Authorized Photo Service

[rawpaw18]

I sent my camera to this place in Illinois, to repair the clear plastic piece covering my top panel. It was linked from Nikonians, and is supposedly an approved service facility by Nikon.

Phone estimate was $40-$50.
Web site says 3-5 day turn around time.

Two weeks after I sent it in priority mail, I get a call, $75 for the repair and cleaning. I asked what is taking so long? We had to order the part to know what to charge, huh?

Anyways I approved the repair and cleaning, it arrived two days after that, because it was shipped fed ex.

So, add in the extra $12 for shipping, total bill $87.

[K1W1]

So why are you posting here and not on Nikonians?
If you are posting as a warning then at least name the repairer.

[rawpaw18]

It is not a warning, I would probably use them again. Just wanted to give some personal experience. The name of the place is at the top of the thread AUTHORIZED PHOTO SERVICE. I spend more time here than Nikonians and just wanted to relay my experience with you guys.

[rawpaw18]

K, I'll put it over there too.

[K1W1]

I understand now. I did not realise that the company had the name of the thread title I thought you were referring to an authorised photo service rather than a company called Authorised Photo Service.
It seems strange to me that if they truely are accredited by Nikon that they do not have a parts price list that they can use to quote repair prices before they actually get the parts in.

[rawpaw18]

It seems strange to me that if they truely are accredited by Nikon that they do not have a parts price list that they can use to quote repair prices before they actually get the parts in.

My thoughts exactly. The bill did not itemize the part, so I do not know exactly what it cost, but how much could possibly be? We are talking about a small piece of plastic. :rolleyes:

[K1W1]

My thoughts exactly. The bill did not itemize the part, so I do not know exactly what it cost, but how much could possibly be? We are talking about a small piece of plastic. :rolleyes:

Small pieces of plastic are the most expensive ones.
I brought a hub centre for my Land Rover last week. It's a round piece of plastic about 2" in diameter with a LR logo on it. US$35 thank you very much! Somebody once told me that if you were to buy a car one piece at a time it would cost at least 8 times more than buying it from the dealer complete. I guess Nikon use the same parts price model. :D

[britkev]

You can order parts yourself from Nikon USA: I lost the little rubber cover for the USB/power/video out ports on my D50.

Number is 310-414 8107... follow the voicemail prompts to get to parts for cameras and optical...

I was on hold for about ten minutes - they do close at 3pm Pacific, and cut you off if you are on hold at that time.

Part cost $2.80 +tax, and there was a $4 shipping/handling charge. It arrived by UPS ground about ten days after I ordered it.

[jcon]

Rich, You probably should have called Nikon to see if this place was authorized before sending away your camera.

Since this place quoted you on the phone, you shouldnt have paid the extra money.

[rawpaw18]

Rich, You probably should have called Nikon to see if this place was authorized before sending away your camera.

Since this place quoted you on the phone, you shouldnt have paid the extra money.

Well I did add the cleaning and I should of thought that shipping was additional to the repair estimate, I just wanted to give everyone a heads up to know what to expect if they used them. I do not really feel ripped off, I just made some wrong assumptions. The phone estimate was just that, a ballpark price, which is why they would call back when the camera arrived to give a definite price -shipping. They did a nice job, it looked brand new when it came back.