Grey Imports - Yes or No? - Page 2

Pilum · 11th May 2007, 10:04 AM

Ok, so the consensus seems to be that buying Grey Lenses is fine, but buying Grey bodies is a problem.

There's been some excellent answers to my question. Perhaps if there isn't already a section on grey imports we could add what we know about them to the wiki? Is the wiki stickied anywhere? I couldn't see it when I looked just before.

phreeky82 · 11th May 2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilum

Ok, so the consensus seems to be that buying Grey Lenses is fine, but buying Grey bodies is a problem.

There's been some excellent answers to my question. Perhaps if there isn't already a section on grey imports we could add what we know about them to the wiki? Is the wiki stickied anywhere? I couldn't see it when I looked just before.

I'd also love a nice info page on the situation of Import and Grey Market bodies and lenses of various brands being outlined. I've never been sure of the situation and have sort of held off buying stuff because of it (but that's ok, I shouldn't be spending anymore money at the moment anyway

)

Quadbox · 11th May 2007, 11:48 AM

I'd never buy a body grey-market, but I've got a pair of grey-market lenses, both from digitalrev. At least they're a fairly big seller so i've got some chance of being able to find them to lay the baseball bat in if they give me warranty grief (well, both are out of warranty now anyways, but anyway

)

Finn · 11th May 2007, 12:30 PM

I wouldn't worry about warranty so much, I just had a grey lens serviced. Cost me 90 bucks but if I bought it locally it warranty would have expired anyway so what's the big deal.

Play the odds and hope nothing serious goes wrong inside that 1 year warranty period

richan3185 · 11th May 2007, 2:02 PM

I thought Canon had changed their warranty for bodies.

i.e. As long as the body is marketed as the same product, as the same name in your home country they will honor the warranty?

if you brought a digital rebel xt, wouldn't be under warranty. However 350D would be.

someone?

arkenstone · 11th May 2007, 2:14 PM

I bought my 350d Body (and kit lense, and a bunch of the usual freebies) from Digital Rev so it's a Grey import.

Not an issue - I'd do it again, too. The way I figure is I saved $400 on the purchase price, so that's $400 worth of repairs I don't mind paying for.

They also claim to have an office in Australia that handles warranty issues although I dunno how good this is because I've not had to use it!

Further: it came with .au cables, although a Canadian compliance sticker on the base of the body.

bl4ck32 · 11th May 2007, 2:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a777

Cameras have this thing called a serial number

With computerised systems it is pretty easy for them to work it out, especially since Canon Aus is the only official importer (ie they just have to track their own stock)

Even still who says u have to have it serviced by a Canon repairer?

Would someone care to answer my other comment about where all Canon bodies are made? Is there 1 factory, a "genuine" Canon warehouse or one that makes grey bodies at a reduced quality?

If not the only arguments im hearing so far for grey bodies is warranty...seems the people who buy local are more worried about their bodies dying prematurely...?

phreeky82 · 11th May 2007, 2:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl4ck32

If not the only arguments im hearing so far for grey bodies is warranty...seems the people who buy local are more worried about their bodies dying prematurely...?

More things to go wrong with a body I suppose, more likely to as well. On top of that, lenses are lenses are lenses (for the purpose of repairs) I suppose, except for IS, where as bodies change significantly over the period of a year or two.

I've been using my DSLR for quite a while now, but the idea of a little mirror flicking up and down that fast still doesn't sit well with me

undef · 11th May 2007, 3:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl4ck32

Would someone care to answer my other comment about where all Canon bodies are made? Is there 1 factory, a "genuine" Canon warehouse or one that makes grey bodies at a reduced quality?

huh? 'grey' only refers to the item being not bought from a 'canon approved' local dealer... not a different manufacturing process...

nxsr20 · 11th May 2007, 5:21 PM

A grey item is one which hasn't been purchased from one of the local distribution channels. Local dealers can sell both local and imported stock e.g. B&H selling USA lenses as well as Grey lenses.

edx23 · 11th May 2007, 5:44 PM

Canon digital bodies and lenses are often significantly cheaper throughout south east Asia. Sometimes (via online stores and ebay) the price difference at retail can be as much as 20% lower than the WHOLESALE price from Canon Australia.

There are three main reasons for this.

1) Overhead costs for online stores are always lower than for retail.
2) Wholesale shipping to Australia costs more than to Asian based stores which are closer to manufacturing.
3) After sales support costs are probably lower in SE Asia. There are more technicians for warranty service and I'm guessing they're paid less.

There is nothing physically different between a Canon 5D purchased through Canon Australia, compared to one that comes via ebay from Hong Kong.

Except, if something goes wrong, good luck getting Canon Australia to do anything about it! They only offer warranty service on items that they have imported.

bl4ck32 · 11th May 2007, 6:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undef

huh? 'grey' only refers to the item being not bought from a 'canon approved' local dealer... not a different manufacturing process...

I know what grey import means. Im asking as to where all -for example- Canon cameras are made.

People are saying that grey market import bodies would fail or are more likely to fail- hence why they buy local for the warranty issues. Im asking why are people worried about less quality from a say a Canon body if in fact they all come from the same place made overseas.

If there was 2 manufacturers, 1 being in Asia, the other say in the US and asian company was known for its lower quality bodies then i could see a reason for buying from 1 specific distributor.

