Nikon Repair Times: I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they...

dyximan

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take anothe 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

dyximan wrote:

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take anothe 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

Nikon factory service gets incredibly busy. Your actual repair times are about what I had in January for my D810

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Repair times and shipping times cannot be assumed to be the same.

Had you paid for overnight shipping you could have saved many days.

I’m assuming you didn’t.

I wouldn’t have either.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

dyximan wrote:

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take anothe 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

Only way to get it faster is to enroll in their NPS program. Repairs are prioritized over consumer repairs, and turnaround can be as short as 3 days. A few years ago I was shocked when I brought in a D300S and a 24-70 that suffered impact damage (the photographer fell, and the camera and lens took the brunt). I dropped them off on a Friday, and got a call Monday evening that both were ready for pickup. Which I did the following morning. If I had mailed it in and I needed it in a rush, I would have paid the $$$ for overnight delivery, and it might have added 3 days to the repair. On the other hand, last fall I brought my 80-200 F2.8 AF-D in for repair, the AF/MF ring finally broke, (they all do sooner or later), and the lens could not change from AF/MF. This repair took about 2 weeks because of parts. I am fortunate that I live about an hour from Melville, so dropping off/picking up is not a big hassle and it does save some time.

If you want your gear turned around any faster, I suggest you pay for overnight delivery on both ends.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Gene51 wrote:

Only way to get it faster is to enroll in their NP... (show quote)

Nikon's NPS program is fairly difficult to enroll in. You have to be recommended by a current member, and meet several other qualifications.
http://www.nikonpro.com/TermsAndConditions.aspx

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Gene51 wrote:

Only way to get it faster is to enroll in their NP... (show quote)

It's my understanding you have to be a professional photographer to join NPS. A business letterhead plus tax info from the business need to be provided. That elliminates about 99% of hoggers.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

The next house I buy will be next to an authorized repair facility :)

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

dyximan wrote:

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take anothe 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

Wow, that is very high turnaround. Most folks in the US who send their cameras off to Canon for service usually have it back in their hands in about a week. I'm close to one of Canon's four regional service centers and when I drop my camera off in person it's usually finished within 2 to 3 business days. Perhaps the parts needed for your repair had to be ordered?

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

It has been my experience with Nikon that being able to personally drop off significantly speeds the turnaround time. Not many have this opportunity. In general, never send anything in for repair or updating if you need it back within a short period of time. Plan for the worst.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

dyximan wrote:

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take another 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

Why did you not send it 2 days USPS Priority to speed up process? But anyway, it probably won't take that long, unless you dropped and completely mangled it. I sent a D 750 for recall, got the same message and it arrived at my house 4-5 days later. They always build in a cushion on those email notices. be sure to report back your actual experience!

cjshh

Sent Lens for Repair to Melville from Chicago:

Dropped at UPS - 2/5
Arrived at Nikon - 2/7
Approved Repair - 2/7
Repair Completed/Turned lens over to UPS - 2/16
Arrived on doorstep - 2/20

So, times in range of what your experienced/was quoted.... Obviously non-NPS

(Also, just to be clear... UPS return was over a weekend and the repair encompassed a weekend also.... days quoted are "Business Days")

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dyximan wrote:

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take anothe 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

I'd be willing to bet that another camera showed up for repair the same day yours did. : )

nikonkelly Loc: SE Michigan

dyximan wrote:

I sent my D500 (overnight Delivery) to LA last Monday 4-2 for repairs and was told it would take 7 to 10 days for repairs. I just recived a confirmation that they recived my Camera into their system today 4-11 and can expect the repairs to take anothe 7 to 10 days and another 3 to 5 days to have it returned to me. Good thing I hadn't planned my vacation in the next couple of weeks. NOT HAPPY

I just got my D850 back yesterday, and it was gone 3 weeks... but they did not fix the 3 issues I sent it in for. I am thinking that I will have to take to an independent to actually get it fixed. good luck.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Better experience than I had when my D70 took a trip to Japan and was AWOL for 5 weeks!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

nikonkelly wrote:

I just got my D850 back yesterday, and it was gone 3 weeks... but they did not fix the 3 issues I sent it in for. I am thinking that I will have to take to an independent to actually get it fixed. good luck.

It appears Nikon service turnaround takes a lot more time than I would have thought. Canon turnaround would have being around a week and based on my experience, and the experience of many others, it's rare for issues not to be completely resolved to the owners satisfaction. Does Nikon use dealers with repair facilities for their authorized service centers or do they have several large regional service centers like Canon?