Gray Market equipment: I'm curious, Adorama and B&H offer 12 month warranties on gray market equipment and fully explain what gray market items are and why they sell for less, usually.

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

I'm curious, Adorama and B&H offer 12 month warranties on gray market equipment and fully explain what gray market items are and why they sell for less, usually. Both of these companies enjoy great reputations and great service. I have seen many postings recommending refurbished equipment and suggesting these two companies. I cannot recall anyone suggesting gray market items. Why?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Pine1 wrote:

I'm curious, Adorama and B&H offer 12 month warranties on gray market equipment and fully explain what gray market items are and why they sell for less, usually. Both of these companies enjoy great reputations and great service. I have seen many postings recommending refurbished equipment and suggesting these two companies. I cannot recall anyone suggesting gray market items. Why?

Nikon will not touch gray market equipment, even if you offer to pay. Canon will probably do a repair - for a price. That's the only drawback I see to gray market - the warranty and factory service. If a Nikon body needs a part, where will you get it?

Independent dealers can no longer get parts from Nikon. That means that an authorized dealer is your only option, but authorized dealers won't repair gray market.

The U. S. importer makes a profit on items legitimately brought into the country. Part of that profit pays for warranty repair.

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

But won't Androma and B&H repair if it is necessary under their 12 month warranty?

jerryc41 wrote:

Nikon will not touch gray market equipment, even i... (show quote)

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Pine1 wrote:

But won't Androma and B&H repair if it is necessary under their 12 month warranty?

I'm sure they will if that claim a 1 yr warranty. I also had a discussion with someone who works on the Canon price watch website, and they said that Canon WILL repair grey market cameras under warranty. (short version.)

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Pine1 wrote:

I'm curious, Adorama and B&H offer 12 month warranties on gray market equipment and fully explain what gray market items are and why they sell for less, usually. Both of these companies enjoy great reputations and great service. I have seen many postings recommending refurbished equipment and suggesting these two companies. I cannot recall anyone suggesting gray market items. Why?

B&H lists the gray market as "Imported" and the factory warrantied as "USA" and as far as Canon products I have seen no difference in the pricing between the two. The Imported are never eligable for factory rebates, such as what I received on the 3 lenses I bought in Dec, totaling $450. Which I promptly spent on a fourth lens! :) I have no idea what advantage there would be to buying the imported version. They are both made in the same factories and to the same standards. There must be some reason or else why would places like B&H even bother with them. I'm curious as to what the reasoning is.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Pine1 wrote:

But won't Androma and B&H repair if it is necessary under their 12 month warranty?

They offer rebates from third-party companies. I don't know that they actually do the repairs themselves. And I think the parts would be the big problem, since Nikon limits its parts to authorized dealers.

Warranty work can get complicated. That's why I prefer buy expensive items that have a legitimate warranty.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

LFingar wrote:

B&H lists the gray market as "Imported&qu... (show quote)

For an explaination of grey vs. US warranty read this: http://www.bythom.com/warranty.htm

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

I wish the reps from Adroama and B&H would chime in on this topic.

jerryc41 wrote:

They offer rebates from third-party companies. I don't know that they actually do the repairs themselves. And I think the parts would be the big problem, since Nikon limits its parts to authorized dealers.

Warranty work can get complicated. That's why I prefer buy expensive items that have a legitimate warranty.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

You should email Helen at Adorama. She is great!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Db7423 wrote:

For an explaination of grey vs. US warranty read this: http://www.bythom.com/warranty.htm

That was interesting, but it still doesn't explain what advantage there would be to buying gray market items. I don't know about Nikon prices but where I generally shop, B&H, there is no difference in the Canon prices between USA and Imported. So why sell both and set up situations where a customer could get burned at some point due to warranty differences? A casual customer isn't likely to know there is a difference when placing an order. Not everybody is going the read the info that pops up when you put your pointer on the identifier and when ordering online nothing is specified.

THRaleigh Loc: NC

jerryc41 wrote:

Nikon will not touch gray market equipment, even i... (show quote)

I have the same view on the Nikon warranty util B&H send me a "grey market" lens by mistake last week. They actually comes with a "international warranty" and listed Nikon in LA for warranty services. This must be relative new. The international warranty is only for one year, the USA warranty is for 5 years. Due to the current Nikon rebate, the price is the same so needless to say. I returned it for the USA version.

TH

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

One I came across was the Nikon TC-1.4 & 1.7. They are over $100 less expensive as a gray market item.

MDI Mainer

I find it hard to believe that Nikon repair parts are not available on the import market, just like their bodies, lenses, etc.

But it's obviously true -- when you're number two, you try harder -- in Nikon's case to alienate potential customers.

jerryc41 wrote:

They offer rebates from third-party companies. I don't know that they actually do the repairs themselves. And I think the parts would be the big problem, since Nikon limits its parts to authorized dealers.

Warranty work can get complicated. That's why I prefer buy expensive items that have a legitimate warranty.

amehta Loc: Boston

I treat paying for the US version as insurance, and I don't insure everything. For a camera body or VR lens, I want the insurance. For a non-VR lens (or a TC), I'll skip the insurance if it costs too much, because those are less likely to need repairs.

OviedoPhotos

Its a gamble. 99% of the gear never requires service. So you can save money by getting gray market, with the catch of course.