I'm hoping the reason they were out of stock in a lot of retailers is because Sony was fixing the video clicking issues.
Did you have to pay for shipping to Sony? And is the clicking noise completely gone now? I've been reading the fix only reduces the clicking and in some peoples cases the noise is just as loud as before the fix.
I think they were out of stock because the seem to have been super popular over the holidays. Plus NZ doesn't seem to restock things as quick being at the bottom of the world
I did pay for shipping, but Sony did they would cover it. The only reason I paid myself is Sony told me to take it back to where I brought it and the store would ship it to the repair center at no cost to me. I took it into the store and they told me it would be 8 weeks!!!! I'd already rang another repair center about the problem who told me 3 days turnaround. The store refused to ship it to that one, despite them both being Sony Service Centers, so I ended up walking out and shipping it myself to the other center (cost $7) and I had it back in 3 days. Reason I wanted it so quick is I have my first newborn due in the next 4 weeks so wanted the camera for that.
For me the clicking is totally gone on recording now. Before you could hear the rattle when the camera was off, and when playing back video it was crazy loud. Now since the repair, there is a very slight click if you shake the camera when off, but when you record you can;t hear anything no matter what you do to the camera.
Totally love the camera now!!!