USA or Gray Market?

[SCoombs]

I haven't seen any proof to the contrary, saying that Nikon wouldn't preform work on gray market. Not a single instance of proof, now or ever. Just heresay on forums over the years.



My point exactly. I don't doubt that sometime in the past the latter (refusal to repair) was true - but it certainly isn't the case today.

Well now hold on. There's a little bit of self-contradiction at play here. If you're going to say it's only ever been hearsay how can you then also say that you don't doubt it was true?

Also, it's worth noting that it is not hearsay if NikonUSA's own website explicitly said this in the past, which as far as I can tell it did.

I buy from MAPcamera, one of the biggest photo stores in Japan. Gray market doesn't mean "illegitimate source". It simply means "Nikon products that are imported and sold by anyone other than Nikon Inc. USA". You can find that definition on their website.

gray-market

Shop the latest mirrorless & DSLR cameras and NIKKOR lenses from the official Nikon eCommerce site. Explore our innovations and photo equipment!

www.nikonusa.com

So by definition, I (in the US) purchased a body/lens from MAPCamera (in Japan), thus making it gray market. MAPcamera will tell you themselves that it is gray market, but also that Nikon will freely repair the items.



I'm be much less inclined to believe that I'm the luckiest person in the world, and much more inclined to believe that people spread rumors out of fear or jealousy for others getting better deals than they do.

If you know of 2 people personally - please post ANY form of proof. An email. A voice recording. A handwritten letter. Anything from Nikon stating they wouldn't repair it.

You'd think that proof would be SO EASY to find if it were true. And yet we've not seen any proof posted.

Nikon is billion dollar company. I'm sure they're not stupid. Do you think it's more likely that they accidentally left out any wording about refusal to repair? Or do you think it's more likely that it's internet boogyman stories being spread?

I'm leaning towards the most likely option being that sometime in the past (5, 10, 20 years ago?) Nikon for some reason wouldn't repair gray market. But as the industry and company grew and they realized all the missed profits - they went back on that stance. That switch happening at an unknown time, and ancient photographers posting about experiences that are decades old - seems like the perfect storm for what we see today. Lots of stories with no proof, all talking about "back in the day".

From all I can tell the change to the website has happened within the past year or so, meaning that as recently as one year ago they explicitly said they wouldn't repair gray market items.

 

[nmerc_photos]

Well now hold on. There's a little bit of self-contradiction at play here. If you're going to say it's only ever been hearsay how can you then also say that you don't doubt it was true?

Also, it's worth noting that it is not hearsay if NikonUSA's own website explicitly said this in the past, which as far as I can tell it did.

From all I can tell the change to the website has happened within the past year or so, meaning that as recently as one year ago they explicitly said they wouldn't repair gray market items.

It's not self contradictory at all. They are not mutually exclusive items.

Fact #1 - I have never seen any proof posted (therefore it has all been hearsay).
Fact #2 - It seems reasonable to infer that IN THE PAST, it may have been the case.

It can be true that no proof was posted, and also be true that the policy had once been refusal to repair. I just never saw any proof of it.

I can't find any screenshots or videos that explicitly show Nikon's own page saying it. I even tried using the wayback machine and looking at older versions of the website.

Again, "from what you can tell" is just heresay unless you have proof lol. That's what I'm trying to explain.

Further - I just revisited the website and they list 7 different risks for buying gray market. You know what's not listed a risk? Refusal to repair.

 

[EricKlees]

I haven't seen any proof to the contrary, saying that Nikon wouldn't preform work on gray market. Not a single instance of proof, now or ever. Just hearsay on forums over the years.



My point exactly. I don't doubt that sometime in the past the latter (refusal to repair) was true - but it certainly isn't the case today.



I buy from MAPcamera, one of the biggest photo stores in Japan. Gray market doesn't mean "illegitimate source". It simply means "Nikon products that are imported and sold by anyone other than Nikon Inc. USA". You can find that definition on their website.

gray-market

Shop the latest mirrorless & DSLR cameras and NIKKOR lenses from the official Nikon eCommerce site. Explore our innovations and photo equipment!

www.nikonusa.com

So by definition, I (in the US) purchased a body/lens from MAPCamera (in Japan), thus making it gray market. MAPcamera will tell you themselves that it is gray market, but also that Nikon will freely repair the items.



