vaildiver Loc: Arizona

Hi there, first post though I've been following for several years. Does anyone have experience with Willoughbys?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

When I lived in New York they were the store to go to. In todays times it is B&H and Adorma.
Welcome aboard.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Welcome. Can't answer your question, though.

vaildiver Loc: Arizona

Thanks. Just wondering since their prices are 10-20% lower...

vaildiver Loc: Arizona

Thanks

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

I looked at their price for a new Nikon D750 and it was $420 below retail price which raised an eyebrow.

Authorized Nikon dealers are not allowed to sell below the price Nikon sets. If you look at what is included it is pretty much everything that should be in the box...with the exception of a Nikon USA warranty.

That means the camera is a "gray market" item that was imported outside of Nikon's authorized distribution network. As a result Nikon will not touch the camera should anything ever go wrong...even if you offer to pay for the repair. They do offer extended warranties, for a price, and I imagine offer their own store warranty for perhaps a year (didn't check), but reportedly Nikon has stopped selling parts to 3rd party repair shops so their ability to repair the item may be in doubt unless they have a bunch of cannabilized cameras they use for parts.

Now some may be willing to take the chance for a gray market camera due to the savings, I am not one of them...not worth the hassle to me.

Up until recently I would be more inclined to buy a gray market Nikon lens than a camera as the warranty on Nikon lenses had been extended from 1 year to 5 years which signalled to me they were more confident in the longevity of their lenses than cameras. However, I read here recently that they were no longer adding the 4 year extension to their lens warranties.

vaildiver Loc: Arizona

Thanks for your input. Hard to know sometimes. 15-20% discount accross the board it seems. Don't see any disclosure about US vs. overseas models. Agreed, best to stay away.

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

Today's Willoughby's bears no resemblance to the respected camera retailer of the 50s. Best to be avoided at all costs.

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

For the discounts they are offering they may well be Gray Market gear and will not carry a US warranty. In other words, if you buy it and need warranty service, you will have to send it to the country or origin. So, if the camera was imported from China, you would have to send it to Nikon China to have warranty work done.
They may also offer their own warranty service, but you would not know anything about it and where they would send it.
Nikon puts a lot of their gear on sale about 4 times a year, and you get the US warranty too.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Willoughby's was the B&H of its time. I could never go into NYC without stopping by Willoughby's. And it wasn't even for photo equipment!! I was into audio equipment back then.

vaildiver Loc: Arizona

Thank you. I'll take your advice.

Miamark Loc: Florida

I was there a few years ago. Not the same as the famous store. I buy from Adorama, B&H, and locally in Miami from Pitman Photo. I don’t if Willoughby’s sells grey market products but the prices seem too low. Ask if the cameras have US warranties.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

As of this month Willoughbys is not listed as an authorized dealer for either Nikon or Canon. Almost certainly any Nikon or Canon products they are selling are grey market.

http://downloads.canon.com/dealer/canon-ad-04-05-21.pdf
https://cdn-6.nikon-cdn.com/where-to-buy/nikon_img_auth_dealers.pdf

The price is the first clue. Authorized dealers are required to charge the same price. If one has a lower price they all will.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Agree that years ago, 70’s and 80’s, they were first class. Not so sure now, as I think the name was sold.