Grey Market??? sort of new here but good question
Jan 20, 2017 12:27:52 #
Since a label says Nikon or Canon and that label is in fact a verifiable exact label of the company How the heck can we tell if it is grey market or not? Did someone steal a shipment of Nikons or canons to resell? I mean how can we tell? I know you all out there say if it's price is too low it is probably grey market. I don't care for probably. Either it is or is not Nikon or Canon. What makes the product grey market in the first place when the logo is plainly on the product and only the manufacturer can tell the difference how are we to now it is not real?
Jan 20, 2017 12:32:05 #
deal with companies that have the decency to tell you or submit serial numbers to the service departments.
Jan 20, 2017 12:32:59 #
Jan 20, 2017 12:41:49 #
Grey market whatever are not stolen items. They are just not made for a specific market yet are sold in there.
Grey or not depends on geographic location.
The serial number tells you for which geographic area they are supposed to be sold in.
Since the items are identical, what is the difference? Taxes.
Grey or not depends on geographic location.
The serial number tells you for which geographic area they are supposed to be sold in.
Since the items are identical, what is the difference? Taxes.
Jan 20, 2017 12:46:32 #
drklrd wrote:
Since a label says Nikon or Canon and that label i... (show quote)
Usually there will be something on the box or in the box that indicates the region it's supposed to be retailed in. I know that every Canon camera has a warranty card in the box that says US/Canada on it. So it means that the camera is retailed in North America and warrantied here.
If you are asking what the hell the difference it between one for sale here and one that was to be retailed in a different part of the world, then the answer is that some will have instructions or booklets in a different language, or battery chargers with different plugs for that region, and most importantly, the warranty card will reflect that region and give you information where you can get warranty repairs and find authorized repair centers for that region. That being said, Canon will repair any camera they make here in the US, but if it's Grey Market, the warranty will not be good, you'll have to pay for any repairs. If it's a Nikon, they will simply send it back and tell you they refuse to repair it "period" because it's grey market.
Jan 20, 2017 13:05:33 #
It is all in the serial numbers for Nikon!
All Nikon USA Serial Numbers start with anywhere from 25 through 39. 20 through 24 are Japanese market.
All Nikon USA Serial Numbers start with anywhere from 25 through 39. 20 through 24 are Japanese market.
Jan 20, 2017 13:26:56 #
drklrd wrote:
Since a label says Nikon or Canon and that label i... (show quote)
Typically the easiest way is to examine the warranty slip, if its a USA warranty it will say so. If not, it will be an "International" warranty. International warranty slip indicates it was bought through an authorized dealer in another region of the world and will have coverage in that country, but will typically have no USA warranty unless you can prove YOU bought it there in person.
If there is NO warranty slip then it truly is a grey market bought through fully UN-authorized channels and will have no warranty coverage anywhere in the world.
Jan 20, 2017 15:47:41 #
Now I am feeling a little let down if the serial number and the proposed market the manufacturer set it up for sales in are the only differences between grey and good.
So, as I understand it, Nikon and Canon both adhere to this policy. Now the thought balloon over my head seems even foggier as I wrestle with the reason other than taxes as to why both major companies who made the gear in the first place put that stipulation on their gear that they made. Do they then make inferior products for other countries, is the thought that comes to mind? I wonder how this shakes out in profits lost in repairs or bad equipment. To me somehow it seems a little shady by both companies. I mean not backing warranties just because we the consumer had no idea as to how the gear (product) that got into our hands was grey market. How can we tell especially if we buy it on faith that the company was honest. Actually the company that sold it to us might not have even known it was grey market. Yes I can see why we should go with trusted dealers.
