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Canon US Warranty vs B&H Import

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Jeff Adkisson

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Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
 
This gray vs USA thing has been done to death IMO.

I buy gray whenever the option is available for me. The only exception I'd make

is for a digital body. IMO, a lens is unlikely to require servicing. Certainly none of mine EVER has . . . going all the way back to 1965 and spanning a 55mm Nikkor up to and including the EF 600mm f/4L IS.

Most unforunately, when I ordered my 600/4 from B&H, there were no gray ones available. Had there been, I'd have ordered it gray too.
 
Jeff,

There is a very long recent thread right on this Canon SLR forum that has more on this subject than you would ever dream of. Do a search using the word "increment".

Frank
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
 
They generally have the best prices and their service is simply the BEST. Delta always recieves high praise and they give you a MAC warranty for free. People can argue about if the Mac warranty is any good or not but if Delta buys one for you that's more then you'll get anywhere else.

As far as the Canon warranty goes there is not one person that will argue that Canon does not honor their one year warranty on grey equipment the very same as US equipment. It's all made in Japan anyways. What you will find is that there are people that are afraid that Canon might stupe to the gutter like Nikon and not even service anything that isn't US equipment. I don't believe that this will happen. Almost everyone of my lenses is grey and I've saved a ton of money.

There are also a few who think that the US Canon equipment is in some way better then the grey Canon equipment. This is simply wrong. It comes from the same place.

As far as B&H goes, just look at their price for a 70-200L IS and compare it to Delta's price. B&H grey is $1850 compared to Delta at $1679 plus the extra warranty.
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
 
I oredered the Canon 24mm f/2.8 lens gray from Adorama (only saved about $20, but what the heck) and received the US version (at least it seems like the warranty card is US). I guess they were out of gray and didn't want to hold up the order. Might not work for lenses with large price differences.

--Ira
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
 
Hi Jeff; I just bought from B&H, a 50-1.4,a 70-200 2.8l, and a 400EX flash. All grey. I matched the lenses with those purchased under USA warranty and from all outward appearances they are identical. Even the packaging is pure CANON. And, dealing with B&H, I have not the slightest concern about repairs should anthing go wrong. Don
Frank Patton said:
Frank
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I just purchased a grey Canon 600mm f/4 IS from B+H. Cost about $400 less than the US version. I don't see any reason not to purchase grey glass. 99% of the time they are EXACTLY THE SAME as the US version. Just be shure your dealing with a reputable dealer.
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
 
SawWhet said:
I just purchased a grey Canon 600mm f/4 IS from B+H. Cost about
$400 less than the US version. I don't see any reason not to
purchase grey glass. 99% of the time they are EXACTLY THE SAME as
the US version. Just be shure your dealing with a reputable dealer.
Click to expand...
How could there be 1% that are not exactly the same?
 
Physically they are the same items. Sometimes grey items are marked with different units or are packaged differently. Sorry if I confused anyone.
Greg M said:
SawWhet said:
I just purchased a grey Canon 600mm f/4 IS from B+H. Cost about
$400 less than the US version. I don't see any reason not to
purchase grey glass. 99% of the time they are EXACTLY THE SAME as
the US version. Just be shure your dealing with a reputable dealer.
Click to expand...
How could there be 1% that are not exactly the same?
Click to expand...
 
Greg M said:
As far as the Canon warranty goes there is not one person that will
argue that Canon does not honor their one year warranty on grey
equipment the very same as US equipment. It's all made in Japan
anyways. What you will find is that there are people that are
afraid that Canon might stupe to the gutter like Nikon and not even
service anything that isn't US equipment. I don't believe that
this will happen. Almost everyone of my lenses is grey and I've
saved a ton of money.

There are also a few who think that the US Canon equipment is in
some way better then the grey Canon equipment. This is simply
wrong. It comes from the same place.

As far as B&H goes, just look at their price for a 70-200L IS and
compare it to Delta's price. B&H grey is $1850 compared to Delta
at $1679 plus the extra warranty.
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Jeff,

If you read the thread I mentioned in my original reply above, you will find a great deal of disagreement on this issue, and will get a better grasp of the issues/considerations. The debate got so intense that I do not wish to repeat it. I do recommend you read it to get all of the perspectives.

I have a grey market Canon 550EX flash that cost me just over $300. Saved me about $59.00 over the lowest bonafide USA price. To me that was worth doing. I would likely consider an under $500 lens the same way if the grey market pricing provided a measureable or significant price difference, but only then.