If they are all made in the same place then shipped all over the world, then quality would be the same would it not? Meaning "Grey imports" would be of equal quality to a local bought product.

Until someone answers my question, to me they are all the same...

a777 · 11th May 2007, 6:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl4ck32

People are saying that grey market import bodies would fail or are more likely to fail- hence why they buy local for the warranty issues. Im asking why are people worried about less quality from a say a Canon body if in fact they all come from the same place made overseas.

They are the same. People aren't saying that at all. What they are saying is that if you buy a Canon Aus body then Canon Aus will honour the warranty and fix it if it breaks in the warranty period. If you buy a "grey" body and it fails in the warranty period then Canon Aus won't (or may not) fix it for free*

bl4ck32 · 11th May 2007, 8:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bl4ck32

People are saying that grey market import bodies would fail or are more likely to fail- hence why they buy local for the warranty issues.

Yer i worded that part wrong. I should have asked why were people worried about warranty when all bodies would be of the same quality as local bought items.

Heist · 12th May 2007, 1:14 AM

I've called Canon customer support before - the first answer was a straight 'no' support for grey imports at all.

When I queried it and said I've heard there is support for L lenses across the board, he put me on hold and double checked, then returned and said 'yes' that's correct, but no support on grey bodies.

Sounds a bit like even they aren't sure, but the consensus for L lenses seems to be a yes for support - I wouldn't trust it on standard lenses though, and agree that it's a 'no' on bodies.

11th May 2007, 2:02 PM	#20
richan3185 Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Kalgoorlie Posts: 1,758	I thought Canon had changed their warranty for bodies. i.e. As long as the body is marketed as the same product, as the same name in your home country they will honor the warranty? if you brought a digital rebel xt, wouldn't be under warranty. However 350D would be. someone? __________________ When Telstra wants to believe something hard enough it can be tempting for them to ignore reality, even when publicly-available information stares them in the face. OCAU Camera Club Member #211 For Sale: Last edited by richan3185; 11th May 2007 at 9:22 PM.

11th May 2007, 2:14 PM	#21
arkenstone Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: seaford.vic.au Posts: 1,152	I bought my 350d Body (and kit lense, and a bunch of the usual freebies) from Digital Rev so it's a Grey import. Not an issue - I'd do it again, too. The way I figure is I saved $400 on the purchase price, so that's $400 worth of repairs I don't mind paying for. They also claim to have an office in Australia that handles warranty issues although I dunno how good this is because I've not had to use it! Further: it came with .au cables, although a Canadian compliance sticker on the base of the body. __________________ Bringing the love back to forum 48. Non Smoker since 8/5/07 - 3 MONTHS! Jaguar Owners Club \| OCAU Mercedes Owners Club OZBENZ - the Australian Veteran Mercedes Forum flickr Last edited by arkenstone; 11th May 2007 at 2:23 PM.

11th May 2007, 10:04 AM	#16
Pilum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Adelaide, SA Posts: 164	Ok, so the consensus seems to be that buying Grey Lenses is fine, but buying Grey bodies is a problem. There's been some excellent answers to my question. Perhaps if there isn't already a section on grey imports we could add what we know about them to the wiki? Is the wiki stickied anywhere? I couldn't see it when I looked just before.

11th May 2007, 11:48 AM	#18
Quadbox Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane 4065 Posts: 5,090	I'd never buy a body grey-market, but I've got a pair of grey-market lenses, both from digitalrev. At least they're a fairly big seller so i've got some chance of being able to find them to lay the baseball bat in if they give me warranty grief (well, both are out of warranty now anyways, but anyway )

11th May 2007, 12:30 PM	#19
Finn Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Victoria Posts: 848	I wouldn't worry about warranty so much, I just had a grey lens serviced. Cost me 90 bucks but if I bought it locally it warranty would have expired anyway so what's the big deal. Play the odds and hope nothing serious goes wrong inside that 1 year warranty period

11th May 2007, 5:21 PM	#25
nxsr20 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,417	A grey item is one which hasn't been purchased from one of the local distribution channels. Local dealers can sell both local and imported stock e.g. B&H selling USA lenses as well as Grey lenses.

11th May 2007, 5:44 PM	#26
edx23 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SA Posts: 176	Canon digital bodies and lenses are often significantly cheaper throughout south east Asia. Sometimes (via online stores and ebay) the price difference at retail can be as much as 20% lower than the WHOLESALE price from Canon Australia. There are three main reasons for this. 1) Overhead costs for online stores are always lower than for retail. 2) Wholesale shipping to Australia costs more than to Asian based stores which are closer to manufacturing. 3) After sales support costs are probably lower in SE Asia. There are more technicians for warranty service and I'm guessing they're paid less. There is nothing physically different between a Canon 5D purchased through Canon Australia, compared to one that comes via ebay from Hong Kong. Except, if something goes wrong, good luck getting Canon Australia to do anything about it! They only offer warranty service on items that they have imported.

12th May 2007, 1:14 AM	#30
Heist Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,196	I've called Canon customer support before - the first answer was a straight 'no' support for grey imports at all. When I queried it and said I've heard there is support for L lenses across the board, he put me on hold and double checked, then returned and said 'yes' that's correct, but no support on grey bodies. Sounds a bit like even they aren't sure, but the consensus for L lenses seems to be a yes for support - I wouldn't trust it on standard lenses though, and agree that it's a 'no' on bodies.