BnH and gray market lenses
May 16, 2018 11:04:25 #
lamontcranston wrote:
The bottom line is "Let The Buyer Beware." Read everything in the ads carefully and pay attention to the small print. You will save yourself a lot of surprises down the road.
That only works if all the information the buyer needs to make an informed choice is IN the small print.
May 16, 2018 11:15:09 #
rwww80a
Loc: Hampton, NH
Be careful to read all the lines - they would be able to service, but they didn't say they would honor any warrantees.
May 16, 2018 11:18:14 #
rwww80a
Loc: Hampton, NH
Not quite true, you would need to send it out of the US to one of their worldwide service centers. Cost effective, maybe?
May 16, 2018 11:21:20 #
rwww80a
Loc: Hampton, NH
Look for low prices, especially two prices for the same item, on ONE website.
May 16, 2018 11:23:06 #
rwww80a
Loc: Hampton, NH
Nikon has in the past marketed one camera under two model designations, one US one international, Not sire if they do this now.
May 16, 2018 11:34:51 #
repleo wrote:
I agree. I have been ranting about Nikon's territorial policies for months. I've never owned any Nikon and never will - until they change their practices. I'm not holding my breath.
I see this as a non issue. I have bought and used Nikon equipment since 1968 when EPOI was the importer. Aside from a battery recall and replacement, I have never had to send any Nikon gear in for repair. Other formats and brands I've had rspaired by independent shops in Chicago.
May 16, 2018 11:40:03 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
JohnSwanda wrote:
It doesn't matter what the history is, or the reason why. The issue is that people buying used Nikon equipment need to know if it is USA or grey market if they may want to get repairs from Nikon USA.
What? What you wrote does not make sense, please reread your post and rewrite so it makes sense.
May 16, 2018 12:33:30 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
Not everyone knows that Nikon USA won't repair used grey market equipment, so they wouldn't know to check it out. The seller is in a better position to give that information.
Why would B&H have the time or any other camera store! John it’s not reasonable too do so it’s a used product it has no original warranty this is silly on your part to continue to advocate this use your noodle man!
May 16, 2018 12:38:50 #
therwol
Loc: USA
ragatazz wrote:
Does Nikon make the gray market lens?? If it does, why wouldn't they repair it. If they don't make it, who does??
Nikon makes the gray market lenses. They were intended for sale in other countries but ended up here. Nikon USA did not import them and won't touch them if they need repair. In 2016, they started repairing certain gray market DSLR bodies, but they won't do warranty repair on them. The higher price you pay for the cameras and lenses imported by Nikon USA is basically the cost of a warranty. I think their policy of not working on gray market cameras and lenses is punitive. "If you don't buy from us, then screw you."
May 16, 2018 12:51:08 #
If Nikon Canada will repair an out of warranty or gray market product why not just send it to them? S&H can’t be that much different from sending it to Nikon USA.
May 16, 2018 13:08:58 #
BebuLamar wrote:
I read the section on film. Is it possible for film made in the USA but grey market as they are intended for the overseas market?
Huh? Film? Nobody can repair film anyway. You may be able to get a refund if film is damaged in shipping, but in 50+ years in photography I have never seen "We Repair Film". This must be sarcasm.
May 16, 2018 13:23:45 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Amazing!
The original post was in regard to Canon gear... yet somehow this devolved into a discussion of Nikon gear and policies.
Canon USA and Nikon USA both treat gray market (sometimes called "imported" instead) items as non-warranty.
The difference is that Canon USA will repair gray market, at the owners expense. Nikon, on the other hand, says they won't touch a gray market item. Maybe they will, if you ask nicely. Who knows. But their official policy is that they won't repair gray market items.
If you buy a new gray market item from a reputable store like B&H, they usually give you a store warranty. In that case, if a new Canon gray market item were to fail while still under the store warranty, the store at their discretion could have it repaired a their expense either via Canon Repair Services or an independent repairer, repair it themselves if they have the resources to do so, or they could simply replace the item. If it's a used Canon item, it's a moot point whether it's gray market or not since there is no factory warranty, only a store warranty, if they offer one on used gear (such as B&H does in most cases). With Canon gear, as far as the buyer is concerned the only difference between new gray market, new USA warranted items or used items (gray or not) is where they need to send an item for repair (or possibly replacement), under any sort of warranty. Of course, the cost may be covered with USA warranted items, so long as the warranty is still in effect. With the others, the cost may be covered by the store as long as the warranty is still in effect. (I say "may be covered" because these are limited warranties... things like dropping your gear in the ocean or forgetting you set it on the top of your car wouldn't be covered! Check with your homeowners or renters insurance about those things... or see below for Canon's Accident coverage plan.)
