pendennis

Nikon can defend itself, but Nikon USA is the official imported and distributor of Nikon products. Their dealers expect an amount of product protection as to warranty, advertising, repair, etc. "Gray market" importers don't bear any of the importer costs. Now, if you want to save the few bucks and buy gray market, that's up to you. Just don't expect Nikon, USA to support equipment not shipped through their network. Their factory-authorized repair facilities expect protection from the "mother ship", and they get it. "Mom and Pop" camera service in Peoria likely doesn't have the technical expertise to keep up on the latest hardware, firmware, software changes.

And Nikon isn't the only company to customize products to fit particular markets. Cell phones, sound gear, etc., all have slight differences based on where they'll be sold.

A four-year-old Canon, by technology aging is a relic. The innards of any piece of hardware with any type of IC circuitry is subject to Moore's Law. Would you expect Acer, Dell, H-P to cover a four-year-old product? My five-year-old Dell desktop will not run Win 11. Is that Dell's problem? Win 11 wasn't in the computer lexicon in 2017.

The day cameras starting using electronics, is the day that they became captive to the increased pace of obsolescence. It's very easy to service a mechanical shutter, assuming no need for parts. Try to get a Nikon FE, or Canon T90 serviced, and they become paper weights (if cannibalized cameras aren't available). I just had a Compur shutter repaired. Fortunately no parts were needed, but if the repair needed a lever, spring, etc., likely I'd have been out of luck.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Every time you speak, you demonstrate your complete lack of knowledge. Carry on!

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

That is a concern. Maybe Nikon’s philosophy is Caveat Emptor to persuade people to buy new instead of used. That seems pretty cold blooded though.

pendennis

I wouldn't call it "cold blooded". Nikon is in the new and refurbished camera equipment business. That's a business model that lot's of companies follow. Auto manufacturers don't advertise, or sell, prior model years vehicles (except in dire circumstances). A lot of that is driven by Federal automotive law. Prior model year vehicles, usually after a certain date can no longer be sold as new.

Nikon, as I mentioned in an earlier post, is also bound by Moore's Law. They have to move with technology; else they're out of business.

BebuLamar

Still if they can't tell if a camera or lens is gray market by serial number than what do they look for when you send them the camera?

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Baloney. Serial number tells them which country. Nikon USA will only repair USA models. You would have to return it to the country or was made for..... But it probably be cheaper to buy a used one from a reliable source, not Abe's.

What about military people that buy a camera while overseas. I shoot with Nikon, but they stink at this. I don't care what country the camera was made for they should repair it, even if they have to forward it(with permission) to the correct facility. Of course we all know that won't happen.

Buy another one.

pendennis

I believe Nikon has a policy which covers their products when purchased overseas. Don't know the specifics, but I've seen posts on various blogs where Nikon USA has made exceptions to their "standard" policy.

Bill_de Loc: US

Now that was a helpful comment!



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Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Moore may apply to discontinued equipment, but not for gear still in production.
My cold blooded comment was not in response to the OP but to BebuLamar’s comment about buying used equipment.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I don’t know. The serial number is the logical, reasonable thing. I’m not sure I buy the OP’s post.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

It seems perhaps Nikon should learn from Sony and Canon eating their lunch, and re-think some of their draconian measures.

I can understand not doing warranty repairs on gray market gear, but refusing to repair it for pay, if it is a supported device, is just cruel. I also think it would be very stupid to develop cameras differently for different markets. There isn't much that can't be done with firmware these days to localize a device. Panasonic Lumix proved that about ten years ago. Heck, lowly DVD players have been "regionalized" with firmware for years.

alexol

"IF" you are valued customer, they give you a phone number. I've spoken to eBay reps many times and you can find contact info on the website.

If they haven't already given you a number, you will be called back after contacting them through the relevant channel - similar to Amazon in this respect.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

williejoha

Why does this even come up for discussion? Everybody knows that “ good luck with having grey market items repaired by manufacturers agencies” what is so hard to understand? You get what you pay for when you buy from certain sellers. Get on with it.
WJH

BebuLamar

It's important because if I were to buy a used (like 1 year old) camera I would want to make sure it's not gray market. How do I know that?