Camera serial number can identify grey market product? Fellow Hoggers, I am considering a bid on a Nikon camera being sold on ebay. The seller has given me the serial number of the...

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Fellow Hoggers, I am considering a bid on a Nikon camera being sold on ebay. The seller has given me the serial number of the camera. How can I use that number to determine if the camera is made for US or grey market? Thanks ahead of time. Frank

cedymock Loc: Irmo, South Carolina

Some information that may help.
http://www.dslrbodies.com/cameras/camera-articles/nikon-camera-serial-numbers.html

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I would guess that only Nikon can answer that. I have seen plenty of opinions posted in this regard, mainly concerning indicative number or letter sequences in the s/n, but no iron-clad rule it would seem. As soon as someone states that this or that combination indicates US or non-US someone else points out an exception.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Here is the photo of the camera's serial number.

(Download)

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

but how do you identify if a canon camera is grey market? I would do some research but getting ready for work. Maybe I will do the research at work.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Dziadzi wrote:

Here is the photo of the camera's serial number.

If you got the box, it will have US on the label.

pendennis

I own both a D500, a D750, and a Cool Pix 4300. They all have serial numbers starting with "3". I also noted that my F5 and FE are prefixed "3". The exception is my F100, which has a "US" prefix on the body. My F90x is prefixed "2" indicating Japanese origin. The F90x was sold outside the U.S., the N90s domestically.

Math78 Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

This is a web site which maintains an (unofficial) list of serial numbers for Nikon cameras and lenses.
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/camera.html

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

I took my late husband's Nikon D5200 (too complicated for me) to a camera dealer who told me, based on the serial number, that it was gray market and did not make an offer. My husband had purchased it from BH Photo, so I was surprised.

CO

Does he still have the box or warranty card? It should say US on the box and USA on the warranty card.

(Download)

CO

scallihan wrote:

I took my late husband's Nikon D5200 (too complicated for me) to a camera dealer who told me, based on the serial number, that it was gray market and did not make an offer. My husband had purchased it from BH Photo, so I was surprised.

B & H Photo sells gray market but it's stated that it's gray market.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Dziadzi wrote:

Fellow Hoggers, I am considering a bid on a Nikon camera being sold on ebay. The seller has given me the serial number of the camera. How can I use that number to determine if the camera is made for US or grey market? Thanks ahead of time. Frank

NOT a USA model as the SN begins with 8. (If I remember right that will be a Great Britain SN.)
All USA Nikon cameras have SN's that begin with the first two digits from "25" through "39".

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thanks everyone for your input.

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Dziadzi wrote:

Fellow Hoggers, I am considering a bid on a Nikon camera being sold on ebay. The seller has given me the serial number of the camera. How can I use that number to determine if the camera is made for US or grey market? Thanks ahead of time. Frank

Ironically, the camera listing has just been pulled from the ebay website. Oi Vey! I may have been given a much-needed gift as I bid way to high for it. LMAO

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Surprisingly, Nikon says they have to examine the camera to determine if is gray market or not.