How many buy Grey vs Local ?

I decided to buy a grey D5300 this time as I cant afford to spend much more on a camera at the moment as I also need a new macro lens.

It was bought from a UK store, so I assume its not avoiding VAT etc. Came with a 3 year 3rd party warranty, which beats the 2 year warranty I got with my D80 I bought from a big UK store.

Only annoying thing is that it came in a kit lens box when it was supposed to be body only and also didn't have a manual with it. I have emailed the store but they have not replied back yet.
 
Having just read the Nikon website on the subject it suggests what I was expecting anyway.
My understanding has been that UK consumer law always says your issue is always with the place you purchased it from. Doesn't matter how long or the type of warranty the OEM offers.

So for a Grey item it is covered by Nikon warranty, in the country it was purchased in… So if it goes wrong the seller needs to take it back and return it to the place it was bought from (Hong Kong? ) and has it repaired locally and returned to you after.
In all cases your dispute is with the seller not the OEM, even UK items you would take back to the seller and agree a resolution. Where by the UK seller could well return it to the official Nikon centre, as the Seller is having it fixed under warranty not the buyer.

So the issue or risk then becomes, is the seller still in business to support, how long you have to wait for a repair.

I'll take the risk on new D7200 shortly :)
 
shadow_boxer said:
What are people's thoughts on buying from B&H. Not bought from there before and delivery/customs charges don't seem too bad to the UK. I'd just be concerns about returns. Read a lot of mixed reviews about them and their customer services.
Click to expand...

About half my gear comes from B&H.

Excellent customer service IMO. I purchases a EOM-2 and after a week a pixel died int eh center of the LCD screen. Called them up and explained, they said the manufacturer doesn't declare it a problem until there are 12 dead pixels or some such but they know how irritating ti is in the center of the LCD so will replace it free of charge.
 
Energize said:
Oh c'mon buying off ebay? There are reputable HK based retailers with websites to buy from.

As for testing specific lens copies, you aren't going to get that from any online retailer, based in the UK, or HK. It's a premium that has to be paid for above that of mere VAT, and most people don't even have access to shops that stock such equipment anywhere near them.

Equipment failures during the time period your describing are so rare it's not even worth worrying about, and is more than covered by the savings you make over time.
Click to expand...


Some fo them came form HK websites.


There is often not much of a premium for buying form a shop. John Lewis often has prices as god as the cheapest websites.
 
deuse said:
Yes they are grey and I got a warranty card and signed up to Nikon using it.
One has to watch who they are buying from.

Why do you argue with people so much?
Click to expand...

Then your warranty is not for Nikon UK. Or you do have a UK warranty and the camera isn't a grey import.


It is quite simple, grey import means it is not a local stock version and does not have a local warranty. If it does have a local warranty then it isn't grey import.

You can't argue against the definition of a term. You can't argue that a dog is a cow, it is either a dog or a cow, pick one.
 
deuse said:
Yep. Both of my greys came with a WW warranty card. As I said I check before I buy.
Click to expand...

Then it is a grey import without a UK warranty.

Don't expect Nikon UK to fix your gear since it doesn't have a Nikon Europe warranty. You will likely have to send it off to HK or elsewhere for a warranty repair.


It is confusing and exceedingly poor service form Nikon, but a Nikon World Wide warranty doesn't mean the gear can be serviced under warranty around the world.
 
Mark A said:
I decided to buy a grey D5300 this time as I cant afford to spend much more on a camera at the moment as I also need a new macro lens.

It was bought from a UK store, so I assume its not avoiding VAT etc. Came with a 3 year 3rd party warranty, which beats the 2 year warranty I got with my D80 I bought from a big UK store.

Only annoying thing is that it came in a kit lens box when it was supposed to be body only and also didn't have a manual with it. I have emailed the store but they have not replied back yet.
Click to expand...



that is typically one way the companies can make more profit. They get a load of kit lens boxes and split them up most favorable are the ones with a 24-105/120mm f/4.0 or a twin lens kit with 16-85mm + 70-300mm VR lenses. You split that kit up and sell them all as individual new boxed items, making more profit since you no longer offer the kit discount.

Someone somewhere received your kit lens thinking they are getting a brand new 18-55mm boxed lens.
Not a big deal but that is why their prices can be lower.

Also if they get an item returned without a manual or small assessor they will normally just try to sell the on without replacing the missing part. IF a company selling local stock gets an item back due to a defect then they will send the defected unit back to the Nikon supplier for a refund/exchange. A grey import wont be sent back so easily so it will go to a 3rd party repair center in HK before being sold on again, missing any the original items the buyer lost.

Again, not a big deal if you are savings lots of money on the grey but it is one of the differences
 
Last edited:
Fr0dders said:
what items were they out of interest ?

From reading nikons website it implies the worldwide warranty is dependent upon the type of product rather than the retailer / country of purchase
Click to expand...

"PRODUCTS COVERED BY WORLDWIDE WARRANTY" From the Nikon site
Compact Cameras [35mm]
- SLR Cameras [35mm]
- APS Compact Cameras [IX240]
- APS SLR Cameras [IX240]
- Nikkor Lenses
- Nikon Speedlight
- Film Cameras' Accessories
- Binoculars

Or just put it in your new for old house insurance. Job done.

Oh to D.P the last time I checked the EU was on planet earth. Which in warranty terms mean WORLD WIDE
My older Nikon camera I bought from florida was fixed by Nikon EU\UK

And if you reg your stuff now you get a free extra year :)
 
Last edited:
deuse said:
"PRODUCTS COVERED BY WORLDWIDE WARRANTY" From the Nikon site
Compact Cameras [35mm]
- SLR Cameras [35mm]
- APS Compact Cameras [IX240]
- APS SLR Cameras [IX240]
- Nikkor Lenses
- Nikon Speedlight
- Film Cameras' Accessories
- Binoculars

Or just put it in your new for old house insurance. Job done.

Oh to D.P the last time I checked the EU was on planet earth. Which in warranty terms mean WORLD WIDE
My older Nikon camera I bought from florida was fixed by Nikon EU\UK

And if you reg your stuff now you get a free extra year :)
Click to expand...



That doesn't stop it being a grey import. And I wouldn't count on Nikon UK touching it, if it doesn't have a Nikon Europe warranty then they don;t have to go near it. Plenty of people on the internet complaining that they can't get their Nikon product serviced which has a Nikon World Wide warranty
 
So long as the savings are worthwhile and the seller offers a warrenty via a third party I'm happy to grey, they all come from the same factory regardless..
 
Steve M said:
He said worldwide warranty.

Europe is included in that worldwide warranty no?.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, plenty of people complaining on the internet that they can't get their Nikon product serviced locally despite having a world wide warranty card.
 
I was always worried about buying from grey importers until I got this response off Nikon

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email.

I would like to confirm that lenses have worldwide warranty, so no matter where do you buy the lens your lens is covered for the one year. If your lens is one of the affected and requires firmware update you can send the lens to our service centre for free service. Therefore Please follow the links which you can find in the FAQ:

Answer Link: To users of the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

so I ordered one today and it will be arriving Thursday this week and I saved saved £260 £1400 over the uk price which is £1640 ( still no stock due to firmware recall ) dhl tracked


Kind Regards,

Advisor

Nikon Customer Support
 
Last edited:
yeah, the lenses are separate to DSLRS, DSLRs don't have an international warranty. With lenses you get 1 year international, but the local warranty is typcially longer, e.g. in the US you get a 5 year US warranty
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom