Do you own a grey market nikon dslr camera body?

Bill16

Senior Member
Do you own a grey market nikon DSLR camera body, or one that would be considered gray market because you bought it from out of country?
My Nikon D800e is Australian so even though it's in awesome shape thanks to how well @oldsalt took care of it after buying it new, it is still considered gray market! My buddy @oldsalt offered a deal good for both of us considering the exchange rate, and I couldn't resist it! So even though it wasn't brought in country for resale, Nikon will still look at it as Greg market!
So what Grey market Nikon camera do you have, and what tempted you into buying it?:)

How many of us are there here on nikonites? :)
 

Michael J.

Senior Member
If I bought legal a Cam in China, let's say on my last vacation there, I came back to Thailand. Declared everything, got my tax refunded. Then it is legal in Thailand as well, or not?

Second: Here we have a shop, number one in Thailand, which sells Cameras, and gears bought in China, but lots cheaper. He is a re=seller. He registered his company, he declares every product, cos if not, he doesn't get the container out of the duty zone.
Now I go to hom, I buy a cam, cheaper an dhe gives me a year warranty. I think the cam is also legal and not gray market, or not?
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Hmmm I'm not sure you have the same Grey market issues buddy! I'm glad for ya my friend! :)

If I bought legal a Cam in China, let's say on my last vacation there, I came back to Thailand. Declared everything, got my tax refunded. Then it is legal in Thailand as well, or not?

Second: Here we have a shop, number one in Thailand, which sells Cameras, and gears bought in China, but lots cheaper. He is a re=seller. He registered his company, he declares every product, cos if not, he doesn't get the container out of the duty zone.
Now I go to hom, I buy a cam, cheaper an dhe gives me a year warranty. I think the cam is also legal and not gray market, or not?
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
My D7100 and my D750 both are gray/grey (can we get a ruling on that?) market, but my GF's D5300 was bought through standard channels.

What tempted me? The realization I could spend $2200 and have a brand new D750 or... I could spend the same $2200 but have a brand new D750 *and* a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 "Art" series lens to go with it.

Oh, and Nikon's "warranty"? Ha... Don't make me laugh.

....
 

donaldjledet

Senior Member
I'm kinda glad to here that. Was thinking of the d750 from 42th st. photo which is i believe is grey market.
For the same reason would be able to get a better Lens for it.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
If I bought legal a Cam in China, let's say on my last vacation there, I came back to Thailand. Declared everything, got my tax refunded. Then it is legal in Thailand as well, or not?

Second: Here we have a shop, number one in Thailand, which sells Cameras, and gears bought in China, but lots cheaper. He is a re=seller. He registered his company, he declares every product, cos if not, he doesn't get the container out of the duty zone.
Now I go to hom, I buy a cam, cheaper an dhe gives me a year warranty. I think the cam is also legal and not gray market, or not?

Here in the US, gray market is about Nikon warranty, and is not related to legal with respect to duty and taxes. Everything is presumably legal?

Here we have an organization named Nikon USA, a division of Nikon, but they import everything from Nikon Japan. When they reship to distributors, they add to the price to provide for the cost of warranty that they provide here (and add their profit too). If they did not import it, and did not receive added price for it, then they provide no warranty service, or any service of any kind, That would be called gray market here, no warranty or service. Other importers don't provide warranty and their price is less. There are other third party shops for repairs, and I suppose we could ship it back to Japan, but that probably takes months.

I don't know if there is any duty here, but the government would want it if so, but the government doesn't care how it gets here.
 
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Rick M

Senior Member
There seems to be different shades of grey :). Grey from reputable US dealers come with a 1 year warranty through the seller. For deeper savings you can get grey without a seller warranty. I guess it depends on your risk tolerance. For me I pay for greyless which retains greater resale value here in the USA (we have a greyness astigmatism here).
 

cadomniel

Senior Member
my d700 is grey market. normally wouldn't consider buying a grey market but I figured for a low shutter actuation used D700 there isn't a lot of risk since the D700 is a really reliable camera with few problems. I think when buying used it actually is an advantage because it will be easier to sell a US camera then a Canadian one later on.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
It is rather awkward. I'd like it better if Nikon offered a warranty on their cameras, regardless of where it was purchased.

Wonder why they don't just bill warranty repair to Nikon Japan instead of the various countries. And eliminate the entire gray market situation.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Have no gray cameras yet:D can get a D750 in the uk gray,reputable established seller 3 years warranty £500 cheaper than a Nikon import.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I have to say my mind is more open about the grey market since I got my D800e with only about 8,100 actuations and in perfect shape! A great grey market camera well taken care of is way better than a different camera with higher actuations with wear and tear and who knows what other issues! :)
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I have to say my mind is more open about the grey market since I got my D800e with only about 8,100 actuations and in perfect shape! A great grey market camera well taken care of is way better than a different camera with higher actuations with wear and tear and who knows what other issues! :)

The thing is Bill thousands of cameras are gray imports,do there second owners know they are gray ?,are you better buying secondhand privately with no warranty or new gray at possibly the same price with up to 3 years warranty. When gray first started there was no Internet so official importers could blind the public with bull sh1t and most of it was sold at nearly full price to make more profit for the importer.
Nikon japan may make a few noises but they need the gray market to keep sales and so production up,i can only see it growing.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
You have got me started now :D

I do believe in supporting my LCS i get great service and problems i take back and place on his counter i like that,if i wasnt on a pension now i wouldnt give gray a thought but on the D750 £479 is a lot of money.

The chances are i will end up up at my LCS because i know the extra cost is not a case of him making loads of extra profit,its just not as straight forward as it was when i was working.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I was on the other side of the fence before! But due to my experience buy this camera from my buddy @oldsalt, I'm now keeping an open mind! No I'm not saying all grey market cameras is the same as my dealing with a buddy! But I'm not closing my mind off to grey market, but looking at even that as an option! :)

The thing is Bill thousands of cameras are gray imports,do there second owners know they are gray ?,are you better buying secondhand privately with no warranty or new gray at possibly the same price with up to 3 years warranty. When gray first started there was no Internet so official importers could blind the public with bull sh1t and most of it was sold at nearly full price to make more profit for the importer.
Nikon japan may make a few noises but they need the gray market to keep sales and so production up,i can only see it growing.
 
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