at the right time.

I paid $6100 for it which was just a tad bit more than he paid for it with tax. I didn't feel like he was trying to gouge me so I went with the deal and very happy I did.

I say all that to let you know that they are out there but you have to look for them and you may have to pay a tad more than retail but how much that is will be up to how bad you want it. I wouldn't pay thousands more but $100-$200 for me was not too much.

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

ordered 4th feb direct with Nikon still waiting.

Maybe a bit late for a front of the queue position.

My speculation is you may have to wait several more months

 

[Chris911]

I can't even get the second battery I ordered at the same time as the camera.

As these have been with USA retailers for about 2 weeks, and the EU gets a similar number of Z9 bodies to USA - they should be available in the EU - though as yet nothing in the UK.

Nikon UK have no idea when they can supply.

ASK YOUR RETAILER!

Nikon UK plays no part in distribution in the European Union and probably does not have the information you seek - though your retailer does.

Your retailer has access to a Nikon web-site which shows all their pre-orders, deliveries etc.

When a batch arrives in the Netherlands they are allocated by Nikon in the Netherlands to retailers. They possibly have to clear EU customs before they can be shipped to EU retailers. This part of the shipment process takes about 7 days.

Items for UK retailers have to to clear UK Customs for VAT (with a VAT refund to the EU). This takes around another 5-8 working days.

Your retailer can easily tell you if any batteries have been allocated to them (step 1) and if they have been shipped (step 2).

Nikon UK possibly/probably do not have access to this information - as they are not involved in product distribution.

As the batteries are available in USA there seems no legitimate reason why they should not be available in the EU, and on the way to at least some UK Nikon retailers.

When it comes to new product delivery many UK retailers inflate their initial order in the hope of getting a bigger slice of early supplies.

They came unstuck with the FTZ II as Nikon delivered masses of them several weeks ago - and hardly any Z 9.

My usual retailer in Harrogate has apparently had a second 105 S within 3 months of initial release - better than nothing - but not many as I know of others on their pre-order list.

Amazon UK seems to have bought a batch of 14-24 S from Nikon - and seem to be having trouble selling them at 20% below the usual UK street price - possibly because many Nikon users want a Z9 and second battery first - and cannot get them.

Slightly off topic Amazon UK have the 14-24 (mine was an official import) for under £2,000 - and they have been on offer for over 2 weeks.

Buying tactically the Amazon price varies between £1976 and £2086 - sometimes being cheapest before 7am in the morning.

You have to have a credit card set up with Amazon with sufficient credit - and you do not get a delivery time until shortly before arrival. You also need to be home during the day as Amazon email a security number shortly before delivery which has to be given verbally to the delivery driver.

The update from my retailer is 'Nikon currently have no Dates for their batteries as they are have manufacturing issues at the moment'.

 

[TwentyFourFrames]

I'm in the UK and my dealer very kindly got back to my enquiry about where my Nov 30th order currently has me placed on their list, and I am apparently 86th in line with a six to nine month wait still ahead of me (based on the rate of their allocations to date). They serve customers from a single branch and have a moderate online presence compared to a dealer like WEX who I'd expect to have significantly longer wait lists, and likewise Grays for their reputation alone and how many I suspect would have turned to them as a first choice for pre-orders.

That's honestly about in line with my expectation based on anecdotal reports from others and retailers in recent weeks (well, a further six month wait for an autumn delivery was at least. The possibility that it could in fact be nine months, potentially pushing my delivery into early early 2023 had not, until now, become an expectation that I might have to anticipate. That would lend some weight to the thought of an eighteen month wait for new orders placed today).

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

The update from my retailer is 'Nikon currently have no Dates for their batteries as they are have manufacturing issues at the moment'.

Was your dealer telling you the truth?

They seem to have been on sale in USA for over 2 weeks.

 

[thomas2279f]

Ordered in 3rd week of release (trade in 2 x Z6 II) at smaller UK national chain - London Camera Exchange and received it in latter part of Jan 2022 - the best camera I've ever owned and it can be relied on to get the shot

It's not perfect - got a small list of things that I don't like, some things that Nikon can add

My pre-order of the 24-120 F4 Z was quicker and got it around 3 weeks after release - a very good lens indeed, hope to own more Z glass this year and dream want lens is the 100-400 F4.5 - F5.6 Z ( liked the specs on release day, bit unhappy on price though)

Near opted for this lens on pre-order but was taken back by specs and the silly low price of Z9 that I pre-order that instead.

