13 replies to this topic

[Ken Kurtis]

The good news: My sister Sue (aka "Best Sister Ever") presented me last night (12/23) with my "big" gift this year which is a D7000 body. Yahoo!!!!

The bad news: It's gray market.

She got it from someplace on-line called Digital Megastore in Somerset, New Jersey. They've taken a D7000 kit and simply removed the lens because the whole thing came in a D7000/18-105VR box with separate serial numbers on the outer box for both the camera and the lens. (There's no doubt in my mind that this is a legit Nikon box and product.) But that they would break it up like that bugs me a little bit in terms of their intergrity/policies as a retailer.

On top of that, the box is a little beat up on some of the corners and when I took the camera out of the box-inside-a-box, although the camera certainly looks new, it seems like the box had been opened before, as the bubble wrap and waxy paper envelop that the camera comes in had been opened and maybe even tossed-and-then-recovered because that waxy paper envelop was all wrinkled and creased. And the user manual (all 326 pages) has been bent in half like someone sat on it or just shoved it in the box. My first impression was that this was opened and then returned by someone else.

The other accessories all seem to be there and appear to be new but they appear not to be "untouched-brand-new" but seem to have been removed once from their internal boxes and then repacked.

But the kicker/clincher is the warranty card clearly says "Nikon Europe Service Warranty" and there's an "E-K" sticker on that unopened packaging.

I'm about to call Nikon-USA as well as Digital Superstore to see what's going on. My initial instinct is that this needs to be returned (and looking at the small-print return policy on the invoice, I'm expecting trouble) and that my Best Sister Ever did not get what she thought she was getting for me. (On top of that, they charged her $1249 for the body, not the $1199 MSRP). My main concerns are that if it needs servcing, I'll either be shipping it to Europe (instead of walking into the Nikon Reapir Facility here in Los Anegles, where I can usually get 1-day turnaround as an NPS member) &/or have to pay to have done here what should be free warranty work.

So the questions are:

1. Am I over-reacting?
2. Has anyone here gone gray before and either had no problems or multiple problems?
3. Is there really any difference between a D7000-US and a D7000-Europe? (PAL vs. NTSC video??? Although I'd think that's selectable in the menu.)
4. Anyone have any experience with Digital Megastore?

Help!!! And thanks!!!! (And Merry Christmas while I'm at it . . .)

- Ken (not to be confused with Scrooge)

Edited by Ken Kurtis, 24 December 2010 - 08:46 AM.

[Alex_Mustard]

My girlfriend's D7000 was also boxed like this - but we bought body only. This was because 1) only kits were available on day of release in Europe, 2) she already had the 18-105mm and 3) our dealer (a highly reputable Nikon Pro and Canon Pro store) said they had permission from Nikon to break up the kits - as the lenses came boxed inside the big box.

I don't know the consequences of having a Nikon Europe camera. I would only worry about that if it goes wrong. How often do cameras go wrong anyway? Very rare in my experience.
You should also register it online with Nikon USA and see what they say.

Not sure why they are selling Nikon Europe stock in the States. The camera is much more expensive over here (so Nikon make more profit!) and has been sold out in most places - I know people who are still waiting. Maybe that is why - they are all being shipped to Digital Megasaur!

Merry Christmas.

Alex

[Ken Kurtis]

Alex, thanks for the quick response . . .

I don't know the consequences of having a Nikon Europe camera . . . You should also register it online with Nikon USA and see what they say.

Have now talked with Nikon USA. They say they will not touch non-Nikon USA proiduct. It would have to be shipped to wherever the Europena repair facility is. I agree that it may be rare that things go wrong but I've certainly taken my D70 and my D200 in here often enough that I'm greeted with "Hi Ken" when i walk through their door.

Not sure why they are selling Nikon Europe stock in the States.

The reason is because Digital Megastore (who I've also talked to) is not an authorized Nikon USA dealer (according to Nikon). So they can't get US-warrantied products from Nikon.