So long as the parts that are needed are available, you can essentially get any Canon gear repaired at any of their factory service centers... or at any of their authorized repairers... OR at any independent repair shop.
Nikon USA, on the other hand, has a policy of not repairing any gray market items, whether bought new or used, even at the owner's expense. Hopefully you can talk them into the repair at your expense, because another problem with Nikon USA is second policy: They also refuse to sell most repair parts to independent shops. As a result, you're limited to getting any needed work done by Nikon USA themselves, who have a policy of not repairing gray market items, or a short list of authorized repair facilities that they will sell parts to. As a result, unless you can talk them into fixing it and charging you, you really have very limited or no means to get gray market Nikon items repaired. It sort of sounds like a "Catch 22" situation.
On the other hand... modern camera gear is pretty darned reliable and long-lasting. So warranty claims and repairs are much more the exception than the rule.
And, while both offer a 1 year warranty, by registering Nikon lenses (new, USA warranty only) you get a 4 year extension of that warranty (not sure if the same is offered on other items such as camera bodies, flashes, etc.)
Canon sometimes offers warranty extensions during sales promotions. But, in general, when offered any Canon extended warranty is at extra cost. For example, Canon currently is offering a 3 year Accident Damage Protection Plan on a lot of new items, which not only extends the term of the warranty, it also expands it to cover practically any sort of accidental damage. The regular warranties are limited and do not cover mishandling, accidents and abuse. This plan does. So it basically it assures repair or replacement at no cost, regardless of what might happen (aside from theft, I suppose). It ain't free, though. For example, it costs $244 for the plan on an EOS 5DS-R body that costs $3700. On a much more entry-level $500 camera, it costs about $94. These examples of the plan only cover the camera body. Separate coverage appears to be available for many individual lenses and other accessories.
Refurbished items are another matter. Both now sell them through their official websites. Canon has been doing so for several years, so you now rarely see refurbished Canon gear being offered elsewhere. Nikon only started selling refurbs directly last year, so you'll still sometime see them being offered through their retailers, too. Another difference is that Canon refurbs have the same 1 year warranty as new. Nikon, on the other hand, treats them like used gear and only offers a 90 day warranty on refurbs. Of course, with both of them any refurbs are "official" products, not gray market.
The original post was in regard to Canon gear... yet somehow this devolved into a discussion of Nikon gear and policies.
Canon USA and Nikon USA both treat gray market (sometimes called "imported" instead) items as non-warranty.
The difference is that Canon USA will repair gray market, at the owners expense. Nikon, on the other hand, says they won't touch a gray market item. Maybe they will, if you ask nicely. Who knows. But their official policy is that they won't repair gray market items.
If you buy a new gray market item from a reputable store like B&H, they usually give you a store warranty. In that case, if a new Canon gray market item were to fail while still under the store warranty, the store at their discretion could have it repaired a their expense either via Canon Repair Services or an independent repairer, repair it themselves if they have the resources to do so, or they could simply replace the item. If it's a used Canon item, it's a moot point whether it's gray market or not since there is no factory warranty, only a store warranty, if they offer one on used gear (such as B&H does in most cases). With Canon gear, as far as the buyer is concerned the only difference between new gray market, new USA warranted items or used items (gray or not) is where they need to send an item for repair (or possibly replacement), under any sort of warranty. Of course, the cost may be covered with USA warranted items, so long as the warranty is still in effect. With the others, the cost may be covered by the store as long as the warranty is still in effect. (I say "may be covered" because these are limited warranties... things like dropping your gear in the ocean or forgetting you set it on the top of your car wouldn't be covered! Check with your homeowners or renters insurance about those things... or see below for Canon's Accident coverage plan.)
So long as the parts that are needed are available, you can essentially get any Canon gear repaired at any of their factory service centers... or at any of their authorized repairers... OR at any independent repair shop.
