“Grey Market” cameras: I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My...

MickiV Loc: Divided between GA and FL

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

MickiV wrote:

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

They are the exact same camera. But since it was imported outside the Canon distribution system for the US if it needs any work you will pay full price, warranty not valid in US. If you could find what country it was meant for they might let you register it for warranty there, but you pay shipping duty fees etc.
Was it that much of a bargain you could afford to pay shipping fees if needed or would you rather return it and pay more for a US Import Model?

I have had a gray market Canon and a Sigma SD14(that one had a manual in Russian) but I bought them used after the warranty was gone anyway. I knew I would pay full price for any work. Neither one ever needed any work so I won my bet. Canon will sell parts to non Canon repair shops I believe. If it was a Nikon they won't honor a warranty, won't work on it under any circumstances and I heard they won't even sell parts to non-Nikon repair shops.

twosummers Loc: Melbourne Australia or Lincolnshire England

I regularly buy from Hong Kong - my suppliers have been superb and as an example I saved nearly £1000 on an EOS R. These suppliers offer their own warranty (I've never had to test them though) and as an example some have a UK depot which handle returns and repairs - this may apply to where you live too. One of the suppliers I use offers an international warranty so that's even better than Canon. I sold an old camera which I bought online from Hong Kong and they transferred the warranty to the new owner!!

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

If the camera was represented as new in the Amazon listing with no other disclaimers, then by all means send it back. It was deceptive advertising and you were cheated.

If the camera was purchased as « used, » then as robertjerl indicated, it is a gamble and your call. Was the price you paid low enough to take the risk? Personally, I would never purchase a camera body that would not be serviced by the US company, but that’s just me.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

MickiV wrote:

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

If you paid full price (check B&H and Adorama), then send it back. If you got an absolutely screaming deal, then maybe roll the dice and keep it. I have purchased some gray market items and so far I have had no problems. Good luck.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

MickiV wrote:

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

Return it to Amazon. You have no warranty.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

If you go back and look at the Amazon ad for your camera I would bet you will find it referred to as "International Model" If not, contact them for a return. On the other hand, if the camera is working properly you might remember that less than 1.5% of new cameras need repairs during the first year, which is the new camera warranty time. So the odds (98.5%) are in your favor that you will not have to pay for a repair during your first year of ownership. But, if this is going to wear on your mind, you may just want to return the camera for your peace of mind.

hoola

I would not want no warranty . If I really wanted to save a buck then I would buy used(no warranty either) . Seems these days its all about saving a buck . Which is why smaller camera shoppes are going out of business as they can't compete with low prices . Folx instead buy from the big NYC stores such as Adorama or B&H . Shame . Even NYC has no smaller camera shoppes left . I used to sell pro gear in NYC . Folx would come in and i'd spend over an hour explaining/showing them gear . Then they would go around block and buy it cheaper . In many cases all they saved was maybe 1% . Think my time & knowledge(i'm an RIT grad) was worth 1% . Whatever.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

ClarkJohnson wrote:

If the camera was represented as new in the Amazon listing with no other disclaimers, then by all means send it back. It was deceptive advertising and you were cheated.

If the camera was purchased as « used, » then as robertjerl indicated, it is a gamble and your call. Was the price you paid low enough to take the risk? Personally, I would never purchase a camera body that would not be serviced by the US company, but that’s just me.

New or used makes no difference when registering with Canon. Grey market is the issue. So far as I know Canon USA will not register grey market equipment. Canon USA will service such equipment but unless the grey market item has an international warranty (few have, it seems) the owner will pay the going price. Odds are that somewhere in the advertising for the OP's camera is info that it is grey market but the OP overlooked it. B&H, for example, uses the designation 'Imported'. Unless you are familiar with their use of the term, as many of us are, or click on the info button next to it, you won't know that it refers to grey market. I would guess that the OP encountered something similar.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

MickiV wrote:

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

I accidentally bought a gray market Nikon D 500. I had to have services sent it tonight, they refuse service it. I took it to the local shop where I bought it and I told him that when I bought this they told me it was slightly used that someone is actually bought it went out today parking lot decide they want to Canavan brought it back. What I told them that they were able to make it work and they offered me to trade it back in and for $300 to give me a US version so I did that.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

MickiV wrote:

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

You force a return for refund if the seller advertised it as a domestic model or had any other fraudulent statements in their listing. I see some listed as international model on Amazon. Otherwise you are out of luck if the seller doesn't want to work with you.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

hoola wrote:

I would not want no warranty . If I really wanted ... (show quote)

That's where "qualifying the prospect" comes into play. After a few encounters, it is easy enough to ask the right questions and determine if you need to spend time with the prospect or move on.

Bill_de Loc: US

MickiV wrote:

I purchased a Canon camera from Amazon. While trying to register with Canon, I was informed I could not register it because it was a “grey market” camera! My dilemma now..... do I keep it or send it back?? So far the camera works great (Canon 90 d)

Apologies if this issues has already been discussed.

Are you sure you bought the camera 'from' Amazon, not from another vendor 'through' Amazon.

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traderjohn Loc: New York City

jccash wrote:

Return it to Amazon. You have no warranty.

Everybody seems to get their panties in a bunch if it's the dreaded "grey market" product. It appears the warranty carries more weight than the camera. They are made at the same factory/location.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

To my knowledge, the main concern has to do with the ability to have the manufacturer service the camera if needed, not so much the "warranty" issue. Nikon will not service Gray market cameras, BUT Canon will.