Nikon warranty claims

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Beardy

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Has anyone claimed on the Nikon manufacturers warranty ? If so can you tell me whether they have needed to see the warranty card or do they just accept the invoice as proof of purchase?

I've bought a lens recently which the warranty card is missing. The supplier says Nikon will still repair under warranty as long as I have the receipt but have also offered to swap or give me a full refund. As it is a lens it is obviously an Intl rather than a UK warranty. I am minded to swap but also but there's the hassle factor.....

Just wondered what people's experiences were. Nikon's official line is obviously that you need the warranty card.
 
Not sure on their official policy regarding the warranty card, however under UK law all you need is proof of purchase to obtain a warranty repair. Where you may be on a sticky wicket is if the seller you bought it from isn't an authorised Nikon dealer.

In that case, if you bought it off Ebay, for example, Nikon may well argue that you are not the first owner, so there is no warranty at all....
 
Bought it off a retailer who as I have said will swap it so that's interesting that UK law says you just need a receipt....makes sense really as not all goods have warranty cards etc

I've decided that I will give a couple of repair centres a call and see what they say. If they say they are happy to do a warranty repair with a receipt that's much more comfort.
 
The warranty card thing is not a legal requirement. It's just a marketing thing to harvest your personal details so that they can launch a campaign of junk mail and spam emails against you.

It's the same for registering a product and software online.
 
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You need it Nikon are strict,very strict.I just had to send both and it needs to be European.
 
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Doesn't UK consumer law state that you should return the goods back to the retailer, and not the manufacturer anyway?
 
Beardy said:
Bought it off a retailer
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My point though is that it needs to have been bought, if it was purchased in this country, from one of Nikon UK's authorised dealers or purchased personally (not via a third party seller)from a Nikon dealer in another EU state. Nikon warranties aren't transferrable and unless you bought the item direct from a Nikon dealer then you have no warranty.

The fact that you weren't given the warranty card when you bought the lens would suggest that it didn't originate in the EU and so whilst most repair centres will be more than happy to repair it for you chances are they won't return it until the bill had been settled, so if Nikon UK refused to cover the cost then you'd have to pay up before you'd get it back.....
 
Spoke to a company called Fixation who I got from the Nikon website as an authorised repair centre. In there words "it's rubbish" about the warranty card. All you need is proof of purchase.
 
Beardy said:
Spoke to a company called Fixation who I got from the Nikon website as an authorised repair centre. In there words "it's rubbish" about the warranty card. All you need is proof of purchase.
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Yes, I said that, but the proof of purchase needs to be from a Nikon dealer, not a grey-market reseller....
 
Beardy said:
Spoke to a company called Fixation who I got from the Nikon website as an authorised repair centre. In there words "it's rubbish" about the warranty card. All you need is proof of purchase.
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Funny as I had to send fixation both a week ago or they wouldn't repair
Listen to flash in the pan
I have been all through this before even with the warranty it's not always easy.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Yes, I said that, but the proof of purchase needs to be from a Nikon dealer, not a grey-market reseller....
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There's nothing in the T&C's to support that. In fact the language in the warranty specifically mentions that "the purchase date should be supported by the original consumer purchase". Clearly any grey market re-seller or non Nikon dealer would not count as a consumer purchase.

I am no legal expert but I think Nikon would have a hell of a job arguing otherwise. I believe that any manufacturer owes

Also if they were able to control the Market by using such language I am sure every European car manufacturer would have done this when all the grey market importers sprung up ten or fifteen years ago. They fought tooth and nail to try and stop that business.

Having said that I would be very interested if you can point me to something which supports what you said though.
 
It's one of those facts of life. There are people who lack education and think it's ok to make up their own rules on things. Fixation can insist they won't carry out your repair without a picture of you in a Gimp suit sat astride a rampant donkey but it doesn't make it the law. It all depends upon how much you are prepared to stand up to them and demand your rights.
 
Beardy said:
There's nothing in the T&C's to support that. In fact the language in the warranty specifically mentions that "the purchase date should be supported by the original consumer purchase". Clearly any grey market re-seller or non Nikon dealer would not count as a consumer purchase.

