Grey Market (Imported) vs. USA

Can anyone enlighten me what are the differences between these versions of the same lens sold on BH?

From what I read there, they are identical in construction and quality, the difference being in the warranty offered. If it's USA you can have the lens sent to any Nikon service in the world for any problem it may have. Is this true? I mean, will the Nikon service in France, UK, Hungary and so on accept such a lens bought in USA for free repairs (if it is still in warranty, of course)?

If it's Imported/Grey Market, I understand you can send it back only to BH if you have problems with it.
Are there any other differences between them?

Also, if you get a lens second hand, is there any way you can tell if it was USA or Imported? Like difference in serial numbers and such stuff.
--
A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live.

http://www.bythom.com/warranty.htm

Personally I think it is best to buy USA for the peace of mind and warranty. With that said I did purchase a Grey market 300mm afs f4 lens mainly cause it is gray in color and I just wanted it. I also purchased an additional 3 year Mack warranty along with the lens.

Darrell

Thom wrote,

Member said:

If you purchase a gray market (parallel import) item (new or used): NikonUSA will not repair these items, under any circumstances.

Click to expand...

I've been led to believe that Nikon will repair any out of warranty lens for a fee, but they will not repair a gray market camera body. I hope that's the case, because even the engineers at KEH can't tell if a used lens is USA or gray market.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank
FCAS Founder, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Galleries at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank

For the spendy AFS, VR lenses I'd go USA. But for simple designs such as short and standard primes, I think grey market is just fine. If you have problems just go to a local camera repair shop instead of Nikon.

--
http://www.inhousephoto.com

Nikon will still repair grey market. They just won't service it under warranty. I know, they repaired my 300mm f/2.8 for a fee.

Uncle Frank said:

Uncle Frank said:

If you purchase a gray market (parallel import) item (new or used): NikonUSA will not repair these items, under any circumstances.

Click to expand...

I've been led to believe that Nikon will repair any out of warranty
lens for a fee, but they will not repair a gray market camera body.
I hope that's the case, because even the engineers at KEH can't
tell if a used lens is USA or gray market.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank
FCAS Founder, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Galleries at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank

Click to expand...

--
http://www.inhousephoto.com

yeah if the repair costs aren't more than what you saved by buying an import, it might be worth it

Uncle Frank said:

Uncle Frank said:

If you purchase a gray market (parallel import) item (new or used): NikonUSA will not repair these items, under any circumstances.

Click to expand...

I've been led to believe that Nikon will repair any out of warranty
lens for a fee, but they will not repair a gray market camera body.
I hope that's the case, because even the engineers at KEH can't
tell if a used lens is USA or gray market.

Click to expand...

Frank I live near KEH and on a recent visit I was told by the rep that they didn't care one way or the other. KEH would certainly be a good place to have a imported lens serviced/repaired if needed.

That was the main reason I took comfort when I purchased the GRAY color grey (import) 300mm F4

Darrell

Daos said:

From what I read there, they are identical in construction and
quality, the difference being in the warranty offered. If it's USA
you can have the lens sent to any Nikon service in the world for
any problem it may have. Is this true? I mean, will the Nikon
service in France, UK, Hungary and so on accept such a lens bought
in USA for free repairs (if it is still in warranty, of course)?

Click to expand...

Yes but only for the 1 year international warranty and not for the 5 year offerd by Nikon USA.

Daos said:

If it's Imported/Grey Market, I understand you can send it back
only to BH if you have problems with it.

Click to expand...

If they give you the yellow international warranty card, also Nikon USA must give the free repair on lenses in the 1st year. But most US shops don't give you the international warranty card on grey market lenses. They take it out of the box.

Daos wrote:
Can anyone enlighten me what are the differences between these
versions of the same lens sold on BH?
From what I read there, they are identical in construction and
quality, the difference being in the warranty offered.

They are made on the same production line and come out of the same factories, there is no difference. Some Nikon wholesalers take note and record the lens serial numbers for warranty purposes.

If it's USA you can have the lens sent to any Nikon service in the world for
any problem it may have. Is this true? I mean, will the Nikon
service in France, UK, Hungary and so on accept such a lens bought
in USA for free repairs (if it is still in warranty, of course)?

Nikon in each country will only free warranty service lenses from their own country. The 5 years warranty that Nikon US offer is only valid in the US. If you are goiong to do any travelling overseas, it can be cheaper to buy the gray market lens and get a MACK warranty that will cover the lens truly internationally.

Are there any other differences between them?
None at all.

Also, if you get a lens second hand, is there any way you can tell
if it was USA or Imported? Like difference in serial numbers and
such stuff.

Nope you can't tell
--
A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live.

