topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

I think that you are wrong about the complexity and using only mfg for repair. I have an independent tech near me that can do most repairs in house. They don't really repair the cameras, they just replace the unit that is not working. It may seem complex to you, but he assures me that it is pretty easy.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

My big problem is the cost of repairing a camera, lens, etc. Recently I ask Nikon for a quote on fixing a zoom ring that is a little stickly. 80-400 4.5-5.6. They quoted me $679.00. Ouch are you kidding me?
Come on now, if they are not making money don't take it out on me.

khildy Loc: Brownsburg, IN

One thing to consider is a way to boost profits is to sell more new cameras. One way to do that is “not economical to be repaired” and that’s it.

katbandit Loc: new york city

I brought 2 of my d7000 camera bodies into Melville NY for general cleanings and shutter count which in the past would take about 3days However they proceeded to send them it to authorized service stations and I waited almost 3 weeks then went myself to track them down. I was totally disappointed in their service at the time. If they are retaking over all repairs I would feel more confident in knowing that the actual company is working on them. Small camera stores I feel are struggling because they can’t compete in sales However there could be hope in classes and camera clubs. Who knows. The economy is struggling in all markets.

smf85 Loc: Freeport, IL

Whether or not that’s reasonable depends on what’s broken and how much effort it takes to replace it. Replacing a part is easy - fixing a part isn’t. Replacing a part is labor intensive fixing a part is extremely intensive. The actual broken component might be cheap but the labor to replace it is very expensive. Skilled labor is expensive, super-skilled labor can be stupefyingly expensive.

Consider this - my hometown was near a major port and due to happenstance many of the emergency ship repair people lived there. They all had variations of this story to tell. All of them were highly skilled and highly certified in various critical shipboard systems - marine diesels, boilers, turbines, hull repair, and most important pump repair. A diesel mechanic was flown out by helicopter to fix a freighter whose engine had stalled and they couldn’t restart it. He lands takes his tools and goes to the engine room. He asks them to try to restart the system and he listens to the noise. He then takes out a hammer and slams it against an engine part and says try it now. The engine successfully starts and the ship gets into port for full repairs.

The repair bill came to $10,000 [1976 dollars] and was broken down as follows - Specialized hammer $5 - Labor [and knowing where to use it] $9995. Everyone I knew who did this type of work had a variant of this story to tell. Oh and once the ship got in port mechanics opened the engine up and replaced a small part for $500 [1976] - using special tools and quite a bit of time. I even have a variant of the story myself that occurred much later.

Given how things are assembled it might not be possible to fix the part in the US - the special unique tools needed aren’t available here. Assuming that the part is fixable at all - they way that make things with bonding etc might not result in anything that can be fixed.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Planned obsolescence...

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

I always thought if companies were in the green were the successful one’s.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

In the black. Black friday use to make the year for companies cause after the sales the were in the black

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

The only problem is the zoom ring is a little sticky, that's it. It works perfectly.

smf85 Loc: Freeport, IL

Not always - depends on where the revenue is coming from - it’s not when it’s from a sale of the assets of the company.

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

Canon had a repair shop in their building in NJ. The repair shop closed in last year or so. They consolidated operations