I am no legal expert but I think Nikon would have a hell of a job arguing otherwise. I believe that any manufacturer owes

Also if they were able to control the Market by using such language I am sure every European car manufacturer would have done this when all the grey market importers sprung up ten or fifteen years ago. They fought tooth and nail to try and stop that business.

Having said that I would be very interested if you can point me to something which supports what you said though.
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It's not the same situation as with car manufacturers, those cars were being imported for other EU states, it's more than likely that your lens has come from either the US or HK. Anyway, if grey market lenses were covered by Nikon UK warranties, don't you think that the resellers would make this part of their sales talk, rather than offering to warrant the items themselves?
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Anyway, if grey market lenses were covered by Nikon UK warranties, don't you think that the resellers would make this part of their sales talk, rather than offering to warrant the items themselves?
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No lenses are covered by a Nikon UK or European warranty regardless of where they were bought or from whom. They are covered by the International Warranty. That's crystal clear from Nikon's UK website :-

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/s...0&lidsub4=0&sParamValueLbl=&sParamValue=&dcr=

As you can see all lenses regardless of where they are bought are covered by the International Warranty. Why it's different for camera bodies I have no idea...but it quite clearly is. I suspect grey market sellers don't market this because it obviously would spotlight the fact that the camera bodies have an inferior warranty and that's probably the biggest part of their business. Why people buy used lenses with no warranty for the same price as a grey import with full manufacturers warranty I have no idea.....but they do :shrug:
 
Nikon digital products sold in Europe have a warranty which is honoured by Nikon European offices in the countries listed below. This warranty is not supported by Nikon offices outside of Europe. Nikon digital products sold outside Europe also have localised warranties and are not supported in Europe.

1. THIS IS THE EUROPEAN ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY (VALID IN THE AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, HUNGARY, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM). YOU MUST PRESENT THIS FORM TOGETHER WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE AND PROOF OF PURCHASE DATE (BILL OF SALE) TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE. Should your Nikon product require warranty service, please contact the dealer from whom it was purchased or a member of our authorised service network in European countries.

as i said already you need proof of purchase and the warranty card to prove its eligible in this market,it is not transferable.
if people want to buy gray imports from dodgy ebay etc. sites that's up to them but don't compare the prices to people selling genuine UK stock in the sales area.

the best way i can put it is....
i ride motorbikes its no use me lying in the hospital bed with my legs amputated saying i had right of way.

i have been through the warranty system and you wont get anywhere without following what they say.
 
My D90 was registered with Nikon when I bought it.

It was fixed under warranty during the first year, by Nikon with just the receipt for proof.
 
straycat said:
Nikon digital products sold in Europe have a warranty which is honoured by Nikon European offices in the countries listed below. This warranty is not supported by Nikon offices outside of Europe. Nikon digital products sold outside Europe also have localised warranties and are not supported in Europe.

1. THIS IS THE EUROPEAN ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY (VALID IN THE AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, HUNGARY, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM). YOU MUST PRESENT THIS FORM TOGETHER WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE AND PROOF OF PURCHASE DATE (BILL OF SALE) TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE. Should your Nikon product require warranty service, please contact the dealer from whom it was purchased or a member of our authorised service network in European countries.

as i said already you need proof of purchase and the warranty card to prove its eligible in this market,it is not transferable.
if people want to buy gray imports from dodgy ebay etc. sites that's up to them but don't compare the prices to people selling genuine UK stock in the sales area.
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Sure I understand that. Thing is as I said in my first post I bought a lens so that isn't relevant.....lenses do not have a European warranty. As I pointed out above...if you check the Nikon website it is quite clear the t&c's are very different for lenses from camera bodies.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Not according to this they're not....
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Right but that is nothing to do with whether it's a European or International warranty. It's because that person bought the lens on eBay from someone who is not a photographic retailer. So this emphasises the point I made to you previously in this thread that the warranty covers the first CONSUMER to own the lens. Frankly I don't know why you've brought it up again? Last time you were claiming it had to be purchased from a Nikon dealer for the warranty to be valid but haven't provided any proof of such. Frankly I'd never buy anything like this off eBay.

