Vern L

What's the best way to send an early DSLR (Nikon 8700) TO Nikon for evaluation and repair?

BebuLamar

Call Nikon

BebuLamar

Or buy another one.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I have only done it once but I called Nikon Service Dept and spoke with a representative. The tech asked a number of questions about the trouble I was having and asked me to try a few things to see if they could fix the problem over the phone. After it was understood that it could not be repaired remotely, they took the serial number of the camera and created a repair ticked. At the same time, they gave me an estimated repair fee which I had to authorize per credit card. I was then asked to remove the lens and put the cap on the body and pack the body properly and they gave me the address to have it shipped to and was told to insure it. Once they got it, I received an e-mail to confirm receipt. It was returned timely like new.

If you just call the service department, they will walk you through it.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

FEDEX, UPS, or USPS, in a sturdy box with about 2" of packing all round.

BebuLamar

I believe Vern L has a Nikon Coolpix 8700 and not a DSLR. The camera was around $1000 when it was new. Today you can buy one in full working condition for around $60. I believe it's very difficult to have the camera fixed for less than that and possibly Nikon doesn't work on that camera any more. However, it's worth a call to them because sometimes they might have a refurbished one in stock somewhere and they might offer to do an exchange for relatively low price.

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

I would bet it would cost way too much for repairs... Buy one off EBay for as low as 49 bucks.

delottphoto

bob44044 Loc: Ohio

Just buy a new one. For what you'd pay to repair it, you'd spend less buying a used Nikon 8700. That is if they still would repair a camera that old.

ggenova64

Bubble Wrap the camera and place it in a plastic bag. Mail it in a tight fight box and make sure to purchase insurance equivalent to value of the camera.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

sv3noKin51E

BebuLamar, After many years, we still prefer UPS over FedEx ground, unless you prefer to send it next/2nd day air. In some areas, UPS ground is much better than FedEx ground/green/saver, and their stores are costly (FedEx green calls their FedEx Office, formerly Kinko's). FedEx green has improved the last year, but not enough that I would use any method other than 2nd day air. In 55 years of photography, I never gave a camera or lens to the postal service to send anywhere. The postal service version of a 'tracking number' is not anything that will help you secure delivery; it doesn't means the same thing as a UPS/FedEx tracking number. A couple of times we've had vendors ignore our shipping instructions, but when we specify UPS or FedEx ground ONLY, and tell someone NOT to ship USPS, that means really. In both those instances the shipper claimed that their package had been delivered and/or signed for. Wherever it went, it didn't come to us.

You can pay for postal insurance or for registered mail which is extremely slow, but the most secure they offer. Even so, you'll never recover the value of the camera nor the cost of the shipping or insurance if USPS disappears or destroys your package. A few months ago a USPS employee was in court a second time, for intentionally not delivering-sending his patrons mail. The 2nd time, he had been dumping boxes of it in his garage, trunk of his car, under a bridge, etc, etc; said they worked him too hard. Judge wasn't swayed and the 2nd time the postal worker went to jail for 6 months. This happens more than anyone believes possible (or as the saying goes, this has happened before and will happen again. If you've ever seen the YouTube videos of how badly errant delivery/drivers treat packages, believe it; I've seen some of that behavior personally. The idea of handing one's precious Nikon to the postal system, to have it take the place of a football and having it drop-kicked on the way to or from the Nikon service center, is enough to make one shiver. Always insure for replacement value; both services only give you a token of $100 insured value unless you state specific value, and it's only good if they lose, disappear/steal or totally trash your package. Have only had to invoke it once, but it paid for all the times we've ever bought it. Hope this helps. sv

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Go on eBay and buy a replacement. Or consider getting something newer... MUCH newer.

That camera is a 2004 release! That's truly ancient history in the digital camera market. It's doubtful Nikon even has parts for it. It's a curiosity relic now. It belongs in the same display case with old Brownies and Polaroids, APS cameras, and Argus C44s.

Yes, if you bought it new, you shelled out a lot of beans for it. But that's what project managers and accountants call "sunk costs". It was not an investment.

Older equipment is seldom worth repairing when you can replace it for less than the repairs would cost. The price of using working gear from the past is partly a restriction of your capabilities, too.

BebuLamar

Did I say anything about shipping????

User ID

Insurance ? for the "value" of a malfunctioning device
having a $50 replacement cost in working condition ?

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