On a more expensive item, like a L lens at over $1,000, that margin of savings must grow to something more significant for me than it appears it is for others replying to you in this thread. I have recently purchased a bona fide Canon USA Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 L from a mainstream US camera store (Pennsylvania) for $1,399.00. I cannot start to imagine paying say $1,350.00 or more for a grey market lens with "our store's warranty". That just wouldn't make sense.

Actually, at the time I purchased the lens I could not find a more competitive price, USA or grey, .... so why buy grey in that instance? I am about ready to purchase an EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS - USA from the same source for $1,699.00. The lowest grey price I have found is about $1,749.00. Again, .... so why buy grey?

Others have gotten "violently" argumentative about this. Again, I refer you to the thread I mentioned for a "throurough" review of the issues of what is warranty and what is policy, and which of the two of those can change in a heartbeat.

Frank
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
 
1. Generally speaking, there is no functional or physical difference between gray and Canon USA imported merchandise. One exception that comes to mind is the EOS 5 is very similar to, but has a couple of features not found (for patent reasons) in the A2E. The A2 is a camera manufactured only for North America.

2. Canon USA has been willing to perform, as a matter of courtesy, warranty and non-warranty repairs on gray market products. This is a gesture of goodwill and, unlike true warranty service, not legally enforceable.

3. If you buy gray from B&H, the store offers its own warranty service by its own repair personnel. This is legally enforceable against B&H. One "down side" I see to this is that the turnaround time could be longer as independent repair facilities do not always have immediate access to parts and service information as Canon's people do. This does not mean in any way that B&H will not make a good faith effort to honor their warranty, just that it may take them a bit longer to do so.

4. I've bought gray lenses and strobes without hesitancy. I would be reluctant to do so with camera bodies and ESPECIALLY from a place such as Delta which, for example, is charging MORE for a gray market D60 than the Canon cooperative price ($2199).
 
Sorry but this response is needed to state an opposing view that I believe to be correct. I hope that this does not start a back and forth but will be left alone as ****'s statement and mine.
**** Ginkowski said:
1. Generally speaking, there is no functional or physical
difference between gray and Canon USA imported merchandise. One
exception that comes to mind is the EOS 5 is very similar to, but
has a couple of features not found (for patent reasons) in the A2E.
The A2 is a camera manufactured only for North America.

2. Canon USA has been willing to perform, as a matter of courtesy,
warranty and non-warranty repairs on gray market products. This is
a gesture of goodwill and, unlike true warranty service, not
legally enforceable.
Click to expand...
Canon Inc has an international warranty on all of their equipment. Just because they taylor the wording to different areas does not change the fact that it is an international warranty. The Canon warranty cards that I've seen have stated this.
**** Ginkowski said:
3. If you buy gray from B&H, the store offers its own warranty
service by its own repair personnel. This is legally enforceable
against B&H. One "down side" I see to this is that the turnaround
time could be longer as independent repair facilities do not always
have immediate access to parts and service information as Canon's
people do. This does not mean in any way that B&H will not make a
good faith effort to honor their warranty, just that it may take
them a bit longer to do so.
Click to expand...
Delta buys a MAC warranty for you.
**** Ginkowski said:
4. I've bought gray lenses and strobes without hesitancy. I would
be reluctant to do so with camera bodies and ESPECIALLY from a
place such as Delta which, for example, is charging MORE for a gray
market D60 than the Canon cooperative price ($2199).
Click to expand...
Then you are missing out on the best customer service that is available. They sell the D60 for what they can get it for plus a mark-up. On newer items they don't always have a good price but they do get them in. Someone who really needs a D60 can get one from Delta sooner then waiting on a long list. Compare prices and you'll find that Delta almost always beets everyone on price. Look at the 70-200L IS price difference between B&H and Delta. Delta is $170.95 cheaper. They also have the lowest advertised price on a 1D.
 
Greg M said:
**** Ginkowski said:
1. Generally speaking, there is no functional or physical
difference between gray and Canon USA imported merchandise. One
exception that comes to mind is the EOS 5 is very similar to, but
has a couple of features not found (for patent reasons) in the A2E.
The A2 is a camera manufactured only for North America.

