Attempts to freeze wildlife @ 2fps.. OK it's a rant!

This post is a bit of a rant... sorry it's a bit more than that...it's a real rant about some really bad service.

I say service loosely as I still haven't had any... or even much communication.

How long does it take to mend a camera?

A modern digital camera which is still a fairly recent model.
A Nikon D5000.

My Dslr stopped working on July 6th... I was due to leave for a well planned holiday all based around sharing images of some of wonderful wildlife and landscape/seascape of North Wales (the rant is building I can feel it)... I was in a panic, my plans were in tatters as I drove home from my little trip to capture birds at Shakerley Mere.

I had had a dream about my camera failing the night before.I woke up as if in a nightmare. I really did...looking back it is very freaky.

I went online to Nikon's UK website...a chance to recover the situation...they had a recommended repair centre in Stoke on Trent..less than 30 miles away..quick phone call with the question?

"can you repair my camera in the next couple of days"..the reply was encouraging "we may be able to, bring it in and we will have a look" I jumped in the car and was there within the hour.

The camera had stopped working and I had it at a repairer recommended on the Nikon website within 2 hours
Not bad.... I thought.

 As I passed my camera over I was then told it may take 7 days before a quote for the repair would available. "OK" I said but can you at least try to save my holiday trip and make it a priority.

I waited for some news but as time was running out I purchased a used Nikon D60 via EBay..it arrived next day..wonderful service..but I only took a few pictures and they all had a few blobs on the images...just dust on the sensor?.. I posted it back same day for a refund.

After another troll through EBay I spotted an as new Nikon refurbished D40...six months guarantee.

Bought and received just 20 minutes before I left for my revised (and shortened) holiday.

My first image with the Nikon D40 was taken on the 13th of July the D5000 expired on the 6th.

I had a lovely few days in North Yorkshire an the D40 took some lovely landscape images.

I am writing this post on the 1st of September.
It's seven weeks since I took the D5000 in for repair.

I contacted the repairers by email on the 25th July as I heard nothing only to be told they had posted an estimate (snail mail) on the 13th (this has never arrived).

I gave them my email address and phone number... why would you stick a stamp on an envelope?

I accepted the quote and gave the go ahead for the repair and left it for a couple of weeks before emailing again then phoning  only to get an answering machine promising to get back to me. They did on the fourth attempt..."waiting for parts" was the reply.

By now it was late August...Birdfair was upon us and my first visit was to view the Nikon Stand.

Very helpful... parts are plentiful for your D5000 and usually dispatched within a couple of days.

"Your repairer is Nikon trained but is independent so not within our control... it does seem a bit too long though...I would try to be a bit firmer with your emails"

Email sent voicing my concern 23rd August... reply received on the 24th.

copied and pasted from the original.

" We fitted the parts,but the camera wouldn't "set-up",so we consulted Nikon and they advised that we needed to send it to them,which we have now done.As soon as it is returned from them,we will be in touch with you"

So I wait with baited breath... I have no gripe with Nikon and I love their products...

I haven't named the repairer... although mentioning Stoke on Trent it wouldn't take Sherlock Holmes very long to discover who they are.
I will be printing off a copy of this post to send to them....and Nikon.

Once I have my camera back.... I hope get better images than these...

...the best I could manage at 2 frames per second.

A little bit off my chest... but the story continues....