NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

I agree with the comments above. I bought my first DSLR from some little operation in Brooklynn through EBay and had a hell of a time getting them off my back to buy up, buy more, extended warranties, off brand batteries, and on and on. Finally got my camera but the savings weren't worth the aggravation. Now I only buy from B&H or Adorama. Peace of mind is priceless. Welcome to the Hog.

Saycheeze Loc: Ct

I've bought gray market from Getitdigital and 6ave multiple times and never had and issue. Shipping is not the fastest. A week to go from NY to Ct but never got a phone call trying to up sell me and never had an issue with the equipment
My primary sources are BH and Adorama, you can't go wrong with either but when the price difference was big enough I did go gray.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Strongly agree with Mike D and add KEH. 42nd St. & a number of other online retailers don't tell you that what you're buying doesn't come with a U.S. warranty. If it needs warranty service, it either has to go back to the country of origin or the seller has their own warranty program. Chances are very good if it's their program, they're not Nikon USA authorized.

TommiRulz Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

I too have purchased from Getitdigital, Deals All Year, & 6ave and never had any problems - but I do know that it is a gamble. The reason I go with gray is because I'm not the type of person that will save the paperwork and send stuff back in for repair. So if your are the type of person that likes to do that - I would go with reputable seller. BUT if your a laid back person that uses and abuses your camera gear for a couple years then gives it to the housekeeper - go with Gray.

lwerthe1mer Loc: Birmingham, Alabama

No one has mentioned Amazon as a reliable source. I have bought from them many times, both new and used.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

My advise is that you stay with reputable dealers like Cameta, Adorama and B&H just to mention a few of them.
If you can do business locally at reasonable prices that is another alternative.
Stay away from 42nd Street Camera.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Run. Run! Don't walk! Away from 42nd St.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

One, stay away from gray market products. I just purchased a used camera from B and H. There is a caution regarding gray market items. However, they're willing to accept your return and refund your money if the product is not to your liking.
--Bob

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

I have had great luck buying from Adorama and B & H. I buy camera bodies with a US warrantee, but I have bought several lenses in the $6000 to $13,000 price range and since I don't think much can go wrong with a lens, I do look for grey market lenses for the savings. The savings on tax alone is in the $1000 category for a lens of that price, so buying from out of state saves me a lot of money. I do appreciate our local camera shop, but they don't stock the big telephotos and I have supported them with the purchase of a lot of gear. My 300mm f2.8 was a grey market lens from Adorama. big discount and no tax!

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

That's because Amazon is NOT a reliable source. It all depends upon the seller you are dealing with. Places like 42nd Street Photo sell on Amazon, sometimes with other names! My best advice is to seek out a local camera store. If the cost is reasonable, you get their advice as an added bonus and develop a relationship as an added bonus. If this is not possible where you live, then ABC it is! Adorama, B&H, Cameta with Roberts and MidWest photo added! Best of luck. Don't buy ONLY on price!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Yes!

42nd St. Photo sucks eggs! Run away from that trap.

Jim Bob

Amazon is not only reliable but an authorized retailer of many camera brands. However, if you purchase from one of the gray market retailers who list on Amazon, you are subject to the same issues that one faces with gray market merchandise in general.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon are the highest volume, full service photography stores in the U.S. They buy more and are likely able to negotiate better deals than anyone else. Costco, Best Buy and a few others do a lot of volume, too, but are not what I'd call full service stores.... they only stock select items, generally offer less selection.

Anyone offering very lower prices than these guys is up to something. There just isn't enough profit margin to be able to discount items "40%", without some sort of monkey business.

Most likely you'll find that 40% cheaper offer is a "bait and switch". If you try to buy it, you'll be informed it doesn't come with batteries and a charger or the camera menu is only in Chinese or something along those lines. You can pretty much bet that you'll actually end up spending more by the time you get the required "extras" (that are normally part of the package) or step up to a camera with a menu in a language you can read (which all of them actually have programmed).... And even if you do arrive at an acceptable price, what you actually receive may take a while and ultimately may not be what you expected. Cheaper items will be substituted and you'll be told those are "just as good or better". And good luck getting any problems resolved!

In other words, if you see a price that's more than a few dollars cheaper than B&H, Adorama, Amazon... be very, very careful about giving them your credit card number! It's usually going to end up costing you more, to get what you actually want.

Instead I'd recommend looking for rebate programs, sales, recently discontinued/superseded models, refurbished items, used items from reputable dealers. Be patient and shop around the "safe" places. For example I was all set to buy a couple refurbished Canon 7DII earlier this year, when I discovered I could actually buy brand new cameras for a lot less than what the refurbs were selling for at the time... between instant rebates, mail-in rebates and the value of items being bundled with them (a free printer in one case and a free external drive in another, both of which were items I was going to be shopping for soon anyway). Another example, recently there was a "deal" where Canon was bundling something like $400 worth of paper with some of their printers.... which would be great if this was paper and a type of printer that met your needs and wants. You might need to be a little patient. For example, it's strongly rumored that Canon will be announcing a new 5D Mark IV camera on August 25.... if that happens, you can bet there will be some deals on 5D Mark III (which are still highly capable of making great photos!)

"Gray market" in itself, isn't a bad thing. In fact, B&H, Adorama and some of the other long-established NYC retailers sort of invented the gray market system and still offer items that way. But "gray market" is greatly influenced by the exchange rates between countries... which change over time. Sometimes it can be beneficial, other times not so much.



Amazon does exercise quite a bit of control over their affiliate retailers. They'll kick them off the website, if they fail to meet reasonable standards and deal fairly with customers. So it's generally a lot less risky than buying from some unknown website with no history and "too good to be true" prices! Not to mention, some of the biggest and most dependable retailers sell through Amazon, too. Adorama is very active there, for example.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

42nd street photo is a grey market outlet. the main thing you will lose when purchasing from a grey market is a U.S. warranty. if support for your equipment is not an issue the decision is yours. you may be better off looking into B&H photo's refurbished or used departments. you will be able to purchase equipment at a reduced price, but will still be serviceable through the manufacturers service department in the U.S.

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

I have been dealing with Amazon for over 16 years and I have always have found them reliable. They always, to my knowledge, state where the merchandise is coming from either Amazon or a different seller. I would never buy anything from Amazon if it said the equipment was coming from 42nd Photo. I have never seen anything being sold from 42nd St Photo on Amazon.