Used or grey market?

mbango · Oct 14, 2006

Which should i get... a used lens from KEH, or a grey market from adorama or b&h. Theyre very close to the same price... i'm thinking the grey market because of the 1 year warranty... but do you have any opinions/experiences?

Thanks
--
http://www.mattbango.com

NIKONCANADA · Oct 14, 2006

Grey market!
--
D50
18-70mm
85mm f1.8
SB800

Pradipta Dutta · Oct 14, 2006

One advantage of buying used lens (if that is a US regular import lens) is that in case you ever need service, Nikon will perform service for a fee while they won't even touch a grey market lens even though you may be ready to pay. However, if it is not a very complex lens then you can safe rely on the 3rd service centers that will gladly perform service for a fee regardless whether the lens is grey market or regular import.

--
Speed is significant and interesting but accuracy is downright fascinating
http://www.pbase.com/pradipta

nbourbaki · Oct 14, 2006

better to ask new or used?

new if the same price.

neither come with the nikon 5 year warranty (yes, grey comes with some warranty)

In general, if it is a complicated lens (zoom, vr, etc), i say go for usa new.

otherwise get what is cheapest, often keh. keh is usually cheaper than grey new, but if not, go grey.

DEJ · Oct 14, 2006

nbourbaki said:
otherwise get what is cheapest, often keh. keh is usually cheaper
than grey new, but if not, go grey.

For what its worth KEH sells many grey market used lens and will service them as well if you are willing to pay the out of warranty repair/service charge.

Darrell

mbango · Oct 14, 2006

It's for the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S

its about $900 used and about $940 imported, not that big of a difference... or should i just wait and get a new one that is like $1200?

so if i get the grey market.. and something breaks i'll have to have a local shop repair it since nikon won't.... It seems logical to me that a new lens would have less of a chance of needing repair... but i could be wrong... any insight on whether a used lens or import lens usually needs repair more?

Kinda hard to tell i suppose, but if anyone has any opinions or experiences... then it'd be greatly appreciated.

--
http://www.mattbango.com

Uncle Frank · Oct 14, 2006

Pradipta Dutta said:
One advantage of buying used lens (if that is a US regular import
lens) is that in case you ever need service, Nikon will perform
service for a fee while they won't even touch a grey market lens
even though you may be ready to pay.

But here's the rub, Pradipta. I talked to KEH, and they can't tell if the used lenses they're selling are USA or gray market.

I've also heard that while Nikon will not touch a gray market camera body for love or money, they will repair gray market lenses and charge the normal out of warranty prices. I don't have confirmation on that, however.

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

DEJ · Oct 14, 2006

mbango said:
It's for the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S

its about $900 used and about $940 imported, not that big of a
difference... or should i just wait and get a new one that is like
$1200?

I can tell you what I did for the 300mm f/4 afs. I purchased the grey market and for peace of mind also bought the Mack Warranty.
I went with the gray color lens that is not sold in a US version so I am told.

I also contacted KEH and as Frank says in a previous post they don't really know or care if the lens is USA or grey and will service the lens out of warranty if ever needed.
Regards
Darrell

josephho · Oct 15, 2006

i have also been hearing about KEH servicing nikon stuff

will they be able to repair problems involving the AFS system? or repairs requiring parts support?

Pablo Cocito · Oct 15, 2006

DEJ said:
mbango said:

It's for the Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S

its about $900 used and about $940 imported, not that big of a
difference... or should i just wait and get a new one that is like
$1200?

Click to expand...

I can tell you what I did for the 300mm f/4 afs. I purchased the
grey market and for peace of mind also bought the Mack Warranty.

I also bought a a grey/grey new 300 f/4 AF-S with one year B&H warranty for the same price of a used unwarranted USA market one. I even saved on the extended warranty since I get piece of minfd doing meditation

. For the difference in $$ I got another SB-600. Those SB-800's and 600's can be addictive.

fraserj1 · Oct 16, 2006

mbango said:
Which should i get... a used lens from KEH, or a grey market from
adorama or b&h. Theyre very close to the same price... i'm
thinking the grey market because of the 1 year warranty... but do
you have any opinions/experiences?

Is the new USA warratny lens just too expensive for you or is it that you are simply trying to save money? If its the latter, the price difference between a new USA lens ($1125 w/ 5 year warr) and grey ($939 + $40 for a 3 year Mack warr) = $145. If Nikon offers a rebate this fall on the 300mm f4 AF-S (which in the past has been $75 to $100) that brings the price difference down to $45 or $70.

Oh, as far as Nikon being able to or not able to identify USA lenses, while some lenses cannot be identified as USA or grey by Nikon USA, this is not always true. My 12-24 and 80-200 both have a "US" designation in front of the serial number. Missing this designation on certain lenses would alert Nikon to the lens not being sold in the US market.

For $45 I would definitely buy the USA lens - well, for that matter even at $145 I would still buy the USA lens to avoid hassles that might occur with owning a grey lens. My point, though, is that the price difference between grey and USA isn't that great when you factor in things likes rebates, but the drawbacks may be great.

sox OZ · Oct 16, 2006

mbango said:
Which should i get... a used lens from KEH, or a grey market from
adorama or b&h. Theyre very close to the same price... i'm
thinking the grey market because of the 1 year warranty... but do
you have any opinions/experiences?
Thanks
--
http://www.mattbango.com

Hi...

I'm sure that Nikon in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia (Oceana) have the same policy, that is they only repair cameras sold in the country of sale (e.g. sold in US, warranty only in US). But lenses are different, as they carry a International 12month warranty in all countries. Just means you can only get a 12mth warranty and not the extended 5yr one offered by Nikon US.
But for you peace of mind, just phone Nikon up and ask them.

