Steve_m Loc: Southern California

Here is an experience from somebody, who bought a camera on the grey market.

https://petapixel.com/2015/08/14/i-bought-a-fake-nikon-dslr-my-experience-with-gray-market-imports/

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I remember reading the same article almost 2 years ago. Problem is, they say it's fake then they say it's not. A fake would be something that looks like a D7000 and for the most works like a D7000 but in fact is not a made by Nikon D7000. Plus it all but implies Grey market products are not the same as those imported by the manufacturers local import subsidiary. Being there was something wrong with the serial number, I suspect the camera was part of a lot that had been stolen and the external serial number altered to hide it's true identity. In reality it was a real D7000 that had succumbed to real D7000 problems. I'm glad there was a happy ending...

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

The word 'Fake' meaning, not what it is,or copied, impersonated.
The Grey import is not a fake. It is a genuine product and has been purchased
from a different market of the globe.
I live in the UK, if I purchased a Nikon from the United States it would be much
cheaper, due to the VAT, import duties and so on that we pay in the UK.
If the camera goes wrong and I take it to my local camera shop, they will
immediately recognise it has a 'Grey import' due to the serial numbers.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Yes, I believe that the Nikon rep used the wrong term in describing the camera to the customer. The fake S/N on a piece of real Nikon camera equipment is all it really is. Now I'm wondering if the electronic S/N that came up when Nikon plugged in is a US S/N or if it was indeed a S/N from another market.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

The follow up replies remind me of a friend who bought a Rolex on the cheap; it was a "hot watch" (i.e. stolen) and the person was selling it cheap. My friend was very proud of his Rolex and was in for a huge let down when he showed it to my father who said, "You didn't buy a Rolex; you bought a Rollex. Rolex has only one "l" in it." The "Rollex" wasn't a fake; it was a real "Rollex". I don't know why I'm relating this, but the story came to mind as I read the responses to the article. And, yes, I buy gray market products. And, no, I've never bought a "Rollex".