p.1 #1 · how to determine USA or grey market model
Can I use the serial number to determine if the Canon 1D Mark II N camera I'd like to buy is a USA or grey market version? If so, how? Is there a website where I match my number against USA models? I know some sellers only deal with USA models, but what about those who don't and lack original paperwork?
If the serial number doesn't identify a camera as grey market, what does when there is no documentation?
p.1 #2 · how to determine USA or grey market model
Grey (gray) market or USA version only applies sometimes when there might be warranty left on the item. Both versions are made on the same assembly line in the same factory. How the seller obtains them is the difference. Let's say Canon USA imports the lens from Canon Japan then sells it through one of their distributors like B&H or Adorama....it's a USA version. Let's say B&H or Adorama import the lens directly from Japan...it's grey market. Same lens just a different route to the distributor/reseller.
p.1 #4 · how to determine USA or grey market model
That is good to know. I had a bad experience with Nikon refusing to repair a grey market product a few years ago even though I was willing to pay for out of warranty service.
p.1 #6 · how to determine USA or grey market model
Nikon USA will generally refuse to service grey market products even out of warranty however their authorized service centers will fix anything if you are paying. Canon doesn't care if you are paying and it is out of warranty and they have they parts.
p.1 #8 · how to determine USA or grey market model
pony girl wrote:
Can I use the serial number to determine if the Canon 1D Mark II N camera I'd like to buy is a USA or grey market version? If so, how? Is there a website where I match my number against USA models? I know some sellers only deal with USA models, but what about those who don't and lack original paperwork?
It does not matter in your case. Gray market or non-gray market only matters with regard to warranty service, and that camera is out of warranty.
Inasmuch as all Canon subsidiaries themselves depend on sales receipts and warranty cards rather than a serial number database, I suspect they don't have such a thing. I'm sure it's possible--I'll bet they do it for their business machine maintenance contracts. But they don't appear to do it for their "consumer" products.
Regarding new cameras: Although there have been a couple of singular exceptions, the authorized Canon resellers (like Adorama and B&H) do not sell gray market camera bodies. You will only find those from non-authorized resellers. In that case, all bets are off because Canon won't honor any service warranty for a camera sold by a non-authorized dealer, and by their very nature, a non-authorized dealer is likely too shady to have a trustworthy warranty of his own.
p.1 #9 · how to determine USA or grey market model
RDKirk wrote:
It does not matter in your case. Gray market or non-gray market only matters with regard to warranty service, and that camera is out of warranty.
Inasmuch as all Canon subsidiaries themselves depend on sales receipts and warranty cards rather than a serial number database, I suspect they don't have such a thing. I'm sure it's possible--I'll bet they do it for their business machine maintenance contracts. But they don't appear to do it for their "consumer" products.
Regarding new cameras: Although there have been a couple of singular exceptions, the authorized Canon resellers (like Adorama and B&H) do not sell gray market camera bodies. You will only find those from non-authorized resellers. In that case, all bets are off because Canon won't honor any service warranty for a camera sold by a non-authorized dealer, and by their very nature, a non-authorized dealer is likely too shady to have a trustworthy warranty of his own. ...Show more →
Canon and Nikon both keep online records by serial number. You can call and get a printout from Canon service in New Jersey anytime. Just received 2 last week by email.
p.1 #10 · how to determine USA or grey market model
Canon and Nikon both keep online records by serial number. You can call and get a printout from Canon service in New Jersey anytime. Just received 2 last week by email.
Online records of what particular data, though? I'm sure that once you contact them about an item, they would necessarily track that item's serial number from then on.
But even a database that displayed the date an item was produced and might not indicate the region it was shipped to (that is probably indicated by a pallet number--maybe even only a container number). And it would not indicate the date it was sold to the end user.
p.1 #11 · how to determine USA or grey market model
Both log detail serial numbers of any serialized product which is shipped into the country into a database so that they have a history of valid US product received from the factory. Both companies log shipments by serial number to the dealer the product is first shipped to for recall purposes. The next time the serial number record is updated is when the serial number is registered as a retail sale by receipt of the warranty card or by online registration through the web site. From that point all records of any service performed are logged against the serial number. Serial numbers can be moved from dealer to dealer by trade or sale and the both companies will not know that nor do they really care. Point is that all product which is serialized at the factory is tracked in detail from the point it is received into the country.
p.1 #12 · how to determine USA or grey market model
davenfl wrote:
Both log detail serial numbers of any serialized product which is shipped into the country into a database so that they have a history of valid US product received from the factory. Both companies log shipments by serial number to the dealer the product is first shipped to for recall purposes. The next time the serial number record is updated is when the serial number is registered as a retail sale by receipt of the warranty card or by online registration through the web site. From that point all records of any service performed are logged against the serial number. Serial numbers can be moved from dealer to dealer by trade or sale and the both companies will not know that nor do they really care. Point is that all product which is serialized at the factory is tracked in detail from the point it is received into the country.
p.1 #13 · how to determine USA or grey market model
I assume any 1d Mk II N would be out of warranty by now, so USA model versus grey market makes no difference at all. You'll be responsible for any repair costs either way, and Canon will service either model.
p.1 #15 · how to determine USA or grey market model
Mike Liu wrote:
I assume any 1d Mk II N would be out of warranty by now, so USA model versus grey market makes no difference at all. You'll be responsible for any repair costs either way, and Canon will service either model.
Good assumption and correct answer however believe it or not there are still more then a couple new ones floating around along with really low mileage which have never been registered for warranty so you never know.
