What's so bad about gray market?

[mackzach]

Preface: I am a total noob with this stuff, but I've been doing a fair amount of research as I look into buying my first prosumer camera.

I'm assuming this (http://cgi.ebay.com/Panasonic-AG-DVX100B-DVCAM-Camcorder-Pro-Kit-New_W0QQitemZ230331141152QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamcor ders_Professional_Video_Cameras?hash=item230331141 152&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|2 93:1|294:50) must be gray market. I hear that term tossed around a lot, in a very negative way. It's my understanding that gray market cameras are just cameras that were meant to be sold overseas and were instead imported.

This in itself does not sound terrible, but from what I've been told that also means that there isn't a warranty from panasonic on it. I'm in the market for a camera, and I've been looking at used cameras on ebay, and it occurred to me, "I'm not going to get a warranty on the used one either".

So here's my question, why is a brand new gray market camera (sans warranty) so much worse than a used camera, if the warranty is the only issue?

[jambredz]

nothing is "wrong" with gray market camera's. they are still dvx's, however as u have stated were not meant to be sold in the US. They dont have warrenties from panasonic as u also have stated. The problem is WHERE u get these camera. theyre are reputable places that u can get these camera's without the panasonic warrenty and are not panasonic dealers. Newegg.com i think is an example of such a place. Many scam artists are out there selling reburbished camera;s passing them off as new or worse selling imaginary camera's to charge ur credit card, or camera bodies with excessively expensive prices for the rest of stuff that are SUPPOSED to come with the camera.

Anyway...long story short..gray market aint bad...its who u buy it from.

As for that link...i really couldnt tell u...maybe these guys can chime in

[Casalen]

That may or may not be gray, but there's nothing wrong with it. Ebay gives you buyer protection, so if it isn't as described you can get your money back. That's also about what the asking price has been for a while in the general market, so no problem.

Although, looking at the extras it's a little iffy.

[kgimedia]

I love that is bundled with "USB Cable, Tripod, Extra Memory, Stereo, Video Cable, Software, Case"

Really handy to have Extra Memory for your DVX. I was on a shoot the other day and ran out of memory. If I had just had Extra Memory and a USB cable I would have been fine.:thumbup:

[timbook2]

[QUOTE=Casalen;1579836 Ebay gives you buyer protection, so if it isn't as described you can get your money back.[/QUOTE]

that is so utterly wrong I have to sit on my fingers not to rant away:(

[jambredz]

Was this post meant to be a joke? extra memory for the DVX ?


I love that is bundled with "USB Cable, Tripod, Extra Memory, Stereo, Video Cable, Software, Case"

Really handy to have Extra Memory for your DVX. I was on a shoot the other day and ran out of memory. If I had just had Extra Memory and a USB cable I would have been fine.:thumbup:

[kgimedia]

Was this post meant to be a joke? extra memory for the DVX ?

Very much a joke.

[Paladin]

Newegg is a certified dealer for Panasonic. I bought my DVX100B from Newegg last year and got the DVX book, DVD, rebate and warranty from Panasonic.

DVXs don't have memory card slots.

[Gillvane]

Newegg is a certified dealer for Panasonic. I bought my DVX100B from Newegg last year and got the DVX book, DVD, rebate and warranty from Panasonic.

DVXs don't have memory card slots.

Doesn't appear Newegg is carrying the DVX100b at the moment.

http://www.newegg.com/

I'd get the grey market camera off of ebay if the seller has a good rating.

[vic777]

So here's my question, why is a brand new gray market camera (sans warranty) so much worse than a used camera, if the warranty is the only issue?The only thing you don't get is the warranty ... so if there are no issues, then no problem. Also if it's really "grey" market and an HPX171 you would get PAL and NTSB! i.e the foreign camera might have desirable features not found in the domestic one.

[mackzach]

So then, to reiterate: There are no negatives that come with buying a gray market camera other than the lack of a warranty, which I wouldn't be getting when I bought a used dvx anyway.

Wow.

There is some powerful propaganda going on about gray market items if the above statement is true.

[shaun1970]

And to also add,,,, warranty isn't much anyway unless you can purchase an extended 3 or so year extra years. The chances of a DVX failing within the 1st 12 months is real slim, maybe a 5% chance and Panasonic know this, obviously after the 1st year the failure rate will increase, hence the 12months warranty in the first place. My 1st 3CCD cam was a panny GS300 I bought form an EBAY store, it was grey market but arrived in a factory sealed box as per spec. So I agree, grey market hype is over exagerrated.

[mars305]

Now everyone 'recommend' grey market, right? However, one year ago nobody here recommended buying grey, right?
I keep saying the same thing: buy from legit dealers, with USA warranty all the times.!

[shaun1970]

Now everyone 'recommend' grey market, right? However, one year ago nobody here recommended buying grey, right?
I keep saying the same thing: buy from legit dealers, with USA warranty all the times.!

Of course this is the right way to buy a cam, i;m not saying that grey market is deffo the way to go but,,,,DVX's are cheap and don't break within a year as I said in my previous post so its probably worth the warranty risk if your gonna save a few hundred bucks. But if it were an HVX or HPX etc, thats a different story,,, the initial investment price is not worth the grey market risk, so the higher end cams you would buy legit.

[DPStewart]

I bought my DVX100b from an eBay seller "JerseyPhoto" and it was exactly as advertised.
Came with a bunch of extras like crap-ola wide angle lenses etc..
A few extra Panasonic tapes, a cleaning tape, and a lightweight tripod that could work in a pinch - or go in your carry-on bag when flying.
But the carry case is great (only fits the camera and a shotgun mic really).
Paid about 1,995 for it all.
Got an extended warranty of 2 years for like 200 bucks or so...
You just have to do a little research on the seller.

[kgimedia]

So then, to reiterate: There are no negatives that come with buying a gray market camera other than the lack of a warranty, which I wouldn't be getting when I bought a used dvx anyway.

Wow.

There is some powerful propaganda going on about gray market items if the above statement is true.

Please re-read all the posts on this topic. There can be many negatives to buying grey market. It can be compared to buying drugs on the street or in a pharmacy. Yes, some times the drugs on the street are exactly the same but in the pharmacy they are always exactly the same.

Also the DVX is a great work horse camera, but there have been many issues. I only know 1 owner out of the 6 people I personally know has not had an issue with the headphone out not working on their DVX. Only 3 of those 5 were able to get it fixed for free.