Why promote Grey Market deals?

Paperman

One must also keep in mind that having a non-gray market Nikon DSLR does NOT mean

- The warranty will cover the repair ( user error/impact damage verdict in many cases ). I'd rather have no warranty and accept my fate than live through the frustration of Nikon Service not honouring their warranty.

- Repairs will be done at reasonable cost ( I recall someone paid $1100 for a D4 sensor change these days. ) or the camera can be repaired at all.

PB_PM

Nikon service not honouring a warranty on user caused damage is something else, because they shouldn't. Warranties cover manufacture defects not stupid things people do to their gear. I've never an any issues with Nikon repairing defects during the warranty period, and I've brought a few items in over the years.

My real issue with Nikon service, in Canada, is that there is now only one depot in the entire country, when there used to be three. It makes even getting your item checked for possible issues an expensive multi-week hassle. Then again, none of the other camera makers are any better, so I won't say anything more on that.

Reasonable cost is relative, when you consider the hours, and skills, required to replace a cameras image sensor properly. On a DSLR it is a major operation, that basically requires taking the entire camera apart and rebuilding it. That could take an entire work day unto itself (so up to $800 in labour costs), not including the cost of the part itself.

Paperman

Not against what you're saying but it's not exactly what I meant, PB-PM

Just saying that the fact that one has paid 40% more for warranty & Nikon Service does not mean he can live worry free about repair costs. We mostly seem to be ONLY considering money saved from buying Grey market vs cost of a 3rd party repairing it as if Nikon Service guaranteed free repairs in every case.

manhattanboy

Not against what you're saying but it's not exactly what I meant, PB-PM

Just saying that the fact that one has paid 40% more for warranty & Nikon Service does not mean he can live worry free about repair costs. We mostly seem to be ONLY considering money saved from buying Grey market vs cost of a 3rd party repairing it as if Nikon Service guaranteed free repairs in every case.

That is a great point and something I failed miserably at making earlier. If grey market items can't be repaired the warranty I would get is for the cost of the item as cash. There are also impact and damage warranties. Even if it ended up being even on cost, having a damage insurance and a gray market camera for the same cost as a non insured regular one is a good deal IMHO.

PB_PM

Not against what you're saying but it's not exactly what I meant, PB-PM

Just saying that the fact that one has paid 40% more for warranty & Nikon Service does not mean he can live worry free about repair costs. We mostly seem to be ONLY considering money saved from buying Grey market vs cost of a 3rd party repairing it as if Nikon Service guaranteed free repairs in every case.

Sure, and I totally get that. I also understand that if there is an issue and Nikon does fix it under warranty it would be cheaper than having a gray market, that you might not be able to get repaired, anywhere. Okay, I guess if you figured out what country it was supposed to be sold in, you might be able to go there and get it fixed under warranty.

That is a great point and something I failed miserably at making earlier. If grey market items can't be repaired the warranty I would get is for the cost of the item as cash. There are also impact and damage warranties. Even if it ended up being even on cost, having a damage insurance and a gray market camera for the same cost as a non insured regular one is a good deal IMHO.

Again, assuming you can get the third party to pony up the cash. More often than not these third party warranty services will do anything in their power not to pay you a dime. That's just my experience though.

trimmer1

One must also keep in mind that having a non-gray market Nikon DSLR does NOT mean

- The warranty will cover the repair ( user error/impact damage verdict in many cases ). I'd rather have no warranty and accept my fate than live through the frustration of Nikon Service not honouring their warranty.

- Repairs will be done at reasonable cost ( I recall someone paid $1100 for a D4 sensor change these days. ) or the camera can be repaired at all.

What complete and utter load of nonsense. I hate to see people like you post a load of nonsense on the forums that is providing nothing but misinformation from an uneducated and inexperienced point of view. I can only assume you've only ever made purchases of 'non-gray-market' items and now feel sad that you've been ripped off for paying for a manufacturers warranty, which should have come for free!

I have had nothing but gray market DSLR bodies, and Nikon have NEVER refused to repair my camera body once! I sent bodies in for cleans, oil stains and other 'known issues' and repairs and always been happy with service I got.