--
D100, 70-200 vr, 28-70 f2.8, 85 afd f1.4, 30 f1.4, SB-80DX

I live in Australia and I am buying all of my photography equipment gear from HK. I have spent around $4KUS now, which would have cost me $6KUS if I bought the same equipment in Australia. As for the quality of the items, I can't really say, since I don't have anything bought locally to be compared with. I've never had any problems with the equipment I purchased and did not have to claim warranty once. HK digital cameras dealers are trying to break into lucrative Australian and European markets, not so much in the US markets. Since the prices on digital cameras and the lenses are generally lower in the USA than in Europe and Australia. What I have noticed is that some HK dealers will try anything to attract australian customers offering them refund if if you have to pay import duty. Free 7 years international warranty from Mack on lenses. Local contacts in Australia and Europe if you need to claim warranty on the item, manually expecting every item for any defects etc before shipping. The main advantage buying from HK is the price. As an example, Nikon D200 costs $2500AUS in Australia offered by a small and uknown dealer. Recognised dealers are selling these cameras for about $2750AUS. In HK, I can buy D200 for $2000AUS delivered.

Daos said:

Can anyone enlighten me what are the differences between these
versions of the same lens sold on BH?
From what I read there, they are identical in construction and
quality, the difference being in the warranty offered. If it's USA
you can have the lens sent to any Nikon service in the world for
any problem it may have. Is this true? I mean, will the Nikon
service in France, UK, Hungary and so on accept such a lens bought
in USA for free repairs (if it is still in warranty, of course)?
If it's Imported/Grey Market, I understand you can send it back
only to BH if you have problems with it.
Are there any other differences between them?
Also, if you get a lens second hand, is there any way you can tell
if it was USA or Imported? Like difference in serial numbers and
such stuff.
--
A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live.

Click to expand...

timbotrog1 said:

Also, if you get a lens second hand, is there any way you can tell
if it was USA or Imported? Like difference in serial numbers and
such stuff.

Nope you can't tell
--
A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live.

Click to expand...

This may not apply to all but some of the Nikon lens sold in the USA today actually are marked as a US lens next to the serial number.

In fact every new nikon lens that I purchased has the "US" mark with the exception of the 300mm AFS F4 that I knew was grey. It would be interesting to know if other world markets are marked accordingly.

Darrell

DEJ said:

timbotrog1 said:

Also, if you get a lens second hand, is there any way you can tell
if it was USA or Imported? Like difference in serial numbers and
such stuff.

Nope you can't tell
--
A man is only as big as the dreams he dares to live.

Click to expand...

This may not apply to all but some of the Nikon lens sold in the
USA today actually are marked as a US lens next to the serial
number.
In fact every new nikon lens that I purchased has the "US" mark
with the exception of the 300mm AFS F4 that I knew was grey. It
would be interesting to know if other world markets are marked
accordingly.

Darrell

Click to expand...

Yes they can be marked US as a prefix in the serial number. I live in Australia and my 85 f1.4D that arrived from HK 4 days ago has a US403XXX serial number. Oddly enough though, my 70-200VR which was imported from the US, (non gray market, genuine US import), only has the US sticker not the US serial number prefix.

I have been importing my equipment as it is rediculously cheaper than buying locally on Nikon gear. 3rd party lenses are generally the exception though. My 85 f1.4D cost me $895usd, in Australia the cheapest I could find it for was $1900aud.

Go figure.
--
D100, 70-200 vr, 28-70 f2.8, 85 afd f1.4, 30 f1.4, SB-80DX

timbotrog1 said:

Yes they can be marked US as a prefix in the serial number. I live
in Australia and my 85 f1.4D that arrived from HK 4 days ago has a
US403XXX serial number. Oddly enough though, my 70-200VR which was
imported from the US, (non gray market, genuine US import), only
has the US sticker not the US serial number prefix.
I have been importing my equipment as it is rediculously cheaper
than buying locally on Nikon gear. 3rd party lenses are generally
the exception though. My 85 f1.4D cost me $895usd, in Australia the
cheapest I could find it for was $1900aud.

Go figure.

Click to expand...

So now I wonder if US implies a USA lens. If it does I suppose a US lens could be sold in another country other then USA; of course it would then be considered grey market and would most likely not come with the warranty papers.

As a previous poster questioned in this thread "How would Nikon know". They would somehow have to know and record the orginal market the lens was sold.

