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Posted by Jeff on March 28, 2000 at 14:43:08:
I recently have been searching the magazine advertisers for a new camera and a lens. I'm learning as I go that most of the prices posted are for grey market items.
From what I understand, grey market usually means a lower price, but no USA warranty. Some say they have an "International Warranty."
Can some one explain this difference and let me know if it's worth buying "grey" or not? What I'm looking to buy is a Nikon N70 and a Nikkor 35-70 f/2.8D. I've seen differences in price of a couple hundred dollars. Thank you much.
Editor's Explanation:
Some mail order advertisers get your attention with an incredibly low price for a camera you've been thinking about buying. This is usually a tip-off that the camera is a grey-market version. (of course, some advertisers with incredible low prices don't really have the merchandise either, and you'll learn this when you try to place an order.)
Grey market or gray market merchandise are cameras and lenses manufactured and originally destined for sale in other countries (such as countries in Europe and South America.) The cameras/lenses became distressed merchandise (sometimes because the intended recipient couldn't pay for the shipment) and the merchandise is then bought by a US mail order dealer, imported into the US and sold without a US warranty. This means the camera equipment can often be sold for substantially lower prices than identical models properly imported into the US. Although the camera may come with an international warranty, this can mean you'll have to either pay for the repairs should the camera or lens fail during the warranty period, or jump through a lot of hoops figuring how to use the international warranty to get your camera repaired. It has been reported that both Nikon and Canon's US authorized warranty repair facilities refuse to perform warranty service on grey market cameras.
Some sellers of grey market cameras provide their own warranty in lieu of the manufacturer's US warranty. (B&H Photo is one example.) So the choice of retailer you purchase a grey market camera from is equally important.
As long as the seller advises you beforehand the item you want to buy is "grey market" there is nothing wrong with grey market merchandise. Be aware of the warranty problem however. Also be aware sometimes there are slight differences in the same model of camera intended for another country. For example, some of Canon's models bear different model numbers and names in the European market than those intended for the US market.
Another name for grey market merchandise is "parallel imports."
Some retailers won't touch grey market merchandise (Samy's Camera for one) because of the possible downside and aggravation for both the consumer and retailer should a camera or lens fail during the accustomed one year warranty. The importation of grey market merchandise also has negative impact on sales of higher priced same model cameras with US warranty.
The United Kingdom also has grey market activity.
Grey market film is also sold by some mail order dealers. We would have reluctance purchasing grey market film because of the storage and transportation variables which may lower the quality of film reimported from another country.
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