lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

While browsing eBay for Canon R7 prices, I found an occasional dealer offering such a camera for approximately
$200 less than the more or less median price of around $1500 at B&H and Adorama. It is to be free of shipping charges and delivered directly from Japan. This sounds almost too good to be true. One has to suspect that some sort of unanticipated fee or cost will materialize to bring the price more in line with those delivered from U.S. locations. Has anyone had experience with this kind of purchase, or have knowledge of any pitfalls therein?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

It is gray market with no USA warranty.
I have not done it but there are dozens of warnings here on UHH and other places on the internet.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Grey market, Japanese warranty, so it has to be sent to Japan for warranty work.
And worse case, customs slaps you with an import fee etc. if they ID it as an imported camera.

A few years back I was buying stuff from a company in Hong Kong, and it came in 3 or 4 separate packages. All but one slipped through, but one I got import and customs fees. Fortunately that one was something inexpensive, so the fees were less than $20. And the only US source for the item was out of stock and the price was almost $30 more than the one from Hong Kong.
I don't even remember what it was exactly, I think it was a table-top tripod for macro work with a car door window clamp attachment camera mount combo thing. Not long after, several places starting selling them in the US at just about what I paid with import fees.

And after a few months, I got over my table-top macro thing. I didn't like the car window clamp much, took too long to put on (subjects often left), had a weight limit just below my dslr's weight with battery grip and my favorite lens. They are on a shelf now, just in case I want to use them again.
Hey, my new mirrorless combo is below that weight limit. Might be time to try it again.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

When the camera has a problem, you're going to be out a whole lot more than $200. Ignore the low price from Abe's too, as their products are the same Grey Market with no support from Canon USA.

SteveInConverse Loc: South Texas

I buy a lot of gear from Japan via eBay BUT it's older gear, far out of warranty. Your situation sounds like possible Gray Market. Contact the seller and ask about warranty, otherwise I would steer clear of this deal. Edit to add I've yet to actually get any Gray Market stuff in any of my purchases... Canon saw all of it as US gear through the website.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

Thank you all for your replies. I think I'll give on this idea.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Some manufacturers will not even service their gray market products. Look at the difference in price as the cost of an insurance policy that will give you peace of mind in case of a problem. Penny wise and dollar foolish.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Canon is fairly liberal about servicing gray market cameras, and you could always send it back to Japan for work. Canon USA is not the Canon company, so they make nothing from a sale that takes place in a foreign country.

Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

I bought an r5 body from Map camera in Japan for $2800. Used, mint condition. If the savings is significant, I consider it worth the gamble. They back up their product if you deal with a major retailer. The r5 is everything I expected. I have never had to send a camera in for service during the 1 year guarantee. I’m sure that is possible, but, a used camera is fairly well broken in if not too much wear and not abused. The Japanese have a superior inspection system and grading system for used gear. The gear is identical to the USA/CANADA model.

Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

I bought an r5 body from Map camera in Japan for $2800. Used, mint condition. If the savings is significant, I consider it worth the gamble. They back up their product if you deal with a major retailer. The r5 is everything I expected. I have never had to send a camera in for service during the 1 year guarantee. I’m sure that is possible, but, a used camera is fairly well broken in if not too much wear and not abused. The Japanese have a superior inspection system and grading system for used gear. The gear is identical to the USA/CANADA model.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

No problem getting a Canon gray market serviced, if needed. There's no warranty, so the customer would end up paying for the work. But they won't be refused.

Purchasing a new product from Japan, there may be import duties. If so, R7 (body only) at $200 discount would end up $1300 and last time I checked there was 6.5% tariff on camera gear from Japan. So that would mean about $85 additional cost.

Bill_de Loc: US

Canon does Emphasize "MAY NOT"

https://www.usa.canon.com/support/gray-market

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Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

I wouldn’t buy gray market to save $200. You can usually save $100 and buy from Canada. Warranted by Canon USA/Canada.