The good news for me is that I did buy my lens from a photographic retailer who incidentally gets good reviews on this site and will happily swap the lens for me if I want them to.
 
Beardy said:
Right but that is nothing to do with whether it's a European or International warranty. It's because that person bought the lens on eBay from someone who is not a photographic retailer. So this emphasises the point I made to you previously in this thread that the warranty covers the first CONSUMER to own the lens. Frankly I don't know why you've brought it up again? Last time you were claiming it had to be purchased from a Nikon dealer for the warranty to be valid but haven't provided any proof of such. Frankly I'd never buy anything like this off eBay.

The good news for me is that I did buy my lens from a photographic retailer who incidentally gets good reviews on this site and will happily swap the lens for me if I want them to.
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Well, I fail to see the point of the entire thread if you can send the lens back, but for a laugh you should send it in to Nikon and see what they say......
 
Is the guarantee worth the paper it’s written on?
June 27th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under • Bookmark and Shar
Buying Goods
manufacturer's warranty • Retailer's guarantee • retailer's warranty
In addition to the protection given to consumers by the Sale of Goods Act, manufacturers and retailers will also issue their own guarantees or warranties. The two are basically the same thing so for the purposes of simplicity we will refer to them as warranties. It is a myth that certain products (electrical products for example) automatically come with a 12 month warranty – there is no legal obligation for shops or suppliers to provide them – it is simply to enhance consumer confidence in their product and promote sales. It also provides them with valuable marketing information which is why you will need to register your product by filling in a card with your personal and purchase details in order to activate it.

Warranties are basically a commitment to repair or replace defective parts within a specified time frame (usually 12 months), although beware of any small print requiring the consumer to bear the cost of any shipping, labour etc as this runs contrary to the Sale of Goods Act which states that it is the seller’s (retailer’s) responsibility to ensure the goods are repaired or replaced at no cost, minimum inconvenience and within reasonable time. Previously there was some doubt as to the legal status of such documents, but European regulations have now confirmed that warranties are legally binding contractual obligations between the manufacturer, or retailer and the consumer for the time frame indicated.

The important point about warranties is that they should never seek to replace your rights under the Sale of Goods Act, and even after they have run out, you will still be protected by these statutory rights which can run for up to 6 years after purchase. Furthermore, you should never be referred back to the manufacturer at any point. Your first and only port of call in the event of a claim is always the seller or retailer. For further info on warranties and extended warranties, see our Guide.

How long should it last?
It is not fit for purpose
Unwanted and Damaged Christmas Presents
A two-year EU Directive on the Sale of Goods?
Durability is another recent addition to the definition of quality. How long should a dishwasher or a vacuum cleaner or a printer last? This is a very common source of complaint and one which manufacturers were always quick to turn back on the consumer, requiring them to provide proof that the item did not conform to contract specification from the start, or implying an element of misuse or neglect. Thanks to the new European Regulations, UK law now offers greater protection for consumers against products which develop faults within the first 6 months. The assumption is now that if it breaks down within this time period it cannot have conformed to the contract specification when purchased and you have the right to an automatic repair or replacement. Having said this, items which should last several years can still break down after this six month period. If the retailer or manufacturer’s warranty has run out, the shop is often quick to say there is nothing they can do before attempting to sell you an extended warranty. This is misleading. If you buy something which should last 7 years but breaks down after a year and a day, you can still claim it was of poor quality in reference to the durability aspect. In this respect it will help to know how long items such as washing machines or printers should last. You can get this information relevant trade association

Why o why don't people clue up on their consumer rights b4 posting. Any manufacture's selling their products in the uk via official retailers have got to abide by the sale of goods act's, of this country.
i think it's about time consumers stood up for their rights and stand their ground with the retailers, i say retailers because anything still under warrenty - the retailer is thier fist and only port of call,( not the manufacturer) if anyone has problems with a retailer my advice is contact trading standards who will act on your behalf with those retailers not following the law.
 
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