Nikon refurbished - poor quality, buyer beware

[zenit55]

Based on numerous instances of positive feedback about Nikon refurbished products online, I decided to go with this option, and ordered a D5100 kit from Adorama. Adorama order came very promptly with no problems, however what I found inside of the package was very disappointing.

The camera came in a "Nikon Reconditioned" box, which described the product as a camera that was reconditioned by Nikon USA at their factory. The kit came with all of the standard accessories, a lens and the camera body in a cardboard box and the bag. The lens was not packaged particularly well, just wrapped in some plastic and bubble wrap, and was banging around the box.

When I opened the camera I was amazed at the poor condition it was in. First, the camera appears to be used rather heavily. The plastic finish on the back of the display is rubbed off, leaving a thumb sized discolored spot. Upon closer examination, I noticed that the camera was probably smashed. The swivel by which the display is attached to the body is dented and cracked. It looks like somebody made a very poor attempt to fix it, but it still simply looks bad. Needless to say I am very disappointed by the quality of the product sold by Nikon and Adorama. A refurbished item with damage such as on this one should be expected from a shady ebay dealer, not from a large retailer like Adorama or company like Nikon.

I tried to call Adorama today, but they were closed. I will probably be returning it and I sure hope they will at least pay for shipping this thing back to them.

The most disappointing thing is that I actually needed this camera for a trip next week, now it looks like I will be stuck with my old D50 with barely functioning auto focus.

 

[jpeyton]

If this wasn't the exception to the rule, I would actually agree with your title.

But my experience with Nikon refurbs has been flawless, and that goes for most people.

Use Adorama's return/exchange policy and get another. Problem solved.

Or better yet, use the camera for your trip, then return/exchange it.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Does it work?

 

[zenit55]

I haven't even tried turning it on after seeing the what it looks like on the outside.

 

[iGas]

Nikon Refurbished Cameras Lenses

Nikon Refurbished cameras and lenses have been professionally inspected, cleaned and repaired to meet the manufacturer specifications. The manufacturer’s warranty or warranty of the company performing the refurbishing services may apply to the product and in general is included in the conditions comments. The equipment may or may not be in its original packaging.

Obviously this is not the case. Perhaps there is a mixed up between used and refurbished on the order.

 

[SecurityTheatre]

My experience has also been nearly flawless. Some people I know refer to the refurb program as "better than new".

But that's clearly not the case here. You certainly have a case to raise a holy stink about it.

 

[Muse]

If this wasn't the exception to the rule, I would actually agree with your title.

But my experience with Nikon refurbs has been flawless, and that goes for most people.

Use Adorama's return/exchange policy and get another. Problem solved.

Or better yet, use the camera for your trip, then return/exchange it.

Don't stress, do this.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Or better yet,use the camera for your trip, then return/exchange it.

+1.

I have purchased a D40, D200, D7000, numerous coolpix p&s and a 18-70 3.5/4.5 lens all Refurbished by Nikon. Never had a glitch, and traded in three of these back to Adorama for around 75% of what I paid for them. I do think that you got a "used" camera instead of a Refurb camera. Don't worry, Adorama has awesome customer service.

 

[jhansman]

Have no fear, Adorama will make it good. Still, a refurb in this condition should never have been shipped to you. The two refurbs I've gotten from Adorama (both Nikons) have been immaculate out of the box, and both worked as if brand new. One issue you may face in all of this is having to pay the return shipping, if the camera was shipped to you free. That is stated in their return policy, and it never quite made sense to me if you were returning a defective or broken item. If you just don't like it, that's a different issue. So, when you contact them, see if you can get them to pick up the return shipping. Good luck.

 

[jpeyton]

On a side note, does anyone else here have a problem with someone bad-mouthing a company before giving them a chance to make good?

No manufacturing company in the world has a 0% defect rate. Even $400,000 Ferraris catch fire once in a blue moon.

 

[TechFinder21]

Refurbs, for the most part, are quite reliable..but there are always a few exceptions. I would just exchange this one; I doubt such an error will occur again.

 

[Paladin3]

This is a pretty chicken shit thing to post without even contacting Adorama to give them a chance to fix their obvious mistake. Bad form, OP.

 

[CuriousMike]

He's posted this on dpreview forums as well.

Understandable to get miffed, but until they've been given a chance to respond ... chalk it up to bad luck.

 

[zenit55]

Just curious about where exactly did I bad mouth a company? I ordered a product based on a lot of positive feedback provided on multiple places on the Internet, and had a completely opposite experience from most of the reports. Expressing my disappointment is a completely different concept than bad mouthing somebody. In fact adorama has been accommodating in sending me a return shipping label and offering a replacement. In this case, however, I will choose a refund and buy a new non-refurbished unit.

I believe that however anomalous my experience might have been, it did happen, and potential buyers of refurbished Nikon gear should be aware of the potentizl drawbacks of buying refurbished. Most of the current reports make it out to be "better than new", which was obviously not true in this case.

 

[Throckmorton]

On a side note, does anyone else here have a problem with someone bad-mouthing a company before giving them a chance to make good?

No manufacturing company in the world has a 0% defect rate. Even $400,000 Ferraris catch fire once in a blue moon.

No, because consumers deserve to know that things like this happen, and then whether they make good.

 

[Throckmorton]

This is a pretty chicken shit thing to post without even contacting Adorama to give them a chance to fix their obvious mistake. Bad form, OP.

So if a car dealer destroys your car, you aren't going to tell anyone about it so long as they give you a new one? You don't think customers would deserve to know that going to that dealer means risking having their car destroyed?

 

[jpeyton]

No, because consumers deserve to know that things like this happen, and then whether they make good.

Great, I'll wait for the follow-up.

 

[twistedlogic]

Wouldn't this be a Adorama mix-up? Something Nikon has no control over?

Yeah that looks "used" not refurbished. I would fire off a few photos and check the exif data to see how many actuations are on it.

 

[jhansman]

I would fire off a few photos and check the exif data to see how many actuations are on it.

This. Either that body was well used, or damaged and unnoticed. FWIW, I ordered my refurb D5100 well over a month in advance of my trip, to prevent situations just like the OP's. Turned out to be fine.