Nikon D300 Complete Manual page 762

that Nikon knows that and that you expect them to fix that
problem under warranty.
• Slow service. With new products, service usually slows for
all but NPS members (professional photographers). Even
NPS pros sometimes encounter parts shortages that delay
repairs. But a more frequent problem is that Nikon didn't
get all your information and/or is waiting for something
from you (repair authorization, proof of purchase,
shipping address, etc.). We'll deal with that further down
in this section.
Problem not repaired. A frequent complaint goes
•
something like this: the user sends Nikon a camera body
with the complaint that focus isn't accurate; Nikon puts
the camera on their test station and finds it is within
tolerance, Nikon sends the camera back to the user
without changing anything, so the user complains that the
camera wasn't repaired. You won't like hearing this, but
that's your fault if it happens to you (I'll tell you how to
avoid it in a moment).
• Small part = expensive repair. Most repairs require tear
down of at least part of the camera and quite a bit of
testing time. Beyond that, most parts are replaced
modularly (e.g. you get an entire new shutter, not just one
piece of it, or, heaven forbid, you often get an entirely
new sensor and filter assembly if you break the filter).
• Where'd it go? NikonUSA ships to street addresses only.
Sometimes people wait for return of their product while
Nikon waits for a street address instead of a PO Box.
• Diagnosis overload. Once Nikon opens up a camera to be
repaired, they diagnose all problems that would need to
be fixed to return the camera to factory specifications.
Thus, you might send the camera in to be fixed under
warranty for a shutter problem and discover you're going
to be billed for impact damage on a bent lens mount. You
probably want that fixed, but since you weren't expecting
to have to approve an estimate for repair costs, you never
followed up with Nikon in a timely fashion and your
camera sits waiting for authorization.
Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300
V1.02
Page 762