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Grey Market Rip Off
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Jan 22, 2020 13:31:21   #
camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.
 
It has been said here many times, buy from reputable dealers. It is preferable to pay a little bit more but to have peace of mind.

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Jan 22, 2020 13:39:41   #
ski Loc: West Coast, USA
 
What caused the screen to break? If it was your fault pay up!!! If it came broken then pursue the seller and company..

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Jan 22, 2020 14:05:59   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
PGHphoto wrote:
A third party warranty is still a USA warranty - the key question to ask is "does the manufacturer honor the warranty or is it through a 3rd party ?" .


It's not. It's an insurance policy.

If you can't get your gray market camera repaired with OEM parts, by factory trained technicians, without having to ship the broken camera to the country of origin for repair, it's not a USA warranty. USA warranty is only provided by the manufacturer.

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Jan 22, 2020 14:14:17   #
pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico
 
If this happened to me I'd:
1. have my credit card company cancel the payment
2. Report it to the BBB
3. Post your grievance on ripoffreport.com

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Jan 22, 2020 14:21:53   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
BebuLamar wrote:
My question really is this. In which country/countries do cameras prices are less than that in the USA so that they can buy gray market cameras?


The rest of the world! The camera companies have long ago realized that U.S. customers generally are willing to shell out more money on camera equipment than customers elsewhere. With grey market policies, the companies can set camera prices a bit higher in the U.S., thereby increasing profits.

Personally, I don't think grey market policies are a particularly fair practice. Imagine you are growing apples in your garden and selling them to your neighbors. But you charge one of the neighbors more per apple because you know that he has more income and is willing to spend more on apples than the other neighbors. And then when you find out that the neighbor you are charging more has purchased an apple from one of the other neighbors (an apple that was originally grown and sold by you), you try to punish him for not buying directly from you at the higher price.

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Jan 22, 2020 14:24:45   #
aggiedad Loc: Corona, ca
 
You might consider a personal property insurance policy. State Farm has my gear covered, and they say they cover lost items, theft, and breakage WITH EITHER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT without a deductible.

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Jan 22, 2020 14:28:46   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
pdsilen wrote:
If this happened to me I'd:
1. have my credit card company cancel the payment
2. Report it to the BBB
3. Post your grievance on ripoffreport.com


It is not clear whether or not the camera was received with a broken screen. If it was broken due to an accident, or carelessness on the part of the OP, even if there was a legitimate Canon warranty, it would have not have covered the damage.

I have never heard of anyone receiving a camera with an already broken screen. Breaking in LCD screen usually requires a fairly substantial blow. The warranty only covers manufacturing defects, not damage occuring during use.

That aside, as a purchaser the OP should have attempted to register the item for warranty purposes upon purchase. He apparently did not. He also did not make a case for why a damaged screen should have been fixed under warranty. If it was damaged during use, It is very easy to try to blame others for your own errors.

If you have ever had a car accident, was it fixed for free under warranty by the manufacturer?

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Jan 22, 2020 14:42:12   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
Twobuells wrote:
Bought a new Canon Sx70HS from a New York camera shop only to find out from Canon that it is not approved for sale in the USA. In turn they would not repair the broken LCD screen under warranty. The repair cost is $308.00. What if anything can be done , as Tri-State camera will not reply or return my calls.
Thanks for any input.
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, but TriState Camera is well known for it, it is like run, run! Never buy from them!!!!!

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Jan 22, 2020 14:45:20   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
speters wrote:
Sorry to hear about your misfortune, but TriState Camera is well known for it, it is like run, run! Never buy from them!!!!!

It not clear he was sold a broken camera. Even with a Canon warranty, damage occuring during use is not covered.

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Jan 22, 2020 14:58:40   #
BebuLamar
 
rook2c4 wrote:
The rest of the world! The camera companies have long ago realized that U.S. customers generally are willing to shell out more money on camera equipment than customers elsewhere. With grey market policies, the companies can set camera prices a bit higher in the U.S., thereby increasing profits.

Personally, I don't think grey market policies are a particularly fair practice. Imagine you are growing apples in your garden and selling them to your neighbors. But you charge one of the neighbors more per apple because you know that he has more income and is willing to spend more on apples than the other neighbors. And then when you find out that the neighbor you are charging more has purchased an apple from one of the other neighbors (an apple that was originally grown and sold by you), you try to punish him for not buying directly from you at the higher price.
The rest of the world! The camera companies have l... (show quote)


The rest of the world? I've been to Vietnam, Hong Kong and the prices there are not any less than the US. In Europe the prices are higher. In Japan only some items are less expensive.