Darrell

DEJ said:

timbotrog1 said:

Yes they can be marked US as a prefix in the serial number. I live
in Australia and my 85 f1.4D that arrived from HK 4 days ago has a
US403XXX serial number. Oddly enough though, my 70-200VR which was
imported from the US, (non gray market, genuine US import), only
has the US sticker not the US serial number prefix.
I have been importing my equipment as it is rediculously cheaper
than buying locally on Nikon gear. 3rd party lenses are generally
the exception though. My 85 f1.4D cost me $895usd, in Australia the
cheapest I could find it for was $1900aud.

Go figure.

Click to expand...

So now I wonder if US implies a USA lens. If it does I suppose a US
lens could be sold in another country other then USA; of course it
would then be considered grey market and would most likely not come
with the warranty papers.
As a previous poster questioned in this thread "How would Nikon
know". They would somehow have to know and record the orginal
market the lens was sold.

Darrell

Click to expand...

The (until recently), former wholesalers for Nikon in Australia Maxwells, would take the lens, note its serial number and type Maxwell Industries on the yellow warranty slip. Thats how they used to do it. Maybe Nikon US is the same?

As Nikon themselves now do the wholesaling of lenses in Australia now, I don't know as yet how they will do it.
--
D100, 70-200 vr, 28-70 f2.8, 85 afd f1.4, 30 f1.4, SB-80DX

Uncle Frank said:

Uncle Frank said:

If you purchase a gray market (parallel import) item (new or used): NikonUSA will not repair these items, under any circumstances.

Click to expand...

I've been led to believe that Nikon will repair any out of warranty
lens for a fee, but they will not repair a gray market camera body.
I hope that's the case, because even the engineers at KEH can't
tell if a used lens is USA or gray market.

Click to expand...

Nikon has started stamping a "US" in front of the serial number on newer design lenses, so those should be pretty easy to distinguish as US warranty lenses. I'm sure that Nikon knows each and every legit US serial number.

Jonathan F/2 said:

For the spendy AFS, VR lenses I'd go USA. But for simple designs
such as short and standard primes, I think grey market is just
fine. If you have problems just go to a local camera repair shop
instead of Nikon.

Click to expand...

For the expensive lenses, I would too. But for the cheaper lenses I would too. The difference in price these days is minimal between US and grey in many cases. In some cases, with rebates I've seen US lenses CHEAPER than grey at B+H within the past couple of months.

fraserj1 said:

Uncle Frank said:

fraserj1 said:

If you purchase a gray market (parallel import) item (new or used): NikonUSA will not repair these items, under any circumstances.

Click to expand...

I've been led to believe that Nikon will repair any out of warranty
lens for a fee, but they will not repair a gray market camera body.
I hope that's the case, because even the engineers at KEH can't
tell if a used lens is USA or gray market.

Click to expand...

Nikon has started stamping a "US" in front of the serial number on
newer design lenses, so those should be pretty easy to distinguish
as US warranty lenses. I'm sure that Nikon knows each and every
legit US serial number.

Click to expand...

My brand spanking new 85f1.4D arrived last Monday. Its serial number is US403XXX, this lens was imported to Australia from HK for $895usd. Note that it is NOT a US market lens stamped with this number.

Funny thing is though that my 70-200vr has a Nikon US sticker on it and was a genuine US purchase.
US on the serial number doesnt always mean it was from the US market.

--
D100, 70-200 vr, 28-70 f2.8, 85 afd f1.4, 30 f1.4, SB-80DX

Is this an obsession in having your lens bought in non-gray market? After all, those lenses and cameras manufactured at the same plant.

amarkin said:

Is this an obsession in having your lens bought in non-gray market?
After all, those lenses and cameras manufactured at the same plant.

Click to expand...

Not at all mate, you are perfectly corect. The thing most people go on about is the waranty period. The 85 f1.4D I got this week, (gray market), saved me almost $800 aud. it comes with a 12 month warranty from the supplier. That is enough difference though for a several year Mack International warranty. Then again the 5 year warranty offered by some Nikon wholesalers will be raved about.

People keep going on and on about when it breaks down........If they thought about the amount of lenses manufactured versus the amount that actually need repair it is a very miniscule amount. Then again some people may not take a great deal of care with their gear.
--
D100, 70-200 vr, 28-70 f2.8, 85 afd f1.4, 30 f1.4, SB-80DX

My recent comment on this question FWIW:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=20113446

Have not read all of the above, but it does seem that the "savings" to buy gray can be illusory... someone noted that rebates can surely offset those.

I like the simple wisdom never to buy a pricy lens when there could be any question about service potential. Nikon will charge you $200 to do anything... if you bought a 17-55 gray to save $100+, you forego a 5 year warranty where AF-S service would be covered-- pretty bodacious risk on a $1,200 lens.
--
Craig in Ga. (USA)
As you go thru life, don't forget to stop along the way to smell the roses.