CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I would call it a discussion rather than a "sound off" where any and all relevant and non relevant comments are dumped in ... The OP has indicated in their comments over the course of this "discussion" they've purchased a T5 and have received a T6, possibly a grey market sale. If the off-topic noise is questioned, why support that noise? You and your friend are just demonstrating you can't be bothered to read, follow and comprehend the discussion ... so don't be bothered when you're asked to shut-up until you have something useful to say ... It was one page until this comment was made. You're too busy? Too profound in your input to bother to scroll down and read / scan what has already been said and see how the discussion has progressed?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you can show where the ebay seller's advertising said "T5" and a "T6" arrived, you have grounds for a dispute and a return. You need to decide as well as to follow the specific procedures from ebay related to the dispute and return process. The impact of "grey market" is the resale value of the body is severely impacted if you thought you'd want to sell the body in the next few years. Given your long usage of a Rebel XS body, it would seem you plan a long ownership and useful life with a new body as well.

Some vendors reject repair processing on grey market cameras. Say you found a great price in Germany while traveling and bought a body. You get back to the US, something breaks and you send it to the company for repair (directly to the camera maker, not Fair Trade). The camera repair facility might say from the serial number, this is not a "US camera". You'd need to send it to Germany to get it fixed there ...

Use your XS as an indicator whether you ever experienced a problem. The overwhelming majority of cameras never have a problem requiring repair, at least not until they reach an end-of-life problem. Your Fair Trade insurance is intended to cover the period of life (first 1 or 2 years) where any manufacturing defects will occur that would be covered by the manufacturer's 1-year warranty (or slightly longer) when these problems are most likely to occur.

Cameras have standard, minimum pricing for new equipment from authorized sellers. These prices are not the same in every country worldwide. Cameras intended for other markets might be sold here in the US at a lower price than the US market model. The camera is exactly the same, manufactured in the same factory as the US model, tested and packaged in exactly the same way except for the number range / format of the serial number. If the camera meets your needs including a slightly lower price, you need to decide if that lower initial price supports an add-on payment for 3rd party insurance against any problems due to the source.

hj Loc: Florida

Okay... even though the OP indicates a preference and asks a specific question, let's give him 50 options so he can choose. Let's not be absurd. Respond to his interest and direct question.

eluchansky

Great information on gray market. Thanks.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

But, if I understood the followup post correctlythe choice is straight-forward - accept or reject the substitution. Nothing of the form Tni was ever a possibility.