On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:30:46 -0400, "S B" <sb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>People,
>
>This question may have been asked before, but I still do not understand
how
>come that brand-new SLRs (and probably other cameras) are considerably
>cheaper on eBay? The salesman at a photo store said with a touch of
disdain
>that all cameras sold over the internet are "grey market" and never come
>with a warranty, even if one is promised. Well, what about sellers
dealing
>in photo equipment and having feedback ratio close to 100%?
>For example, I can get a Canon 40D with 17-85mm ISU + some extras at
1475.00
>Canadian, while the guy in this quite reputable store asks 1688.88 for
the
>same set (with no extras)? And this shop-boughten camera is made in
Thailand
>anyway.
>
>Is there a difference indeed?
>
Maybe the difference is how you look at it. Is the eBay camera
cheaper as you say, or is the camera store camera just marked up more?
Not that I blame them for marking it up. They have overhead.
A "gray market" camera is a legitimate camera that is manufactured the
same way as a non-grey market camera. A non-grey market Nikon that
you buy in a camera store is sold to the camera store by Nikon USA and
the warranty is from Nikon USA, not Nikon. A Nikon "gray market"
camera, which some camera stores sell, did not go through Nikon USA
and you don't have a warranty with Nikon USA. The camera store may
give you a warranty, though.
gray market or not, it's the same camera. The difference is how it
gets to the US: through Nikon USA or by direct im****t.
B&H Camera sells both "gray market" cameras (which they call "IMP"
cameras) and cameras im****ted through the official US im****ter (like
Nikon USA). I'm not sure if they sell IMP Nikons, but they do sell IMP
cameras of some brands. B&H provides their own warranty on IMP
cameras.
Personally, I'd buy a gray market camera if it's sold by a dealer that
I trust. If a camera is going to have a problem, it's most likely to
have a problem right of out of the box. If the store warranty covers
it, you're good.
I wouldn't buy a gray market camera *or* a camera from the authorized
distribution route on eBay from a non-store or from certain stores
that list on eBay. I buy only from stores that have a physical
presence and a good reputation.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/USGrey.jsp
on IMPs.
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
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