Does Amazon.com check serial# for returns? [Nikon rebate related]

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Does Amazon.com check serial# for returns? [Nikon rebate related]

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ua881

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Joined: Mar '10
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I bought a D300s + 18-200 from Amazon a couple weeks ago and now there's a Nikon rebate. On Amazon it's now $2051, down from $2262 when I bought mine.

A question I would like to ask you guys is whether it's feasible to order a new one from Amazon to return the old invoice (still less than 30 days)? Since the kit will be returned completely new/unopened there shouldn't be restocking fees. But I'm not sure if Amazon would mind different serial numbers. They don't have S/N on the invoice. Does any one have experience on this?

Thanks a lot in advance,

Posted 3 years ago #
Burke Seim

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Joined: Feb '10
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These things happen - why not try to contact them & ask about their policies for situation like this? It happens all the time, to many people.
I must say that specialty dealers take care of their customers well - quickly & easily - when these types of situations occur. It's just one reason that specialty dealers are highly valued by many photographers.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Yeah, Amazon customer service is damned good. You type in your phone number and they call you within 5 minutes. It's freakishly fast.

Posted 3 years ago #
ua881

junior member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 5
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Thanks for your reply, guys.

I did contact them and they can't do anything with it, so repurchasing and returning seems to be the only way to get this rebate. But if they actually check S/N then it's an even messier issue.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Joined: May '09
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I'm not sure I understand what the serial number has to do with it? You wanted to buy another D300S+18-200 and then return the old one as the new one?

Posted 3 years ago #
ua881

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Joined: Mar '10
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Thanks, Mod! This is essentially a question about returning an identical item with different serial number.

I had a D300s kit from Amazon 2 weeks before the rebate. So I'm thinking about ordering a new D300s kit (at rebate price) then return the new kit unopened under the old order's invoice to get rebate discount.

The problem is if Amazon.com actually has S/N recorded when they ship (e.g. if they scan the S/N barcode on the camera's box before packing) they would notice that I'm returning a different camera than the one they shipped. Even if they know, I'm not sure if they would bother if the box is unopened anyway (e.g. no D300s is harmed in this transaction)!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Ah, so in other words you want to be dishonest and cheat amazon. Why don't you just return the old kit and re-buy a new one at the cheaper cost? Isn't that the same thing but doing it the "honest" way? If you do it the "dishonest" way you might run into problems with Nikon later if you need ever need service under warranty. Or amazon can find out later and charge you for both kits until you send the correct s/n back.

Just saying

Posted 3 years ago #
ua881

junior member
Joined: Mar '10
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Returning the old one would face restocking fee, of course.

I don't think this is being dishonest - unopened item returned to Amazon anyway and they can resale it at full price. But thanks, Mod.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Joined: May '09
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It's dishonest because you are returning the wrong item.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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Joined: Mar '09
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it is dishonest, if You want to grab some bucks, pay the restocking fee

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

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Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 841
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I don't even think you have to pay a restocking fee OP?!

Just tell them it was ordered incorrectly or it's focusing slow or something, Amazon is amazingly good and liberal with their return policy.

And they'll just resell the package as a "refurb" for not even $20 cheaper, so truth be told, someone is going to get a screaming deal. . .

Yeah, doing the swap is slightly dishonest as Adamz and Niko pointed out. . .remember, to service any Nikon item, you have to send it in with a Nikon warranty card+receipt that has the SER# on it. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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Yeah, I wouldn't want to try and cheat them either, especially when that might screw with your warranty. So just pay the restocking fee and still get back a good chunk of the savings.

Posted 3 years ago #
ua881

junior member
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 5
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Thanks again, shivaswrath and NSXType-R. I believe the restocking fee to return the old camera (e.g. 10%-15% of $2262) would be more than the saving (at most $211). Also, from the business perspective getting an unopened package back would be less of a hassle for Amazon.

For warranty purpose I don't think there will be a problem because Amazon doesn't have serial number on their invoice anyway.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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However you try to justify it ua881 it's still dishonesty on your part. You wouldn't like it if amazon sent you a camera with the wrong s/n would you? Like I've already pointed out if you ever need service you might run into warranty problems because the s/n don't match up. And amazon might charge you for both cameras even though you send one back. When they scan the bar code on the newer unopened box they will see that it's NOT the camera they originally shipped to you.

Posted 3 years ago #
jjreason

senior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 61
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If the D300s and 18-200mm boxes have generic sku's/upc's or if each different serial number has it's own sku/upc. I wouldn't be surprised at either.

Posted 3 years ago #

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Does Amazon.com check serial# for returns? [Nikon rebate related]

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