banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

I am presenting a question to the group. My son-in-law was very close to ordering a Nikon 24-70 from 42nd Street photo. The price is approximately $400 less than the 2 big boys, that is why he was looking there. I tried to explain the gray market issue to him and various things along those lines.

Does anyone have any specific reasons why he should/should not order from this company. He got a Nikon 70-200 from them several years ago and was pleased with the outcome, so that makes it a little harder to sway him.

Please weigh in with any +-.

Thanks

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Search "42 street photo" and start reading. Many posts!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Here's a good one:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-272439-1.html

jkoar Loc: The Gunks, NY

Is it gray market?

Regis Loc: Coeur d' Alene, Idaho

I would play it safe and deal with B&H, Adorama or Amazon.com because they can be trusted.

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

Don't let him do it!!!! :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Bait and switch and no manufacturer USA warranties.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

42nd Street is the kind of place catering to tourists - the type of store that puts a $200 item in the window with a sign saying "regularly $500, now only $300!!!" to suck in the unaware.

I don't know if it was intentional, but it seems they try to play off the old "47th Street Photo" name, which was essentially the pre-cursor to B&H and was quite reliable. You will no doubt find no end of reviews denoting the customer-unfriendly way they behave. Run, don't walk, in the other direction.

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

I say let your SIL buy the lens as he wishes. A $400+ lesson will be well remembered for the future.

BebuLamar

$400 less? That's simply too much to believe they are going to let you have it.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

He's a big boy. He has some lumps coming.

bruswen Loc: Eugene OR

Each manufacturer has one authorized company, usually a subsidiary, that handles importing their products in the US. In the case of Nikon, the importer is Nikon USA. For a lens like the 24-70mm f/2.8 the price that retailers charge for the lens is fixed by Nikon USA, it includes a five year warranty and you will receive any rebates offered by Nikon for the product.

A gray market lens is a new product that was imported into the US by another means. In the past, large retailers would directly import lenses they knew they would sell in large numbers and offer them at a discount. In the case of Nikon lenses they would be sold with just a one year warranty, and any warranty service would be done by the retailer, not Nikon. Any Nikon rebates would not be available on a gray market lens, only the lenses imported thru Nikon USA.

When you buy a product from 42nd Street Photo at a $400 discount all you know for sure is that the lens was not imported into the US thru Nikon USA and any warranty you receive will be directly from 42nd Street Photo, not Nikon. It is possible to purchase a lens there and have no problems whatsoever, Nikon's pro lenses are very well made products. However, if there is problem, that is when companies like B and H and Adorama separate themselves from the rest of the retailers. They have earned their reputations as the best sources for cameras and lenses by providing the best customer service in the business.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Fergus Loc: Westfield,IN

Your son-in-law needs to learn "buyer beware".

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

While most on this group will start citing reviews, mostly because they are "band wagoners", and have no true experience,- I will speak from actual experience. I have had excellent experiences with 42nd Street. I have bought a Canon 70D, and also a 24-105L from them. Had a problem with the 70D-couldn't get a sharp pic to save my life. I called and told them what I was experiencing, played with the camera a few more days just to make sure it wasn't me, then sent it back. I had a replacement in less than a week. While it may be true that they are not Canon dealers, even purchasing the aftermarket warranty, I still came out about a hundred dollars less than anywhere else. I'm not sure, but the warranty might actually cover longer than Canon's own coverage. As with any big-ticket purchase, do your own "due diligence"