I'm much less inclined to believe that I'm the luckiest person in the world, and much more inclined to believe that people spread rumors out of fear or jealousy for others getting better deals than they do.

If you know of 2 people personally - please post ANY form of proof. An email. A voice recording. A handwritten letter. Anything from Nikon stating they wouldn't repair it.

You'd think that proof would be SO EASY to find if it were true. And yet we've not seen any proof posted.

Nikon is billion dollar company. I'm sure they're not stupid. Do you think it's more likely that they accidentally left out any wording about refusal to repair? Or do you think it's more likely that it's internet boogyman stories being spread?

I'm leaning towards the most likely option being that sometime in the past (5, 10, 20 years ago?) Nikon for some reason wouldn't repair gray market. But as the industry and company grew and they realized all the missed profits - they went back on that stance. That switch happening at an unknown time, and ancient photographers posting about experiences that are decades old - seems like the perfect storm for what we see today. Lots of stories with no proof, all talking about "back in the day".

No I explained this earlier. If you were traveling and were in the country of Japan and bought a camera body or lens in the country in a legit store selling a item from that country that was meant for that country and brought it to the US and you had the Japanese legit receipt that you bought it there Nikon USA will service it you will likely still get the warranty.

But if you're in the US and you buy from a store like Abe's of Maine who's notorious for importing gray market camera bodies and lenses and you have a US receipt as in a receipt from a US retailer but that item was meant for Japan so it's a gray item that's the issue that's where Nikon doesn't even touch them for repair in or out of warranty. It would be no different than if you were from Japan and moved to the US Nikon would take care of the person that had an issue here in the US it was bought legitimately in the country it was meant for.

Anyway we can go round and round I've said my piece doesn't matter to me one way or the other I just know what's happened in the past and it wasn't that long ago so unless it just changed I personally wouldn't worry about saving a few bucks for gray market

 

[SCoombs]

It's not self contradictory at all. They are not mutually exclusive items.

Fact #1 - I have never seen any proof posted (therefore it has all been hearsay).
Fact #2 - It seems reasonable to infer that IN THE PAST, it may have been the case.

It can be true that no proof was posted, and also be true that the policy had once been refusal to repair. I just never saw any proof of it.

I can't find any screenshots or videos that explicitly show Nikon's own page saying it. I even tried using the wayback machine and looking at older versions of the website.

Respectfully, this seems like a bit of a misleading comment here since the truth is that the Wayback machine does not have any older versions of the website archived.

Again, "from what you can tell" is just heresay unless you have proof lol. That's what I'm trying to explain.

Further - I just revisited the website and they list 7 different risks for buying gray market. You know what's not listed a risk? Refusal to repair.

For me the proof is that I've personally seen Nikon's website say it in the past and that there are other references out there where people quoted this comment from the site at the time of their writing.

 

[jerrylwatson]

I've got the purchase receipts with serial numbers from eBay, the pictures of the damage, and the receipt from repair from Nikon. not much more evidence could exist.

You'll also find that Nikon NEVER says anything about refusing to repair gray market. Their own website gives you a definition of gray market, and doesn't say anything about refusal to repair.

I suspect that perhaps in the past they might have refused to repair, but that certainly isn't the case today.

You'll also find there's absolutely no proof of anyone being denied repair due to gray market. The rumors circulate - and every time I ask for proof and nobody can provide it. It would seem like a huge liability issue if Nikon told you what gray market was, didn't mention not repairing it, and then turned down a customer, no? All they would have to do is add one sentence "Nikon will not repair" and it'd be squashed. but they haven't - because it isn't true.

I am curious, could you post the first 3 digits of the serial number and Nikon repair receipts?

 

[SCoombs]

Here is a photo I found of a screencapture from Nikon USA's website taken in 2019 which explicitly says they will not repair gray market items. The website seems to have changed recently, so perhaps the policy has changed for whatever reason?

https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/E~forums/63418572/95f78810b1eb4afe80d27fa95c271893

Nikon ends third-party Authorized Repair relationship: Nikon FX SLR (DF, D1-D5, D600-D850) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

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www.dpreview.com

 

[nmerc_photos]

No I explained this earlier. If you were traveling and were in the country of Japan and bought a camera body or lens in the country in a legit store selling a item from that country that was meant for that country and brought it to the US and you had the Japanese legit receipt that you bought it there Nikon USA will service it you will likely still get the warranty.

