The meaning of "Gray Market" (Page 2): There’s the gray market—and then there’s the bald market. Depends..... Oh that’s another market.....

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

There’s the gray market—and then there’s the bald market. Depends.....

Oh that’s another market.....

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

LarryFitz wrote:

Warranty is a feature that costs money. US customers expect warranties on products, therefore the manufacture includes them and has them part of the selling price. Many products in its also offer extended warranties for a price. If you did not pay for the warranty why would you expect to get one.

NIKON absolutely does not spend $500 per lens in warranty repairs.

jwj53

I bought a grey market d810. I've had no issues with the camera. If I do I have insurance on the camera as with all my equipment. If anything goes wrong my insurance policy covers it all 100%. I don't need a US warranty.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Franku wrote:

I use all Nikon lenses. Occasionally, i find a high-priced Nikon lens being offered at a dramatically low price. I have also heard the term "gray market"used at times.
Is this is a term given to a lens when the lens is not the authentic manufacturer's product or perhaps it was not manufactured where it was designed?

A Gray Market Nikon lens is any lens for sale in the US that was NOT IMPORTED BY NIKONUSA. You see, NIKONUSA has the exclusive right to sell Nikon products in the USA. They offer a USA warranty on the lens and set the price for the lens. That price includes a NIKONUSA warranty.
Nikon products destined for other countries do not have this USA warranty attached to the product and is not recognized by NIKONUSA when it comes to possible warranty work.
So again, NIKONUSA is the official importer of Nikon products sold in the USA. Anyone else bringing Nikon Products into the US for sale is considered GRAY MARKET, and not warranted by NIKONUSA. BUT, you can get a gray market Nikon product serviced by Nikon, but you have to find what country the Nikon Product was imported from, and then send it to that country and to the Nikon Service Center in that country.

Daisy Dog

Not that I'm cheap but highly discounted stuff has always had an appeal. With camera stuff, especially a lens, what's the frequency of problems that might warrant (no pun) it being shipped back to Nikon? In the 45 plus years I've been into photography I've never had a piece of equipment break.

Also, does any of you sports know if the gray market stuff is manufactured to the same standard, with the same parts, as the stuff with the warranty?

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Shel wrote:

The bad news is that if you buy a Nikon product while outside the US, you will not have a US warranty. Personally, I dislike the practice of not honoring outside the US purchases. My understanding is that purpose of the practice is to protect US retailer against competition from foreign competitors that sell Nikon products at a lower price than in the US.

You are ABSOLUTELY wrong. Nikon will repair or replace ANY Nikon product that was bought while you are out of the country. All they require is a copy of your airline, ship or other data OR a copy of your hotel bill or travel documents showing that you were LEGALLY in that country during your purchase and they require a copy of your legitimate invoice from the camera retailer. If you did legitimately travel to that country... these documents should be easy to produce. They will then honor the warranty that Nikon provides for ANY product purchased in that country. What they are trying to stop is companies that bring items intended for overseas sales into the US and undercutting the local market. If I go to England and purchase a Nikon 80-400mm lens, it will NOT have the US 5 year warranty... it WILL have the same warranty that it had in England... one year with the option to purchase a 4 year extended for extra money. Oh, and by the way... that is probably a big part of the price difference between US lenses...and lenses intended for overseas. Nikon Cameras and other Nikon products will have EXACTLY the same warranty here that they have there.

LarryFitz Loc: Beacon NY

I worked for a company that sold printers. There was no different till they put the sn sticker on the bottom.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

LWW wrote:

The meaning of gray market is that NIKON and others ovetchsrge North Americans so they can subsidize sales in other markets ... to the point that someone can buy goods and ship to North America independently and still make a profit.

Companies frown on this because it exposes their scheme.

Wow! You are so uneducated it's almost embarrassing. Try reading the requirements for cameras and lenses purchased outside of the US and guess again... Items purchased in the US have a 5 year warranty on lenses vs a 1 year warranty with the option to purchase an EXTENDED 4 year warranty. NIKON USA is providing the extended warranty in the purchase price. You might want to try educating yourself before giving bad advice or looking for conspiracies. If you bothered to educate yourself on the facts, the difference in warranties would be easier to understand.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

LarryFitz wrote:

I worked for a company that sold printers. There was no different till they put the sn sticker on the bottom.

