Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

Wow .. if I knew the grey market price your friend paid .., I could make a better judgement call ..., one hog already said he would pay $2,000 .., If U R so worried over the “Grey Market “ thing .., take the offer, but consider your loss probably $300-$400 and then add to it the actual cost of a US D850 ..., well is it worth it ..

Of interest to me .., one Hogg said “send it to Nikon Canada” they’ll do Black Market Nikon camera repair .., if this is true ..., you are out of the woods ...someone look into that “Nikon Canada “ story please ...

As noted before and verified .., no diff between build quality, location of said build , and performance between the BM and US Model .. additionally ... D850 camera failure is rare ..., I-personally have never sent in a Nikon DSLR camera for repair on warranty over the last 20 years ...

FYI .. the credit card refund .., is the best option if it applies to this buyer ....

BebuLamar

The OP doesn't say but I think the gray market D850 is about $2500. Now the cost is
Paid: $2500 for the D850 gray market
Sell: $2000 an
lose $500
Buy: US D850 $3000.

Total cost $3500 instead of $2500.

Cyberkinesis70 Loc: Northern Colorado

[quote=Jbravi]Friend of mine just bought a new D850 at a cheaper price this week, not realizing it's "grey market". After I told him the fact, he is very upset. The site where he got it from [4k for less] wouldn't accept returns.]
I work for a company that is pretty far from photography, but I can tell you about my experiences in customer service. It is exactly the same as most of the subscriptions that everybody decries. First off, cheap ass bastards see a special promotional offer. "I want that great offer for---" We give a description of the service they asked for and of course try to upsell. That's our job it's sales, you know. I'll tell them I'll honor that offer. I tell them that what the true cost will be and that it will renew for current rates at the end of the term they ask for. "Yeah, yeah that's what I want". I set that up on their account, I then, get a credit card or other payment info. I read the full disclosure. It contains what the guest is paying today, it describes what that might be and what is expected at that moment. "Yeah, Yeah when are you going to turn it on". All I can say is: When I'm finished we will get to that. I continue. The disclosure says next...That the service will automatically renew for current rates on whatever date the term ends. "Yeah, Yeah. I then finish, "Do you accept these terms and may I charge your card on file for today fpr **** and for future charges. "Yeah, yeah get it turned on". Is that a YES? Yeah. Are you sure? Yeah.

We all read that same disclosure to everybody. It is part of our work flow. We can't move forward without a total agreement. Yet these same greedy people, call back at the end of their terms. "I was ripped off for $$ and they stole $$ from my credit card. I never authorized this." I tell them that they have in fact authorized. "No I would never agree to that". Yet you did.

Every legal sale in the US involving a credit card or even a check is disclosed. Even Abe's of Maine has a legal dispositon. If you don't know what you are getting shame on you, not the guy that sold it. You have every opportunity to refuse the sale. Most camera companies don't allow a sale of a US warranted camera to be sold for less than they would sell it for. So that said, a 4000 dollar camera has to be grey market if you bought it for !000. How many of you have read the disclosures fully on the products you have purchased? Do you read the disclosures with the software you purchased? I know I don't but most is boilerplate and I read before. I only wrote this because I'm venting about all those folks that say: I was ripped off. They should read the disclosures. Do I subscribe to my company's programs? No, I have read the disclosure. I'm already paying Amazon for those. I read theirs too.

sscnxy

Not revealing that an item is gray market is not fraud. The significantly lower price for a new item compared to usual prices would be the tip off. When it seems too good to be true, it is usually too good to be true. Thus, I don't think gray marketness would be supported by the credit card company as a reason to deny the seller his funds at this point. He should use the camera and hope it is just as good as a USA market Nikon.

NMY

Boris77

Wish I could buy it to take advantage of the fool that panics when they have a good working camera but no paper back up. I have not read a single report that the camera design is not fully functional. Not one of the 15+ digital cameras I have bought have ever needed repair, even the D300 I threw over the top of my car onto concrete pavement.
Unfortunately my advancing age has made weight, simplicity and familiarity important factors, so I will gamble that my old electronics, with no paper back up, will outlive me.
or I might have to fall back on my working 10+ film cameras!
Boris

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

[quote=Cyberkinesis70]

But we should have some recourse from unethical merchants, and I would say merchants that sell grey market equipment should explain to buyers what it is and why it is cheaper. And not buried in some fine print. The ethical companies do that.

sscnxy

Those merchants are not unethical at all. They happen to be selling the same USA marketed item at a much lower price. That itself is the tipoff that it's gray market. The buyer should know this. Does the buyer need his/her hands held whenever they go shopping?

NMY

traderjohn Loc: New York City

What about personal responsibility?? It always isn't someone else's fault. Be smart.

Jbravi

Thank you all for your kind suggestions. My friend has decided to keep it and use it until the end. L

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

J, you are too generous in your praise, albeit diplomatic! I guess some are more kind than others.
Your friend has a great camera.

bbradford Loc: Wake Forest NC

It's the same camera.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

So deceptive sales practices don't really exist? It's always the buyers fault?

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

This whole grey market deal has been discussed at length. While it seems natural to 'blame' the buyer for not being properly aware or should have known better....there are laws in each state governing the sale of grey market goods. If you look up the state code, you will find that the retailer has the responsibility to clearly post that the product is not covered by the explicit or implied USA warranty of the manufacturer. If you look at this retailer's website, you will see that this criteria has not been met. (NYS Code..Section 218-AA Warranty Disclosure).
So, instead of criticizing the buyer; let's hold the seller accountable! Report them to your state's Attorney General's Office. Tell the retailer you will do this and that they are violating their State's General Business Law. Tell them you will post all over social media. Tell them that they need to make you whole. And if they do..still report them! They are the villain here..not the unaware purchaser.

gmsatty Loc: Chicago IL

Maybe greay market is known to some. Years ago, I was unaware of grey market and bought a Nikon DSLR at a reduced price and did not know about grey market. When the camera arrived and the manuals were in an Asian language, I immediately called the retailer and demanded a refund. I did get it, because I said I would complain to the NY State attroeny general if I didn't. The seller had had problems with the gov't before.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

And this is the area where gray market products can become a real, legitimate issue. If the manuals are not provided in English, then you can't read the required safety warnings and cautions. And that does become a legal problem, especially in some states. (Texas offers fewer protections than most, New Jersey offers more.)