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Jan 22, 2020 15:08:07   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
BebuLamar wrote:
The rest of the world? I've been to Vietnam, Hong Kong and the prices there are not any less than the US. In Europe the prices are higher. In Japan only some items are less expensive.


Not my experience. I often buy cameras and lenses in Europe because of the significantly lower prices than I can get in the U.S.

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Jan 22, 2020 15:36:52   #
nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY
 
PGHphoto wrote:
I am simply pointing out that a "USA Warranty" is not the same as a "Manufacturer's Warranty".

As the discussion is about gray market repairs by the manufacturer covered by a manufacturer's warranty, I want to make sure that those looking at websites or ads from non-authorized sellers understand that what they must verify is the warranty is honored by the manufacturer - not just that a warranty exists that will cover repairs in the US.

There are companies that sell warranties for just about any camera gear. Many 3rd party repair facilities are just as good as Canon USA repair facilities - BUT - if you want to make sure that Canon USA repairs your device, you need to make sure you have a manufacturer warranty not a third party.
I am simply pointing out that a "USA Warranty... (show quote)


My presumption has been with gray-market vs not gray-market is that we are talking about a warranty provided by the MANUFACTURER, which is enclosed with the product. It can be a USA warranty, word-wide/international warranty which includes USA, Europe, specific countries, or.......

Do any camera manufacturers provide third-party warranties, meaning the manufacturer has no role in servicing that warranty? If so, I would think the warranty should/would be specific about where it is valid, and you should know that up front.

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Jan 22, 2020 16:52:49   #
PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
rook2c4 wrote:
The rest of the world! The camera companies have long ago realized that U.S. customers generally are willing to shell out more money on camera equipment than customers elsewhere. With grey market policies, the companies can set camera prices a bit higher in the U.S., thereby increasing profits.

Personally, I don't think grey market policies are a particularly fair practice. Imagine you are growing apples in your garden and selling them to your neighbors. But you charge one of the neighbors more per apple because you know that he has more income and is willing to spend more on apples than the other neighbors. And then when you find out that the neighbor you are charging more has purchased an apple from one of the other neighbors (an apple that was originally grown and sold by you), you try to punish him for not buying directly from you at the higher price.
The rest of the world! The camera companies have l... (show quote)


I think you are missing the scenario - Canon USA is responsible for the warranty work, not ivory tower Canon Corporate. So the 'extra' cost of buying from authorized retailers partially goes towards warranty support. If Canon USA honored warranty work that was never paid for because it was purchased elsewhere, U.S. users would be picking up the tab for the rest of the world.

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Jan 22, 2020 17:07:03   #
PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
Gene51 wrote:
It's not. It's an insurance policy.

If you can't get your gray market camera repaired with OEM parts, by factory trained technicians, without having to ship the broken camera to the country of origin for repair, it's not a USA warranty. USA warranty is only provided by the manufacturer.


Sorry but that is your definition - not a legal one.

While I don't necessarily disagree with your view, the problem is from a legal standpoint, if you have a warranty that does not state OEM parts will be used to repair the device, no amount of saying it SHOULD is going to get you anywhere. The last time I looked ( quite a while ago) the Canon USA warranties specifically state only Canon manufactured parts will be used.

An insurance policy is exactly what you typically get with a non-Canon USA warranty. I have seen non-Canon warranties that specify work will be done by Canon USA. I have also seen them that say that work will be done in 'approved' or 'certified' facilities. Doesn't mean its Canon !

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Jan 22, 2020 17:09:48   #
PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
 
nadelewitz wrote:
My presumption has been with gray-market vs not gray-market is that we are talking about a warranty provided by the MANUFACTURER, which is enclosed with the product. It can be a USA warranty, word-wide/international warranty which includes USA, Europe, specific countries, or.......

Do any camera manufacturers provide third-party warranties, meaning the manufacturer has no role in servicing that warranty? If so, I would think the warranty should/would be specific about where it is valid, and you should know that up front.
My presumption has been with gray-market vs not gr... (show quote)


And what I am saying is marketing people for Abe's of Maine or Tri State know you *assume* that. If it doesn't say that Canon USA is doing the work I would get it in writing rather than assuming a "USA" warranty means Canon USA.

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