This is from the Adorama Website:
Adorama - Frequently Asked Questions Market Information
What is the Grey Market?
"Grey Market," also known as "direct import," are products imported directly into the U.S., and not through the manufacturer's authorized agent/distributor.
Are "Grey Market" products legally imported?
Yes, it is perfectly legal to directly import these products and sell them in the U.S.
What are the advantages of "Grey Market" goods?
There is no factory-authorized middleman involved in the import of these products, so the costs are lower. As a result, the customer pays less. In addition, many items that are in short supply or are not imported at all by the manufacturer's authorized distributors, are available in the "Grey Market."
Are there any disadvantages of "Grey Market" goods?
Because there is no factory-authorized middleman, there is no manufacturer's warranty. However, "Grey Market" products purchased from Adorama are warrantied by Adorama Camera and are returned to Adorama Camera for any warranty repair.
Are there product differences in "Grey Market" goods?
There is no difference in the actual products. In most cases, they are manufactured in the same place by the same people and with the same materials. Occasionally, manufacturers will give them a different name. For example, the Olympus USA Digital Stylus Cameras are called Olympus MJU Cameras in Europe.
What type of warranty does Adorama offer on "Grey Market" goods?
On "Grey Market" products purchased from Adorama, we offer the same warranty as the U.S. warrantied products carry, for a period of one year. The only difference is that the product would need to be shipped to Adorama for warranty service.
Do I need a warranty certificate for repairs on "Grey Market" goods?
No, your Adorama invoice is all you need to get warranty service on "Grey Market" products.
What happens after the warranty expires?
Just like products with an expired manufacturers' warranty, you can take the product to any convenient repair shop and pay for the repair.
Is there "Grey Market" film?
Yes, we carry Kodak film in three versions:
- U.S. - made in the U.S. for domestic distribution
- U.S. for export - made in the U.S. for worldwide distribution
- Grey Market - imported from other countries
Fuji, Ilford and Agfa films are made outside the U.S. In this case, Grey Market means how it came to be imported. The products are the same, but distribution and control determine the difference between U.S. and Grey Market. The main issue with film has always been assurance that it was handled and stored properly during transport to protect its emulsion. For this reason many professionals prefer U.S. film. However, in our experience, we've very rarely encountered any emulsion problems with Grey Market film.
If you need any additional information about buying grey market / direct import from Adorama, you are most welcome to email me directly:
[email protected]
Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
