Gray market?? (Page 2): It seems to me that there is a misunderstanding about the term "grey market". As I recall, the term was introduced to describe goods that were purchased...

Lupin Loc: West Sussex, U.K.

It seems to me that there is a misunderstanding about the term "grey market". As I recall, the term was introduced to describe goods that were purchased wholesale in one country (where the items are relatively cheap) and sold for a profit in a second country by an unofficial importer (where the same items are more expensive). If the camera has been sold by an officially registered dealer in Germany, and you have the receipt, then it is definitely not a grey import.
Grey importers usually offer their own dubious warranty, which may not be worth the paper its printed on!

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

From Google "Grey market goods are legal, non-counterfeit goods sold outside normal distribution channels by entities which may have no relationship with the producer of the goods. This form of parallel import frequently occurs when the price of an item is significantly higher in one country than another."

further reading.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market

J. R.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

Gene51 wrote:

No. But keep your receipt - you'll need it to get ... (show quote)

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

My take on this is that you did the right thing. The European market is considered gray market even if the camera or lens come from an authorized dealer. Chances are excellent that buying such a product will not make it inferior to one bought here since the manufacturing is the same but problems could arise if that camera or lens need repairs here. I know that Nikon will not honor such a warranty.
The difference in price compared to here was $78 and if you ask me not a significant amount considering custom taxes and leaving you without a USA warranty.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

47greyfox wrote:

I decided against the purchase. I was looking at a Canon 70-200mm f4 and a Sony e-mount 18-200mm. According to the store, a large Munich authorized dealer for both, I could be at risk since it was a European purchase. Having said that, the Sony lens was 599€, quite a bit less that the $748 at home.

That difference or savings will be lost the first time you send it in for repair. In addition, it lowers the resale value. A smart buyer who is aware of the grey market will ask for proof of US warranty. On ebay, good buyer list "US Warranty". If it doesn't, likely it is not.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

47greyfox wrote:

I'm in Germany on vacation and see a lens I'm interested in at a large authorized camera store in Munich. If I purchased the lens, would Canon USA consider it a gray market?

The only thing you will be missing out on is a USA warranty. The real thing to maybe consider is how many lenses have you needed to send in for warranty work. If the savings is substantial, go for it.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

There is a lot of mis information here! The best way to get the question answered, properly, is to call the official US distributor/importer and ask them their policy/procedure. Nikon, Canon, Sony etc. may handle this differently and this issue has been in some flux recently.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

cjc2 wrote:

There is a lot of mis information here! The best way to get the question answered, properly, is to call the official US distributor/importer and ask them their policy/procedure. Nikon, Canon, Sony etc. may handle this differently and this issue has been in some flux recently.

What makes this more difficult though is that the published policy and what us actually done is not 100% in sync. Canon seems to have a more liberal policy than Nikon. While officially grey good and import product warranties are not supported by Canon USA, there have been many documented occurrences where Canon has provided support under warranty. Further, Canon will service for a fee products purchased outside the dealer network. It is my understanding that Nikon will not do that.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Bobbee wrote:

Just asking.......aside from all the warranty crap.

If this is purchased though an authorized Cannon store outside of the US and not shipped to the US. Is the term 'grey' still appropriate? Isn't grey selling in the US, models not meant to be sold in the US.

The US warranty is slightly more comprehensive than the International warranty. One pays a little extra for the US warranty and hence the difference in prices between US and International (gray market) photographic equipment. If it does say US warranty, then it is "gray market". It's the warranty that determines gray market, not where it was sold.

Boentgru Loc: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

If you buy a item in Germany, you pay and 19% sales tax (as a Value Added Tax). You can get this back if you export the item, but it is a paperwork hassle.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I do not find this an accurate statement about Canon. They have set the standard on Refurbished goods. The one year warranty was an amazing change. I purchased a product 30 days before that change. I inquired and was toled that warrant would be honored. I have yet to need warranty work on purchased refurbished. I have had two issues on other things that they could have said no too, but they review it and took care of them.

J. R.

mwsilvers wrote:

What makes this more difficult though is that the published policy and what us actually done is not 100% in sync. Canon seems to have a more liberal policy than Nikon. While officially grey good and import product warranties are not supported by Canon USA, there have been many documented occurrences where Canon has provided support under warranty. Further, Canon will service for a fee products purchased outside the dealer network. It is my understanding that Nikon will not do that.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Gifted One wrote:

I do not find this an accurate statement about Canon. They have set the standard on Refurbished goods. The one year warranty was an amazing change. I purchased a product 30 days before that change. I inquired and was toled that warrant would be honored. I have yet to need warranty work on purchased refurbished. I have had two issues on other things that they could have said no too, but they review it and took care of them.

J. R.

Exactly which part of my post are you saying is inaccurate. After reading your post it sounds like we're in complete agreement.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

47greyfox wrote:

I decided against the purchase. I was looking at a Canon 70-200mm f4 and a Sony e-mount 18-200mm. According to the store, a large Munich authorized dealer for both, I could be at risk since it was a European purchase. Having said that, the Sony lens was 599€, quite a bit less that the $748 at home.

Exchange rates sometimes work for you, sometimes work against you.

If buying in Europe, check if you are on the hook for Value Added Tax. Maybe not, or maybe you would need to get reimbursed. VAT is quite high some places... I don't know if there is any in Germany or how much it might be... but I'm pretty sure VAT is 19 or 20% in England. If you end up having to pay it, that would probably wipe out any other savings!

1. The chances of actually having to make a warranty claim are quite low. I've got stuff going in for repair... but it's way past the warranty expiration. Shooting with Canon gear for over 15 years, several film cameras, probably about a dozen DSLRs, and a bunch of lenses and accessories.... I can't recall ever needing to have a warranty repair on a Canon item. Not that it never happens... I see on this and other forums that some folks haven't been as lucky as me... but it's not like it's all that common, especially on items that have been in production for some time. I'd be more concerned about buying a just-introduced camera model, that it might need warranty attention to sort out some early-production issue.

2. Canon is actually quite lenient about it and often will take care of a problem even on gray market... or at least give you a big break on any cost. Can't say one way or another about Sony, no experience with their stuff. Nikon, probably wouldn't work on it and you'd have to find an independent repairer and pay them to fix it... provided they can get any necessary parts (Nikon no longer sells replacement parts to independents.... While Canon will sell spares to anyone with a credit card and a part number).

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

"What makes this more difficult though is that the published policy and what us actually done is not 100% in sync."

Canon has never over promised and under delivered. If that is what you are saying we are in agreement.

J. R.

mwsilvers wrote:

Exactly which part of my post are you saying is inaccurate. After reading your post it sounds like we're in complete agreement.