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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
NPS Rocks
Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 5:37 PM on 07.09.10 |
->> Just wanted to give credit where it is due. I just recently joined NPS and I had a lot of gear with a lot of problems that needed repair.
200-400
24-70
17-55
70-200
D700
All the rings felt like pepper grinders, some would not turn at all. All of it had several years of dirt inside, and two of the lens were almost ready for the garbage after being dropped.
I was also under a tight time crunch to get my stuff back before heading overseas next week. My gear arrived at the shop last Friday and I got it all back today. Outstanding service! And all my gear feels new. |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 5:38 PM on 07.09.10 |
| ->> NPS is unbelievable with customer service. Many props to them. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 5:44 PM on 07.09.10 |
->> Yes, They are!!
From the NPS Office (Deb, Melissa and Carrie) to the Shop Techs that take the stuff apart and put it back together without having a little pile of parts left over :D
They deserve a whole lot of credit for their work and dedication.
Y |
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Dave Prelosky, Photographer
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Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 8:49 PM on 07.09.10 |
->> Here to represent the Dark Side -
While NPS and the repair shop do miracles, there are are also tales of woe. Our 500mm f4 has been in Melville on a parts hold since 6/1. That's a five and a half week hold for parts, six if you consider shipping and diagnosis... Personally, I attribute the situation to lesser quantities of this lens are floating around reducing parts demand and parts levels in the shop. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 8:58 PM on 07.09.10 |
| ->> I think NCIS is AWESOME too!!!! oh, wait...sorry....I misread the thread.......continue with your cheerleading!!!! 8) |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:23 PM on 07.09.10 |
->> I had a D2H on Parts hold for a little over a month, but then again, this was over a year after the Body was discontinued.
Parts Hold on some products are part of the game I guess.
That's why NPS is great, they have loaners for these situations, when Parts Holds keep your gear at the shop for more than expected. |
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Dave Prelosky, Photographer
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Lower Burrell | Pa | US | Posted: 11:28 PM on 07.09.10 |
->> Yamil,
The loaner, after several weeks of waiting for availability, has been here and gone.
Remember that loaners aren't a guarantee - try getting long glass during football playoff season |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 11:50 PM on 07.09.10 |
->> I know, I needed a 200-400 during World Series, no go!!
But I had a D1X Loaner once for over a month while my body was being worked on, never had an issue and I returned it only after my repair was done.
There's no guarantee but they're fairly good about it and you can't beat the service... FOR FREE!!!
Y |
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Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:07 AM on 07.10.10 |
->> Chuck, I like NCIS too but not the LA version.
Many people are quick to knock a company that does them wrong, far fewer thank them for good service. They took care of me and I simply want to give them some recognition. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 11:49 AM on 07.10.10 |
| ->> I hear ya....although it is a rare case to hear photographers bitch and moan.... |
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Dianna Russell, Photographer
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Springfield | MO | USA | Posted: 11:57 PM on 07.10.10 |
| ->> I seriously need to check them out. I've been without my 300 for almost two months with bill total around $500.00. Please hurry, Nikon, before I get old or the season is over. Whichever comes first. Groan. |
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Hassel Weems, Photographer
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Locust Grove (Atlanta) | GA | USA | Posted: 12:30 AM on 07.11.10 |
| ->> NPS and the Nikon 5 year warranty on lenses. Both my 70-200 and 24-70 have visited Melville in the past year. Both were repaired quickly and came home looking like new. |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 9:23 PM on 07.19.10 |
->> My story is the opposite. I sent my D700 in with a shutter that was going bad. NPS received on 7/8 and I got it back on 7/16...with a shutter that was worse than it was before I sent it to NPS. This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me.
Of course I've already sent the loaner back to Nikon. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 9:51 PM on 07.19.10 |
->> Call Deb, explain the situation, Nikon Customer Relations will send you a shipper label for your D700, then most likely send you another loaner for free (Shipping). Ask Eric Canha, he got the royal treatment when his second Shutter went out on his D3, he got all the above.
