[glee46]

B&H said 6 days ago,

"I asked a warehouse supervisor to confirm that none of our K-3 II's in inventory are within the serial numbers "below #6206660" and am happy to tell you you can purchase from B&H with confidence."

This morning I get a message from B&H saying,

"Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing what the serial number is for an item until it has actually shipped. I have set up your return for a refund to the original form of payment, which will be issued once we receive the camera back."

At this point, I have $2,700 on my CC. If I purchase another one, it will hit over $3,600. I know, I'll get my money back on 3 of them, but here I am at a month into this and still have a K-3II with this issue. I'm going to give them a call this morning and see if I can work something out. If not, I only have Adorama left to purchase a K-3II or just forget about it.

[glee46]

Well, here we go again. I ordered my 4th K-3II today. I talked with B&H and they said they checked the inventory and it was clean of the serial numbers with the issues. If this one goes South, I think it's a sign that the Camera Gods are plotting against me.

[th1952]

Well, here we go again. I ordered my 4th K-3II today. I talked with B&H and they said they checked the inventory and it was clean of the serial numbers with the issues. If this one goes South, I think it's a sign that the Camera Gods are plotting against me.

Good luck. I feel your pain. I ordered a new K-50 a little over a month ago and it was defective. No probelems returning it to Adorama, but I was without it for a week and a day. I can't imagine going thru what you have. I'd have no hair left.

[glee46]

Good luck. I feel your pain. I ordered a new K-50 a little over a month ago and it was defective. No probelems returning it to Adorama, but I was without it for a week and a day. I can't imagine going thru what you have. I'd have no hair left.

Well, I spoke to soon. I got notified that they are not going to send any out until the inventory has been flushed clean of the K-3II with those with the issue. They said it might take a few weeks. My Credit Card was charged another $935.24 because they were sending it out today. Anyone want to buy a Ghost K-3II for $3,740.96. I'll send you a 8x10 glossy of it, cause that's about all I have left to look at, at the end of the day.

I'll wait 2 weeks, after that I'm just going to have to give up on it for now. Too many hours spent calling, emailing and driving to the UPS store to return these K-3II.

[bwDraco]

Sadly, at the advice of B&H customer service, I've had to return my K-3 II for refund. The representative was in touch with the buyer in the warehouse, who said that it would be another two weeks or so before a new shipment arrives. I'll have to buy another one when a new shipment comes. As advised by the service rep, I've kept the old receipts, which point to a long record of customer service conversations detailing the issue, so that if the price goes up, they can honor the lower price I originally had.

I'll be shooting my K-5 for the time being.

—DragonLord

[glee46]

Sadly, at the advice of B&H customer service, I've had to return my K-3 II for refund. The representative was in touch with the buyer in the warehouse, who said that it would be another two weeks or so before a new shipment arrives. I'll have to buy another one when a new shipment comes. As advised by the service rep, I've kept the old receipts, which point to a long record of customer service conversations detailing the issue, so that if the price goes up, they can honor the lower price I originally had.

I'll be shooting my K-5 for the time being.

—DragonLord

My Credit card has already been charged for the one I purchased today from them. I had one of the charges taken off about an hour ago. So, now I have an 8x10 glossy of a K-3II worth $2,805.72.

Who knows, by the time they get in a new stock, the price might be even lower. And as well, most of these going back will end by being sold for a reduced price down the line. If I had a clearer vision of when the FF is coming out from Pentax, I might just drop this all together.

[mee]

I really hope that all defective New K3II cameras get factory refurbished and get one at high discount on Blackfriday o boxingday....

That would be nice for us without a K-3II but really frustrating for those willing to pay the cutting edge tax today to have to suffer through the 'teething' pains for us.. Plus, I suspect there are a ton of K-3 classic bodies still unsold... so maybe not this BF for the K-3II

That said, the hoops you guys are having to go through to get a working camera is incredible.. if it were me (and it was possible) I'd return it for a refund, wait a month solid, and try again. But I have a backup body.. I understand some don't..

hope Ricoh sorts this out WELL before the FF body comes around.. because the photo world will be watching then.

