RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

I prefer to buy legitimate products but, occasionally buy something used. Is there any way to determine if a used product (particularly lens) was legal import or grey market? If it was grey market and you eventually send for reair, what happens???

Thanks,
RegisG

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

When buying used, the only SURE way to tell is if it comes with the original USA warranty card from the manufacturer, and that card has the matching serial number on it.

Zone-System-Grandpa Loc: Springfield, Ohio

;-) Well, you probably already know the answer to your question which is ~> If you send or take the lens to a Mom & Pop repair shop, you can get the lens repaired regardless if the lens is gray market or USA.. Yet, should you send the lens to its manufacturer's repair service center, they will repair the lens if it is USA and they will not repair the lens if is is Grey market..

The real question would be to find out if your lens is USA or Gray market.. If the seller of the lens remains to have the box the lens had come in, you may be able to look at the box to see if it is marked or coded depicting the lens to be USA..

catfish252

First let me state - they are legitimate products made by Nikon or Canon.
They have not entered the US through Nikon or Canon distribution channel.

I don't know if their is a comparable website for Canon and other manufacturers but for Nikon users:

Nikon has long used the first digit of the serial number to indicate region for many of their products:

1-Not used
2-Japan
3-USA
4-Europe (excluding UK)
5-Canada
6-Australia/New Zealand
7-Asia (excluding Japan)
8-United Kingdom
9-Not used

Nikon users can go here to check on lens serial numbers:

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html


If you buy at a place like B&H they will provide the manufacturers warranty however Nikon and Canon usually will not honor the warranty for gray market except for special cases like the Nikon D600 shutter which you can take any D600(even used and out of warranty) to any service center in the world and they will fix it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/USGrey.jsp

RegisG Loc: Mid-Tennessee

Sure would be great if Canon and 3rd parties did the same. And, maybe they do.

Thanks everyone. If I do buy, I'll be looking for the waranty card first.
RegisG

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

It is my understanding Canon will repair gray market lenses for a price; in your case you mentioned you buy used Canon lenses; The Irvine Ca service center will repair your lens for a price as it's has no warranty.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Regis, if you are buying used, and the product is grey market, but withing the warranty period, canon will probably look at it on a case by case situation, and may or may not warranty the product.
If you are the original purchaser, of a grey market item, and have the original bill of sale in you're name with all specs on it, cost, place, etc., Canon will probably warranty the item. They seem to be more interests in the bill of sale than the actual market it was sold in.
If an item is out of warranty period, and you are willing to pay for the repair, Canon will never refuse to repair it's product, no matter where it came from so as long as its still within its service life.
Any Warrenty situation is only within the first year of purchase date anyway, regardless of where it came from.
The problem could develope with a new item if you are NOT the original buyer and expect a warranty repair, and you are not listed on the bill is sale. ;-)
SS

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Perhaps I missed something here, or just didn't understand, but how do you tell if a product is grey market? That would be beneficial to know. Thanx in advance.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

What kind of warranty do you expect with a used lens? Whom do you think is going to honor it? Grey market items are only effected when sold as new.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Warranties do not pass with Nikon equipment re-sales.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

This is good to know. So buying a good used Canon lens even if it's gray market is probably ok. I think Nikon will refuse to repair, even for a fee, anything that's grey market. Nikons warranty is longer than Canons warranty on lenses (not sure about bodies) but they don't seem to be as picky about paperwork. I brought my Canon 7D in for a clean and check and told them that I'd had a few error 99 messages pop up on my LCD. I don't even have my receipt and they put it in for warranty repairs because "it looked new". The clean and check was free because when they do a warranty repair they do all the necessary cleaning and check it anyway.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

As I have said before Canon is a superior company when doing business with consumers, they take care of customers their policy when it comes to buying refurbished products and warranty item's just shows what a great company it is. Why would anyone buy and deal with the likes of Nikon? I read on this site all you who bitch about Nikon and the service on returning products, it sounds like they have just gotten a little to big for there britches? I don't think they should treat folks like that! good SERVICE should be priority one!



quote=jeep_daddy]This is good to know. So buying a good used Canon lens even if it's gray market is probably ok. I think Nikon will refuse to repair, even for a fee, anything that's grey market. Nikons warranty is longer than Canons warranty on lenses (not sure about bodies) but they don't seem to be as picky about paperwork. I brought my Canon 7D in for a clean and check and told them that I'd had a few error 99 messages pop up on my LCD. I don't even have my receipt and they put it in for warranty repairs because "it looked new". The clean and check was free because when they do a warranty repair they do all the necessary cleaning and check it anyway.[/quote]

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

[/quote]

Richard, that is just not true!!
Nikon took in all those 600's and not only made all the repairs, but installed a new DIPSTICK, for FREE!! 8-) :lol: :lol:
SS

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Yep you're right; but remember how long it took for them to just to acknowledge it was a problem! The folks had to scream their heads off. What a way to take care of servicing the customer base gees wiz! Maybe when Nikkon screws up again people might see the light and look elsewhere.