Interestingly, as I was talking with their guy (Steve) just now, he's offered to take it all back (5% re-stocking fee) and even said he can get me a US-warranty camera. But it'll be an extra $100, which means the cost will be $1349 instead of $1199. I asked him how they can do that since they're not an authroized dealer and he said, "Well, we have distributors we can get this from and as long as you've got a US receipt, Nikon will honor the warranty." I'm not sure that's correct.

He did offer to give me at no charge a 3-year extended warranty but it sounded ike (as with Leisure Pro for scuba gear) it's one of those things where you send it to them and who knows who they have doing the actual repair or how long it will take.

Maybe that is why - they are all being shipped to Digital Megasaur!

You may be on to something . . .

Thanks again. Anyone else, especially anyone in the US, have any advice/thoughts/guidance????

- Ken

[Viz'art]

Ken, you must be one hell of a nice brother!!! I'm getting the neckties and boxer treatment from mines , but seriously, I have worked both as a camera salesman in a large store and as a camera service technician for some major manufacturers up here in Canada, but basically it should be the same. Very often the authorized service will not even touch the Grey market camera (company policy), even if you offer to pay for the repair, you will then ended up in a non authorized repair shop, one who is unlikely to have the proper modem and software for recalibrating all that stuff

To me looks like, not only have you ended up with a grey market product, but you had a Store Shelf Demo camera handed out to you as well. If the fine print on the sales contract let's you, I would see about returning it for a refund, check to see if the website she got it from clearly state that the product is not covered by USA warranty, I mean that is a major breach of trust. As a consumer you expect to buy a product covered by warranty service in its country of purchase unless it is clearly sated as not, any failure to disclose that the product is not covered is a major sin IMO. Go after them, you have nothing to loose, cause right now, Sue, with all of the world best intentions, pretty much got sold you a second used camera without warranty without her knowledge. (BTW, she is still the best sister, ever IMO)

FYI: There is no such thing as digital camera minor repair anymore, it's a yank the main circuit out and replace it with a new one kinda of thing ($$$.$$), you definitely want to have a warranty nowaday's if you can help it.

There is no difference between the European and North American cameras, ther might be in the AC plug for the charger that is different at best (110 versus 220 volts), but that's it.

P.S. does Sue have a sister?

Edited by Viz'art, 24 December 2010 - 09:25 AM.

[mcliffy2]

I always check online retailers at resellerratings.com. The reviews for digital megastore range from great to scam artist (I've definitely seen worse though, at least some people are happy with them): http://www.resellerr...gital_MegaStore

[Aussiebyron]

Most of us Aussie's buy Grey imports as basically the cost is alot cheaper. The RRP of the Nikon D7000 here in Australia was $1799 (aussie dollar is on par with the USD). I bought mine from Backscatter for $1199 with free local shipping. Got the camera posted to a mates address in the states and got them to post it onto me with a decreased value so I didnt get hit with customs duty. All up $1260 landed on my door.

This was the same with my D90, D80 and alot fo my lenses......all Grey imports.

I will be looking at a another D7000 body when the price comes down hopefully in the near future. Again this would most likely be another Grey import.

Regarding warranty, I had a few friends send their Nikon's back to Nikon Australia for warranty issues with their grey market cameras and didnt have any issue.

But Ken if its only going to cost you $100 to have a US issued Nikon D7000 with warranty I dont see why your complaining? Since it was your sister forking out the $1250 in the first place ;-)


Have a merry xmas anyway and enjoy the D7000.

Cheers Mark

[Ken Kurtis]

UPDATE (as of 4:30PM PST on 12/24)

Nothing like knowing the right people . . .

I decided that the gray market camera wasn't a comfortable fit for me for a number of reasons. Talked with Sue (aka "Best Sister Ever") about misigivings and she bascially said, "Do what you feel is right and get what you want." So we boxed it back up and shipped it back to Dighital Megastore, knowing we'll lose 5% ($70) for the re-stock. They say they'll credit Sue's card when they get the box back from us.

