Nikon warranty for grey products

This is about something I read on the Nikon website not long
ago - a couple of months at most. Unless my memory's playing
tricks on me, what I saw was a list of FAQs where they say that
even cameras bought from the grey market are eligible for full
warranty support. The only cautionary note was that the full
range of spare parts, service equipment and expertise may not be
readily available at a particular service center for a product
that's not specifically intended for distribution in that region.

I also remember that this was immediately preceded by an advice
to potential customers against buying from the grey market. It
is, however, possible that Nikon stated that their servicing
centers are equally open to grey imports and I confused it with
repairs under warranty. In any case, I just have not been able to
find that FAQs page on the Nikon website again. Anyone know about
this?

mianileng wrote:
> This is about something I read on the Nikon website not long
> ago - a couple of months at most. Unless my memory's playing
> tricks on me, what I saw was a list of FAQs where they say that
> even cameras bought from the grey market are eligible for full
> warranty support.

Doesn't make sense, the US service centers are funded by some percentage
cut of sanctioned US sales. My understanding is you have to ship in to
Japan or wherever for warranty repairs, either that or they'd have to
submit an invoice to HQ in Japan, which would be a hassle for them.
Overseas shipping is not an insurmountable obstacle. Places like B&H
offer their own warranty to match also, perhaps they just fedex them to
Japan or pay for the service in a US service center.

I bought a new camera from a local store when my old one broke and they
offered to send it off for a repair estimate, they covered the shipping
for me because I was their paying customer and they wanted my repeat
business but the Nikon service center in Los Angeles has no interest in
pleasing somebody in Detroit who bought a camera from Hong Kong cutting
them out of their funding.

> The only cautionary note was that the full
> range of spare parts, service equipment and expertise may not be
> readily available at a particular service center for a product
> that's not specifically intended for distribution in that region.
>
> I also remember that this was immediately preceded by an advice
> to potential customers against buying from the grey market. It
> is, however, possible that Nikon stated that their servicing
> centers are equally open to grey imports and I confused it with
> repairs under warranty.

This sounds right. If you are paying for the repair, they are making
money no matter where you bought it.


> In any case, I just have not been able to
> find that FAQs page on the Nikon website again. Anyone know about
> this?
>
>


--
Paul Furman
www.edgehill.net
www.baynatives.com

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