rocket111

I was just thinking! Are there any business that honestly deal in gr ey market. And if so would it be so bad. All I read is grey market is bad. Is the stuff say Cannon less than the US. I guess what I'm asking is there a real discount? Are there real companys that sell honestly. And if so who are they? Is it legel to sell? Are there any grantee? Are there any real savings? Are they cheaper than refurbished. I think you get my thought's.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I don't know what particular item you are interested in, but with all the cameras selling at great discounts. Black Friday good until 11:59 pm today, and Cyber Monday starting tomorrow. Why would anyone be interested in buying gray market right now. Buy refurbished USA if you want to save money, and stay away from 42nd Street Photo.

ken hubert Loc: Missouri

AMEN!!!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Why would you want to buy grey market when you can't get it repaired from Nikon or Canon or whomever. You are possibly buying an expensive anchor.

rocket111

I don't want to buy anything. I was reading some cameras reviews by Ken Rockwell and he had said he has bought some grey market in the past. And you know how the internet is I got to reading more . It was just courious

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

So, that's it. Huh. A Ken Rockwell Review you read. Well, if it is good for Ken, perhaps it's good enough for you. I do like his Reviews. I don't buy gray market. Sorry Ken.

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

STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, have I said it enough times or do you need to hear it some more? OK, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY. GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!! ARE YOU SURE? OK, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Yes, there are companies that deal in grey market. Take a camera the US model and the Grey market model are the same IT COMES TO REPAIRS!

Now Hunt's Photo in Massachusetts never deals with grey market goods

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I think most companies deal honestly with gray market, Adorama and B&H, included. If the price is substantially lower, it's probably gray market. To be sure, ask the seller. The warranty is the big difference. Nikon will repair any of it's products under warranty, but Nikon USA will not repair items that it did not import. If you don't mind sending your equipment to another country and waiting a long time, go for it. I have never needed a photographic repair, and that goes back to the early 1970s. Companies that sell gray market also offer their own warranty through a private warranty company.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I won't try to speak for anyone else, but in my case I have purchased Grey Market on a couple of occasions and have never had a problem. My SX-60 was recently purchased through Amazon who advertised it as Grey Market. It is a wonderful camera. My rule of thumb is that the savings must be at least 20% to consider. I also always purchase a 3 yr Sq Trade warranty on my new camera's, Grey Market or not.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Here is a tip from Consumer Reports that I picked up a long time ago. For consumers, warranties are about managing risk. For the seller, they are about extra profit. The buyer pays extra to avoid risk. The seller puts a fraction of the extra money into an insurance policy of sorts that they tap into only when a consumer needs a repair under the warranty. They pocket the rest.

In the USA, certainly, importers charge a large premium on the goods they sell. To be sure they get it, they and their authorized repair centers do not offer local service on items they didn't import (gray market goods). Some of the manufacturers won't sell parts to anyone without authorization. Often, authorized repair shops are required to keep records of the serial numbers of repaired items for audit.

One way around this is to self-insure. Buy everything gray market, and put the savings into a self-warranty account. When something fails, just replace it (buy a new one). Send the failed unit abroad (or to the seller) for repair. It will take a LONG time. When you get it back, sell it on eBay...

If you use a lot of photo gear, you can save enough this way to replace one piece at a time as needed.

All that said, AVOID known rip-off gray market dealers such as 42nd ST. Photo...

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I regularly buy gray market cameras (well, three of them); they work just as well as their US counterparts; they haven't broken down and are now outside of the warranties anyway; the advertisers note that there is no US warranty and suggest buying a third party warranty (which I don't). I am willing to take the risk and if something happens to the camera, well, it's my fault and I can live with that.

cpeter234 Loc: WA state Lost in South Boston, VA

But why? Offer some rationale rather than just shouting to ...what was it...stay awake??

MtnMan Loc: ID

The good news is that gray market stuff is physically the same and costs less by avoiding manufacturer's price fixing.

There are two issues with gray market items.

1. There is no manufacturers warranty. Some sellers include warranties by others.

2. Most manufacturers refuse to repair gray market items even if you are willing to pay. Some will repair some items.

I think you are much better off buying manufacturer refurbished.

Dan De Lion Loc: Montana

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Nikon’s gray market lenses and camera bodies are just the same as the US imported counterparts. I’ve bought such Nikon equipment for many years without incident. Amazon carries gray market equipment but avoid 42nd Street Camera.

Concerning service, Nikon does service gray market warranty problems. The D750 I bought in Sydney Australia (paid $1650 when camera was selling for $2300 in the USA) was subject of a Nikon recall. Nikon paid for shipping both to and from Montana to Los Anglos. The camera, which had 23,000 cycles on it, was returned with a new shutter and other parts, totally cleaned, and looked new. Service took about one week.

Bear in mind that Nikon’s reconditioned bodies and lenses come with only a 90 day warranty instead of 3 to 5 year new equipment warranties. Make of that what you will.

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