p.1 #1 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
Thought I'd write about the experience. Just some background, I shoot primarily surreal portraits (www.jackzucker.com) and do a lot of art/post processing. I've always loved the look of canon and while I have toyed with switching to Nikon or Sony, I have 7-8 L lenses so it would be a painful switch.
At any rate, I bought a MK IV last year to replace a MK III. I loved the camera but had a very slow year where we only did a few shoots and a couple months ago, I sold the IV. Now, things are starting to pick up a bit and I really miss the extra resolution and better focusing of the IV so I thought I'd peek in at the prices. I briefly consider the EOS R but for a number of reasons, decided to stick with the 5d series.
I looked through the used forums here and on ebay and noticed the pricing seemed to range from $2199 to $2600. At the same time, I'm seeing good deals on grey market cameras from HK being advertised at $1900(ish). After doing a little research, I determined there is basically no difference with a grey market 5D other than maybe the power adapter so rather than buying used for more money, if I'm not going to get a warranty, I might as well just buy grey market.
Deals-All-Year has gotten mixed reviews over the years but I figured with american express backing me, it's hard to go wrong and I made the plunge. $1929 shipped for a brand new, grey market 5D MK IV !
After I bought the camera off ebay, I received 3 different calls attempting to get me to upgrade to a USA targeted camera for $2299.
Each time they told me basically the same thing:
I would have no warranty (according to their ebay ad, deals-all-year provides 1yr Parts , 30 day Labor warranty)
Serial number difference would cause canon to not do repair work
If I ever sold it I'd get hundreds of dollars less
I wouldn't get a printed manual
I'd be really sorry if I didn't pay the $370 upgrade and get a USA targeted camera
If I got the USA model, they'd upgrade me to 3 day shipping, otherwise there would be a delay
I kept telling them I wanted the original deal. They sent me 2 paypal invoices for $370 to upgrade. I replied to both saying I wanted the original deal. One email was returning saying the mailbox was full, the other, they never responded to!
The next day (today), I sent a message to them via the ebay purchase and left 2 voicemails indicating that I wanted the original deal. Finally, on a 3rd phone call try I got someone who tried once again to talk me out of being so stupid for getting a grey market camera but I persistently indicated I wanted the original deal.
So, we'll see what I actually get. I got a notification that the camera shipped yesterday at 6pm with 3 day select shipping but according to UPS, that's when they printed the label and I suspect that was printed with the intent of getting me to upgrade to the USA model.
Frankly, I really wanted to order the camera from Adorama which is, hand's-down, my favorite camera shop but their price was literally $1200 more (albeit for a USA model)
p.1 #3 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
Wow!! That’s a lot of hassle! I see the price is now $1929 but idk, that’s a lot of bs to deal with. It doesn’t matter if they sell you a “usa” targeted camera because they aren’t an authorized Canon seller so therefore no warranty anyways.
Keep us informed though.
p.1 #4 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
There is a lot of misinformation here, and not just the obvious stuff. While it is true that Canon USA isn't required to provide warranty service on grey market gear, they don't ask for the warranty card. They just require proof that it was purchased within the past year -- i.e., a dated receipt. I have never, in almost 30 years as a Canon shooter and participant on various internet photography forums, heard of them denying warranty service on grey market gear.
Good luck getting them to honor that price, though.
p.1 #5 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
Hmm. I guess I was misinformed then. I have always thought, and this has been since 2001, that if it’s not an authorized dealer, then it won’t be covered warranty wise. If this isn’t true, then I apologize for said comment above.
p.1 #6 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
All I've had to do to use CPS was to register my equipment with the serial number on their website. They've never asked me where I bought it or indicated they wouldn't work on it.
Since I buy most of my equipment on the used market, I suspect somewhere along the way I would have owned a grey market item.
p.1 #7 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
I also bought my 5D4 from deals-all-year but back in September 2017. I recall receiving one call from them asking if I wanted a warranty since it was a grey market item. I politely declined the warranty, they said no problem, and shipped out my 5D4.
I'm curious if your experience or my experience is more typical. Perhaps the employees work on some sort of sales commission and it's hit or miss if you get a nice person or an aggressive jerk.
p.1 #8 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
M. Best wrote:
Hmm. I guess I was misinformed then. I have always thought, and this has been since 2001, that if it’s not an authorized dealer, then it won’t be covered warranty wise. If this isn’t true, then I apologize for said comment above.
The stated policy is that Canon USA (and their authorized repair centers in New Jersey and California) may deny warranty service on equipment that was not sold through them -- i.e., grey market gear. Nonetheless, I have never heard of them denying warranty coverage for gear less than a year old, or even asking for a warranty card.
I should qualify that by saying I haven't been so active on the internet photography discussion groups over the past few years as I was between 1992 and around 2012. It's possible they have decided to begin enforcing that rule, and that I just haven't heard about it.
But getting back to the issue the OP brought up... I don't think he is going to get the 5D4 for that price. I think that:
1. It was a low-ball auction price intended to get people to bite, but that they have absolutely no intention of fulfilling, because my guess is that grey market or not, they'd be losing money at that price.
2. Their real intention was to get the extra $370 or whatever in the first place, and they usually have little trouble convincing people to do it with the "excuse" that they'd be getting the North America model.
3. I do not believe that the extra $370 would actually yield a legit North America model; I think it's the amount of money they need to make their grey market camera profitable, and that's what you'd end up with.
There were a large number of disreputable sellers in the backs of the photo magazines in the pre-web days, and this was exactly their M.O.-- Advertise a ridiculously low price, then after they got people's credit card numbers, call them and harass them to "upgrade" to the USA model, or some other lame excuse. One vendor was well known for calling people and telling them the camera price they agreed to didn't include the battery cover or the weather sealing or some other similarly bogus claim, and that they could get the "good" version for only $XXX more dollars.