I'm willing to bet that you will too.
I'm still waiting for UPS to settle things with Nikon so I can get my wrecked gear back,fixed or replaced. I want replacement on the lens, it was new, I want my body fixed, but replaced would be OK with me.
Y |
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Kevin Batchelor, Photographer
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Southampton | Hampshire | England | Posted: 9:42 AM on 07.20.10 |
| ->> I've got to say the same about the British NPS I broke the screen on my D3 at the British Open and they repaired it and got parts sent up by courier the next day to keep me on the road. Can't praise them enough |
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Lee Weissman, Photographer
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XXXXX | NY | USA | Posted: 10:45 AM on 07.20.10 |
| ->> Nothing really to say about NPS one way or the other. But I will say that the service people at Melville are amazing to deal with, and ALWAYS look out for me. I too have been bit by the parts hold snake, but what can you do if they have to get it from Japan. |
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Jamey Price, Photographer, Assistant
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 3:01 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Ive been trying to get in touch with NPS about my membership application.
Any direct emails that would help me get in touch with the right people? No one has responded from the email nps@nikon.net.
Please send me a direct email so you don't have to post the email on the thread. Any help would be appreciated. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 3:12 PM on 08.11.10 |
| ->> nps@nikon.net |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 3:29 PM on 08.11.10 |
| ->> It's 8/11 and my D700 is STILL in Melville on the dreaded PARTS HOLD. |
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Randy Sartin, Photographer
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Knoxville | TN | USA | Posted: 3:53 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> I'm not a NPS or CPS member, but after Nikon lost 2 different lenses on 2 different occasions (yes, they eventually were found - 6 weeks on the first one for a clean and check, 8 weeks on the second one for a $700 repair on a 6 month old lens), I decided to give Canon a try. Just had 8 day door to door turnaround on a 70-200 barrel replacement, covered under warranty.
I used to not recommend one brand over the other, but I do now. |
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Jamey Price, Photographer, Assistant
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 4:03 PM on 08.11.10 |
| ->> Like I said. nps@nikon.net has had no response after 2 emails. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 6:24 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Randy,
This thread is not about Nikon Service, but NPS!!! NPS ONLY!!
You said it yourself, you are not a member of either NPS or CPS.
Canon Service in CA is very good though, but CPS Members take precedence and if there's a lot of CPS work ahead of you, CPS will be done first!
FWIW, when I shot Canon, I had Parts Hold too. They don't have all the parts all the time.
Delane, what's wrong with your D700 that has such a long Parts Hold??
You sent it to Melville, right??
Y |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 8:21 PM on 08.11.10 |
| ->> Blown shutter after only 32,000 frames |
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Randy Sartin, Photographer, Assistant
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Knoxville | TN | USA | Posted: 8:24 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Yamil,
OK, educate me then. As a non NPS member, when I send equipment in to Mellville, is it handled completely different than a NPS member's? Does it go to a different receiving department, warranty gets approved/denied by a different department, get repaired at a different location by different technicians, then get shipped out through a separate shipping department? If that's the case, I'll shut up now.
However, if there is some overlap between "Nikon Standard" and "NPS" service, I would think that my comments just might apply. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 8:36 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Randy said:
OK, educate me then. As a non NPS member, when I send equipment in to Mellville, is it handled completely different than a NPS member's?
Yes!!
Randy said:
Does it go to a different receiving department, warranty gets approved/denied by a different department, get repaired at a different location by different technicians, then get shipped out through a separate shipping department? If that's the case, I'll shut up now.
