Gray Market Cameras
Jan 20, 2017 07:17:20 #
OP-Yes, I've bought but had no warranty or repair issues. Because of the tempting price, I bought a D810 gray market off eBay. And a 3 year extended warranty (4 total years). Should it fail, how will they repair it? Mo they wont, they replace with a new camera as clearly stated in the warranty and on the receipt. It's 3 years old, 65,000 frames and still as it was the day I received it, perfect. It's a gamble, but it's a gamble I was willing to take. Someday, Nikon USA may find themselves involved in a class action lawsuit over this warranty refusal BS.
Jan 20, 2017 07:25:28 #
I have a close friend whose family owned a camera store for two generations. He had to eventually close the store because customers would buy their cameras and accessories on the grey market, then come to his store when they wanted the operation of said equipment explained to them. At first he and other sales people he employed smiled and did their best to help. As he saw his true customer base erode more and more to this he still smiled, then quoted a rate to them to give lessons on their grey market cameras! Many of those "customers" went ballistic since my friends store sold such brands and they thought it was their right as a "customer" to get free help. To conclude: my buddy closed his store, put five full time and several part time employees out of work. This happened ten years ago and he is still paying off creditors from the store closure. Yes, he could easily have declared bankruptcy, but he did not feel that was the right thing to do! I admire his ethics, and question that of the "customers".
Jan 20, 2017 08:17:10 #
Photoholic wrote:
There's been a lot of talk about Gray Market camer... (show quote)
$200 is a significant savings on a D5200, but selling it would be a problem, assuming you advertise it as gray market. Nikon does not supply parts to independent shops, so you'd be out of luck there. I think Nikon would cover a recall, from what I've read here. I've never had an SLR fail, and I'm going back to the 1970s. Still, having one break and not be able to get it fixed would worry me. I would look into getting a refurbished body. The warranty is shorter, but at least Nikon will work on it.
Jan 20, 2017 08:19:26 #
Photoholic wrote:
I'm always amazed at the people who worry so much about what might happen and are convinced they will even have a need for repairs. I bought at least 4 cameras before I discovered UHH. I didn't even know what grey market was. Somehow, they all still worked just fine and still do, even though I've owned or passed them down to family over more than 10 years. Folks here act like an $800 camera is a lifetime investment and they emptied the bank, yet turn around and buy a $400 monitor, cell phones, TV's, Ipads, laptops, etc. without a care for whether it may break down one day. Pretty sure the buy decision isn't dictated by where it can be repaired. They are all manufactured overseas by the same labor force and quality control. The math doesn't add up to all this worry. Does anybody know the actual failure rate? Is it maybe, like 1%? Less than 1%... maybe .001%? I suspect that statistically, you have a higher chance of slipping in the bathtub and racking up medical bills higher than buying a new camera.There's been a lot of talk about Gray Market camer... (show quote)
Jan 20, 2017 08:19:36 #
NikonCharlie wrote:
Someday, Nikon USA may find themselves involved in a class action lawsuit over this warranty refusal BS.
Yes, it is a messy business. The thing is, Nikon USA didn't sell the camera, and that's how they avoid doing repairs.
Jan 20, 2017 08:19:43 #
NikonCharlie wrote:
OP-Yes, I've bought but had no warranty or repair ... (show quote)
I have always had good luck with gray market products, thanks for your reply.
Jan 20, 2017 08:23:12 #
Jim Bob wrote:
This is misleading and inaccurate. Nikon authorized repair facilities will repair certain gray market units. Come on Gene. If you don't know what you're talking about, keep quie.
"The D7100, D610, D800, D810 and D4s..."
http://nikonrumors.com/2016/05/16/great-news-you-can-now-repair-some-nikon-grey-market-cameras-at-third-party-us-repair-facilities.aspx/
Jan 20, 2017 08:25:29 #
mikeroetex wrote:
I'm always amazed at the people who worry so much ... (show quote)
Hey let me sell you an extended warranty with your purchase. Nah i'll just throw it away if it breaks. I get this all the time. People crying about warranty on their cameras. Love your reply, thanks.
Jan 20, 2017 08:26:29 #
mikeroetex wrote:
Does anybody know the actual failure rate? Is it maybe, like 1%? Less than 1%... maybe .001%?