But if you're in the US and you buy from a store like Abe's of Maine who's notorious for importing gray market camera bodies and lenses and you have a US receipt as in a receipt from a US retailer but that item was meant for Japan so it's a gray item that's the issue that's where Nikon doesn't even touch them for repair in or out of warranty. It would be no different than if you were from Japan and moved to the US Nikon would take care of the person that had an issue here in the US it was bought legitimately in the country it was meant for.

Anyway we can go round and round I've said my piece doesn't matter to me one way or the other I just know what's happened in the past and it wasn't that long ago so unless it just changed I personally wouldn't worry about saving a few bucks for gray market

I'm not sure what your explanation is trying to say here. I didn't travel to Japan to buy this stuff, and I don't have a receipt. I agree with you that for a person who did that, they would be eligible for the warranty (if buying new).

Your example with Abe's of Maine is what I'm talking about, and that Nikon has no problem repairing them.

I like how you conveniently ignore posting proof every time it's brought up lol. If what you were saying was true, it'd be easy to squash this whole conversation.

"a few bucks" is relative, but also in my experience it has been between 10-30% cheaper than other used items. Saving $4K on a lens is always nice in my book.

Respectfully, this seems like a bit of a misleading comment here since the truth is that the Wayback machine does not have any older versions of the website archived.

For me the proof is that I've personally seen Nikon's website say it in the past and that there are other references out there where people quoted this comment from the site at the time of their writing.

How is that misleading? I attempted to use the wayback machine, and was not successful. Exactly as I said.

If that's enough proof for you - then good on ya. Personally, it's not enough for me. I keep my burden of proof nice and high, because when I'm gambling with $50K worth of gear I want to be sure I know what I'm getting into.

 

[SCoombs]

Here is another example where they even refused to perform a recall service on a camera because it was a non-USA serial number and they could not verify what country it was sold in.

This is the exact case that Eric is trying to explain. The camera was not from the US. If it had been purchased in its country of origin they would perform the repair, but so long as they could not verify that it wasn't imported to the US first and then sold, they refused to repair it.

Nikon refusing to repair recalled D750: Nikon FX SLR (DF, D1-D5, D600-D850) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

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https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS560x560~forums/57724199/1371ff5bbea34510bf623480ef06fb85

 

[EricKlees]

I'm not sure what your explanation is trying to say here. I didn't travel to Japan to buy this stuff, and I don't have a receipt. I agree with you that for a person who did that, they would be eligible for the warranty (if buying new).

Your example with Abe's of Maine is what I'm talking about, and that Nikon has no problem repairing them.

I like how you conveniently ignore posting proof every time it's brought up lol. If what you were saying was true, it'd be easy to squash this whole conversation.

"a few bucks" is relative, but also in my experience it has been between 10-30% cheaper than other used items. Saving $4K on a lens is always nice in my book.



How is that misleading? I attempted to use the wayback machine, and was not successful. Exactly as I said.

If that's enough proof for you - then good on ya. Personally, it's not enough for me. I keep my burden of proof nice and high, because when I'm gambling with $50K worth of gear I want to be sure I know what I'm getting into.

I was giving you an example. I guess you can try and buy over the Internet from a place in Japan or the UK, but i guess you may have to pay export/import tariffs plus the shipping if that place is doing legit business. But either way, you need a legit invoice/receipt from the country the other was meant for.

 

[nmerc_photos]

I am curious, could you post the first 3 digits of the serial number and Nikon repair receipts?

Certainly. And I'll even give you more than you bargained for

I have 1 gray market Z9 and 1 USA model. The USA model is confirmed by warranty card. The gray market is confirmed by seller. it also looks like serial numbers and other info may be different between the two such as FCC number and whatnot.

