"Grey" Market Blues

Well, I finally got my dream gift for Christmas: my wife bought me a D100! But, it seems everything has a downside. She bought it two months ago from some outfit in Brooklyn called INS Digital World because she saw them highly rated on Yahoo! Shopping. Her heart was in the right place, but she had no idea what she was doing, as I do everything electronic in our house. I would have spent weeks researching my decision of where to buy, and still would have probably gone with B&H Photo. Anyhow, no warranty card was in the box, and when I contacted Nikon, I got the bad news. It seems that on the UPC code on the box, there should be a (U) that indicates a legit Nikon USA camera. Mine has a (OT), which I assume indicates some other country, I am still waiting to hear from Nikon on that one. But Nikon has already told me that they will not touch that camera even for a fee (!) in this country. So no firmware upgrades, no service, nothing! And of course, INS Digital World is not going to take the camera back.

So what to do? I love the camera, but am concerned about the service (or lack thereof) and the firmware upgrdes. I doubt I am the only person in this pickle. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance. This forum is GREAT!!!
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Nikon D100, Nikon N60, Canon AE-1, Tamron 24-105

Hi Bez,

I'm not Nikonian (well, I am, but not for DSLR), but after reading your post, I felt like answering, even not being it in "my forum". I have seen some similar posts as yours in Fuji SLR forum and I read a solution that might work for you. Ask the shop for a full refund, allege they did not inform your wife correctly about what she was buying (not sure on this, but I bet they did not), and that you do not want the camera, which is in brand new condition. If they still do not want to give you your money back (they won't, I guess), just call your CC company and tell them about it. Tell them how you got frauded by these guys and that you want to return the goods, but they won't allow you to. Your CC company should be able to get your money back.

Hope this helps,
Dioni
You don't take a photograph, you make it (Ansel Adams)

Dioni,

Thank you!!! Duh! I didn't even think of that, and I can't believe my wife didn't either! I am going to call MasterCard first thing Monday morning. Thank you very much, she feels horrible; now maybe she can sleep!

Dioni said:

Hi Bez,

I'm not Nikonian (well, I am, but not for DSLR), but after reading
your post, I felt like answering, even not being it in "my forum".
I have seen some similar posts as yours in Fuji SLR forum and I
read a solution that might work for you. Ask the shop for a full
refund, allege they did not inform your wife correctly about what
she was buying (not sure on this, but I bet they did not), and that
you do not want the camera, which is in brand new condition. If
they still do not want to give you your money back (they won't, I
guess), just call your CC company and tell them about it. Tell them
how you got frauded by these guys and that you want to return the
goods, but they won't allow you to. Your CC company should be able
to get your money back.

Hope this helps,
Dioni
You don't take a photograph, you make it (Ansel Adams)

Click to expand...

--
Nikon D100, Nikon N60, Canon AE-1, Tamron 24-105

But, just in case, does anyone know of a way around Nikon's "rules"? Just curious in case the credit card company blows me off, too.

Dioni said:

Hi Bez,

I'm not Nikonian (well, I am, but not for DSLR), but after reading
your post, I felt like answering, even not being it in "my forum".
I have seen some similar posts as yours in Fuji SLR forum and I
read a solution that might work for you. Ask the shop for a full
refund, allege they did not inform your wife correctly about what
she was buying (not sure on this, but I bet they did not), and that
you do not want the camera, which is in brand new condition. If
they still do not want to give you your money back (they won't, I
guess), just call your CC company and tell them about it. Tell them
how you got frauded by these guys and that you want to return the
goods, but they won't allow you to. Your CC company should be able
to get your money back.

Hope this helps,
Dioni
You don't take a photograph, you make it (Ansel Adams)

Click to expand...

--
Nikon D100, Nikon N60, Canon AE-1, Tamron 24-105

Hope MasterCard do the work you pay them to do and you get out of the problem. Please, keep us posted on how this finishes and good luck.

Best,

Dioni
You don't take a photograph, you make it (Ansel Adams)

Bez said:

Dioni said:

Hi Bez,

I'm not Nikonian (well, I am, but not for DSLR), but after reading
your post, I felt like answering, even not being it in "my forum".
I have seen some similar posts as yours in Fuji SLR forum and I
read a solution that might work for you. Ask the shop for a full
refund, allege they did not inform your wife correctly about what
she was buying (not sure on this, but I bet they did not), and that
you do not want the camera, which is in brand new condition. If
they still do not want to give you your money back (they won't, I
guess), just call your CC company and tell them about it. Tell them
how you got frauded by these guys and that you want to return the
goods, but they won't allow you to. Your CC company should be able
to get your money back.

Hope this helps,
Dioni
You don't take a photograph, you make it (Ansel Adams)

Click to expand...

--
Nikon D100, Nikon N60, Canon AE-1, Tamron 24-105

Click to expand...

--

max...you might be able to get a non-nikon warrenty for service in this country. check with b&h. perhaps you could send it for upgrades and service to nikon service centers in canada or europe. this is one of the big differences between nikon and canon. canon will service non-us equipment and the price difference is significantly less on buying new.

I had read that Nikon did the upgrades (here in the USA) regardless of whether the camera was grey market or US version.

If there was a significant savings, and the D100 is NOT exhibiting any problems I would think you are fine. (though I bought a US version personally but I have purchased an 85mm F1.4 that is grey market)

Also I am not sure if the sellers 'defrauded' your wife. I highly doubt they stated it was a US warranty and probably somewhere in their ad mentioned grey market.

BTW in two years the camera will be 'relatively' obsolete and worth a third its current value anyway.

MAX SAVIN said:

Bez said:

Dioni said:

I'm not Nikonian (well, I am, but not for DSLR), but after reading
your post, I felt like answering, even not being it in "my forum".
I have seen some similar posts as yours in Fuji SLR forum and I
read a solution that might work for you. Ask the shop for a full
refund, allege they did not inform your wife correctly about what
she was buying (not sure on this, but I bet they did not), and that
you do not want the camera, which is in brand new condition. If
they still do not want to give you your money back (they won't, I
guess), just call your CC company and tell them about it. Tell them
how you got frauded by these guys and that you want to return the
goods, but they won't allow you to. Your CC company should be able
to get your money back.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Max Savin said:

--
max...you might be able to get a non-nikon warrenty for service in
this country. check with b&h. perhaps you could send it for
upgrades and service to nikon service centers in canada or europe.
this is one of the big differences between nikon and canon. canon
will service non-us equipment and the price difference is
significantly less on buying new.

Click to expand...

--
-photoave http://phillywood.com An Amalgam of images.