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Grey Market Camera Gear Again!
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Nov 23, 2021 08:11:02   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
BebuLamar wrote:
Some are manufactured in Europe.

Some of the same brand models or all of some brands.

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Nov 23, 2021 08:15:24   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Zeke4351 wrote:
I find it very interesting that none of the stores or companies buying and selling used camera gear ever mention a word about the gear being grey market. They never ask when buying and never mention what they are selling you when you buy used from them. Prices are based on the items and not where they came from. I really think it does not matter to them or anyone else in the least. Seems to be more hyped up false information the so called experts like to rant about on the various forums to keep themselves entertained. Some will go to their grave believing it all true. There is false information to be found on any kind of forums. I think maybe gun forums are pretty much tied with camera forums when it comes to people wanting to impress with their intelligence. This post might possibly cause some to melt their keyboards defending the grey market BS but common sense tells you it means nothing to buyers and sellers of used equipment. I don’t mean to trigger any of you but for some it only takes a post on any camera related subject and you are ready to chime in and write a book filled with your knowledge. CHILL! I posted this for the people that have been brainwashed about grey market. It only matters for warranty work. God bless all of you and just enjoy your photography. Happy Thanksgiving
I find it very interesting that none of the stores... (show quote)


It matters four times.

Some unscrupulous retailers sell stuff which is assumed to be domestic product, but is actually grey market. It should be priced at a considerable savings from domestic.
When you buy grey market, you forfeit warranty repairs. In Nikon's case, not only do you forfeit in warranty work, but in many cases the will just not fix it, unless you can produce an invoice from the original non-domestic seller, which you will get if you purchase while traveling, but will never get if you buy it domestically.

And it matters when you sell your grey market gear - IF, and that is a big IF, you can convince someone to buy it, you'll give up some on the resale value, negating any savings up front. I've returned used gear because after checking with Nikon, they claimed it was not domestic product. Luckily the seller had integrity, and issued a refund even before receiving the returned product, along with an apology.
If there is a recall, as there was with the oil smearing on the sensor with the original D600, or the shutter issue with the D750 on models made from 2014 to 2016, then you are completely out of luck. The danger is that you make find grey market cameras that had been repaired by repair centers using used parts cannibalized from other cameras, or counterfeit parts, or it may take forever to get grey market repair parts from other countries. Lastly, the techs in these establishments may not have access to repair manuals, specs, any specialized tools needed for repair, etc so the repair cannot be trusted.

All of this to save what amounts to about a 3%-5% savings up front. It just ain't worth it.

So, it's not brainwashing to respect the facts on grey market, but it just might be brainwashing to come to the point where you sincerely believe it doesn't matter. There is a parallel world where facts don't matter any more - I suspect that is where you come from. You are always welcome to join the other world if you wish - we won't hold it against you. . .

If this were Facebook (Meta) they'd remove your post for spreading incorrect information.

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Nov 23, 2021 08:20:19   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
therwol wrote:
I do recall that they announced they would repair certain models of grey market cameras. This was a few years ago. Well, it seems that they have changed their minds.

This is from the horse's mouth.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-store/shopping-help/gray-market.page


This was true about 6 years ago when the allowed cameras like the D7200, D810, D610 and others to be repaired by third party Nikon authorized repair centers. But Nikon dissolved their authorized network and now we are back to Nikon being the only place gear can be repaired, and they will reject any and all grey market, even if out of warranty.

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Nov 23, 2021 08:26:39   #
BebuLamar
 
Longshadow wrote:
Some of the same brand models or all of some brands.


Some cameras are manufactured in Europe. But I don't think all cameras of certain brand are made in Europe for example many Leicas are made in Japan and even China.
I don't know about Hasselblad either, the bodies may be all made in Sweden but I think the lenses are made in Japan.

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Nov 23, 2021 08:36:40   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
Nikon has also changed their international warranty to some degree.

Nikon is killing off its international warranty in favor of regional warranties

https://www.dpreview.com/news/2010937851/nikon-is-killing-off-its-international-warranty-in-favor-of-regional-warranties

---

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Nov 23, 2021 09:14:24   #
Canisdirus
 
Nikon calls any product that is imported and sold by anyone other than Nikon USA or a Nikon USA authorized dealer a “gray market” product. While these are often genuine Nikon products, they were intended for sale in other countries and therefore might not meet Nikon’s specifications for sale in the United States. They may not perform as expected and are not covered in any way by Nikon USA warranties and are also not eligible for Nikon USA repair service.