Gray market begins with 200* while USA model begins with 303*.

gray market serial #:

gray market repair receipt from Nikon:

USA model serial:

USA model warranty card:

proof from MAPcamera about gray market:

 

[nmerc_photos]

Here is a photo I found of a screencapture from Nikon USA's website taken in 2019 which explicitly says they will not repair gray market items. The website seems to have changed recently, so perhaps the policy has changed for whatever reason?

https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/E~forums/63418572/95f78810b1eb4afe80d27fa95c271893

Nikon ends third-party Authorized Repair relationship: Nikon FX SLR (DF, D1-D5, D600-D850) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Expert news, reviews and videos of the latest digital cameras, lenses, accessories, and phones. Get answers to your questions in our photography forums.

www.dpreview.com

Thank you for providing this! This is the first time I've seen a screenshot.

So we can conclude that in 2019, it was for sure against Nikon policy.

We can also conclude that as of 2024, it is no longer the case.

Here is another example where they even refused to perform a recall service on a camera because it was a non-USA serial number and they could not verify what country it was sold in.

This is the exact case that Eric is trying to explain. The camera was not from the US. If it had been purchased in its country of origin they would perform the repair, but so long as they could not verify that it wasn't imported to the US first and then sold, they refused to repair it.

Nikon refusing to repair recalled D750: Nikon FX SLR (DF, D1-D5, D600-D850) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

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https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/TS560x560~forums/57724199/1371ff5bbea34510bf623480ef06fb85

Thank you for that example as well. I don't know how I never found any of these in my searches. But again, confirms what the policy was in 2016

I was giving you an example. I guess you can try and buy over the Internet from a place in Japan or the UK, but i guess you may have to pay export/import tariffs plus the shipping if that place is doing legit business

Nah, no export/import fees or shipping. The seller pays all of that.

I paid $15.5K for a USA model 400TC. My buddy bought one from MAP for $12K out the door.

I paid like $4K for a USA model Z9. Then I bought another from MAP for $3500 or something.

for example sake

 

[EricKlees]

Thank you for providing this! This is the first time I've seen a screenshot.

So we can conclude that in 2019, it was for sure against Nikon policy.

We can also conclude that as of 2024, it is no longer the case.



Thank you for that example as well. I don't know how I never found any of these in my searches. But again, confirms what the policy was in 2016



Nah, no export/import fees or shipping. The seller pays all of that.

I paid $15.5K for a USA model 400TC. My buddy bought one from MAP for $12K out the door.

I paid like $4K for a USA model Z9. Then I bought another from MAP for $3500 or something.

for example sake

I would say totally premature that the policy has changed. You never started if you got a Japanese receipt with that. If not it's likely you got a tech that didn't do the grey market Chevy and you could have just got lucky they did the repair.

I still say you need to call Nikon in Melville or LA and ask what the current policy is before I recommending people buy grey market Nikon gear

 

[nmerc_photos]

I would say totally premature that the policy has changed. You never started if you got a Japanese receipt with that. If not it's likely you got a tech that didn't do the grey market Chevy and you could have just got lucky they did the repair.

I still say you need to call Nikon in Melville or LA and ask what the current policy is.

No Japanese receipt.

I don't know why you're so against looking at the facts and want to hold on to rumors. And why you keep shying away from posting whatever proof you think you have even after being asked multiple times.

Here's a list of facts:

1. SCoombs posted screenshots showing instances in 2016 and 2019 that Nikon refused repair, and specifically stated on their website that gray market was ineligible.
2. Today, Nikon's website doesn't make any mention of refusal to repair.
   1. Even more than omitting what they used to say about refusal to repair, they now go as far as listing 7 risks of buying gray market - and none of those include refusal to repair.
   2. Do you still believe this is coincidence? Accident? Negligence?
3. My gray market Z9 was just repaired in January 2024. proof provided in the photos. serial number. vendor correspondence. I didn't submit a receipt or anything - because one is not needed.
4. MAPCamera - one of the biggest gray market dealers (for US purchasers) also confirmed they expect Nikon to repair it
   1. I'll concede this one is loosely worded, so not as strong as the other points

I'll also call Nikon Melville and LA and record the conversations just because I think it'll be funny.

 

[EricKlees]

No Japanese receipt.

I don't know why you're so against looking at the facts and want to hold on to rumors. And why you keep shying away from posting whatever proof you think you have even after being asked multiple times.

