Premium Brand Distributors
1.8|19 reviews
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Peter P
1 reviews | Active since Member
19 Oct 2022, 08:46
So long Nikon - it's not your fault
Investing in a top-end camera is an expensive undertaking. But let’s be honest - Nikon is good kit. I’ve been a loyal supporter for 35 years. Because of the price of new cameras and lenses you can’t afford to replace them when things go wrong. You need to have it serviced. This is where you pick up problems. Premium Brands are the local distributers and “authorized” repair centre. I have heard many stories of Nikon Ambassadors leaving Nikon for other brands of cameras because of inferior service and support received from Premium Brands.
But I took my chances and sent them my camera to have the sensor cleaned. What could possibly go wrong? They have cleaned the sensor before and did a good job.
It arrived back with scratches on the sensor. I queried this and was told “When we received the camera we opened the Shutter on mirror lock up, inspected the sensor with a loupe noticed the marks and only did a blow with clean air. The camera was then returned in the same state.”
Here’s what really happened: the technician did a hack job. It looks like he ate a bunny chow for lunch on my sensor . Instead of taking responsibility for damaging the sensor it was easier to say that he received the camera with scratches on the sensor.
The camera is useless and can be written off.
Am I ever going to invest in Nikon again? No. It makes no sense as sooner or later I will run the risk of someone at Premium Brands destroying my investment.
Fellow photographers - if you own a Nikon and live in South Africa: you have been warned.
So long Nikon. It’s time to part ways. Thank you for the memories and the great images we created together. Please understand that it’s not your fault - it’s the inferior service from Premium Brands.
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Peter P's updateReviewer Update
27 Oct 2022, 06:37UPDATE: Christine (marketing manager Nikon SA) picked up on this post and called me. She’s sympathetic to my plight but I still let off steam. Lots of steam. I get a sense that she is aware of problems in the service department. She apologised profusely and promised to look into my issue. Half an hour later I get a call from Grant (CEO Nikon SA). More steam. More apologies. Grant turns out to be a good guy. He understands the value of client retention so he leans on Lourens (service department manager) to help me out. The camera is returned and the sensor is replaced and cleaned. My workhorse is back on its feet again. I have no idea what happened to the renegade technician. Thank you Grant! My faith in Nikon is restored. Time to send more camera bodies for service. The parting message to me (and by extension to all Nikon users) is this: if you have a legitimate problem with the service department you are welcome to escalate it up the Nikon corporate ladder.
PP
Peter P's update27 Oct 2022, 06:37
Reviewer Update
UPDATE: Christine (marketing manager Nikon SA) picked up on this post and called me. She’s sympathetic to my plight but I still let off steam. Lots of steam. I get a sense that she is aware of problems in the service department. She apologised profusely and promised to look into my issue. Half an hour later I get a call from Grant (CEO Nikon SA). More steam. More apologies. Grant turns out to be a good guy. He understands the value of client retention so he leans on Lourens (service department manager) to help me out. The camera is returned and the sensor is replaced and cleaned. My workhorse is back on its feet again. I have no idea what happened to the renegade technician. Thank you Grant! My faith in Nikon is restored. Time to send more camera bodies for service. The parting message to me (and by extension to all Nikon users) is this: if you have a legitimate problem with the service department you are welcome to escalate it up the Nikon corporate ladder.