Overview

Items not purchased through Authorised Nikon Resellers are referred to as ‘Grey’.  Grey Market items are predominantly sold on the internet where it is difficult for the buyer to properly inspect the item, however there are some online Authorised Nikon Resellers who can be identified in our approved list.

Nikon Australia receive a substantial number of phone calls from those who have purchased Grey Market items, who have experienced problems due to the many unknowns associated with these products. The standards of storage and transport are highly questionable, and there is also the possibility that item is refurbished. Products not purchased through one of our Authorised Nikon Resellers are not covered by our 1 Year Warranty, and we cannot provide technical support to purchasers of these.

In this section is some detailed information about the many issues associated with buying from the Grey market, and the advantages of buying from Authorised Nikon Resellers.

Nikon vs Grey

Besides the functionality and specifications of a camera, another deciding factor is of course the price. Grey market items are relatively cheaper when compared to a Nikon camera purchased through the right channel, yet what are the disadvantages of purchasing a cheaper product?

The table below compares the benefits of a Nikon camera versus a camera purchased through the grey channel:

What is "Grey Market"?

Generally, a manufacturer works with a single importer who can sell and support their products in a given region. The importer usually has local dealers and distributors who resell the imported products; this is called a "distribution channel". Grey Market refers to merchandise that is imported and sold by methods other than these normal channels.

For local safety regulations and certifications and government requirements a manufacturer provides special packaging (manuals in the appropriate language, power cables designed for the local receptacle, etc.) and product engineering designed to meet local codes. Manufacturers also have service and support agreements with the authorised importer.

Grey Market items are not designed to be sold in a particular market and cannot be supported by the authorised importer because they may not meet mandatory safety and certification codes. Because these items are not designed for a particular market they may not function properly, or the authorised importer may not be equipped to provide service, support or software.

With the opening of international borders and the use of the Internet to sell goods, Grey Market equipment has become extremely common in the photographic and consumer electronics markets. Many different types of equipment are brought into the country for sale without the proper documentation and many consumers do not always know what they are purchasing.

Because the resellers' cost is less they can sell Grey Market items for less. Unfortunately this price saving is only on the initial purchase; because service and support is more difficult to obtain it may end up costing the consumer more in the long run.

How do I know if my Nikon product is "Grey Market"?

If the deal was just too good to be true, it probably was. One of the first indicators that a piece of Nikon merchandise might be Grey Market is if the price is considerably less than most other resellers.

Additionally, a genuine Nikon product will include an Owners' Manual and Warranty Registration card in English. It will also include power cables (if applicable). Any other language on the printed material or wrong cables indicates a Grey Market item. A warranty card that does not state "Nikon Australia" can be identified as Grey.

Another indication of a Grey Market product would be photocopied manuals or manually created software CD's. Authorised distributors in a country always provide professionally printed or duplicated materials with genuine products.

What does owning a "Grey Market" Nikon product mean to you?

Nikon Australia cannot provide any technical support or warranty service on Grey Market items. Please do not contact Nikon Australia for help with any Grey Market products. Please contact the reseller or importer of your Grey Market items for warranty and service information as well as software updates and downloads. However, Nikon Australia are still able to perform fee-based repair work on Grey Market items if necessary.