Here's a list of facts:

1. SCoombs posted screenshots showing instances in 2016 and 2019 that Nikon refused repair, and specifically stated on their website that gray market was ineligible.
2. Today, Nikon's website doesn't make any mention of refusal to repair.
   1. Even more than omitting what they used to say about refusal to repair, they now go as far as listing 7 risks of buying gray market - and none of those include refusal to repair.
   2. Do you still believe this is coincidence? Accident? Negligence?
3. My gray market Z9 was just repaired in January 2024. proof provided in the photos. serial number. vendor correspondence. I didn't submit a receipt or anything - because one is not needed.
4. MAPCamera - one of the biggest gray market dealers (for US purchasers) also confirmed they expect Nikon to repair it
   1. I'll concede this one is loosely worded, so not as strong as the other points

I'll also call Nikon Melville and LA and record the conversations just because I think it'll be funny.

Because singing is off that you're the only person to show it have a grey market item repaired anywhere on the Internet.

And that I personally of 2 people that had Nikon refuse to repair they get market items 8 and 14 months ago. And because i know this is what Nikon had done for decades, I'm not comfortable just telling people it's ok to just buy grey market Nikon gear and they would repair it like it's 100% for sure.

Why are you so adamant that people take your word and against them calling Nikon service and asking the question? I see as decades of evidence against 1 person who may have better lucky that a tech didn't check and did the repair

Anyway I've said my piece more than enough. People can read the thread and make their own choice

 

[jbk2forum]

So, for anyone who thinks that there is any ambiguity regarding Nikon USA's warranty regarding grey market goods....
(This has been for years!)

 

[MMoretti]

I can see the rationale for not providing warranty service, as Nikon USA is a separate legal entity from Nikon companies in other countries. But, that would just be for warranty work; I haven’t seen any Nikon messaging which specifies that they won’t provide (paid) repair service on any Nikon products, regardless of origin.

Edit: Try creating a repair ticket on Nikon USA. I used a Japanese serial number (from the Photosynthesis site) for a D810 (2000235) as a test. Nothing in the flow prevented me from preparing this (fictional) camera for a repair:

Product Entry

repair.nikonusa.com

 

[MMoretti]

I’ve participated in (or spectated) so many of these debates about grey market over the years. If I contribute (like now?) I like to refer to what is known in the US as a warranty of fitness, that absent any express exclusions (e.g. ‘as-is’) a seller and/or manufacturer are required to make their consumer whole when a product fails, at least if the problem arises from some defect or other failure to deliver a product as described with respect to its merchantability etc. It’s all common (contract) law (and sense), though one may have to press to be satisfied… Note that this warranty is separate from any written warranty, though it’s not (necessarily) constrained by such (e.g. limited term warranties).

Yeah, you’re right… I’m not a lawyer, but I try to be an informed consumer.

I’ll correct my earlier post to note that I’m being specific about Nikon USA products, not gray market. As this thread is about the latter, I respectfully apologize for muddying the waters.

(That said, I would would only add to that earlier post my observation that an implied warranty — aka warranty of fitness — follows the product, not the owner, at least in the USA.)

 

[MMoretti]

Does anyone know how to tell whether or not a Nikon camera is a USA model or gray market based on the serial number. Is there a website that shows the serial number range for various Nikon USA models.
Thanks Al

My understanding on the OP’s original question:

• USA model: Yes, the serial number begins with a 3.
• Gray market: Yes, if the serial number indicates that the camera is being bought, sold and/or used outside of the country/region for which it was originally produced. E.g., a Nikon camera produced for Japan (evidenced by a serial starting with 2), that is bought, sold and/or used outside of Japan.

 

[Rassie]

I've been following this thread with interest, and I've also for years been aware that Nikon USA will refuse to repair a grey market item. I saw the screenshot from Nikon's prior website posted above explicitly stating that they won't repair a grey market item under any circumstances, while their current websites in both the USA and Canada specifically omit the declaration that they won't repair a grey market item. They only reference not doing warranty repairs.

It's clear that they changed the wording on the websites recently. The new website also does not say that they will repair a grey market item now, and I suspect it's because they would prefer not to repair such an item. The fact that the wording changed makes me think their lawyers sat them down and read them the riot act. When you think how easily class action lawsuits are launched regularly in North America, personally I think Nikon was courting such an action by refusing to repair grey market items, especially if the customer was willing to pay for the repair. After all, if Nikon built the item and it's not counterfeit, on what basis could they realistically refuse to repair something they built and have the parts for? All it would take is one disgruntled Nikon user with a grey market item to launch a class action.