Fact is, you have a Nikon product, so doesn't matter if it's gray or not, it still takes the same parts and still gets repaired. How is Nikon to know if I brought the product while on Holiday, or have since relocated to a new country. I've lived in 3 countries and purchased Nikon cameras from them all, and never had any issues.

ps. Oh, whats more that cost you pay for your warranty is roughly the same of the average cost people need to pay for a single repair as it is. It's a VERY SMALL % of camera owners who have something drastic that needs repairing that out weighs the cost of a the warranty.

spraynpray

@trimmer1: You can feel free to disagree with anyone you like on this forum so long as you do it in a polite manner. I have edited your post this time.

manhattanboy

One must also keep in mind that having a non-gray market Nikon DSLR does NOT mean

I can only assume you've only ever made purchases of 'non-gray-market' items and now feel sad that you've been ripped off for paying for a manufacturers warranty, which should have come for free!

I have had nothing but gray market DSLR bodies, and Nikon have NEVER refused to repair my camera body once!

@trimmer1 I think you misread the double negatives by Paperman... he was actually arguing for gray market body purchases (that individuals like yourself have clearly found to be beneficial). Anyway, everyone has a differing opinion in this thread, which is a healthy discourse on positives and negatives. PB_PM is strongly against gray market purchases, while others like myself see their value in pushing down camera and lens prices.

Paperman

@trimmer

You sadly have not understood a word of what I have written. You could have at least bothered to read the start of the discussion to see who was on each side. And joining NR today just for this - to bash someone - is also pathetic. Maybe you are just 16, who knows ...

@spraynpray

Man, if this is the edited version of trimmer's post, I wonder how it was originally :-*

spraynpray

"and now feel sad that you've been ripped off for paying for a manufacturers warranty, which should have come for free!"

Manufacturers warranties ALWAYS have a cost, even grey imports have a warranty which you have paid for (if you can be bothered to pursue sending your camera half way round the world which could cause further issues).

TriShooter

On Nikon Rumors promoting gray market camera when the deals are exceptional, or new; Nikon Rumors does the same thing for Nikon USA price changes. Nikon Rumors is for all Nikon users whether they choose to buy from Nikon USA, or Nikon Gray Market Sources because that is an individual's choice.

A number of top line camera stores we all know, and trust sell both Nikon USA, and Nikon Gray Market gear. They let their customers decide which source is best for them because they are not in business to judge other people's must haves, and wants.

Nikon Rumors is in much the same position as these trusted retailers who explain the difference to their customers, but sell both Nikon USA, and Nikon Gray Market gear.

There is no right, or wrong answer, to the question of buying nikon USA, or Nikon Gray Market cameras. I cannot answer for Nikon, but suspect Nikon would rather have someone buy a Nikon Gray Market Camera than a Canon camera.

There are measurable advantages, and disadvantages in buying both USA, and Gray Market gear, as well as how each camera manufacturer addresses handling it, and their warranties, which in a free market system is their choice. Depending on each individual's must haves, and wants, which can be vastly disparate, it will be best for them to buy Nikon USA, or Nikon Gray Market gear.

I support my local camera stores, and companies with high level reputations, and performance like Showcase Inc. Photo & Video and KEH here in Atlanta, and B&H Photo Video in New York, because doing it this way has value to me; but I recognize it might have value not to someone else who is a one time buyer every five or ten years.

There are just too many personal variables for me to presume one way is right, and the other way is wrong for another person, or company for that matter.

manhattanboy

A number of top line camera stores we all know, and trust sell both Nikon USA, and Nikon Gray Market gear. They let their customers decide which source is best for them because they are not in business to judge other people's must haves, and wants.
[...]
I support my local camera stores, and companies with high level reputations, and performance like Showcase Inc. Photo & Video and KEH here in Atlanta, and B&H Photo Video in New York, because doing it this way has value to me

And your final purchasing decisions from these reputable establishments was Nikon USA, Gray Market, or both? I am guessing Nikon USA, but there was nothing in your post that swayed to one side or the other. In terms of pricing I have found the following: Price for US authorized at reputable dealers > price US authorized shady dealers > price Gray reputable dealers > price Gray shady dealers. There is a nice spectrum of risk versus price for the same goods. Throw in prices for US refurbs and things get even more complicated, as frequently the refurbs are more expensive than Gray market new items.

birdman

Who monitors Nikon Deals? I'd like to share, after censor approves, of a few can't-miss items

spraynpray

Don't post links to non-site sponsors here without @Peter's permission. PM him first for his approval.

tc88

Interesting read. The real article is on PhotographyBay and has much more details.

http://photorumors.com/2015/11/22/canon-is-suing-gray-market-camera-sellers