NPS Members Pre approve work in their membership agreement up to $500 and it gets picked out at receiving (we use stickers or Put NPS Priority on the out side of the boxes to designate Priority logging) and gets logged in first and then Immediately taken to the techs where they are given top priority!! I have sent a box in, show received at 0900 and I get an email within one hour to tell me that they are already working on it and I don't need to approve it, it goes IN Shop Immediately!! It gets done and shipped to me via Next Day Air. The only delays I have seen in my 23 years of membership is "Parts Hold" and there's nothing anyone can do about that. I can't expect them to have every part for every product every time. NPS gives me loaners for my "in service" gear for as long as my gear is in the shop!! Even when UPS destroyed my gear and then Lost my gear. Nikon USA gave me a brand new D3s (I had sent in a D3) and a New 70-200 VRII.
I guess being a loyal customer pays up in the end.
Randy said:
However, if there is some overlap between "Nikon Standard" and "NPS" service, I would think that my comments just might apply.
I don't know, I have never sent anything for repair prior to me joining NPS, I joined NPS in 1987, two years after graduating. back in those days bodies rarely needed to be sent in, I owned two F3's for over 7 years, never had them serviced and I actually sold them for more than I paid for them after 7 years of use. |
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Randy Sartin, Photographer, Assistant
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Knoxville | TN | USA | Posted: 9:05 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Yamil,
Thank you for explaining that. I had an extremely long reply typed out (cool story about a guy who had three Porsche 911's and had a bit of trouble getting his VW Bug fixed one day), but I guess my point is this...
If a company can not take proper care of their "little" customers, what in the world makes them think that I'll ever be a "big" customer?
I lost my you know what $$$ wise switching from Nikon to Canon, and the primary reason I switched was because "Nikon Service" (Not NPS) totally messed me up (twice). I don't feel that I should need to join anything to get decent service, and I highly suspect we are talking about the same people, just a different "level" of service. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 9:17 PM on 08.11.10 |
->> Switching was your choice!!
FWIW, I'm not a big customer....
I'm just another shooter now living in AZ.
I DO have a good working relationship with NPS because I think they are a great company!!
FWIW, for the two years that i also shot canon, I went through FIVE 24-70 L lenses, they were ALL terrible!! When Nikon came out with the 24-70 and I tested them sice by side, i gave up on the Canon system I had. Sold the last 24-70L on Ebay, and the rest of the gear here and on another site. Never looked back, now I lost my @$$ in that experiment!! Glad it's over and I will never make that mistake again!! Stick to what works now!! |
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Jamey Price, Photographer, Assistant
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 8:19 AM on 08.12.10 |
| ->> But again, explain what makes them so awesome if its impossible to get in touch with the right people? I want to believe, but they have to respond to emails first. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:11 AM on 08.12.10 |
->> Jeremy,
I don't know about your case!!
Are you 10% sure that they GOT your application??
Every time I contact them, they respond!!
I can't tell you what your case is!!
Are you a Photographer 100% of your time?? I can't tell you that!!
Do you qualify for all their requirements?? I can't tell you that!!
Like I told you, keep trying...
Y |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 4:18 PM on 08.12.10 |
->> Jamey I'm going to go on a hunch here.... I just pulled my card and see the 2010 is the NPS renewal year. ALL NPS members renew at the same time. Given that there are only 4 months until the new cards go out I'd be willing to bet lunch that your app (if it has been approved) is probably on hold pending the new cards getting printed.
As far as to why you haven't heard the status of your application. That mailbox gets slammed daily with requests from people who are already members looking for gear and trying to get things shipped back and forth within limited time frames. If you have an urgent need for gear you may want to send another email to the nps mailbox making the request and letting them know that your membership application was sent in on XXXXXX. If you need gear AND they can validate your application you MAY be able to kill two birds with one stone. But I'm also willing to be that they don't take time to hunt down apps unless they are SUPER old and possibly got lost.
I think that my application took 3 or 4 months to go through the process and just when I figured that it had been rejected my welcome packet came in the mail. When did you send in your application, and as Yamil already alluded to was it complete and did/do you meet all the requirements?
Trust me, if you get approved you will know just how valuable membership is the first time you use it.
E |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 4:15 PM on 08.31.10 |
->> Update on my D700 repair (Nikon received on 7/26 for a re-repair)
NPS says: "The needed part is due from Japan on September 7th."