While Canon has a similar gray market warning on its website, the company is known for servicing some gray market items for a fee even if the company officially states that it may not.

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Nov 23, 2021 09:22:11   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Longshadow wrote:
I've never had a camera need repair, in or out of warranty, in 50 years.

(But I won't say that. )


Right - same with me. I've had a couple of recalls, though. They would probably not apply to gray market. Still, I'd be willing to pay more for "the real thing."

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Nov 23, 2021 10:21:44   #
jim quist Loc: Missouri
 
On the BnH website they tell you they do not distinguish what is or is not gray market because it only matters for the warrantee, and the used equipment is beyond the warrantee period.

I asked the folks at CanonUSA if they fix gray market lenses and they said yes.

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Nov 23, 2021 11:17:18   #
47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range
 
Longshadow wrote:
I've never had a camera need repair, in or out of warranty, in 50 years.

(But I won't say that. )


You are living a charmed life.

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Nov 23, 2021 11:20:59   #
Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY
 
If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

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Nov 23, 2021 11:38:52   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
therwol wrote:
What you're saying is that there is no difference between the cameras sold here in the US and those sold overseas. Yes, they come out of the same factory and have the same specs, though certain accessories like power cords can be different, and they may not come with a manual that is printed in English. They can be legally imported and sold here, but you're screwed if there is something wrong with one that you buy. The sellers of these grey market cameras often offer third party warranties, but good luck with that.

Some Nikon USA authorized dealers like B&H sell grey market goods, but they clearly mark them as "imported" and don't try to scam anyone.
What you're saying is that there is no difference ... (show quote)


They clearly mark them as imported? Every Nikon camera body and lens B&H sells, is imported.

One of the reasons I own way more Canon gear than Nikon gear is Nikon USA'S protectionist policies, and although I've never had a body or lens need repairs under warranty, Canon USA will repair Canon gear regardless of where it was imported from, for the same cost as gear imported by Canon USA, with the exception of course of warranty work. If it's grey, you pay. Canon USA doesn't believe in turning away customer repairs and service simply because the customers Canon gear wasn't imported by Canon USA. I've had no problems registering my grey market Canon gear with Canon, nor have I had any problems getting it serviced.

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Nov 23, 2021 11:42:52   #
Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State
 
I just traded in a camera for a different model. The dealer did ask where and when I had bought the camera and when I registered the replacement with Canon the serial number was accepted.

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Nov 23, 2021 11:45:19   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
Canisdirus wrote:
Nikon calls any product that is imported and sold by anyone other than Nikon USA or a Nikon USA authorized dealer a “gray market” product. While these are often genuine Nikon products, they were intended for sale in other countries and therefore might not meet Nikon’s specifications for sale in the United States. They may not perform as expected and are not covered in any way by Nikon USA warranties and are also not eligible for Nikon USA repair service.


While Canon has a similar gray market warning on its website, the company is known for servicing some gray market items for a fee even if the company officially states that it may not.
Nikon calls any product that is imported and sold ... (show quote)


I've had absolutely no problems sending my grey market Canon gear to Canon USA for repairs. The repair work was done quickly and for the same cost as Canon USA imported gear.

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Nov 23, 2021 11:54:01   #
therwol Loc: USA
 
rmorrison1116 wrote:
They clearly mark them as imported? Every Nikon camera body and lens B&H sells, is imported.


This is a response to you and Longshadow who made the same statement, which happens to be true, but B&H only uses the term "imported" to indicate a grey market item. I'm including a screenshot as a jpeg that clearly shows this. I'm also including a link that gives a complete explanation of their policies on grey market goods. Here is the link first.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/Policies.jsp#greyMarket

By the way, I might trust them more than some dealers to make good on a defective grey market item.


(Download)

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Nov 23, 2021 11:58:43   #
BebuLamar
 
For the most part it's easy to know if the equipment is gray market if you buy new. If you buy used how do you know for sure if they are not gray? For used the warranty is irrelevant but if I buy Nikon they won't service gray market stuff.

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