Denied Barry's book by Panasonic

[henryp]

Add me to the list... I purchased my camera USED from B&H three weeks ago. When it arrived it looked brand new.... manual on the inside was in Japanese and the warranty card was in Japanese... an English manual was taped onto the outside of the package. The serial number is H6NC00002 R . These used cameras are not listed as grey market cameras.

You bought a USED camera. There's no warranty from the manufacturer on any USED equipment and used equip doesn't qualify for manufacturer's rebates, etc.

I am sorry for your dissatisfaction but buyingt a USED item from our Used Dept is an entirely different kettle of soup than buying a new product.

 

[Jan_Crittenden]

Can I send my grey market camera into Panasonic for it to be repaired?

Hi,

Panasonic will repair it, but there just is not free warranty repair.

Does that help?

Jan

 

[andrae]

Hi,

Panasonic will repair it, but there just is not free warranty repair.

Does that help?

Jan

Yes Jan thank you very much. I just pray nothing happens to my camera anytime soon.

You bought a USED camera. There's no warranty from the manufacturer on any USED equipment and used equip doesn't qualify for manufacturer's rebates, etc.

I am sorry for your dissatisfaction but buyingt a USED item from our Used Dept is an entirely different kettle of soup than buying a new product.

To the B&H rep,

I admit that I am surprised knowing I have a Japanese camera. I did purchase it used and can knock myself for that. Its terrible that you guys are selling brand new cameras as grey market cameras and then are probably reselling the same returned grey market cameras as USED without notifying the buyers.

 

[Erik Olson]

At the end of the day it unfortunately falls on the buyer to clarify in writing that what they are purchasing is a qualifying piece of equipment.

I purchase only from a Panasonic Flagship dealer in NC, but I never asked. At the end of the day, I ended up with only US Authorized product, but may not have thought to clarify S/Ns had it not been for threads like this.

Sellers should expressly advise the buyer of whether a product, new or used, foreign market or domestic, of exactly what the buyer is getting. With so many concerned about enforcability of warranty and rebate offerers, it only seems fair that the end-user be informed of their options up-front.

e

 

[andrae]

At the end of the day it unfortunately falls on the buyer to clarify in writing that what they are purchasing is a qualifying piece of equipment.

I purchase only from a Panasonic Flagship dealer in NC, but I never asked. At the end of the day, I ended up with only US Authorized product, but may not have thought to clarify S/Ns had it not been for threads like this.

Sellers should expressly advise the buyer of whether a product, new or used, foreign market or domestic, of exactly what the buyer is getting. With so many concerned about enforcability of warranty and rebate offerers, it only seems fair that the end-user be informed of their options up-front.

e

I am sorry I wasn't a DVXuser reader before I bought the HVX200 from B&H. I asked B&H for explanations on the camera. They said a broadcaster bought a batch for a project and then sold the batch to them... I can't say that I'm 100% sure if I asked if they were grey market but I have a feeling that I did. I'm sure anyone that calls B&H and asks for info on the USED HV200's will get the same story. To prove it I will call them right now and ask specifically if the cameras are grey market and the source of thir origins. Perhaps i'll use my grey market HVX200 to make a little online documentary about B&H selling grey market cameras.

Screw the warranty.... I am just pissed I won't be getting the Barry Green book for free.

 

[Jan_Crittenden]

Well the good news is that there is no moving parts. ;-)

 

[andrae]

B&H now clarifies that these cameras are BRAND NEW and were NOT purchased directly from Panasonic. So B&H is selling BRAND NEW GREY MARKET CAMERAS as USED for $4895.00 (even though they aren't used). They did state that they have a 90 day B&H warranty on the GREY MARKET HVX200's. Well heck now I'm just mad that they dropped the price $100 and I'm not getting the Barry Green book for free.

 

[henryp]

To the B&H rep,

You can call me Henry. That's why my name's in my sig.

I admit that I am surprised knowing I have a Japanese camera. I did purchase it used and can knock myself for that.

My point. You bought it used and saved several hundred dollars. Someone else pointed out (when this was still news) that operationally there's no difference between the US & Japanese camera since both countries use NTSC systems and the slight difference in black level (if I recall the details correctly) is easily overcome.

Its terrible that you guys are selling brand new cameras as grey market cameras

We're not. We're selling used 10-condition cameras as used 10-condition cameras.

and then are probable reselling the same returned grey market cameras as USED without notifying the buyers.

Probably? Sorry, but no. And, as I've said before, they're used cameras.

 

[andrae]

You can call me Henry. That's why my name's in my sig.

My piont.

B&H Rep,

So you do agree that you guys are selling BRAND NEW HVX200 GREY MARKET CAMERAS AS USED? Now what if Panasonic wasn't gracious enough to service my Grey Market camera even if I paid? That is specifically why I asked Jan if I can still get it serviced by Panasonic.

 

[henryp]

B&H Rep,

So you do agree that you guys are selling BRAND NEW HVX200 GREY MARKET CAMERAS AS USED?

We're selling used 10-condition cameras as used 10-condition cameras. I didn't say they were brand new and I won't say they're brand new. I will say they're used 10-condition cameras. Please don't put words into my mouth for me.

 

[henryp]

B&H now clarifies that these cameras are BRAND NEW and were NOT purchased directly from Panasonic.

Nope. They're used, not brand new.

So B&H is selling BRAND NEW GREY MARKET CAMERAS as USED for $4895.00 (even though they aren't used).

They're being sold through our Used Dept.

They did state that they have a 90 day B&H warranty on the GREY MARKET HVX200's. Well heck now I'm just mad that they dropped the price $100 and I'm not getting the Barry Green book for free.

Thta's the warranty one gets buying used merchandise of this sort from our used department.