I get that they may refuse to repair something for free due to an invalid or nonexistent warranty, but I don't think they have a legal leg to stand on if the customer is willing to pay for the repair. I just read a definition of the term antitrust as defined in the USA. I can see some of those principles applied to the refusal to repair in a case like this.

 

[nmerc_photos]

I've been following this thread with interest, and I've also for years been aware that Nikon USA will refuse to repair a grey market item. I saw the screenshot from Nikon's prior website posted above explicitly stating that they won't repair a grey market item under any circumstances, while their current websites in both the USA and Canada specifically omit the declaration that they won't repair a grey market item. They only reference not doing warranty repairs.

It's clear that they changed the wording on the websites recently. The new website also does not say that they will repair a grey market item now, and I suspect it's because they would prefer not to repair such an item. The fact that the wording changed makes me thing their lawyers sat them down and read them the riot act. When you think how easily class action lawsuits are launched regularly in North America, personally I think Nikon was courting such an action by refusing to repair grey market items, especially if the customer was willing to pay for the repair. After all, if Nikon built the item and it's not counterfeit, on what basis could they realistically refuse to repair something they built and have the parts for? All it would take is one disgruntled Nikon user with a grey market item to launch a class action.

I get that they may refuse to repair something for free due to an invalid or nonexistent warranty, but I don't think they have a legal leg to stand on if the customer is willing to pay for the repair. I just read a definition of the term antitrust as defined in the USA. I can see some of those principles applied to the refusal to repair in a case like this.

Well said on all accords.

I imagine maybe they don't want to publicize the repair - but I'm sure it's legal mumbo jumbo and all makes sense from their perspective.

It would be a much worse look if they went through all the steps of "here's 7 risks", didn't mention refusal to repair, and then got a ton of customers up in arms.

 

[Ralph]

gray-market

Shop the latest mirrorless & DSLR cameras and NIKKOR lenses from the official Nikon eCommerce site. Explore our innovations and photo equipment!

www.nikonusa.com

This link only says they will not provide warranty service. It doesn’t say they will not repair.

 

[Ralph]

Here is a photo I found of a screencapture from Nikon USA's website taken in 2019 which explicitly says they will not repair gray market items. The website seems to have changed recently, so perhaps the policy has changed for whatever reason?

https://1.img-dpreview.com/files/p/E~forums/63418572/95f78810b1eb4afe80d27fa95c271893

Nikon ends third-party Authorized Repair relationship: Nikon FX SLR (DF, D1-D5, D600-D850) Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

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If you read the link to Nikon, it says it will not do warranty service repairs.

 

[wotan1]

I have been observing this discussion for a while. I have not personally knowingly purchased a gray market item, although I have bought used lenses from time to time. Since I have no way of verifying the origin of those used lenses I have no idea whether any of those lenses were gray market. I also have not sought service on a used lens.

Some of the big ticket lenses I covet are out of my approved budget. I know I can save for instance about $2500 on a Z 400mm f2.8 tc vr s that is probably going to come in from Japan. I could do that today right on Amazon. That reduction in price might be the difference over whether I would even be allowed to buy the lens.

I look at Nikon's probable motivations in this situation. Nikon has an approved retailer system in the US and supporting those approved retailers keeps the prices up, which benefits Nikon financially I presume. Those approved retailers are not going to be happy if an unapproved retailer down the block can regularly undercut them on prices through the gray market. There is going to be flak and Nikon is motivated to support its approved vendors by making it clear that gray market purchases are risky.

At the same time gray market lenses are still made by Nikon and there are apparently a lot of them. At some point Nikon sold that lens to someone somewhere.

I agree with the suggestions that if Nikon refuses to provide paid service to its products it has a potential for legal blowback. I could see someone running a class action suit on this issue and that could get very expensive for Nikon.

In the end I think Nikon benefits from keeping customers on edge and uncertain on gray market products but I am not sure how far they are willing to go with this. I suspect some attorney somewhere is advising them to be cautious. I don't think a class action suit will succeed if the only damage is uncertainty. If on the other hand they are proven to deny paid service on their products that is where they can get in trouble.

