user2071 Loc: New England

This came up in another post and was noted as something to beware of, that perhaps was something that only a less reputable seller would do. An unsavory practice.

This is NOT true. Exactly what the dynamics of the grey market are, I do not know. However, ALL THE MAJOR RESELLERS including Amazon, B&H, Adorama, and so on sell grey market in addition to "regular" new equipment.

Most of these resellers offer reasonable warranties with this equipment, although usually more limited that the regular warranty. If you aren't sure what you are getting, call and ask. They will tell you. Usually the difference in price between grey and not-grey market is not huge ... a few dollars. Rarely more than that. Sometimes, though, grey market lets you get something that isn't available otherwise.

I've bought grey market lenses and other accessories from both B&H and Amazon without problem. I'm not sure exactly what the dynamics of this market are, but it is common practice and by no means limited to shady resellers. They ALL do it and they are entirely up front about it.

I've bought refurbished products -- computers AND cameras -- too from just about everyone including Dell, Adorama, and more ... and trust me when I tell you, there is nothing greyer than refurbished! But there you can often save hundreds of dollars. Just get a really good extra warranty if you buy refurbished equipment. Sometimes it is just fine, no problem ... sometimes not.

Please do not dismiss buying alternatives: we're all on a budget and need to do the most we can with the funds we have available.

IvanF Loc: New York City

I have bought refurbished (and used) cameras and lenses from Adorama. Was happy most of the time, a couple of times I didn't like what I got, they gave immediate refund, no questions asked. I was impressed.

user2071 Loc: New England

Right. I believe in using whatever options we've got. Life's tough enough!

Manny Loc: Maryland, but headed to Kentucky

Grey market equipment does not carry a USA warranty. It is gear that basically was being sold overseas with a different warranty structure by the manufacturer. If you purchase a grey market lens or body in the US, from any retailer, and it ends up with issues, Nikon/Canon/whoever made it, will not honor any warranties for it. HOWEVER, the retailer that you purchased it from may. Personally I would rather purchase a USA market pro Nikon lens for $1750 instead of the same exact lens, Grey market for $1500-$1600. I love Nikon's 5-7 year warranties on their glass.

user2071 Loc: New England

Well, I guess it depends on your budget. I'm unlikely to be buying anything in that price range so for me, it's a moot point. Yes, the seller often provides a warranty that may be sufficient for you. It depends on what you are buying. I've had a lot more trouble with refurbished stuff than grey market. But then again, I buy serious warranties on anything expensive that was refurbished. And how glad I have been that I did that!

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

5D, I never said "Grey Market" items were shady, or that sellers who sell grey market items were unsavory. I'm assuming you meant my post, since I was the one to bring up grey market in the first place.

I merely said Grey Market items, at least in the US, were not imported through the manufacturer's normal US channel, e.g. for example, Canon USA.

There's absolutely nothing 'unsavory' about importing items directly from a manufacturer, if you have the means to do so, and selling them on the open market.

The ONLY problem comes, and I think I mentioned this, is that CANON USA will not honor the warranty on a grey-market purchased item, and I'd imagine the same holds true for other US manufacturers's subsidiaries.

If you buy a grey-market lens from Adorama, and Adorama offers a warranty on the lens, that's fine. But just be aware that if you require warranty repair, and send it to Adorama, they in turn will most probably send it to Japan. Or the home country from where they (Adorama) purchased it in the first place.

Purchasing grey market items is perfectly legal, so long as you know the potential risks.

user2071 Loc: New England

I did misunderstand, but that being said, Nikon won't honour the warranty either. Usually the seller provides a warranty that will let you return the unit for any reason for some amount of time .... time differing by seller. It can be worth it or not. It depends on (a) how much you are saving (b) how big your budget is, and (3) whether or not you can get the item some other way. As I said, sometimes the item simply isn't available through any other channel.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

the problem with grey market is three fold. first the item was never meant to be imported intoo the us so for example the ac adaptor for a camera battery might not be on the same voltage/ampage as american electric system, 2 the manual will probably not be in english 3 the official distributor for cannon/nikon/olympus/pentax etc will not honor the warranty. by the time you add in the cost of the extended warranty you lost your savings. 4 the chances that what you are buying is actually counterfiet made in china by factories owned by their government instead of being official product from the manufacturer is real high. Refurbished merchandise is equipment returned under warranty fixed and resold at significant discount usually with a warranty on the item.

user2071 Loc: New England

Which is why I've never bought a major piece of grey market equipment. A lens. A camera bag. The lens was supposed to be grey market, but actually came in its original Canon packaging. In English. Full warranty. Go figure.

I'm not hip on international trade. I do the best I can, buy from sellers I trust and so far, so good.

I've had more trouble with refurbished items that were NOT refurbished than with grey market.

I suspect that many companies don't refurbish. I've gotten refurbished computers that still had the original service tag attached and it had the same problem listed on the ticket. No indication that anyone ever looked at the ticket. I'm sure they take returned equipment, put it back into inventory, mark it "refurbished" or "open box" or whatever and let the next buyer sort it out.

I've also had brand new equipment arrive broken ... dead on arrival. One way or another, you pays your money, you take your chances.

Bigdaver

As for Nikon, they will not even repair for money if it is Gray Market.

gcphoto Loc: Ventura, Ca

If you want to trust a cheapo data card, can you imagine what you may end up with after your prized photes are missing.......that is the very last I will skimp on.....

gw

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Only once did I accidentally buy a grey market product, a 60mm F/2.8 Micro from a dealership that was going out of business. This wasn't a cheap lens and even at going out of business prices I paid about $500 for the lens. I tried to register the lens with Nikon and an error message popped up stating that this was a "grey market" product, not permitted for warranty repair. By that time the dealership was gone. Fortunately the lens itself was a gem. I love the sharpness and quality of the lens. I traded it and other nice equipment to pay for my new D7000 body.

I have returned a 55-200mm kit lens under full warranty to Nikon for repair at no cost to me. This lens came with my D40X along with a kit 18-55mm zoom. I will always buy full warranty goodies for my Nikon collection. That's simply my preference not a statement about grey market quality.

user2071 Loc: New England

And with something that expensive, I would too.

jush501

I have learned from a one of a photo supplier that the main differences between US version and Gray market is as follows:
-Lenses- some gray market lenses will not come with front and rear caps, also more importantly, some will come with plastic rear mount instead of the metal one.
Cameras- in many cases the gray market cameras will come programmed with one language only, usually the country of manufacturing language. You would have to send it to the local manufacture to install other languages for a hefty cost. Additionally, the instruction booklet may come in one language only, same as the software.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Actually, it's not the country of manufacture, which is almost always going to be Japan, but the destination country of the item. It's quite a challenge to decipher a user manual written in Romanian or Hindi or Tagalog, if you're not a native speaker..lol