I retired from Nikon... and have seen the difference between Overseas Products and USA products.. there is no difference.. the only thing is that the overseas product comes with a (1) one year warranty and the ability to purchase an additional (for extra money) 4 year extended warranty. In the US they include a 5 year warranty (one plus the 4) in the purchase. Yes the purchase price of the additional 4 years is added into the cost of the lens. BUT, in general, the lens doesn't usually require service in the first year. So, if you purchase a lens without the extended warranty (as in Europe and elsewhere in the world) you will have to pay for any further repairs. It isn't rocket science if you READ the info and don't guess.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Shel wrote:

The bad news is that if you buy a Nikon product while outside the US, you will not have a US warranty. Personally, I dislike the practice of not honoring outside the US purchases. My understanding is that purpose of the practice is to protect US retailer against competition from foreign competitors that sell Nikon products at a lower price than in the US.

I bought a used Nikon D500 about a year ago from a local camera shop. A few months ago I sent it to Nikon to have it cleaned and double check the AF. Nikon refused to touch it. It was a grey market UK version. Took it back to the local shop (called them first before my camera was returned). Local shop Gabe me full credit and for $300 more sold me a new USA version. They “said” they did not realize it was a Grey market. Sales guys told me when I bought it a person had bought it. Used it for an hour and returned it for a Canon. Any way. Happy with my new USA Nikon D500.

gmango85

You are paying extra $ for Marketing in US

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Franku wrote:

I use all Nikon lenses. Occasionally, i find a high-priced Nikon lens being offered at a dramatically low price. I have also heard the term "gray market"used at times.
Is this is a term given to a lens when the lens is not the authentic manufacturer's product or perhaps it was not manufactured where it was designed?

If you want a warranty and it is important to you buy a product that is manufactured and designated to be sold in the US. End of story. If you don't like it or you think it's a scam....so what. It is what it is. A certain percentage of sales sold in the US go to fund these warranty programs. After the warranty its on you. Do you think the warranty on your new car is free??

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

Franku wrote:

I use all Nikon lenses. Occasionally, i find a high-priced Nikon lens being offered at a dramatically low price. I have also heard the term "gray market"used at times.
Is this is a term given to a lens when the lens is not the authentic manufacturer's product or perhaps it was not manufactured where it was designed?

Here is a brief extract from a Nikon website in Europe. Their comments refer Nikon products sold in the USA and elsewhere, which are referred to as Grey Market products as someone already mentioned. I just wanted to see it in print in case they used different colors or terms.

-------------------
What are Grey Market Products?
Nikon products that are not imported by Nikon Europe B.V. and sold through it's sales channels are considered Grey Market products. These usually are genuine Nikon products that were intended for other Nikon markets; therefore, they may not meet Nikon’s specifications for European products and they may not perform as expected.

Why are Grey Market products risky?
Since Grey Market products are not imported and distributed by Nikon Europe B.V., you don’t know exactly what you’re getting.

No Nikon Warranty
Grey Market products may contain a limited warranty from the seller, but they are not covered by a Nikon Europe warranty.

Not eligible for warranty repair service
Not eligible for Nikon Europe Warranty repair service, you will be charged.

Non-genuine accessories
May include counterfeit or third-party accessories that could damage Nikon equipment.

[etc.]
---------------------
From my reading on UHH, I gathered that to get a warranty repair from a component purchased from another country, the respective Nikon center will honor it with proof-of-purchase but you may end up paying more for shipping and waiting a bit longer, of course.

It would be good to hear from someone who knows, if they haven't already replied, whether the differences in the firmware or sources of certain materials actually result in different specs or tolerances in the same models sold in different markets. I doubt Nikon publishes such data.

It would also seem that keeping repair centers aligned with their respective retail markets helps Nikon plan on the potential volume of warranty repairs in each region. It probably also helps streamline their shipping departments and cuts down on claims from customers who experience problems or delays with international shipments, which is understandable from a business perspective.

Corrections welcome, please.

gmango85

I do not know the current interpretation of "Gray Market" is today. In the sixties, when I worked in a Camera Store in NYC, gray market aka parallel imports referred to exact same camera without US warranty, but carried an International warranty that was honored by US companies. I know things have changed now.

RJM Loc: Cardiff, S Wales, UK

In the UK it refers to goods that are imported (usually from Hong Kong) where VAT has not been paid on the item. Having said that, you are saving a substantial amount. The sellers very often provide their own warranty, sometimes in the UK. I've been buying 'grey' market goods for years and never had a problem and have saved a hell of a lot of money.
Even if you do not buy 'grey' market goods, and buy from authorised dealers, they very often look for ways not to honour the guarantee or warranty if they possibly can.
Essentially they are the same goods you would buy in the UK but maybe 20-30% cheaper!