Nikon USA, on the other hand, has a policy of not repairing any gray market items, whether bought new or used, even at the owner's expense. Hopefully you can talk them into the repair at your expense, because another problem with Nikon USA is second policy: They also refuse to sell most repair parts to independent shops. As a result, you're limited to getting any needed work done by Nikon USA themselves, who have a policy of not repairing gray market items, or a short list of authorized repair facilities that they will sell parts to. As a result, unless you can talk them into fixing it and charging you, you really have very limited or no means to get gray market Nikon items repaired. It sort of sounds like a "Catch 22" situation.
On the other hand... modern camera gear is pretty darned reliable and long-lasting. So warranty claims and repairs are much more the exception than the rule.
And, while both offer a 1 year warranty, by registering Nikon lenses (new, USA warranty only) you get a 4 year extension of that warranty (not sure if the same is offered on other items such as camera bodies, flashes, etc.)
Canon sometimes offers warranty extensions during sales promotions. But, in general, when offered any Canon extended warranty is at extra cost. For example, Canon currently is offering a 3 year Accident Damage Protection Plan on a lot of new items, which not only extends the term of the warranty, it also expands it to cover practically any sort of accidental damage. The regular warranties are limited and do not cover mishandling, accidents and abuse. This plan does. So it basically it assures repair or replacement at no cost, regardless of what might happen (aside from theft, I suppose). It ain't free, though. For example, it costs $244 for the plan on an EOS 5DS-R body that costs $3700. On a much more entry-level $500 camera, it costs about $94. These examples of the plan only cover the camera body. Separate coverage appears to be available for many individual lenses and other accessories.
Refurbished items are another matter. Both now sell them through their official websites. Canon has been doing so for several years, so you now rarely see refurbished Canon gear being offered elsewhere. Nikon only started selling refurbs directly last year, so you'll still sometime see them being offered through their retailers, too. Another difference is that Canon refurbs have the same 1 year warranty as new. Nikon, on the other hand, treats them like used gear and only offers a 90 day warranty on refurbs. Of course, with both of them any refurbs are "official" products, not gray market.
May 16, 2018 14:33:06 #
Fotomacher wrote:
Nikon US has a “US” prefix on their serial numbers for identification purposes.
The "US" prefix is used very inconsistently. If your camera or lens has it, the item has a Nikon US warranty, but if your camera or lens does not, the item could be "kosher" or grey market, and there's no way for you to know.
tmehrkam wrote:
Then there is the white box items. Grey Market. It took me a while to understand the significance.
A white box item is a camera or lens which was originally sold in a camera+lens set but has been divided. The white box indicates nothing as far as grey market vs US warranty.
rwww80a wrote:
Nikon has in the past marketed one camera under two model designations, one US one international, Not sire if they do this now.
Actually, that was Canon, not Nikon. For example:
Canon EOS M50 = EOS Kiss M
Canon EOS Rebel T7 = EOS 2000D
Canon EOS Rebel SL2 = EOS 200D = Kiss X9
Canon EOS 77D = EOS 9000D
Canon EOS Rebel T7i = EOS 800D = Kiss X9i
May 16, 2018 14:37:33 #
billnikon wrote:
Again, folks just don't understand the difference ... (show quote)
So if NIKONUSA is not a Nikon company - who is it? All searches for Nikon USA or NikonUSA appear to lead to Nikon Inc with corporate headquarters in Melville NY. According to the Corporate Structure of the The Nikon Group, Nikon, Inc is a company belonging to Sendai Nikon Corp, part of the Imaging Business Unit of the Nikon Group. The Nikon Group is also part of the Mitsubishi Group. So if NikonUSA is not part of Nikon, who is it and what is its financial situation? I am sure it doesn't matter to existing Nikon users, but if I was about to start into a system that could run into thousands of dollars I would want to know Nikon USA has some financial weight behind it since you are dealing with Nikon USA and not 'big' Nikon. If Nikon USA is owned by 'big' Nikon, why have this restrictive 'no gray market' policy.
Nikon recently announced it was pulling camera sales and support out of Brazil. No reason it couldn't happen here.
May 16, 2018 15:22:26 #
hookedupin2005
Loc: Northwestern New Mexico
jim quist wrote:
I saw a used lens I am thinking about buying at Bn... (show quote)
I don't know if B&H sells Canon Grey Market items, but they DO sell Grey market products Look at this: USA Grey Market Products...... They tell you their policy on the matter
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