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Distinguish Between Gray Market and US Lenses When Buying Used
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Jun 17, 2019 01:53:26   #
leeinalex Loc: CA
 
hello all,

i did a search for gray market lenses on this forum and i see that there is no real physical difference between a gray market and a US lens. instead, it seems like the lack of warranty is the difference.

but what i don't know is when you are purchasing a used lens on craigslist, ebay, etc. is there a way to tell if the lens is a gray market or not?

the three brands of lenses i look at the most are: canon, sigma, and tamron.

thank you.

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Jun 17, 2019 02:44:44   #
jdub82 Loc: California
 
When buying a used lens on craiglist, etc., there is no manufacturer warranty involved, so it really shouldn't matter too much whether the used item is U.S. or gray market. (The exception would be used Nikon lenses, which Nikon won't service if gray market. It sounds like you have a Canon, so that shouldn't be an issue for you). The only way to really tell if the lens is gray market would be to ask the seller, and hope for an honest response.

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Jun 17, 2019 05:16:35   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
leeinalex wrote:
hello all,

i did a search for gray market lenses on this forum and i see that there is no real physical difference between a gray market and a US lens. instead, it seems like the lack of warranty is the difference.

but what i don't know is when you are purchasing a used lens on craigslist, ebay, etc. is there a way to tell if the lens is a gray market or not?

the three brands of lenses i look at the most are: canon, sigma, and tamron.

thank you.


I would ask the seller if it is US product. The seller will either tell you yes. no, or he doesn't know. Use PayPal to pay for it. If it turns out not to be as the seller has represented, let the seller know that you will be returning the lens. If he balks, at least you have a paper trail that you can show PayPal so they can intervene on your behalf. I would not use any other method of payment - ever.

Sigma charges $250 more to service gray market.

https://petapixel.com/2017/02/07/psa-buy-gray-market-sigma-lens-pay-extra-250-servicing/

Tamron may or may not repair it - you'd have to contact them. Some owners on line have had to pay $229 before Tamron will touch it.

I have no first hand experience with repairing Tamron or Canon products.

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Jun 17, 2019 05:40:30   #
John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK
 
Ask for the serial no. and check with the manufacturer.

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Jun 17, 2019 06:43:23   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
It’s very simple - don’t buy lenses (or cameras) on Craigslist or eBay. Buy only from established sources like B&H, Adorama, KEH, etc. I know Craigslist/eBay prices are enticing, but you never know what you are getting.

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Jun 17, 2019 08:19:12   #
maxiu9
 
Another suggestion for used lenses: check out Used Photo Pro. It's the online store for Roberts Camera in Indianapolis. They're legit. Lots of lenses and camera bodies in a range of prices and quality.

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Jun 17, 2019 09:08:41   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
maxiu9 wrote:
Another suggestion for used lenses: check out Used Photo Pro. It's the online store for Roberts Camera in Indianapolis. They're legit. Lots of lenses and camera bodies in a range of prices and quality.


Use them all the time - Excellent. Item condition has been better than claimed / shown every time. They often will take offers.

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Jun 17, 2019 12:03:02   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
John N wrote:
Ask for the serial no. and check with the manufacturer.


I'm not sure about other mfgrs, but that doesn't work with Nikon.

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Jun 17, 2019 12:07:12   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
rjaywallace wrote:
It’s very simple - don’t buy lenses (or cameras) on Craigslist or eBay. Buy only from established sources like B&H, Adorama, KEH, etc. I know Craigslist/eBay prices are enticing, but you never know what you are getting.


RJ, that doesn't ensure that you'll get a gray lens. I bought a lens from someone who purchased it from B&H and it turned out to be gray. The seller was completely unaware, but he refunded my purchase price and shipping both ways. I rarely purchase from retail stores - their prices are higher, and the equipment is not necessarily checked out and problem free. I have done quite well on eBay, Craigslist, Fred Miranda's classified section, etc.

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Jun 18, 2019 06:45:11   #
traderjohn Loc: New York City
 
leeinalex wrote:
hello all,

i did a search for gray market lenses on this forum and i see that there is no real physical difference between a gray market and a US lens. instead, it seems like the lack of warranty is the difference.

but what i don't know is when you are purchasing a used lens on craigslist, ebay, etc. is there a way to tell if the lens is a gray market or not?

the three brands of lenses i look at the most are: canon, sigma, and tamron.

thank you.


There is a lot of paranoia about the term grey market. It is manufactured by the same company under their license. Warranty problems would be a concern. How many times have you had a camera/lens problem that needed warranty repair?

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Jun 18, 2019 06:52:02   #
Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.
 
John N wrote:
Ask for the serial no. and check with the manufacturer.


Yours is the best answer, some manufacturers have data bases where you can check the origin of the lens. To my knowledge Canon does not seem to care where the lens came from once it is out of warranty, their service centers don't check the serial numbers for non warranty service, at least that is the way it was not so long ago.

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Jun 18, 2019 07:19:06   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Used good don't have a warranty, but getting Nikon to service a gray market lens could be a problem.

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Jun 18, 2019 07:20:15   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Blurryeyed wrote:
Yours is the best answer, some manufacturers have data bases where you can check the origin of the lens. To my knowledge Canon does not seem to care where the lens came from once it is out of warranty, their service centers don't check the serial numbers for non warranty service, at least that is the way it was not so long ago.


Posters here have said that Nikon has to examine a camera to tell if it is gray market or not. Serial numbers do not help.

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Jun 18, 2019 07:31:20   #
traderjohn Loc: New York City
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Posters here have said that Nikon has to examine a camera to tell if it is gray market or not. Serial numbers do not help.


What are the criteria Nikon uses to determine it is grey market? All of their Nikon products are produced under their license. If the serial number is of no use are different parts used?

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Jun 18, 2019 08:25:06   #
chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand
 
Gene51 wrote:
I would ask the seller if it is US product......


No such thing as US product. Cameras and lens are made overseas. They are all identical.
The difference is who they were sourced through.
A US sourced product has a premium added by ? US to cover warranty. The premium is used to cover warranty and repairs. ? US DOES NOT want to have to cover the ton of camera gear purchased overseas by bargain hunting Americans who paid less for it. And neither does Nikon (and probably others) want to have to carry the burden of a worldwide warranty.
I can't remember whether Nikon US was a separate legal entity who has maybe paid Nikon Japan a premium to be the legal or authourised resellers in the US but if so you can see why they wouldn't want a bar of any gear purchased overseas. And easy to do via exclusive serial numbers.
We have been through a lot of bodies (happen to be Nikons) and lens and had only one body failure outside the warranty period and still fixed by Nikon because it was a manf issue.

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