Help Nikon Binoculars - worst service and product ever?

[Seven Spades]

Last April my wife bought me a pair of "Nikon 7 X 70 IF Compass" for my birthday in May, we did not take the boat out in either May nor June but in July we took them on our summer cruise. By the end of the cruise they were out of align, so back they went to Nikon. They were repaired under warranty

In May of this year I went to Deauville, on the return journey I was caught in a Gale 8 mid-channel and when I reached the Solent the binoculars were out of align. They had been on the shelf in the saloon for the whole journey, now Nikon UK are refusing to repair these under warranty as they say they have been dropped (they have not, they were on the shelf within the boat throughout the trip). These binoculars are clearly unfit for purpose they simply are not robust enough for the marine environment. I wrote to them asking not for a repair but for a replacement model as I really do not believe that this problem is not going to recur.

We are in a slightly difficult position because our house has been demolished whilst our "Grand Design" is being built and cannot remember where we bought them from (An internet site). Does anyone on here know of anyone of significance within Nikon UK who can sort this out. These were very expensive glasses and I am appalled to be treated this way.

 

[Sailfree]

Another reason for buying Stiener Marine Binnoculars

I posted the above to hopefully start a discussion on Nikon v Stiener v the rest.

You can then write to Nikon stating that you have posted details of your use of Nikon Bins on Scuttlebutt thread (send link?) and Nikon are getting adverse publicity as a result would they like to reconsider repairing them.

 

[Seven Spades]

I have always thought that Nikon made very good robust equipment, particularly cameras as they traditionally have aimed at the professional end of the market. I am really upset by this these were not a cheap purchase:-

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Nikon_Marine_7x50IF_WP_Compass_Binoculars

I was hoping that someone could give me a name to write to. I don't particularly want these repaired as I really think the problem will come back again. Effectively I have used these bins on board for no more than 18 days of sailing and during that time they have gone out of alignment and been repaired and then going out of alignment again. On the second occasion they were not even used just carried in the saloon on a shelf.

 

[dylanwinter]

Tough post

not after a scrap with anyone at all .....

but is this really the wrost service and product you have ever had?


There are times when I feel a bit sorry for manufacturers trying to sell stuff to sailors

no receipt,

no idea where you bought the binocs

no idea when

and damage that is typical of being dropped

I occasionally get flamed by blokes with eight year old computers and on the end of a slow landlines complaining that they can't watch my HD films

or telling me that my website made their computer crash/gave them a virus/made their milk boil over/cracked a tooth/made their dog sick

needless to say I refund them their money

but that is only $4.99 shoved back through paypal at the click of a button

as opposed to refunding the thick end of $499 for some pretty delicate optics that apparently knocked themselves out of line sitting on a shelf on a boat

- apprently

£390
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-7x50IF-WP-Compass-Binoculars/dp/B00006JK6H


I use these

£15
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LIGHT-HIGH-...1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345566018&sr=8-2-fkmr2

frequently dropped, they clunk around the cockpit.... frequently slipped off the cockpit seats onto the cockpit floor....so far... so good

Dylan

 

[Lakesailor]

Must say I haven't seen or used the binos being complained about but have had some Nikon bins for a long time and they have been very good and continue to be.

As with all big brands, some stuff is not made under the direct control of the brand holder but farmed out. Nikon did this with some of the early cheaper consumer cameras.

Not an excuse for poor customer service of course.

 

[Seven Spades]

What have I done to upset you Dylan? I have come on here and told it exactly as it is. The first trip this season was the Solent to Deauville race and I took the repaired bins with me. They were carried in the saloon, I left Deauville on the sunday night in a F5 which degenerated into a F8 by the time I was mid channel. When I came through the forts I took out the bins and they were out of alignment. The boat was tossed about somewhat, but there is no reason what an expensive pair on bins shouldn't be able to withstand that.

I have sent the bins back to Nikon who have taken exactly the same attitude as you have that it is all my fault. Well if that is the case I must be really careless then because this is the second time it happened, and within a few days sailing of each other.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Nikon has shot itself in the kneecap. Several hundred potential customers will read this blog. "So what?" says Nikon. But Google loves YBW.com, and any search for Nikon binocular quality is likely to return this thread on page one of the results. Oh dear!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I posted the above to hopefully start a discussion on Nikon v Stiener v the rest.

