Bland said:I'm considering opening a new camera store here in Tulsa at that time.

Hey now that would be great! You better offer international shipping or you and I are going to fall out! :-) Seriously how great would it be to have someone on NRF that we could all trust to be honest and fair when buying new equipment? I think you could count on all of us to be your customers! LOL, we might even get our own "mole" :-)

bjrichus said:

If/when you have a grand opening, let me know. I'll take a day trip up and say hi.

Will do but that's a couple of years away if I choose to stay working after retirement. Unless I've ran off with Roseanne Barr by then! LOL

Bland said:
I'd date Roseanne Barr before buying from them again. LOL

Oh man! You are one messed up dude!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA.... :)

Bland said:
It's the store by the mall, bjrichus.

Got it.

I shall avoid too.

Bland said:
I'm not done with them, once I get my lens I'll be filing a complaint with Nikon. On an added note, I'm retiring in 2 years and I'm considering opening a new camera store here in Tulsa at that time. I had thought about doing that before but didn't want to hurt their business, now it's not a concern.

It's all about how a store treats its customers when they have a problem. You've just experienced first hand how NOT to do it.

If/when you have a grand opening, let me know. I'll take a day trip up and say hi.

ROFL:)

adamz said:
I bet U ain't gonna hesitate to buy from them again soon.

I'd date Roseanne Barr before buying from them again. LOL

It's the store by the mall, bjrichus. If anyone wants the name of the store they can PM me. They're the only camera store left in town, that I know of.

The reason I went ahead and let them order it is because B&H is out of them, so I figured they were hard to get because the F4 12-24 is now out.

I'm not done with them, once I get my lens I'll be filing a complaint with Nikon. On an added note, I'm retiring in 2 years and I'm considering opening a new camera store here in Tulsa at that time. I had thought about doing that before but didn't want to hurt their business, now it's not a concern.

glad to hear this Bland, keep us updated, and this only confirms my point of view, if the company is unfair with u than check Your equipment locally and buy globally. I really like to support locals but they have to learn that a customer should be more important than money, c-z happy customer = more money. I bet U ain't gonna hesitate to buy from them again soon.

SkintBrit said:
bjrichus may well be right about letting them off too lightly, but all that matters Bland is that you're happy and end up with the lens you paid for (I hope you're happy with it when you finally get it home!) I think a "name and shame" or "name and compliment" thread on here would be a good idea, but possibly rather litigious?

I *think* I can work out which of the two most likely stores Bland is on about based on size remark, but it would be nice to be sure.

As for lawsuits, If the company involved did something illegal, then it would be down to Bland to pick that up... When it comes to name and shame, there is always the option of a private message... We could post a message like: "Just got a lens supposed to be new but it was obviously used. Store in Tulsa. PM for more info."

bjrichus may well be right about letting them off too lightly, but all that matters Bland is that you're happy and end up with the lens you paid for (I hope you're happy with it when you finally get it home!) I think a "name and shame" or "name and compliment" thread on here would be a good idea, but possibly rather litigious?

One thing to keep in mind with refurbs - and repairs for that matter - is that you still may need repair. LensRentals.com made a blog post that addressed the issue of repairs by Nikon. After repair, most gear performs like new equipment and the chances of something else going wrong is about the same as brand new gear.

I recently bought a refurb spotting scope. It was serial number 000111 - a very early model and came in a plain white box. It may have been a sample or an executive loaner, In any event, it looks like new and performs perfectly at half the suggested retail price.

Bland said:
Yesterday they called me at work and said they would order me a new one or give me my money back. I said to order me a new one.

I have no way of knowing but I think someone had been using that lens who works at the store or it was a returned item that had been used. I won't be buying anything there again. To think I spent over $5,000 there over the last year and they treat me like this is unforgivable.

I am gad that it is moving along for you, but (this is a big but), I think you let them off lightly as they are still making money off you by letting them get another one for you. Did you check with the BBB to see if someone else has also complained about this before?

Do/will they also keep that damaged lens to try and pass off on someone else? If you spent $5k with then recently and they do this kind of thing, I think you should give us a hint at least, about who they are. This is especially so as they may have tried to pass off damaged or potentially used goods as new items. It happens from time to time in retail, which is unforgivable in my view, and I am glad you know enough to go back and could complain from a position of knowledge.

On that line of thought, there are only two dedicated camera stores in Tulsa that I know of. One just to the south of downtown (is there a Mall close by?) and one out of town to the south (Is it in Bixby?), I've only been there a handful of times... (wife was looking over my shoulder and corrected me - two times in the city and once driving through), I think from what you have already posted, I can guess which it is and while at 250 miles away from my home, and I am personally unlikely to ever visit the store there in person, you never know if I am in town and need something urgently. If I don't know any better and looking online, I sure would like to know who to avoid, or more likely know who in Tulsa I need to go TO (which would NOT be these guys).

Thanks everyone.

tcole1983.... after bringing the lens back, they said it was new and got that way by showing it to someone, then they said it was a demo and had only been out of the box 4 times. They also said that loosing the lens case happens all the time. I asked them who showed it and who remembered it being a demo, no one could answer that. The clear end cap was interesting as they said that's how some of them come. I said that may be (after reading golf007sd comment) but Nikkor would of never used that type of clear cap because it had to be forced on and was damaging the contacts.

After my 3rd visit with them they only offered to give me a soft lens case, that's when I loss my cool and demanded my money back in full. They said at that point they'd have to get back with me. Yesterday they called me at work and said they would order me a new one or give me my money back. I said to order me a new one.

I have no way of knowing but I think someone had been using that lens who works at the store or it was a returned item that had been used. I won't be buying anything there again. To think I spent over $5,000 there over the last year and they treat me like this is unforgivable.

Awesome!!!

*Give's Bland a high-five*

Cheers...

Sounds good. I am just curious what they thought or said when you brought the issue up. Did they still swear it was brand new or what? I mean I don't see how they could argue...oh yeah they always come with clear end caps and no bag. Seems shady either way.

I'm glad they made the right decision Bland......

Good news, they came through today and ordered me a "new" lens. Thanks to all for your advice and Adam for your support!

sevencrossing said:
My D90 was refurbished, from Jacobs at Foucs on Imaging . I have sold it now, but never had any problem and as far as I know, nether has the new owner

That's good news, but hardly the point. There is no reason to suspect Bland would have a problem with his lens, but there's every reason to expect a new lens when you pay for one.

My D90 was refurbished, from Jacobs at Foucs on Imaging . I have sold it now, but never had any problem and as far as I know, nether has the new owner

Well that's unbelievable. What kind of company tries to pass off a used or refurbished lens as new at full price? Since you let them know you are not happy, I'm sure consumer laws fully protect you and they'll have to refund your money, but I hope the admins will let you post what the name of the company is to help other's avoid making a mistake by supporting a business who would have such deplorable business practices......

Note to self, don't buy from .............ever again.

Long story short, they're not going to address the situtation and I told them I want my money back in full tomorrow.
Adam, thanks for the support and I'll get with you tomorrow if they don't return my money.

Thanks everyone for the advice and etc., it's trully been appreciated.

Bland - full support from mod team, PM me if You'll need some help

Bland how did you pay for it...cc or via paypal? If you paid with CC call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Also, I think I have seen some video's that did show that some Nikon len;s have shipped with the clear end-cap lens versus the stander all black. Lastly, call Nikon USA and talk to customer service and give them the serial number and see if it has ever been registered or at least get some history on the lens.

Cheers....

I'll update you all tomorrow,hopefully they'll be willing to do what's right, if not.... :-)