So at this moment I am still uncertain and cautious about gray market purchases. I bought a couple expensive used Nikon items recently but in each case I verified they were genuine US products. What that means in practice is that I now only buy used lenses from private vendors through one of the private marketplaces such as here or FM Forum. I verify origin as part of the sale process. Or I buy reconditioned from Nikon Direct. I will no longer buy used lenses even from approved vendors with an excellent reputation.

Who wins here?

 

[jbk2forum]

At the same time gray market lenses are still made by Nikon and there are apparently a lot of them. At some point Nikon sold that lens to someone somewhere.

I agree with the suggestions that if Nikon refuses to provide paid service to its products it has a potential for legal blowback. I could see someone running a class action suit on this issue and that could get very expensive for Nikon.

Gray market lenses are not made by Nikon. All of Nikon's products, cameras or lenses in our case, are original Nikon products to be sold through their distribution chain. And not all Nikon products have the same firmware installed or electric connection--all depends on the area of distribution. Gray market product refers to product meant to be sold through/in the 'local' Nikon Authorized Distribution chain and shipped to another Nikon Distribution area in order to allow customers to buy at a discount compared to their local Authorized Nikon Dealers.
And Nikon does not say that they will not repair a product under warranty or repair for a price. Nikon will advise you to send it to the Nikon Service Center for which that product is 'linked'. i.e. Buy from UK..UK service center/Buy in Delhi--Delhi Service Center. and so on....
We all understand that most people purchase grey market goods to save money instead of purchasing through the approved local distribution.
Nikon is not 'failing' in stating its warranty policies. Nikon provides product in each country in accordance with that country's warranty policies and merchantability of goods sold.
There are differences. Check out Britain.
So, the only issue that is valid, imho, is how sites such as Walmart and Amazon educate their customer regarding what it is that they are buying.
We all need to be accountable to ourselves and not place responsibility where it does not belong.
Why is the product so much less expensive than what all other Nikon USA dealers are selling it for? This is not a look how lucky I am to find such a good price. Ask why is this so.
I suspect it is very few who actually fall into this category without further investigation.
Others, many here, are fans of purchasing grey market product, and they fully understand the pros and cons. They have made a choice.
And others who buy grey because of the price may need to 'pay the price' to ship it to parts unknown for Nikon to service their product. Consequences.
Of course it would be nice if Nikon would service these products 'locally' so one doesn't have to jump through hoops and extra costs.
If they did this then the entire network of Country specific authorized dealers would be turned upside down. There would be no reason to buy locally if you could purchase it better through grey market distribution. Why would I want to be a local dealer and stock and service clients if all they do would be to come in, handle our merchandise, pick our brains, and then buy elsewhere? We are all complaining about the loss of local bricks and mortar camera stores. Imagine if our USA major online/bricks + mortar companies reduced their Nikon presence due to this 'new policy'. And, if one suggests that all products should be priced the same worldwide--then this is not realistic.
The two key service centers in the USA are in LA and Melville, NY. Does anyone think that the cost to maintain their locations and staff are the same throughout the world?
A lot to say here, and most not pointed to Wotan..but venting about 'woe is me' and Nikon's legal responsibilities.
Buy from a local Nikon Authorized Dealer and forget about any of these issues.
(*And yes, Nikon still has (I think) a separate policy that addresses your purchase when abroad, with appropriate documentation, when you return to your home base.)

 

[AlanB313]

Personally, I want to support my local Nikon dealers, two excellent local camera shops that are family businesses. If I buy gray market, I'm undermining a resource I value and use. The ambiguity in Nikons repair/service policy may be intentional on their part, but the effect is to reinforce my wanting to support my local camera shops.

Buying used, I also am trying to buy US market items. I bought a used 500mm pf from one of my local shops. They and I were pretty sure it was US market origin and Nikon serviced it recently.

I also just bought a used d7200 from my local shop to use as an inexpensive backup body ($300, 20k clicks, with grip and 2 batteries). My d500 will go in for service.

Next time I buy used, I'll seriously consider trusted members of this forum and/or local folks in my area. I would have bought @NorthernFocus 's 500mm pf if I didn't already have one.

It'll be a while before I buy more camera gear, I'm building a 5-bay NAS right now. Then, a new computer, monitor, laptop. Looking forward to being able to use LRc.