 

[andrae]

We're selling used 10-condition cameras as used 10-condition cameras. I didn't say they were brand new and I won't say they're brand new. I will say they're used 10-condition cameras. Please don't put words into my mouth for me.

B&H Rep,

Sorry if you're not the B&H rep that infomed me this morning that they were BRAND NEW CAMERAS. My camera was N - Brand new/Never used - In original manufacturer's packaging. I know you guys list it as 10... but in all fairness I have to inform you guys that it was BRAND NEW GREY MARKET. I even had the unfilled Japanese warranty card in the package. If I move to Japan I will fill it out and send it in. Does that mean I could use my camera for years in America and then move to Tokyo and have a one year warranty coverage?



Japanese warranty card on top. Everything in unopened original packaging. Sure doesn't look preowned.

Hi,

Panasonic will repair it, but there just is not free warranty repair.

Does that help?

Jan

Jan,

Are Grey Market camera owners charged any extra for service repairs compared to US HVX200 owners that have expired service warranties? Does Panasonic have any listed policies on Grey Market HVX200 products?

 

[andrae]

I just called a Panasonic Authorized Service Repair Center...

50 MEADOWLANDS PARKWAY
SECAUCUS, NJ. 07094.
Phone no. (201) 348-7975

I was informed that they DO NOT SERVICE REPAIR any grey market cameras. They informed me that the only way I can get my camera serviced is to take it to an independent repair shop. I will call the one in California and check also. Jan can you please provide some clarification on this.

 

[Nathan Beaman]

I just noticed that my camera has this NC prefix in the Serial. I did not buy it form B and H but a company that insisted that it was a US camera every time I asked. Is there anything I can do.

 

[andrae]

I just noticed that my camera has this NC prefix in the Serial. I did not buy it form B and H but a company that insisted that it was a US camera every time I asked. Is there anything I can do.

Nathan how long have you had the camera? Did you send a warranty registration in? If its any consolation Specialized Communication:
http://www.spec-comm.com/

Will service grey market HVX200's. I called them a few minutes ago after discovering I had a grey market camera too. I'm not sure how competitive Specialized Communications service repair rates are compared to Panasonic Authorized Service Centers.

I love B&H. I've ordered over 15 grand worth of gear from them... Canon Xl1s, Sony HDR-FX1, Panasonic HVX200's... all kinds of adapters and miscellaneous equipment. I wanted a USED camera... but not a grey market used camera. My caution as nothing to do with warranty coverage and everything to do with getting my camera serviced at a reputable repair center. I would like for B&H to list their USED cameras as Grey Market. That's all I'm asking for.... a little tag online that says "Grey Market" or "Import". They used to do that on their site before why have they stopped now?

 

[Nathan Beaman]

I bought the camera in July back when B & H had an undetermined wait list which I was told could take as long as 3 months. Ouch. So I ended up going with a less reliable company because I needed the camera right away - in fact they were the only company that I could get on the phone to say they actually had it in stock not in some warehouse in Japan. I asked them several times if it was greymarket or Japanese or anything but US and they insisted over and over agian it was. I had my sneaking uspicians when I recieved it and called to complain and they said there was nothing they could do and sent me 2 cheapie batteries to try to shut me up. Those guys suck. I even paid the full $5600, Bastards.

 

[Jan_Crittenden]

I just called a Panasonic Authorized Service Repair Center...

I was informed that they DO NOT SERVICE REPAIR any grey market cameras. They informed me that the only way I can get my camera serviced is to take it to an independent repair shop. I will call the one in California and check also. Jan can you please provide some clarification on this.

I think what they meant was that they will not service the warranty, which means fix for free. They will service the camera but they will charge you for the service.

And the guys in California will sent you back to the east coast if you are east of the Mississippi.

Hope that helps,

Jan

 

[Jan_Crittenden]

Are Grey Market camera owners charged any extra for service repairs compared to US HVX200 owners that have expired service warranties? Does Panasonic have any listed policies on Grey Market HVX200 products?

They are charged the going rate for parts and labor it takes to fix the problem.

Hope this helps,

Jan

 

[jamesgleason]

Grey Market P2 Cards?

Grey Market P2 Cards?

O.K., my camera serial number checks out (bought it from ProMax), but what about my 8GB card (bought from B&H)? It's part number is AJ-P2C008HG, with a serial number of ABD06G0739. Can anyone with an 8GB card check to see if this looks legit? It does have Japanese writing on it, but English as well so I assumed it was correct. BTW, I bought it as NEW, not USED or GREY market.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[henryp]

I would like for B&H to list their USED cameras as Grey Market. That's all I'm asking for.... a little tag online that says "Grey Market" or "Import". They used to do that on their site before why have they stopped now?

For new merchandise, B&H continues to distinguish a product's "grey market" (a/k/a IMP) vs "US" provenance when applicable. For used products, there's no manufacturer's warranty, no manufacturer's rebates, etc so the issue of provenance is moot.

Consider four customers:
- Buys a new "US" camera. He gets a manufacturer's warranty, any applicable rebates, etc.
- Buys a new "grey market" camera. No manufacturer's warranty, no manufacturer's rebates. He'd pay parts + labor for any necessary repair. If bought from an honorable shop, there might well be a store warranty.
- Buys a used camera which was "US" when new. It's used, so there's no manufacturer's warranty, no manufacturer's rebates, etc. The issue of provenance is moot. He'd pay parts + labor for any necessary repair.
- Buys a used camera which was "grey market" when new. It's used, so there's no manufacturer's warranty, no manufacturer's rebates, etc. The issue of provenance is moot. He'd pay parts + labor for any necessary repair.

You can see both of the hypothetical customers who bought used goods are in the same proverbial boat, so to speak.