Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Friday, October 17, 1997

Nikon doesn’t service
‘gray-market’ products

I sent my Nikon camera to Nikon Inc. in California (through a local shop) for a repair estimate. But Nikon won't fix it -- or even give an estimate -- unless I can find a sales receipt showing I purchased it outside the U.S. I bought the camera in Japan seven years ago, but no one said I had to save the receipt to prove my "foreign model" was not purchased in the U.S. The warranty has long expired. Why should the receipt be needed? I called Nikon at 1-800-645-6678, but they just said this is a policy to protect U.S. dealers. I paid customs duty on my camera, and I can't see why Nikon U.S.A. won't fix it or give me an estimate. Do I have to send it back to Japan or where?

You can take it to an authorized independent service agent to have it repaired, but Nikon U.S.'s service centers in Los Angeles and New York won't touch it, said Dave Sears, technical adviser in Nikon's customer relations office.

The reason basically is the one you were given: "Because the 'gray' market problem is such a big problem in this country, the service department does not service gray-market products under any circumstances," Sears said.

I called 911 at 12:50 p.m. one day to ask that police stand by on a nonemergency at 1:30 p.m. when I went to make sure a tenant was moving out of an apartment. I had problems before, so was afraid to be there alone. The dispatcher said an officer would be there "in a few minutes." I asked if she wanted my cellular phone number, and she said no. Luckily there was no problem because no one showed up. When I got home, I found a message saying an officer would be late. At 3 p.m., an officer called asking where I was! Why did this happen?

The basic problem is that the situation with police officers may change in a minute, said Capt. William Chur, of HPD's communications division.

"At the time they received the call, they may have had sufficient units to send somebody," he said. "But by the time 1:30 came around, the situation changed."

Normally, and as was done in your case, dispatchers would call back and advise the caller about a delay. "I don't know why they didn't take the cellular number" in your case, Chur said. "I really can't offer any explanation."

However, he said, "We try not to make appointments for police officers -- we send them as the need arises." In the future, it might be better to call closer to the time you need an officer, he said.

There is a contraption fronting 4890 Likini St. in Salt Lake owned by GTE Hawaiian Tel. It's minus a covering, with a barrier around it, and has been in that condition for more than a year. It's an eyesore. Can a responsible person please do something about it?

That "contraption" is a Hawaiian Telephone terminal box that was knocked over by a car, said spokesman Calvin Tadaki.

Damaged underground cables were repaired as soon as possible, but "finishing it off" is another matter. That work may not be completed until late November.

Asked why so long, Tadaki said that once something is back in service, projects are then put on a construction schedule. With other work given higher priority, that's as soon as crews can get there.

Auwe

To Ala Moana Center for becoming awfully tourist-oriented. Now that Woolworth's is closing, isn't it possible to bring in Kmart or Costco so kamaainas have someplace to shop? -- Mrs. R.

Auwe

To the male driver of a white van with personalized license plates. About 5:30 a.m., Sept. 9, you crossed a solid line on Piikoi going to the H-1. Good thing I was going slow or you would have hit me!