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Gray Market (Nikon Worldwide) verus Nikon USA products

Fri 23-Jun-00 06:30 PM
Well, I am posting this information here in this forum per a request by Bo. I have expounded on the information, in hopes of making it easier to read and comprehend. I hope it helps in clarifying the essential differences between Gray Market (also known as Nikon Worldwide) and Nikon USA products (camera bodies, lenses, control backs, power supplies, grips, etc.). (This information is relevant to Nikon products only. Other importers of camera equipment such as the one that starts with the letter "C" may have a dissimilar policy and requirements for warranty repair on Gray Market cameras and/or equipment.)

Several US camera retailers import and sell camera products that are not imported into this country by Nikon USA. These products are known as Gray Market, and they are imported into the US from sources; other than Nikon USA. In most cases, these Gray Market Nikon Worldwide products will cost less than the comparable products imported by Nikon USA. It is not unlawful to sell these products in the US; however, Nikon USA WILL NOT service these products even for non-warranty repairs at your cost.

Reason? Nikon USA wants you, as a US resident, in the US, to purchase a Nikon USA product, while living in the US. They do not want you purchasing a Nikon Worldwide product since they earn no profit on your purchase. However, if you were in another country and you purchased a Nikon product, Nikon USA will service the product, if you can show proof that the product was purchased while you were in another country where Nikon Worldwide cameras and/or equipment are sold. Why? It is not a Gray Market product if it is purchased outside the USA.

In most amateur Nikon camera bodies, the only differences between the corresponding camera bodies is in the model designation (name). For Nikon USA, all model designations start with the letter "N," for Nikon Worldwide models, the model designation starts with the letter "F." If the model has a letter after the numeral as in the Nikon N90s/F90x, an "S" is used in Nikon USA models, while in most instances an "X" is used in Nikon Worldwide models.
The following are the latest Nikon USA amateur models and their corresponding Nikon Worldwide models:
N50* F50
N60 F60
N70* F70
N80 F80
N90s** F90x**

* Nikon USA model has been discontinued; I assume the Nikon Worldwide model has also been discontinued.
** Previous models were known as N90/F90. Camera bodies were updated and released as N90s/F90x.

Nikon professional model cameras do not have dissimilar model designations between Nikon USA and Nikon Worldwide. In the professional line, the F100 and F5 carry the same designation. Therefore, it is more difficult to establish if the model is Nikon USA or Nikon Worldwide.

Now, if you do purchase a Gray Market Nikon Worldwide product from a reputable camera store (such as B&H, Adorama, etc.), the camera store frequently offers a warranty on the product through their store. In some cases, the store has their own repair facility, in other cases they will send the product out for repair with an independent camera/camera equipment repair facility such as Mack Camera Repair. This store warranty repair has analogous terms as a Nikon USA warranty, excluding in some cases the length of the warranty.

When purchasing a Nikon product, evaluate the prices between a Gray Market Nikon Worldwide product versus the Nikon USA product. Depending on the strength of the US dollar, during certain times the Gray Market Nikon Worldwide product may not be that much less expensive than the corresponding Nikon USA product.

A few other items to note regarding Gray Market Nikon Worldwide products versus products imported by Nikon USA. One, the Gray Market Nikon Worldwide product may be supplied with a multi-language Owner's Operating Guide; whereas, the Nikon USA product will usually be supplied with an English version only. (Note: This is not always true with lenses and other products. In some cases, the Gray Market product will have an English only manual.)
Two, the Gray Market Nikon Worldwide product may not be supplied with the same items as the product imported by Nikon USA. For example, the Nikon USA product may be supplied with batteries, while the Gray Market Nikon Worldwide product may not be supplied with batteries. There could also be other differences in what is supplied with the products.

A few suggestions on purchasing a Nikon product. Always make sure you comprehend what your are purchasing. Is the product imported as a Gray Market product or does Nikon USA import it? Some camera stores are notorious for advertising Gray Market prices and not informing you of that when you order the item. If you are ordering from a Popular Photography Magazine ad, read the fine print at the bottom of the page. In some cases, this small print at the bottom of the page asserts that Nikon USA products will cost more than the prices shown in the ad. In some cases, the advertisers will have designations, in easily read type, which assert all camera bodies are "Nikon USA" models for example.

So, if you are ordering by mail, investigate the store you will be ordering from. Also, make sure you comprehend what they are selling you; Gray Market Nikon Worldwide or Nikon USA. There are some very reputable camera stores that advertise in Popular Photography (and other Photo magazines); however, there are many non-reputable camera stores that advertise in these magazines too. So, be cautious when ordering; "Caveat Emptor."

I trust this information helped clear up the dissimilarity between Gray Market Nikon Worldwide and Nikon USA products. If you have any further questions or suggestions, please post them.
Doug

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