Projected to 15.6% by the third year. Accidental damage is even higher, though not covered by the warranty.
https://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/Camera_failure_study.pdf
Jan 20, 2017 08:48:57 #
In 1965 I returned from Europe where I was studying. I have bought in Barcelona a Nikon F with a 50mm f1.4 lens and upon returning to this US I contacted Nikon to have the camera cleaned and adjusted as necessary. I had a no as a response and the dealer I bought the camera from in Barcelona was an authorized retailer. Several years later I learned that Nikon has approved service on cameras bought abroad from authorized dealers.
I have nothing against buying gray market but Nikon will not repair such products.
I have nothing against buying gray market but Nikon will not repair such products.
Jan 20, 2017 08:59:19 #
Photoholic wrote:
There's been a lot of talk about Gray Market camer... (show quote)
$200 is, in reality, not a great savings, especially is you have to purchase "other" insurance from the seller. If I were to buy grey market, I'd want more than that.
On the other hand, I have never had a problem with any Nikon camera.
On the third hand, if you needed repair that required parts that were not readily available, the repair facility won't be able to get parts for that camera.
It's a coin flip as to wether or not it's worth it.
Jan 20, 2017 09:20:48 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Jerry, you are the king of Google! Good info, but inconclusive to me and it is 7 years old over data collected 2007-2010. A lot of tech has changed since those "early" days. It was interesting to note that this figure of 15% includes cheap P&S cameras. Failure rate drops to 4% over two years for a DSLR and even less the more you pay and for higher end cameras. To my point, cell phones were as high as 20%. Also, 40% of "incidents" were due to accidents, not manufacture, so be careful out there. My takeaway is that we get what we pay for, should try not to be careless and lastly.... be somewhat skeptical of a study published by a company that makes its money selling extended warranties. Projected to 15.6% by the third year. Accidental damage is even higher, though not covered by the warranty.
https://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/Camera_failure_study.pdf
https://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/Camera_failure_study.pdf
Jan 20, 2017 09:39:21 #
Gene51 wrote:
Nikon will not fix a gray market camera, nor will they allow any of their authorized repair people to fix gray goods - regardless of whether it is in warranty or not.
That is the first impact. The second is that gray is hard to sell and when you do you won't get the same as if it were not gray.
Nikon's policy is the most restrictive.
That is the first impact. The second is that gray is hard to sell and when you do you won't get the same as if it were not gray.
Nikon's policy is the most restrictive.
Nikon's stand on Grey Market repair is just plain Anal ! It is also unbelieveable. Nikon made the dam camera in the first place, allowed it to enter the grey market, then they refuse to work on the camera, even if the consumer pays out of pocket!! Now, a counterfeit camera is another thing, but I don't think they exist.
If I was ever thinking of buying a Nikon, this alone would be a good reason not to.
Grey market sellers usually give 30 days to return the camera. Usually, if the camera makes it to the 30 day mark without a problem, then there shouldn't be a problem. But not always, and there are plenty of independent repair shops that can fix the camera (nikon) out there, but of course, out of pocket.
In the past, I bought a Canon 7D from a grey seller I won't name, and it turned into a nightmare. First of all, the camera was intended to go to China. So when I turned the camera on, everything was in Chinese. Boy that was fun finding the switch to turn it back into english. Then the Disks were Chinese, and it did not include the disks I needed anyway for that very reason. The seller did send out the proper disks, and a cable that was not included, but the box did not match that of the lens that came with the camera kit. And I ended up calling Canon for the Pocket guide, they just plain didn't have one.
This little event taught me the valuable lesson. You'd better make a substantial savings if you end up going to a grey market seller/camera.
If you have everything that is suppose to come with the camera, and it is working fine, you shouldn't have a problem. And once the warranty period is over, the grey market camera is no different than the one that came with the warranty, Except of course for Nikon's anal stand on the camera's repair, even if they are paid out of pocket to do so. Find a good independent repair shop to deal with just in case.
And yes, grey market camera's are harder to sell, simply due to Nikon's stand on their repair. Canon does not have this problem. I sold my 7D without any problem, and the "grey market" status never came up with the buyer. And he is still happy to this date. And the buyer knew the camera did not have a warrant but knew that Canon would repair the camera if the need arouse.
Jan 20, 2017 09:42:22 #
Jan 20, 2017 09:47:49 #
orrie smith wrote:
I have not purchased grey market, but I do not see... (show quote)
If you were to ship a grey market camera to the intended country on the serial number (Japan for instance) you are going to have to pay duty fees on the camera going each way in addition to any repair charges. It could easily cost you as much as the camera is worth (and way more than the difference in cost of grey market vs authorized market) for the repair. I wouldn't purchase grey market for any reason except as a throw away item.
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