|
no warranty in the US when you get grey market.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
so would it be highly advisable to get a grey market product then?
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
highly inadvisable. The savings is normally minor when you consider you never get warranty service on it, ever.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
ok, i guess i gotta wait indefinitely for the US 85mm 1.4 to be available ...
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
if you take good care of you nikkon lens.. how long (typically) would it last? just normal usage.. not like dropping it or something..?
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
It took my local dealer five months to get the 85 1.4. But it is worth the wait. I use several lenses made in the early 80's and have a 55 micro that was made, I believe, in 1969. Don't quote me on that yet, I'll have to check it out. All work really well even though they are a couple decades old. That being said, if Nikon pulls a Canon and starts switching lens mounts every six years then they wouldn't work. (not trying to start the Canon/Nikon thing--just using a real world example). I don't see them changing the mount, but one never knows.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
If you buy a grey market lens from B&H they include a 1 year in-store warranty (so you get it serviced through B&H) with the same coverage as the nikon warranty which is 5 years on the US version. Their price difference is $100 (1025 vs 925). So really the question is whether the extra 4 years of warranty is worth the $100.
Originally posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
jeebus! edited this topic 61 months ago.
|
|
I hear that HK Supplies is really reliable. I personally wouldn't care about a warranty for a lens. Electronics maybe, but not a lens.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
yes.. 100$ is worth the extra few years.. is it worth the long agonizing wait to have them in stock? I'm guilty on this.. I can't wait :(
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
Oh yeah...ironically, B&H has the US version in stock but not Grey Market. I guess people think the $100 is worth the lesser warranty. I would probably agree that a 10% discount is worth it since most [warranty-serviceable] problems with a lens are going to show up within a year.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
whoa! you're right!! they were out of stock like 2 hours ago
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
I read in long ago discussions that Nikon may refuse to service a lens that is grey market -- either in the market where it's grey or in it's correct market because the paperwork and lens code (Ser. #?) would indicate its correct market.
So you buy a GM lens in US. It was designated for sale in EU, for instance. Then it has a problem in the normal warranty period. You are not able to get Nikon USA service because your paperwork is wrong, and can't even get them to service with promise of direct payment. Same problem at a Nikon service dept. in EU.
That's what I read, if I find the reference, I'll post it.
Your Nikkor lens is not likely to break. You can buy an extended warranty from companies like MACK, but I don't know how worthy that would be, and whether it's a reasonable price. The major vendors offered them the last time I looked. Seems like they use a service outfit in New Jersey. DAGS (do a google search) for "MACK warranty [issues or problem or satisfaction]"
/..
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
|
I think they will always service a lens, but at a cost. If it's in warranty they will take care of it as long as the damage was not a result of a fall or some other non-manufacturing defect issue.
It happens: my 85 1.8mm became loose inside after a few months, and the warranty covered it good as new. Even with a Nikon. I would say get the US version and save yourself a headache...
[edit to clarify that I was referring to a grey market lens, when saying they will always service at a cost, and the US version when discussing warranty.]
Originally posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
aqui-ali edited this topic 61 months ago.
|
|
I have three "grey market" lenses that are nikkor.
Not once have I had issue with these. Like most folks I was concerend about the US warranty but once I bought them (as above the U.S. version was simply out of stock) I have never looked back.
They are identical in every way to their U.S. counterparts and all lens markings are the same as well.
If it was a grey market camera packed full of electronics I doubt I would buy it grey market however, if its a lens that has been in production for a while and all the bugs have been worked out of the manufacturing process by Nikon, it can often be a good alternative.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
When I had to get a lens repaired by Nikon (USA), I spoke with them about the "gray market" issue and they told me that they won't service any "gray market" items, period.
I am glad my lens was US, otherwise, I think that I would have paid more and it would have taken a lot longer to fix, because, they replaced everything but the glass. I was only without the lens for 5 days.
That is why I really wouldn't want to buy "gray". If that was all that was available, I might consider it and hope for the best.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Yes, it's true. Nikon USA will NOT service anything grey market - not even for money.
I live close to Torrance CA and took one of my D1 cameras (that I bought used) for a check up and cleaning to Nikon headquarters there and after a serial number check, they gave it back and said they wouldn't work on it. I offered them $$$ and they still refused.
It was a good excuse to get a new D1x at the time, though, and a US model at that!
Beware the grey....
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
|
Grey market stuff is for people who buy items in the US and do not live in the US. Mostly tourists travelling to New York City. They save some money and dont mind about warranty, since the official one from Nikon in the US won't be valid in their country. Same for the MACK extended warranty.
Posted 61 months ago.
(permalink)
|
Would you like to comment?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).
|
Nikon D200/D300 Users /
Discuss
Feed – Subscribe to Nikon D200/D300 Users discussion threads