I haven't had *my* working D700 since 7/8... |
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Jamey Price, Photographer, Assistant
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Scorton | North Yorkshire | England | Posted: 4:21 PM on 08.31.10 |
->> Hi Eric,
Just saw your post. It was sent in late April and it was completed. But I have been in contact with them so hopefully were on the home stretch now. Thanks for all the help. Ill take your word on all this that NPS rocks :) |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 5:20 PM on 08.31.10 |
->> Delane, you still have the NPS Loaner?? I hate parts Holds, at least the D700 has Loaners!! We had to send a 200-400, it had a parts hold and it was during World Series time, so no Loaners... That sucked!!
Jamey, NPS Responded to your E-mail right?? If you qualify for NPS, you will get your stuff soon!
Just checking.... |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 5:30 PM on 08.31.10 |
| ->> Yeah, I still have the loaner...but initially they were telling me that I hadn't requested an extension. Extension my a**!!! Personally I don't think there should be a parts hold on any "current generation" cameras. Just my $0.02... |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 8:35 PM on 08.31.10 |
->> Delane, I agree that too, but $hit happens!!
Did they tell you what was wrong with your body??
Something terrible must have happened for it to go south and with no parts...
Y |
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Stanley Leary, Photographer
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Roswell | GA | USA | Posted: 5:11 PM on 09.01.10 |
->> I have in the past couple of years had a run of my own bad luck.
First fell on the rocks at Volcano National Park in Hawaii and shattered a lens. Melville fixed it quickly and works like new.
I wrapped my camera straps around D3s camera and the buckle was next to the LCD. Had to check the Rolling Bag at the door on a puddle jumper. When I got the camera out later had a funny explosion in the LCD. LCD wasn't cracked, but pressure had damaged the screen. Melville fixed it quickly and works like new.
I put my cameras in the back seat of a rental car couple weeks ago in Norfolk, VA. One D3 camera rolled next to the door so when I opened it it dropped on the asphalt. The D for the ISO went black on half the screen. Screw popped out next to it. Melville fixed it quickly and works like new.
I love the NPS folks and frankly hope I never have to deal with them again because of my dropping something again. But they are great! |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 12:19 PM on 09.07.10 |
->> I'm looking to win the TOP PRIZE here with my ongoing NPS saga. Latest update, my D700 was delivered to my door this morning...I unboxed it and turned it on...nada...nothing...no power.
N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!
I tried different batteries and different vertical grips...nothing.
Called Melanie (NPS customer relations supervisor) and she was super nice...is sending me ANOTHER UPS label to ship this thing back to them and I get to keep the loaner a little while longer (even though the shutter is going bad on the loaner as well).
I'm glad I have my own backup cameras.
When is this going to end!?!?! |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 1:21 PM on 09.07.10 |
| ->> Well you beat me. NPS repaired my camera at the start of August, UPS delivered it in a FLATTENED box and I simply refused to even open the box. Melanie had a pickup tag issued and UPS put the blame on the damaged box on Nikon. Now it's the beginning of September and my D3 is back. So I've been clicking away on a loaner for about a month thanks to UPS. |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 1:27 PM on 09.07.10 |
| ->> I don't ever want to get the same loaner that you used...I'm thinking you put at least 500,000 frame on that bad boy in a month ;) |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:44 PM on 09.07.10 |
->> I don't want Canha's Leftover Bodies either!!
That boy is rough on gear ;)
Y |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:47 PM on 09.07.10 |
->> BTW, Delane, tell Melanie you know me and say HI for me ;)
I met Melanie in person when I went to CA last month.
Y |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 2:10 PM on 09.07.10 |
->> HA! It couldn't have come at a better time for NPS. Only 2 events in August and the body went in at the end of the first event..... I don't think that I shot 5000 frames on the NPS body total. Although this particular D3 went in twice in July too and THAT loaner saw some combat.....
I always use the loaners as my #2 body. I consider loaners an 'unknown' so I switch to the 'other' D3 that I own and can trust for the main shooting and use the loaner as the body that I mount a zoom to. It's not because I'm trying to keep the click counts down (do they even look?) but because these are pool bodies and you never really know what may be lurking. This one had a lightening bolt(?) show up on the LCD when I chimped the shots, big white zig-zag on the previews. I never did find out what that bolt meant. Photos looked fine so I just ignored it.
I love that NPS will cover me but at the end of the day I cover me first. I'm like you Delane, in that my fist line of backup is sitting in my bag.
Yamil my lovely D3's have yet to sniff cordite or the concussion of a .40 or .50 from a few yards away.... :) It must sound like feeding time at the dog pound when you pass though an airport with your camera bag. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 9:16 PM on 09.07.10 |
->> LOL!!
Actually Burnt Powder residue won't make the TSA Machines go wild, OTOH, Unused Primers and Primer Compound WILL!! That is an explosive and it can be detected!! I clean my bags after every event though!!
The only lens I damaged with the blast of a .38 super was my sigma 14mm/2.8 and I had the front element replaced!! It was jacked when i got it, used it for this event and had the front element replaced before I sold it.
Y |
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Christopher Lawson, Photographer
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Littleton | CO | | Posted: 11:01 PM on 09.07.10 |
->> Delane,
When you got your D700 back and it wouldn't power up, did you happen to look through the viewfinder?
I had something similar with mine and, while the camera wouldn't power up, the DX crop frame was present when I looked through the finder. Kind of strange.
All this talk of NPS service makes me jealous. I sent my D700 to Authorized Photo Service and have had nothing but trouble with their quality control and customer service. It's unfortunate because they have a real opportunity to turn me into a repeat customer but have done little to resolve the myriad issues they created.
Customer service seems to be a lost art practiced by few companies. Nice to know NPS does right by professionals who depend on their gear. |
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Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:50 AM on 09.08.10 |
->> " Unused Primers and Primer Compound WILL!!"
I can confirm that. A TSA genius wiped down some of my live ammo at Chicago years ago and the machine nuts. |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 5:02 PM on 09.08.10 |
->> Christopher-
I did look through the viewfinder and there was no power, no lights, no nothing.
Package was delivered to NPS at 10:19 AM today (9/8/10) so let's see how this trip to the doctor goes...
Delane |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 8:39 PM on 09.16.10 |
->> I received a package from NPS/Nikon USA today (9/16)...containing a reconditioned D700. It looks and smells new...but I'm a little bit worried. They didn't even call me and ask me how I felt about replacing *my* body or anything.
Let's see how this one works out. I admit that I'm a more than a little bit hesitant and I probably shouldn't be...
Delane |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 10:24 PM on 09.16.10 |
->> Have you read Adorama's description of what Refurbished gear is??
You should!! I have owned several Nikon Factory Refurbs and they are NEW!!
Think about this, they sent you a Refurb, you now have an extra Charger and battery!! You have 90 days of warranty....
How many actuations did your old camera have??
I bet the new Refurb has under 1K....
IMHO you lucked out!! I bet your body was out of warranty and beyond repair!! You got virtually a like new camera.
Y |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | US | Posted: 10:50 PM on 09.16.10 |
->> I haven't read the description but I know the refurbished units aren't "casualties of war".
My unit had 33,000 actuations on it and this one has 1700. I do have warranty (mine was up), an extra charger and strap (but not a battery, they kept the old one that was ent in with the unit). |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 8:30 AM on 09.17.10 |
->> Delane when Nikon swapped out a D2x for a D2Xs they did so without any forewarning. The AF board on the D2X had been repeatedly replaced and when they weren't replacing the AF board they were adjusting the AF function. At some point they must have determined that the body was haunted and that a fresh start was in order.
NEVER send in batteries ;)
One of my D3's is a refurb via Jeff Snyder and I couldn't be happier. |
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