Can I get service for a Grey Market camera bought in the U.S. ?

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fastfinger

Well-known member
I just purchased the Panasonic HC-X1000 from B&H. They sent a non U.S. version with a Latin America Warranty. HC-X1000PP. I think the U.S. is HC-X1000K. Other than the warranty no sign it's not a U.S. version. Came set to English. Anyway, I know U.S. Panasonic won't honor the warranty but will they repair it at all?
I really hate vendors that do this. I had this problem when purchasing an AC90 from Amazon, thought B&H was more reputable.

Update: B&H blamed Panasonic, said it came directly from them. I offered to keep it if they could provide me some kind of warranty but they said no.

EDIT BY MODERATOR -- The original poster was in error. The camera sent by B&H was a valid USA version. The original poster has verified his serial number with Panasonic. There was no error or warranty issue at all, just a simple misunderstanding.
 
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If B&H will let you exchange it for a new, proper US unit, why wouldn't you do that?

Some territories are happy to work on units and bill the customer for the work whether it's out-of-warranty or out-of-market. Other territories refuse to work on out-of-market units and specify that you must return it to the country it was marketed for, for service. I don't know what the Panasonic USA consumer branch's policy is, but I'll ask 'em.
 
Barry_Green said:
If B&H will let you exchange it for a new, proper US unit, why wouldn't you do that?

Some territories are happy to work on units and bill the customer for the work whether it's out-of-warranty or out-of-market. Other territories refuse to work on out-of-market units and specify that you must return it to the country it was marketed for, for service. I don't know what the Panasonic USA consumer branch's policy is, but I'll ask 'em.
Click to expand...

I'll likely purchase the camera locally. Samy's has it for the same price. I pay CA use tax so no real advantage to waiting. They also have a three year accidental damage warranty for $219. Anyone have experience with them? For warranty you just bring the camera back to the store.
Thank you Barry
 
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Okay, a few things:

1) California has a tax exemption for production equipment, so look into that if you're buying local. I think it drops the tax rate down to something like 3% or so.

2) Panasonic USA says that it's almost certainly a genuine, warrantied, USA unit. If you're really concerned you can send me your serial # in a PM, and they can check it, but the X1000PP is a North American unit. The warranty card can look confusing, but I would say you 99.999% don't have any problem at all.

3) Samy's is a first-rate dealer from my experience with them. But I have no experience with or comment on third-party warranties.
 
Barry_Green said:
Okay, a few things:

1) California has a tax exemption for production equipment, so look into that if you're buying local. I think it drops the tax rate down to something like 3% or so.

2) Panasonic USA says that it's almost certainly a genuine, warrantied, USA unit. If you're really concerned you can send me your serial # in a PM, and they can check it, but the X1000PP is a North American unit. The warranty card can look confusing, but I would say you 99.999% don't have any problem at all.

3) Samy's is a first-rate dealer from my experience with them. But I have no experience with or comment on third-party warranties.
Click to expand...

I sent it back but Serial CG4JA001353 , invoice listed the camera model as HC-X1000K but unit was HC-X1000pp I didn't know about the tax exemption, Thank you

Edit: I looked up the manual online seems the U.S. warranty may be located on page 49. All that was in the box was the manual and the "separate warranty". I went by that, I never expected other warranties to be in the manual. That and model # made me think it was grey market. I got a Canadian camera last time(Not from B&H) so guess I'm overly sensitive to being ripped off.
 
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For clarification at this point, fastfinger's camera is an official USA-warrantied product. The serial number has been verified by Panasonic USA as being completely valid. Neither B&H nor Panasonic sent incorrect product, it was just a simple misunderstanding based on confusing wording on the product warranty card.

The first post has been modified to include similar info.
 
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