Personally all the lenses I have bought are "grey" market, but non of them are "VR', so if this is a concern for you, I would spend the extra on a US lens with 5yr warranty.

But as you said, if there is only $40 difference between the used and grey market, go the grey market as you should still at least get 12mth warranty. If I recall, B&H Photo also offer their own 12mths warranty on all grey imports they sell, so that also might be a consideration.
Hope this has helped and not confused you...
--

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
C.Ya.....
Wally..........
Adelaide,AUSTRALIA

-=camera gear in profile

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Lonely Raven · Oct 16, 2006

I've called Nikon on this recently after my NewEgg and Hong Kong D200 debacle.

Nikon can't always tell what lenses are grey market. That's why they have been starting serial numbers on lenses with "U" to denote US market.
Older lenses that don't have the letter serial number...they just can't tell.

Also, there is NO ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON GREY MARKET, unless the shop you bought it from is supporting this supposed one year warranty.

As UF mentioned, Nikon WILL NOT touch grey market gear, for love or money. (I like that phrase).

My personal take on this.

If it's a simple lens like a 50mm or 60Micro or Teleconverter, I'll buy grey if it's super cheap, but I'll take used with box if it's cheaper. If it's a complex lens, IE anything with AF-S or VR, I will absolutely buy new, US with 5 year warranty, no if's ands or butts. Same goes for camera bodies, even if it has a box and recept Nikon may not cover warranty if you are not the original purchaser...but they've admitted to me that if you just say "Uncle Frank bought it for me for my birthday, I have the recept and all"...then Nikon generally doesn't squak much and does the repair.

While it's a real pain in the rear, Nikon is simply covering themselves from being undercut by their own hardware sold through improper channels, as simple as that. I mean, who else could beat Nikon but Nikon themselves.

Now if their distribution channels were better.........

Uncle Frank said:
Uncle Frank said:

One advantage of buying used lens (if that is a US regular import
lens) is that in case you ever need service, Nikon will perform
service for a fee while they won't even touch a grey market lens
even though you may be ready to pay.

Click to expand...

But here's the rub, Pradipta. I talked to KEH, and they can't tell
if the used lenses they're selling are USA or gray market.

I've also heard that while Nikon will not touch a gray market
camera body for love or money, they will repair gray market lenses
and charge the normal out of warranty prices. I don't have
confirmation on that, however.

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

--
The Lonely Raven

Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

~~KC9KCZ~~

Pradipta Dutta · Oct 16, 2006

Uncle Frank said:
I've also heard that while Nikon will not touch a gray market
camera body for love or money, they will repair gray market lenses
and charge the normal out of warranty prices. I don't have
confirmation on that, however.

It would very nice if that turns out to be true. As a matter of fact, that would be fabulous!

BTW, has anyone with grey market lens gotten service done from Nikon USA? If so, could you please post your experiences?

--
Speed is significant and interesting but accuracy is downright fascinating
http://www.pbase.com/pradipta

fraserj1 · Oct 16, 2006

sox OZ said:
I'm sure that Nikon in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia (Oceana)
have the same policy, that is they only repair cameras sold in the
country of sale (e.g. sold in US, warranty only in US).

There are exceptions to this rule, though. If I went to another country and purchased a Nikon product direct from a store in that country, Nikon USA would service the product, with proof that I made the purchase from the offical dealer (and not grey in that country).

Wht Nikon USA won't touch is something that they didn't import that was purchased from a USA dealer.

mbango · Oct 16, 2006

If there were a rebate on the lens and it brought it down to a $45 dollar difference, I would no doubt go with the USA new.

Is there any way to determine if or when Nikon will start doing rebates?

If it's soon, then I might as well just wait, but I guess it depends on if there is a way to determine when they release their rebates.

--
http://www.mattbango.com

Blues_Traveler · Oct 17, 2006

This time last year they began on October 27.

http://www.nikonusa.com/fileuploads/pdfs/slr_rebates.pdf

--
Ken

netjialei · Oct 17, 2006

i always advice you to buy a new one!

you never know what happened on a secondhand lens, and the dust, scratch even lost focus can be the problem~
so, you decide
--

ENGLISH is not my native language, so...

eaglesmaus · Oct 17, 2006

bought grey marked yesterday and if i dont have to pay taxes [ most of the time they skip it ......gift or cormercial sample ] it wil save me 800 euro's

for the 800 euro's I don't care about warranty or not in my country [ netherlands ] i'll send it back to the seller and maybe that will cost some money but hey....800 euro's that's about 1000 dollars.

nikon raised their prices sometimes by 20 a 25 % for the expensives ones like the 17-55 28-70 and 70-200 vr.

i own the 70-200 vr and i noticed last week that this lense raised in price [ 450 euro's ]

sorry for the bad english or gramatics but i'll guess you dont write or read my dutch language

fraserj1 · Oct 18, 2006

mbango said:
If there were a rebate on the lens and it brought it down to a $45
dollar difference, I would no doubt go with the USA new.

Is there any way to determine if or when Nikon will start doing
rebates?

If it's soon, then I might as well just wait, but I guess it
depends on if there is a way to determine when they release their
rebates.

You can also check out B+H's special sales - do a search for "product" "psaug" (there are others out there, too - the last three characters are the month, so ps+month abbreviated will let you see all the sales). Once you get results filter by Nikon and see if the lens you want is on the list. In this example, you'll see that the 70-200 VR is actually cheaper than grey market....still out of my price range, but I'd buy it in a second for that price if I had the cash.

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