I had already talked this morning to a friend of mine who works at Samy's Camera, which is a huge LA-based camera store. (Ironically, this was the guy who I suggested my sister contact when we first discussed the camera.) I explained the dilemma (he also agreed that gray-market in the US is an iffy proposition) and he initally said that if I wanted camera and lens kit, no problem. Then he said, "But hang on a second." He checked his computer and one of the body-only pre-prders had cancelled just this morning. He said, "I've got one that I can hold for you."

So a few hours later, I left Samy's Pasadena store with my new US D7000 in hand, along with a 32GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card, all courtesy (second-time around) of Best Sister Sue. Plus I asked if they had gotten any SB-700s in yet (my old flash is an SB-25 that's on its last legs - their website showed no 700s yet available) and he said, hang on, and checked his computer. "Yup", he said, "we got our order in this morning. How many would you like?" I said, "I think ONE wuill do," and paid for this myself. So all three items walked out the door with me.

I've spent part of the afternoon reading the manuals and will now put the units to the test for Chirstmas Eve family pix along with Christmas morning ones. Fingers crossed.

Thanks to those who replied and Merry Christmas to all. (Now I'll just have to wait for the Ikelight housing . . .)

- Ken

[scubamarli]

Great that it all worked out. My beef with Nikon is this: they will not stand behind their product if not bought in the country in which you reside. It can be a legitimate purchase, from an authorized dealer, and still, no way. Nikon Canada, for example will not work on Nikon USA equipment...at all: I am not speaking about warranty work, I get that. They actually have a sign in the service center that states they will not deal with anything not bought in Canada, even if you pay for it. Apparently they are softening this hard line, but for me, it seems that they are only willing to stand behind of some of their products..those locally purchased. Grey market, I get. Not supporting legitimately warranted products is nonsense.
Anyway, good luck with the new toy. I want one, but it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

Cheers,
Marli

[Poliwog]

Nikon seems to be protecting their distributors sales territory by refusing to honor repairs on cameras purchased in another country. It makes sense for Nikon to do this, as the profit from the repair work goes to offset the cost of importing the product to the country in the first place. The price of a new camera could conceivably climb much higher if the camera distributors didn't have the added profit center that the repair business provides.

Since the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Canada, I've had the feeling that this could be a questionable practice for them, and possibly not legally defensible. That may be why their softening their stance.

I like to purchase Nikon products in Canada whenever I can, and usually look to prices in the United States for comparison when purchasing a new camera or lens. However, I've found the difference between prices to be minimal, when taking into account shipping charges, duties, and taxes when importing products from the United States. I think Nikon Canada and their dealers realize how easy it is for cross border shopping to occur and have done a good job of narrowing the price gap that we use to experience here in Canada.

Just my 2¢.

[Aussiebyron]

And also question why Nikon RRP price in Australia is a few hundred dollars more than the RRP USA price.

Regards Mark

[pmooney]

And also question why Nikon RRP price in Australia is a few hundred dollars more than the RRP USA price.

Regards Mark

Its important to take local taxes and duties into consideration when comparing prices.

[Aussiebyron]

Its important to take local taxes and duties into consideration when comparing prices.

Hi Peter,

I was referring to the Nikon D7000 camera itself. You have to take into account taxes, duties, exchange rates of course.

My Nikon D7000 was made in Thailand and it was an USA issued camera. I presume Nikon had to pay duty, taxes to get their products into the states the same as getting their products into Australia. Have to question why the RRP of the D7000 camera body in Australia is $600 more than the states.

Even the RRP of the Nikon D7000 in Thailand where the camera was made is $250 more than the USA RRP, with no duty, taxes and shipping to deal with???

One does have to ask how Nikon workout their pricing for each country?

Regards Mark

[erniejr]

Hi all,
Just so you all no i almost bought a grey market d7000 for $739.00 with a usa 1yr warrenty. i asked the guy why so cheap other then being made overseas
and the answer was it has plastic shutter blades instead of metal, the video format is nstc??? and some functions did not work as the us model.
The dealer is buyherephoto.com
i ended up getting a refurb from ritz with a yr warrenty for 999.00

good luck
Ernie

[ehanauer]

Stay far, far away from the gray market schlock houses.