MPB & Nikon Camera: Interested in a camera from them. Previously had good experience with them on lenses. This time, on a Nikon camera, not so much. I asked them if the camera they...

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Interested in a camera from them. Previously had good experience with them on lenses.

This time, on a Nikon camera, not so much. I asked them if the camera they were offering was a US or grey market, and they refused to answer. Gave me the S/N and said call Nikon. Right.

Others experience this with them?

(Hoping I got the staff nitwit).

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Doesn't sound like a problem to me. They offered to empower you with the data needed to pursue your investigation.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I ignore stupid comments,

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

IDguy wrote:

Interested in a camera from them. Previously had good experience with them on lenses.

This time, on a Nikon camera, not so much. I asked them if the camera they were offering was a US or grey market, and they refused to answer. Gave me the S/N and said call Nikon. Right.

Others experience this with them?

(Hoping I got the staff nitwit).

I don't know what else you expected? MPB is a very good source of used gear.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

IDguy wrote:

I ignore stupid comments,

You call this ignoring?

Math78 Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

IDguy wrote:

This time, on a Nikon camera, not so much. I asked them if the camera they were offering was a US or grey market, and they refused to answer. Gave me the S/N and said call Nikon. Right.

MPB has no way of knowing for sure if the camera is grey market. All they have to go by is the SN - which you also now have. Do your own research. Or call Nikon.

MDI Mainer

Plus they give you a no-questions-asked return period and a six month warranty on items they sell. So I don't see anything wrong with the response you got.

Beowulf Loc: Aquidneck Island, RI

IDguy wrote:

I ignore stupid comments,

If this was a response to CHG-CANON, I believe he was referring to the fact that they gave you the serial #; you could look online to determine if it is USA or not.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

IDguy wrote:

I ignore stupid comments,

It isn't. You can look up Nikon serial numbers easily on the web and determine their country of origin.

Serial numbers beginning with:
2 - Japan
3 - USA
4 - Europe
5 - Canada
6 - Australia / New Zealand
7 - Asia (excluding Japan)
8 - UK

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

It isn't. You can look up Nikon serial numbers easily on the web and determine their country of origin.

Serial numbers beginning with:
2 - Japan
3 - USA
4 - Europe
5 - Canada
6 - Australia / New Zealand
7 - Asia (excluding Japan)
8 - UK

Just my two cents, so feel quite free to ignore it. @rgrenaderphoto, I believe your list is pretty accurate, but... there are a few exceptions. The other variable is how cooperative the person at Nikon might be... they're really unhelpful with gray market issues. This is probably why MPB won't give you a definitive answer in regard to the question. I really don't see that it matters with used equipment since it's too flippin' expensive to repair in most cases.

Having said that, if I were looking to buy something from them today I'd spend some time reading recent reviews as I've read some negative comments about them in recent months. Once again, opinion only, YMMV.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"Doesn't sound like a problem to me. They offered to empower you with the data needed to pursue your investigation."

If you meant to ignore CHG-CANON comments you are totally wrong. Another member of the forum mentioned MPB has NO means of knowing if a camera is or is not gray market. If you supply Nikon with the serial number then they will be able to clarify that for you.
Some cameras have a US designation before the serial number. Lets assume the camera you want to buy is a gray market, MPB will offer you a 6 months warranty on it. If you are concerned with the camera breaking down they will repair it for you during that 6 months warranty period. Isn't that enough? I should add that gray market cameras imported into this country are as reliable as those you buy with a genuine import the only difference is that Nikon in general will not service a gray market camera.

If I were you I would present my apologies to CHG-CANON.

VTMatwood Loc: Displaced Vermonta in Central New Hampsha

"they refused to answer"

No one other than Nikon can answer that question for many cameras and lenses... and that statement comes directly from Nikon. The S/N prefixes that rgrenaderphoto refers to do not apply to all Nikon cameras / lenses according to Nikon. I sent them a D810 for service and they could only tell me it was "not from the US" but could not ID the actual origin country that would service it (they said it "may be" Japan or "possibly" Korea. According to Nikon, there is no generally available database or info source for other companies (like KEH or MPB for example) to ID the country of origin of a piece of gear.

It's in MPB's best interest to refer you back to Nikon in that instance.

- Matt

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Sales and customer service reps are paid to help customers and to enhance the reputation of their company by going the extra mile. I have bought several expensive items from Midwest Photo Exchange because of such service from a sales rep whose name and email address I keep in my contacts directory for future purchases. This MPB rep didn't go the extra mile - perhaps MPB should enhance their staff training and feedback from customers (actual and potential). I wouldn't consider this an issue significant enough to cross them off my list but we all have long memories.

leftj Loc: Texas

IDguy wrote:

I ignore stupid comments,

Apparently not.

Jim Bianco

CHG_CANON wrote:

Doesn't sound like a problem to me. They offered to empower you with the data needed to pursue your investigation.

The co. should know what they are selling that's there business, if you ask B&H they would tell you, your wrong this time.