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

What are Gray Market Products?
Nikon products that are imported and sold by anyone other than Nikon Inc. USA are considered Gray Market products. These usually are genuine Nikon products that were intended for other Nikon markets; therefore, they may not meet Nikon’s specifications for US products and they may not perform as expected.
Terms to look for
The majority of Gray Market products are sold online at discounted prices. Look for the following terms, which often indicate that a product is Gray Market.
Import ModelWarranty via SellerGray/Grey MarketNikon ImportUSA Seller WarrantyOff MarketDirect ImportUSA Coverage by SellerSeller Warranty
Why are Gray Market products risky?
Since Gray Market products are not imported and distributed by Nikon Inc. USA, you don’t know exactly what you’re getting.
No Nikon Warranty

Gray Market products may contain a limited warranty from the seller, but they are not covered by a Nikon USA warranty.
Non-genuine accessories

May include counterfeit or third party accessories that could damage Nikon equipment.
Fake software

The software included often is either copied or counterfeit.
Wrong power cord

May include an incorrect power cord or adapter not designated for use in the USA.
Not eligible for repair service

Not eligible for Nikon USA repair service, even if you want to pay for it.
Missing user manuals

User manuals are often missing, incomplete or photocopied, and they may even be in a foreign language.
May not be as expected

Since Gray Market products were not designed for sale in the USA, they may not meet your expectations.
Not eligible for rebates

Gray Market products are not eligible for Nikon USA promotions or instant rebates.
Did you know?
A counterfeit accessory like a battery or charger can potentially malfunction and damage your equipment.

MORE ABOUT COUNTERFEIT ACCESSORIES
What if I already own
a Gray Market Nikon product?
Nikon Inc. USA and Nikon Authorized Dealers won’t provide technical support, repair or warranty service on Gray Market products. If you suspect you may have purchased a Gray Market Nikon product, please contact the seller or importer for warranty and service information as well as software updates and downloads. Refer to the seller or the warranty cards included with your product for service contact information.
How can I be sure I'm buying an official Nikon USA product?
Remember: the easiest way to recognize gray market is that the product does not include a Nikon Inc USA warranty. Look for, or ask for a Nikon Inc USA warranty whenever you buy a Nikon product.

Before you invest your money, ask yourself, would you buy a product that doesn’t include a manufacturer’s warranty?

Buy from a Nikon
Authorized Dealer
Ensure your product lives up to Nikon’s high standards and is eligible for manufacturer support.

VIEW THE LIST OF NIKON AUTHORIZED DEALERS

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

One exception apparently (from what I have read) is that if you buy the equipment overseas and have the receipt showing that, you can get service (at a cost). Otherwise, it is a choice. There are responsible sellers that offer you gray market products - you pay less and take your chances - but there are also rip-off stores that try to rip you off - look up reviews of any store that you are contemplating patronizing.

Tom G Loc: Atlanta, GA

💤 💤 💤

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Here's the problem with what I just read and why I may never buy another Nikon product.

The question: "Before you invest your money, ask yourself, would you buy a product that doesn’t include a manufacturer’s warranty?"

The problem; Nikon America's or Nikon Inc, of Melville NY, is not the manufacturer. They are the importer/distributor. They manufacturer nothing. Their parent company, Nikon Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo Japan, has manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, Taiwan and Thailand, but not in the USA.
Nikon products are sold all in virtually every civilized country on our planet and when sold new, from the manufacturer, come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Here in the USA, Nikon Inc charges a premium for a USA warranty and their policy is, if you didn't buy it from a dealer who bought it from us, we won't service it. I wonder if Nikon Asia Pacific or Nikon Australia or Nikon Hong Kong or Nikon Europe or Nikon UK or Nikon Russia or Nikon Poland or Nikon Wherever or even Nikon Canada or Nikon Mexico, both of which are part of North America, have the same policy!?

Nikon is a Global company and if you spend some time on the main Nikon Web site you may get the impression that being a Global company is somewhat of a big deal to them. So why does Nikon Inc of Melville NY maintain such an isolationist pollicy?!

If someone legitimately purchased a legitimate Nikon manufactured product, regardless of where it was purchased, and there is a fault with that product, then Nikon should stand behind their products and correct the problem. Same goes to a product no longer covered by warranty. If the product broke and Nikon has the parts and expertise and facilities to fix it, for a fair fee, then fix it. No games, no idiotic policies, just charge a fair price and fix the problem or supply the necessary parts to someone who can and will.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I have never had cause to use a manufacturer's warranty or extended warranty plan on anything I have purchased except appliances and my car. I figure the odds are I won't need them, and the manufacturers figure their stuff will last until the warranty period is over. All my camera purchases in the past 5 years have been on ebay. The camera manufacturer gets nothing. None of my used equipment has failed after the 30 day paypal guarantee period. Paypal refunded my money on three items that didn't perform as advertised in the first 30 days.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I have never heard this.
I am not a Nikon user but does Nikon really make different levels of the same product, depending on the market it was meant for?
I know that a camera might have a different name in a different market, but am completely unaware that they might have different specifications that could cause them to not, "perform as expected"?
But then, I'm a Canon user, so what the h*ll do I know!!!! LoL
SS

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Apparently this is just a ploy to protect US Nikon dealers and support a higher US price. It reminds me of pharma products that are cheaper overseas or even in Canada or Mexico than they are in the US. It's obviously the same product.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

The rule does not always apply as I have had grey market products purchased in Canada repaired by Nikon in Melville NY (one item being a Nikon 200-400mm f4 vrII and they replaced the focusing motor).

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Their is no difference in the products that are produced at the different plants, none, zip no DIFFERENCE they are all the same PERIOD.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Likewise the stuff about the manuals is nonsense. You can download the manuals from the Nikon website in pdf or using their free Manual Viewer. I guess those writing the web page are clueless marketing folk.

They don't include hard copy manuals with many cameras anyway.

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

My D500, D810, and D4s all came with hard copy manuals.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

Nikon had announced that it will repair gray market D810 and others.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

How can you ever convince us that this is an "official" Nikon statement and not from a counterfeit site?

henryp Loc: New York, NY

This may seem like I'm splitting hairs but IMO the distinction is valid. This is not an exception. If you buy the equipment overseas and have the receipt, the equipment is not grey market at all.

henryp Loc: New York, NY

They do not. No matter what the warranty, a product manufactured by Nikon has the same quality. In fact when the camera or lens (or whatever) rolls off the assembly line it does not yet have a "grey market" or "manufacturer's warranty" provenance.