Michaele

I came across a company in New Jersey - "Deals all Year" selling Sony A7rii for about 20% discount. The same discount on Sony fe lenses. They are rated 100% by e-bay and they accept PayPal as well as sending you an invoice detailing the purchase before you buy. These are gray market items without Sony U.S. warranties. They do sell a 3 year policy for all eventualities for $249. and the repair station is an authorized dealership in New Jersey. Sounds very good. Anyone have opinions?? Has anyone done business with these people? Will appreciate help in making a decision. Many thanks, Zing444

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Gray market. :thumbdown:
--Bob

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

That 20% save could end up being a headache.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

The OP clearly acknowledges that it's gray market but does it really matter? He saves 20% on a brand new item. What are the chances of it breaking down? If you buy an item on Ebay or similar site you don't get a warranty either so whats the difference.
Buy gray market wherever you can and use the money you saved for other items.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

There is nothing wrong with gray market itself, so long as you are okay buying without a factory warranty and the seller is a reputable one. Besides the warranty, there typically is no difference between the products (unless it's a simpler item that might be cloned and counterfeited... this isn't likely with a camera or lens, though).

I don't know that seller at all... I am always suspicious of anyone offering prices lower than B&H and Adorama, which are probably the highest volume dealers in the U.S., so are able to pass along about the lowest prices of anyone. They sort of invented gray market sales, too.

If buying gray market, I wouldn't bother with an after-market warranty. Those often sound to be more trouble than they are worth... and buying one sort of wipes out the savings buying gray market!

Another money-saving option is to buy refurbished.... Often these are demo gear, open box, etc. It might have seen very little real use. Factory refurbs are probably more thoroughly inspected than brand new stuff coming off the assembly line.

But I don't know if Sony has any sort of refurb outlet... and, if they do, I don't know their warranty terms on the stuff. You'll have to research these things yourself. (I shoot Canon and know that Canon USA sells refurbs directly out of their online store and warrants them the same as new.)

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

Excellent advice, Amphoto, well put.

Jim Bob

Not so. Some sellers on ebay are authorized dealers and some others provide their own warranties. Your information indicating buying on ebay is the equivalent of purchasing without a warranty is just wrong.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I had assumed it would be obvious that I was referring to private sales on Ebay or similar sites, not dealers.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Avoid it as if it were radioactive.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I purchased a Canon speedlite 600 ex-rt from a "reputable" vendor on eBay last year. Got it for a fairly decent price, not dirt cheap but decent. Found out several months later its counterfeit. It looks almost identical to a real Canon 600 ex-rt, works pretty much like a real 600 ex-rt, although I never used any custom functions and had not used the rf wireless yet. The box looked legit as did the manual and paper work that came with it. When I brought it up to eBay they said it was past the time they could do something, to contact PayPal. After a few heated arguments on the phone with a PayPal rep they credited my account $200. So in the end I got the fake 600 ex-rt that appears to work fairly well for probably about how much it's really worth but I also learned a valuable lesson and won't be purchasing anything like that on eBay ever again. If it can be counterfeited, some crafty shop in China is doing so; and eBay doesn't really care, as long as they make money.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

The issue is if you need service you will not get it from the USA distributor. You also have to ask yourself if the 20 percent discount is worth it. When I buy equipment I will not buy Gray Market.To me having that insurance is well worth it eve though I know the probability is low that I will need service. Your call.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Although I would never consider buying Grey/Gray market, a buddy of mine did purchase from them,(I think it was them) a D200 several years ago. He hasn't had a problem, but when he purchased, they kept pulling (or trying) the old bait and switch on him, he stuck to his guns and got what he wanted.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

I tend to put this in the same league with buying insurance. It comes down a personal judgement about how much risk you are comfortable with - and of course your own judgment about how serious the risk is.

Buying gray market may mean that somewhere down the road you will have to replace rather than repair the camera or lens. Unless the camera or lens is under warranty, repair may cost nearly as much as replacement.

Bobbee

I have a grey D7100. It broke. Dropped actually. Had a Square Trade warranty from the company who sold me the camera. Was fixed in record time with no excuses. The ST warranty was for DROPS AND MISHAPS. IMPORTANT.

TommiRulz Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

I'm the crazy lady that buys almost all her stuff grey market. I have purchased from Deals All Year off E bay and had no problems. BUT I have never had to use their customer service - so I don't know how that is. I do consider all my grey market items a bit of a gamble.
If you really want that camera and you only have $2780 - I would go for it. If your wallet is more flexible and you can find the extra $400 smacks PLUS tax - ugh, of course it may be a safer bet to go with a real store.