ETA: Another common claim was that the grey market lens you ordered for an (unrealistically) great price was the 'plastic mount' version that would fall apart within a year, and that you had to pay extra to get the metal mount. This for lenses that were never, ever made with a plastic mount, like the 85/1.8 USM or the 80-200/2.8L.
p.1 #9 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
I had a partially similar, however good, experience. Sorry to hear of your annoying buying experience.
Years ago I ordered a gray market L lens from one of the 2 most reputable online sellers in NY where their online listing stated exactly what “gray market” meant and that there was no warranty of any kind included. The price was very tempting for the somewhat legendary lens I was considering so I jumped on it.
The next day I received a call from them to confirm the purchase on my credit card and if gray market was what I intended and if I would consider upgrading to the North America warranted version, yes, for more $ whereupon I respectfully declined. They thanked me for my business and informed that they would promptly ship my lens out that same day with the shipper tracking # information to follow shortly via email. That was it, no other information given.
Like clockwork I quickly received the shipping info and the lens arrived on the promised date. Upon unpacking the plain brown shipping box containing the retail box therein followed by the preverbal ceremonial-like box opening, sorry no video of the exciting event was taken or posted, and much to my surprise the lens I received was the North American version with the official Canon factory warranty card and English language manual included!
The invoice showed the correct agreed upon price for a gray market version of the lens however the description listed it as the North American version with its S/N included that matched the lens sent. It turns out that the shipment was not in error and that there was an error on their part by accepting my order when the gray market version was actually out of stock so they filled my order anyway by substituting with a North American version that was in stock!
p.1 #10 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
I'm UK based so the "rules" may be a little different, but recently I bought a 6D-II from Eglobal Central and I had none of that hassle. It cost just £911.04 and arrived at my home just a few days later. All brand new etc. I registered it with CPS online, no hassle with that either. I assume that there would not be a warranty but the Canon UK warranty is only for 12 months anyway.
I have bought other gear from Eglobal without issues e.g. Canon 600EX RT II, Samsung Galaxy S9, Gopro Hero 6 x 2.
Longer ago I bought from other grey sources two 5D-IV's and one 5DS-R without any issues. They were much more expensive then but still cheaper than the UK main dealers.
The savings are so great that it makes a lot of sense to just pay for service if required - which I do anyway with Fixation UK.
p.1 #11 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
still no word back from them regarding the fake tracking# or real shipping info. When they were trying to get me to upgrade, they sent me 3 emails and called me 4x but as soon as I told them I wanted the original deal, they went dark and there has been no contact!
p.1 #12 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
jzucker wrote:
still no word back from them regarding the fake tracking# or real shipping info. When they were trying to get me to upgrade, they sent me 3 emails and called me 4x but as soon as I told them I wanted the original deal, they went dark and there has been no contact!
Since this was an eBay transaction, you have a certain amount of leverage. If they won’t communicate with you and they don’t send the camera, you can open a dispute with eBay. Be sure to follow all the guidelines for doing so. This will lead to one of two outcomes:
1. They might decide to honor the transaction, and send the camera. I don’t know how likely this is, since (as I said above) I believe that price is below their cost.
p.1 #13 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
I’ve purchased three bodies from them, at different times without a hiccup. They called once about an upgrade, I said no, and that was it. All bodies were new as advertised and work perfectly. I’d buy from them again.
p.1 #15 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
they seem very confused. I just called them and they said they'd get back to me asap with order status and insisted the tracking # is good even thought it's listed as shipped with an estimated delivery date of yesterday but the actual tracking status is "label printed".
He said he'd call me back but I was calling from my office number and when I asked him if he knew who I was, he said no but he'd look me up from the phone #. I told him that wouldn't work and he asked my name, "jack zucker" and he said, "ok zack", i'll look you up and get back to you.
p.1 #17 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
I bought a 6D II from them. It wasn't shipped until 3 days after I purchased it because I ignored their first 2 calls. On one hand, I appreciate that they call to verify that you know it is a grey market item. I guess the average Joe might not understand the difference and some verbal clarification might help.
I ended up ponying up the additional 150 for a USA model. I guess I'm a sucker.
Anyways, I also got a tracking number from them the day after I purchased. It listed an expected delivery date of 3 days later. Like I said, there was 3 day delay in it actually getting sent. Once I paid the PayPal invoice, the tracking info updated to reflect a new delivery date.
So yeah, ordering from them is a bit of a hassle. But if you do end up receiving the item for 1200 less than Adorama....well maybe its worth the hassle.
I hope it works out!
p.1 #18 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
Thanks Jake, hopefully I do end up getting it. In the original upgrade pitch, the 3 day ship was tailored to the upgrade and if I didn't purchase the USA upgrade, the shipment would be standard UPS ground and shipped from california instead of jersey. The tracking number associated with my order is a 3 day shipment originating from jersey so I suspect they added the "shipped" status as an incentive for me to do the upgrade. I would have upgraded for $150 but $370 put it in the same price range as many other stores so I wasn't keen on the upgrade.
p.1 #19 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
Yeah, I was willing for 150. $370 is a different ballgame.
Of course, if I had waited another month, I could've scored the Canon Refurb 6D II for $1299 deal and not dealt with any of the hassle.
Oh well, you live and learn.
p.1 #20 · Just bought a 5d MK IV from deals-all-year on ebay
Just got a call from them. The shipment from HK has been delayed but they can give me the USA model upgrade for $270 instead of $370. I told them I'd stick with the original deal (again?!?) and he told me it would ship today. Still puzzled but maybe I'll get it...
