canon gray market vs. us model: Looking to upgrade my canon 5d mark 3 to a 4. saw one on ebay but the seller didn't know if it is US or gray. I called Canon and asked it they could...

philo Loc: philo, ca

Looking to upgrade my canon 5d mark 3 to a 4. saw one on ebay but the seller didn't know if it is US or gray. I called Canon and asked it they could tell me what it was.
The only way to tell is with the warranty card. Without the card it is the same. So Canon will repair a gray market body however it will not be covered under warranty. They said it is the same camera only the warranty is different.

BebuLamar

So they are the same except that the US one has warranty but for any reason you can no longer claim the warranty then there is no difference for Canon cameras. For Nikon cameras Nikon wouldn't even service gray market cameras for a fee.

philo Loc: philo, ca

BebuLamar wrote:

So they are the same except that the US one has warranty but for any reason you can no longer claim the warranty then there is no difference for Canon cameras. For Nikon cameras Nikon wouldn't even service gray market cameras for a fee.

Another plus for Canon

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

philo wrote:

Looking to upgrade my canon 5d mark 3 to a 4. saw one on ebay but the seller didn't know if it is US or gray. I called Canon and asked it they could tell me what it was.
The only way to tell is with the warranty card. Without the card it is the same. So Canon will repair a gray market body however it will not be covered under warranty. They said it is the same camera only the warranty is different.

The mklV is pretty darned new. HOW is it possible a seller does not know if it is US or not?
THAT would be a red flag.
If you're ok with grey market, I would not pay more the the value of grey in case its not US! Likely it's grey or the seller would KNOW!
SS

philo Loc: philo, ca

The seller brought it used a few months ago

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

So if it’s used and Canon will still fix it whether or not it’s grey market, does it make a difference?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Like jmvaugh said, it's used, and it's most likely out of warranty anyway so grey or gray doesn't matter at all. Unlike Nikon, Canon will service what they make, for a fee, regardless of who the importer was. They are in the business to make money and repairing Canon gear for a fee makes them money. As long as the camera is in really good shape and doesn't have a gazillion shutter actuations and the seller is asking a fair price, and it's not stolen, how it came into the USA is quite irrelevant, it's a nice camera (I have one), buy it...

philo Loc: philo, ca

jmvaugh wrote:

So if it’s used and Canon will still fix it whether or not it’s grey market, does it make a difference?

the difference is that if it is US it may be fixed under warranty. If it is gray market they will fix it for a fee.

jmvaugh Loc: Albuquerque

philo wrote:

the difference is that if it is US it may be fixed under warranty. If it is gray market they will fix it for a fee.

I could be wrong so check me on this, but if you don’t buy the camera as new first owner, there’s no warranty. The warranty doesn’t transfer between owners with the sale.

philo Loc: philo, ca

unless the first buyer never turned in the card.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

philo wrote:

the difference is that if it is US it may be fixed under warranty. If it is gray market they will fix it for a fee.

If the ebay seller does not know, or will not say, then I would take that as a red flag. How much cheaper is it? If you do buy it, use paypal and a credit card. Then use software to check shutter count which will also disclose serial number etc. I once bought a camera on ebay where the reported serial number and the one on the label did not match, and it had problems. The ebay seller took the return and made a refund, so it all worked out OK, but it was a pain.

Will the seller state the age and US warranty? If so, you can follow up, if not then you carry the risk. Personally I'd probably avoid it.

Good luck

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

A couple of years ago and if I recall correctly, Canon had informed me that if the SS number started with (21) then it's a US item.

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

philo wrote:

Looking to upgrade my canon 5d mark 3 to a 4. saw one on ebay but the seller didn't know if it is US or gray. I called Canon and asked it they could tell me what it was.
The only way to tell is with the warranty card. Without the card it is the same. So Canon will repair a gray market body however it will not be covered under warranty. They said it is the same camera only the warranty is different.

This whole grey market and warranty thing is weird. I live in South Korea and if I buy a new US model Canon product from the US and have it shipped to South Korea the warranty is void. I just purchased a used Canon 28-300 lens here in South Korea with a 2 year local warranty from the store. I investigated buying a refurbished lens from Canon that they sell with a one year warranty but they said if they ship it to South Korea the warranty is void. They told me the same thing when I shopped for my 16-35 lens and I bought it new. So for about the same price I bought both lens local with a 2 year local warranty.

markjay

exactly.
Even Canon cant tell whether it is US or grey market - even with the serial number.
The usual Canon (and Nikon ) bullshit where they are simply just out to screw their customers with all these contrived country systems.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Cookie223 wrote:

A couple of years ago and if I recall correctly, Canon had informed me that if the SS number started with (21) then it's a US item.

My 5DIV is definitely US but the s/n doesn't start with a 21, although, there is a 21 in the s/n. Mine starts out: 022021....