 

[Chris911]

The update from my retailer is 'Nikon currently have no Dates for their batteries as they are have manufacturing issues at the moment'.

Was your dealer telling you the truth?

They seem to have been on sale in USA for over 2 weeks.

I don't see why they would lie to me.

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

I don't see why they would lie to me.

Keep it simple - if the battery has recently gone on sale in USA - as is widely reported - there would seem to be no current manufacturing problem.

 

[thomas2279f]

Yep same with the Z50 battery; had to wait 12 months for a spare and it may be punt in UK for users to try / do pre-order from multiple vendors including small ones.

When I pre-ordered Z9 from London Camera Exchange - Derby after 3 weeks of Z9 release I was bottom of the list of 5 and got my Z9 mid January 2022 but ordering from ark Cameras I was way day on their list > 100; so was very happy to receive mine from LCE - Derby and when I cancelled my Z9 from Wex / PC was still on their list around 85 and they said they were getting very small Qty's from Nikon every month.

Nikon Z9 is a runaway success and victim of it's success - mainly on the insane pricing

There are also big wait times ( > 6 months I read ) on Canon's dearer flagship R3 and Sony A1 ( out of stock as well ) - so not just a Nikon issue

Try and also find a X-box series X and Sony PS 5 - rumors that vendors will be out of stock for rest of 2022.

 

[TwentyFourFrames]

I don't see why they would lie to me.

Keep it simple - if the battery has recently gone on sale in USA - as is widely reported - there would seem to be no current manufacturing problem.

"problems" I suspect might simply be in reference to general manufacturing delays affecting everything. You can't even get EN-EL15C batteries for the Z6II/Z7II over here as far as I can tell.

 

[Chris911]

I don't see why they would lie to me.

Keep it simple - if the battery has recently gone on sale in USA - as is widely reported - there would seem to be no current manufacturing problem.

Or that there are manufacturing challenges which are limiting production and what production there is is being prioritised to certain markets....

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

Keep it simple - if the battery has recently gone on sale in USA - as is widely reported - there would seem to be no current manufacturing problem.

Or that there are manufacturing challenges which are limiting production and what production there is is being prioritised to certain markets....

While "we" cannot confirm on behalf of Nikon, similar numbers of Z9 seem to be being shipped to EU and USA.

The 24-120 seems to be being prioritised to EU (possibly because Nikon EU ordered more) and vice versa for the 100-400.

All this aside - there should be some of the new battery in the UK by now.

 

[TwentyFourFrames]

For some further UK perspective, in the latest Grays of Westminster Youtube video they mention having only received a grand total of one Z9 from Nikon in the last month. I can't even begin to imagine how many people are on their waiting list.

 

[goldaccess]

For some further UK perspective, in the latest Grays of Westminster Youtube video they mention having only received a grand total of one Z9 from Nikon in the last month. I can't even begin to imagine how many people are on their waiting list.

For whatever reason (Brexit anyone?) the UK seems to be quite special.

In Germany Z9 cameras are arriving on a regular basis. Hearing from friends in France and Italy and the US the same. So UK must be an outlier...

Sorry for you folks!

 

[TwentyFourFrames]

For some further UK perspective, in the latest Grays of Westminster Youtube video they mention having only received a grand total of one Z9 from Nikon in the last month. I can't even begin to imagine how many people are on their waiting list.

For whatever reason (Brexit anyone?) the UK seems to be quite special.

In Germany Z9 cameras are arriving on a regular basis. Hearing from friends in France and Italy and the US the same. So UK must be an outlier...

Sorry for you folks!

With my being 86th in line with my dealer, things would really have to pick up substantially here if I were to stand any chance of seeing it before October. There's speculation that things might based on belief that North America got the lion's share of units, but with serial numbers appearing to show an even split in distribution between the US and Europe then there might indeed be some credence in thinking something is particularly amiss for the UK. I respected my dealer's honesty when they told me I still have a six to nine month wait ahead of me if things do not improve.