2dawgs Loc: Eastern Washington State

Anyone have experience with gray market camera warranties with B&H, KEH, or ?
Hard to fine US Nikon D7500 or D500. Nee help before purchase. Thanks

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Is the price difference really so great between an authorized full-price USA-warranty model and a new grey market, with a grey market warranty?

Asked another way: there have been no recalls on the D7500 nor D500, both models now 4+ years in age from their initial release date. Is paying more for a USA warranty or 3rd-party warranty worth the cost given the low risk there would ever be a repair problem in the first 12-months, or ever, in the length of your ownership of the camera?

And a final question: if the camera is a model now 4-years from the initial release, why pay new money for an old body design? Buy a lightly used body and save more than grey market.

BebuLamar

The new price is often less than the price 4 years ago and the new money today is worth less than the same amount 4 year ago yet the camera is exactly the same if not better due to firmware update.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

New money should buy new cameras, if you're ever going to pay a price premium for an unused camera, or for any form of camera equipment ...

BebuLamar

I buy new cameras not newly made camera. Used equipment value a lot less to me. I won't pay more than half the new price for any used equipment.

henryp Loc: New York, NY

I believe the issue for these two models is not price but availability.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Looking at D7500 and D500 at B&H... there's absolutely no difference in price of USA or "imported" with either model.

The problem is that the USA warranted are out of stock... with no indication of when they might be available. Who knows! Maybe they're sitting in a container sitting on a ship that's waiting to get into port and unload!

The "imported" (i.e., gray market) are currently available at B&H.

B&H's store warranty would likely be no problem. They've been dealing with gray market sales for decades, were among the first to do it in fact, even way back when we used to shop their ads in the back of Popular Photography magazine and call them on the phone to order. The store warranty they offer is the same one year term that Nikon USA offers on those cameras. There also is the same option to buy extended warranty, if wanted.

Personally I wouldn't worry too much. Over the years I've bought around a dozen digital cameras new and never had to make a warranty claim on any of them.

It used to be that Nikon USA's service centers wouldn't even work on gray market items at all. And since they also have a policy of not selling replacement parts to independent shops, you were screwed if a gray market Nikon item broke.

But I believe Nikon USA now WILL repair gray market items, though it will be at the owner's expense. If you're concerned, you might want to confirm this. They still have the policy against selling parts and have "fired" all their authorized repairers. So now the only way to get a major repair done on any Nikon product in the US may be through the Nikon USA's own service centers. ("May be" because some independent repairers might have work-arounds to effect repairs and/or access to parts from donor cameras or 3rd parts makers.)

That's the only drawback to gray market now.... a store warranty instead of a factory warranty. That should be fine if buying from a reputable, long established store like B&H. I would be more worried about gray market from unknown sellers like we see all over the internet.

Unfortunately there's also no savings buying gray market.... But at least they're available!

2dawgs Loc: Eastern Washington State

Thank you all. US is just not available. Gray market has to be the choice if you want either D7500 or D500.
Appreciate the info. again, thanks to all.

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

With a gray market warranty you would, if you needed repairs under the warranty period, have to send the camera to the country of origin. For instance, if the camera was imported from England, you would have to send the camera to Nikon England if it needed repair during the warranty period.
B&H has US D500's, you most be looking for a used one?

Bayou

NikonUSA.com has both of these models available refurbished.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Statistically Proven = Most failures (with electronics) seem to happen in the very early stages of ownership, usually right when they are new, or later near the peak of MTBF failure predictions or later = with cameras that usually means many tens of thousands of clicks down the road. Extremely high probability of NO FAILURE if it works as advertised when you receive it. Both cameras have a very good track record, I doubt you will ever have an issue, unless you cause some damage at some point. All of my digital cameras (some are old now) regardless of brand, still work as they always have. One used Nikon D80 did fail (questionable when bought - very cheap) at 11 yrs. old...even if a warranty was available, parts are not...so it sits on a shelf in a glass case, looks great there!!!

Grey market could hurt resale value later. The idea of a nice used unit, bought at the right price, or a Nikon Refurb, is also a good way to go. At any rate, good luck in your quest.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

Nikon USA will not sell parts or supply technician instructions for grey market cameras. The way to get your camera to a Nikon trained service rep, you will have to mail your camera to Nikon Canada's offices. You can list your equipment as "for repair and return to sender" on the international customs document. They would also be the ones to quote your repair cost for parts and labor before you send it.

It isn't terrible. It is "doable" if your grey market equipment is a trusted camera and the repair cost seems reasonable when you get it back with Nikon parts installed and tested.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Are "Nikon" parts available to repair shops from outside USA sources?
Example, if the camera is available Gray Market are not parts and manuals also available Gray Market?

ecommons

Nikon does this to allegedly protect their dealers and keep profits higher for their dealers. (Sounds like price fixing) Nikon makes the same camera with the same parts that end up on grey market, and Nikon makes the same profit either way. The camera should last the same as any camera