My Fuji image stabilized ones are 10 years old now and are the dog's doodas. They cost a lot more new now than when I bought them alas. I think after living with IS bins it would be hard to go back to standard shaky-all-abouty ones.

 

[Seven Spades]

Here is a photo of my house:-

I do have a receipt but as I have said it is in storage, when the building project is finished I will have access to it. Nikon have a record of the purchase date as I provided it last year when I returned it the first time. The difficulty I have it I cannot reject the product under the sales of goods act without getting my hands on that receipt because my contract is with the retailer not Nikon UK. Nikon UK however should stand behind their product and put the matter right. A pair of Stieners with compass is double the price of the Nikons.

 

[cliff]

A pair of Stieners with compass is double the price of the Nikons.

Buy cheap, buy twice (or thrice)

 

[dylanwinter]

not upset

What have I done to upset you Dylan? I have come on here and told it exactly as it is. The first trip this season was the Solent to Deauville race and I took the repaired bins with me. They were carried in the saloon, I left Deauville on the sunday night in a F5 which degenerated into a F8 by the time I was mid channel. When I came through the forts I took out the bins and they were out of alignment. The boat was tossed about somewhat, but there is no reason what an expensive pair on bins shouldn't be able to withstand that.

I have sent the bins back to Nikon who have taken exactly the same attitude as you have that it is all my fault. Well if that is the case I must be really careless then because this is the second time it happened, and within a few days sailing of each other.

I really hope that you are not angry with me

I am just trying to look at the other side of the fence

it is really hard for Nikon to know that no-one dropped them

it is probably hard for you to know that no-one has dropped them either

unless you were sailing alone

and it is the second time they have lost alignment while you owned them

how can they tell the difference between

.... a geniune manufacturing fault in one pair of binocs that have been repaired and inspected and returned to the hands of a diligent utterly trustworthy buyer

and

..... a pair of binocs that have been qualiity inspected twice (once while new and once after the repair) dropped twice by a clumsy buyer who does not know where the binocs were bought or when


I think that Nikon are in a really difficult position

I assume they repaired the binocs and are happy that the binocs were returned to you in good condition ready for a lifetime of sensible use

As a cameraman I have bought and used lots of their gear and know that Nikon quality control is usually excellent

I read your post and thought good on Nikon for doing the repair the first time with no proof of purchase

asking them to do it twice is a big ask

should they undertake to repair damage for the life-time of the product?

 

[Matelot Joe]

What have I done to upset you Dylan? I have come on here and told it exactly as it is. The first trip this season was the Solent to Deauville race and I took the repaired bins with me. They were carried in the saloon, I left Deauville on the sunday night in a F5 which degenerated into a F8 by the time I was mid channel. When I came through the forts I took out the bins and they were out of alignment. The boat was tossed about somewhat, but there is no reason what an expensive pair on bins shouldn't be able to withstand that.

I have sent the bins back to Nikon who have taken exactly the same attitude as you have that it is all my fault. Well if that is the case I must be really careless then because this is the second time it happened, and within a few days sailing of each other.

Well, thanks for the warning, I'm in the market for new Bins, this brand 'NIKON' is now not even an option. I would have thought that in this market, to adopt that stance is very short sighted indeed.
They only get one chance with me and my feet/£ do the walking.

 

[Twister_Ken]

is very short sighted indeed.

Ba-Boom!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

..... or telling me that my website made their computer crash/gave them a virus/made their milk boil over/cracked a tooth/made their dog sick .....

Jeeze, I never knew that they could do that! Do you think a website could have made my wife pregnant?

 

[dylanwinter]

if you own a mac

Jeeze, I never knew that they could do that! Do you think a website could have made my wife pregnant?

if you own an 8 year old mac that you refer to as your 'pooter' then it is certainly possible for you to believe it to be true

D

 

[Matelot Joe]

Ba-Boom!

You wish to make a point ?

 

[Twister_Ken]

You wish to make a point ?

Nikon - Binoculars - Short sighted

 

[westernman]

I have Binoylts with in built compass which are regularly abused (fall off the cockpit bench etc). Very good they are - particularly in low light or at night.

Not as expensive as Steiners but a lot more than the ones from Aldi.

 

[Lakesailor]

Here is a photo of my house:-

Gosh. You don't have much luck do you?
First the binos and now the house.

 

[doris]

Nikon v Steiner

I have a pair of steiners that I bought at the SIBS at a v good price. Since then a mate got some Fujinon (?) bins that are as good if not better for much less money.