2. Canon USA has been willing to perform, as a matter of courtesy,
warranty and non-warranty repairs on gray market products. This is
a gesture of goodwill and, unlike true warranty service, not
legally enforceable.
Click to expand...
Canon Inc has an international warranty on all of their equipment.
Just because they taylor the wording to different areas does not
change the fact that it is an international warranty. The Canon
warranty cards that I've seen have stated this.
Click to expand...
As a matter of fact, this is wrong. Canon has in some instances printed an "international warranty" on SOME of their equipment (EOS 1V is an example) but this is not true across the board. I, too, have seen them, but as an attorney with 21 years of official consumer protection experience and responsibility, I have to say, Greg, you're wrong to say it's an across the board thing.
Greg M said:
Greg M said:
3. If you buy gray from B&H, the store offers its own warranty
service by its own repair personnel. This is legally enforceable
against B&H. One "down side" I see to this is that the turnaround
time could be longer as independent repair facilities do not always
have immediate access to parts and service information as Canon's
people do. This does not mean in any way that B&H will not make a
good faith effort to honor their warranty, just that it may take
them a bit longer to do so.
Click to expand...
Delta buys a MAC warranty for you.
Greg M said:
4. I've bought gray lenses and strobes without hesitancy. I would
be reluctant to do so with camera bodies and ESPECIALLY from a
place such as Delta which, for example, is charging MORE for a gray
market D60 than the Canon cooperative price ($2199).
Click to expand...
Then you are missing out on the best customer service that is
available. They sell the D60 for what they can get it for plus a
mark-up. On newer items they don't always have a good price but
they do get them in. Someone who really needs a D60 can get one
from Delta sooner then waiting on a long list. Compare prices and
you'll find that Delta almost always beets everyone on price. Look
at the 70-200L IS price difference between B&H and Delta. Delta is
$170.95 cheaper. They also have the lowest advertised price on a
1D.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your comments concerning Delta with respect to everything except the D60 which shows that they are willing to fleece consumers and take advantage of them. There are other dealers who have had USA warranty D60 bodies in stock who have charged the standard price and not tried to gouge consumers. Yes, they are free to charge it, but, as the old saying goes, a fool and his money are soon parted. (I bought my replacement D60, with a legal warranty, from Canada at a lot less than what Delta is charging.)

As an aside, check to see if the "Mack warranty" is a warranty or repair insurance. There is a difference. Who will perform the service? When? Where? Will you have to pay first and then apply for reimbursement? What are the exclusions? Again, the Mack "warranty" could be the greatest thing since sliced bread BUT you need to know its terms.

Good luck.
 
I have a 70-200mm L IS comitted for on or around the 20th of this month from a mainstream camera store in the Philadelphia area. The price is $1,699.00 and the lens is authenic USA. For the $20.00 difference it is a no-brainer.

We haven't seen a message back from Jeff. I only hope he is reading the other thread too. I have no issue with Delta at all. I do have issue with the rhetoric about international warranty and Mack.

Frank
Greg M said:
As far as the Canon warranty goes there is not one person that will
argue that Canon does not honor their one year warranty on grey
equipment the very same as US equipment. It's all made in Japan
anyways. What you will find is that there are people that are
afraid that Canon might stupe to the gutter like Nikon and not even
service anything that isn't US equipment. I don't believe that
this will happen. Almost everyone of my lenses is grey and I've
saved a ton of money.

There are also a few who think that the US Canon equipment is in
some way better then the grey Canon equipment. This is simply
wrong. It comes from the same place.

As far as B&H goes, just look at their price for a 70-200L IS and
compare it to Delta's price. B&H grey is $1850 compared to Delta
at $1679 plus the extra warranty.
Jeff Adkisson said:
Hello -

Does anyone have any experience buying imported (gray market) glass
through B&H? They offer significant discounts on several of the L
lenses I'm thinking about purchasing? They claim the only
difference is the warranty and perhaps packaging... they offer
their own warranty instead.

I've used B&H for years and never had any complaints, but I've also
never bought a $2000 lens before.

Thanks -
Jeff Adkisson
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
...that you have a LEGAL right to inspect the warranty prior to purchase. Generally speaking, in the legal realm, it's what's in writing that counts.
 
Somebody found the 1D for $20 more than Delta, that was US-warranty. It's easy to find it for $100 more than Delta.

I'll let others decide whether that extra cost is worth the US-warranty on a $5,000 camera.
Greg M said:
They also have the lowest advertised price on a
1D. (referring to Delta)
Click to expand...
--
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
http://thewilkinsons.crosswinds.net
Photography -- just another word for compromise
 
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