I am in the market for a flash, and have ordered an imported product (no USA warranty) at a price of $299 USD. Looking for any history the users here may have on imported or grey market product?
Nikon's policy is that they won't repair grey market equipment, but there are other choices of service and repair aside from sending to Nikon. I've had a couple non-US lenses but never a flash. $299 is a great price. If you receive a new/working SB-900, you got a smoking deal.
Normally 'Grey market stuff' can be sent back to the country it was imported from for full warranty repair. Other 'Grey' Nikon products have been easily repaired by Nikon when required and out of warranty, so I don't really understand the concern. There's always the chance that whatever you buy might be that unlucky one in the batch, so the inconvenience of the warranty return is the risk you run.
I wouldn't be worried buying a gray market flash from a reputable dealer. B&H, for example, has an "Import" SB-900 for $469, versus $638.95 for a "USA" version.
$299, though, sounds too good to be true, and as the old saying goes, "If it seems to good to be true..."
I have visions of a high-pressure salesman in a smoke-filled office in New Jersey calling to confirm your order, and asking you if you want the $200 dedicated flash foot for your camera model. Oh, and the special $50 AA alkaline batteries that prevent blurry pictures by giving faster flash recycling.
Hopefully, though, all will be okay in your case and I'm just having paranoid delusions.