So, as I understand it, Nikon and Canon both adhere to this policy. Now the thought balloon over my head seems even foggier as I wrestle with the reason other than taxes as to why both major companies who made the gear in the first place put that stipulation on their gear that they made. Do they then make inferior products for other countries, is the thought that comes to mind? I wonder how this shakes out in profits lost in repairs or bad equipment. To me somehow it seems a little shady by both companies. I mean not backing warranties just because we the consumer had no idea as to how the gear (product) that got into our hands was grey market. How can we tell especially if we buy it on faith that the company was honest. Actually the company that sold it to us might not have even known it was grey market. Yes I can see why we should go with trusted dealers.
Jan 20, 2017 16:20:18 #
drklrd wrote:
Now I am feeling a little let down if the serial n... (show quote)
Often it's the warranty, return policy and affordability because in poor country they may have to lower the price to sell their products. Of course it's also taxes.
Jan 20, 2017 16:31:54 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
Long story short: NikonUSA is an entity that has a franchise (for example) on Nikon equipment they import a distribute to authorized dealers. They only support warranties on equipment they have imported (as well as parts). There are authorized dealers and others that import directly from Nikon or other dealers outside of NikonUSA. These are "gray market" cameras and lenses and if you have a problem or your camera breaks NikonUSA will not likely repair and they definitely will not honor the warranty. Some dealers offer their own warranty or insurance for a fee or a short time period. I don't know anything about Canon. Grey market cameras are the identical equipment sans support from NikonUSA. The serial numbers identify a NikonUSA product.
drklrd wrote:
Since a label says Nikon or Canon and that label i... (show quote)
Jan 20, 2017 16:33:19 #
Jan 20, 2017 17:33:10 #
drklrd wrote:
Now I am feeling a little let down if the serial n... (show quote)
There is no difference in quality between grey market and USA. The primary difference is in the warranty process. This is because Canon USA and Nikon USA are not Canon and Nikon of Japan. They are franchises. It's not even about taxes because no matter how these items are imported (unless they are smuggled, which they are not) they all are hit with the same taxes, which for cameras and lenses are is little to nothing. Grey market can be sold for less because pricing is different in some countries and currency exchange rates can also factor in. I don't know the details, but, because of the way the warranties are set up with the parent companies, Canon USA and Nikon USA would be losing money if they honored warranties from elsewhere, as I understand it. Also, it would undermine their authorized sales so they discourage grey market purchases by denying the warranties.
There is nothing illegal or inferior about grey market cameras and lenses.
Jan 20, 2017 18:15:25 #
tell it like it is, the manufacturers have dealers to share advertising costs, reduce inventory.
allow for scheduled production runs, reduce production facilities cost. etc...etc...
By limiting warranty and repair they force people to buy from those dealers to
compensate the dealers for performing those services for the factory.
And then there is the real clincher, every lens/body repaired is one less lens/body replaced.
We have money and they want it.
allow for scheduled production runs, reduce production facilities cost. etc...etc...
By limiting warranty and repair they force people to buy from those dealers to
compensate the dealers for performing those services for the factory.
And then there is the real clincher, every lens/body repaired is one less lens/body replaced.
We have money and they want it.
Jan 21, 2017 07:02:18 #
Rongnongno wrote:
Grey market whatever are not stolen items. They are just not made for a specific market yet are sold in there.
Grey or not depends on geographic location.
The serial number tells you for which geographic area they are supposed to be sold in.
Since the items are identical, what is the difference? Taxes.
Grey or not depends on geographic location.
The serial number tells you for which geographic area they are supposed to be sold in.
Since the items are identical, what is the difference? Taxes.
Jan 21, 2017 07:27:31 #
drklrd wrote:
Since a label says Nikon or Canon and that label i... (show quote)
A separate company, Nikon USA, imports Nikon products, sells them through authorized dealers, and makes a profit. That profit is used to cover the cost of warranty work. If an independent seller buys a container load of Nikons from India, they are out of the Nikon USA loop, so repairs would cost them money. Nikon does not sell repair parts to independent shops, and it does not permit its authorized dealers to make repairs on cameras it did not sell through its network.
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