[Shanti]

I sent my K3 II to the german rep-partner in Hamburg. They received it last Friday. I got the cam back yesterday after 4 working days - great. They report to have repaired the mainboard and put a new Flu Card into the box to compensate me for my inconvenience and the mailing expenses.

and the Dutch Ricoh says my #(within the range) is not affected?? but will be fixed under the 2yr warranty if problems arise--wonder if EU models are different than US/Asia ones

[glee46]

That said, the hoops you guys are having to go through to get a working camera is incredible.. if it were me (and it was possible) I'd return it for a refund, wait a month solid, and try again. But I have a backup body.. I understand some don't..

I have both a K-20 & K-5, and both work great. Never a problem with either of them. I guess if I was married, I could use the "Won't shut off" Issue to my advantage.

"Sorry honey. I can't make it to your parents dinner party. I have to keep shooting because the camera won't turn off"

[Jool]

I just received my second K-3II from B&H. The serial number is below the specified "safe" number. I haven't even taken it out of the box. I'm debating whether to try it or just return it unopened.

[Mikesul]

I have had 3 K-3iis in quick succession. Each worked perfectly but I returned the first two hoping for an unaffected SN - hasn't happened. I used GPS constantly often with logging. I intentionally tried as many settings and functions as I could on all of the cameras. Each has worked precisely as advertised. I do not dispute that there have been a few with serious problems and it is clearly a PR disaster for Pentax but I like the camera so much that I think I will just get an extended warranty on this last one and be done with it. If the problem pops up I will get it fixed. Apparently B&H will not have clean stock for awhile. I have 30 days to return to Amazon so I will give this one a work out and unless if fails I will get the extended warranty.

[Scooterpilot]

Jool,

Same thing happen to me. I didn't bother to open the box. I called B&H, obtained and RMA (this time for a refund) and it was back at UPS. I went else where to buy the K3II. I wanted a vendor that would work with me and verify the K3II wasn't on recall. Now I'm waiting for my refund from B&H and I've already ordered a non-defective K3II.

[cali92rs]

I have had 3 K-3iis in quick succession. Each worked perfectly but I returned the first two hoping for an unaffected SN - hasn't happened. I used GPS constantly often with logging. I intentionally tried as many settings and functions as I could on all of the cameras. Each has worked precisely as advertised. I do not dispute that there have been a few with serious problems and it is clearly a PR disaster for Pentax but I like the camera so much that I think I will just get an extended warranty on this last one and be done with it. If the problem pops up I will get it fixed. Apparently B&H will not have clean stock for awhile. I have 30 days to return to Amazon so I will give this one a work out and unless if fails I will get the extended warranty.

That is my tact...except that I didn't bother with the extended warranty. I figured that if this problem doesn't pop up within a year (which is the manufacturers warranty), then I could be relatively assured that it really isn't effected.

[glee46]

On B&H website, for the K-3II, it says.

New Item - Coming Soon
Ship Time: Not available

I'm pretty sure it means new K-3II's without the hick-up. Of the 3 K-3II, I received, 2 of them had major shut off problems. The 3rd would go off, but it would hang for about 10 seconds.

[Mikesul]

Of the 3 K-3II, I received, 2 of them had major shut off problems. The 3rd would go off, but it would hang for about 10 seconds.

I think this is the key. Some people have had the problem soon and severely. Others of us have seen not problems at all. My first copy, which I now think I should have just kept, had over a thousand shots taken and uncounted on and off sequences. There have been reports about the German Pentax looking at cameras and declaring them unaffected. The reports I have seen have seemed to imply that no repair was necessary, the facility tested the camera and found it ok. That is basically what US Ricoh/Pentax advised in its advisory. I am happy to do my own use-testing and get it fixed if a problem should show up. It is a fine camera. Anyway my sympathy to those who have had problems.