Nikon's position on UK warranty provided for grey import equipment.

flashp

flashp

Messages
393
Edit My Images
No
I know this isn't a sale post but having looked through this section it's clear that for Nikon equipment at least there is a lot of ignorance regarding warranty cover provided and also the provision of warranty once ownership has changed.
I've spoken with them and asked the question directly and have the answers which are:

  • Nikon UK will honor a warranty claim on a grey import in the first 12 months. They don't care where the item came from.
  • 2nd and 3rd year warranty are provided by a third party. This is the case for UK provided stock also.
  • A warranty is not transferable.
I don't want to get into the opinions etc of whether buying grey is morally correct or not. The above are facts and this is the current position according to Nikon.

Canon for example may have a different policy.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Then put it in the equipment or shopping and supplier forum
Click to expand...
Moderators can put it wherever they think is appropriate. I put it in what I think is the most relevant location in the meantime.
 
flashp said:
I think the message is what's important here rather than the location. Sorry if you find it confusing.
Click to expand...

Good to hear your post as it answers questions for me about my recent grey lens purchases.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Not confused, but you were, as you clearly know its not a sale thread

Look see a Mod has put it where you should have.
Click to expand...
Not confused at all Gary. I put it where I believed it's content was most relevant...where people buy secondhand equipment.
Now it is in a section that has nothing directly to do with secondhand equipment which seems to suit some better.
 
flashp said:
Now it is in a section that has nothing directly to do with secondhand equipment which seems to suit some better.
Click to expand...
Not everyone spends their time on TP hanging around the classifieds,
most prefer to spend their time posting images, discussing said images or talking about the equipment used to take said images.
The classifieds are a perk for contributing members, and many have no need or wish to spend all their time in there.
 
To the OP
The threads in Classifieds DO NOT show up if you use the NEW POST button so many people not buying a grey on here (& I suspect more buy from certain shops) would never see this. But thanks anyway.
 
Cobra said:
Not everyone spends their time on TP hanging around the classifieds,
most prefer to spend their time posting images, discussing said images or talking about the equipment used to take said images.
The classifieds are a perk for contributing members, and many have no need or wish to spend all their time in there.
Click to expand...

I agree, In my experience I've noticed that those hanging around the classifieds usually want to buy something, myself included.
As a contributing member I have also enjoyed the benefit of this facility.
 
flashp said:
In my experience I've noticed that those hanging around the classifieds usually want to buy something, myself included.
Click to expand...
In my experience as a moderator, those that spend a dis proportionate time posting (buying and / or selling) in the classifieds sections lose their access to that section.
Just sayin'
 
Cobra said:
In my experience as a moderator, those that spend a dis proportionate time posting (buying and / or selling) in the classifieds sections lose their access to that section.
Just sayin'
Click to expand...

get a few contentious bird images in "classified" - that'll sort the section out
 
Cobra said:
In my experience as a moderator, those that spend a dis proportionate time posting (buying and / or selling) in the classifieds sections lose their access to that section.
Just sayin'
Click to expand...

That looks like a veiled threat to me. Why else would you use that expression other than to suggest what you have as an option?
Check my stats. You'll find my post behavior doesn't fit that profile.

If you have a genuine issue with my post behavior PM me. Don't allude to something in public which you have no evidence for.
 
Last edited:
flashp said:
I know this isn't a sale post but having looked through this section it's clear that for Nikon equipment at least there is a lot of ignorance regarding warranty cover provided and also the provision of warranty once ownership has changed.
I've spoken with them and asked the question directly and have the answers which are:

  • Nikon UK will honor a warranty claim on a grey import in the first 12 months. They don't care where the item came from.
  • 2nd and 3rd year warranty are provided by a third party. This is the case for UK provided stock also.
  • A warranty is not transferable.
I don't want to get into the opinions etc of whether buying grey is morally correct or not. The above are facts and this is the current position according to Nikon.

Canon for example may have a different policy.
Click to expand...

These are not, as you claim 'facts', these are your recollection of a conversation with Nikon.

Unless you have this in writing?
 
flashp said:
Canon for example may have a different policy.
Click to expand...

I did the same as you as I was about to spend around 6 thousand pounds on a 400m Canon lens ..so I spoke with Canon who told me

they will honor warranty on all lens no matter where they come from
they will only honor camera bodies if you have a UK reciept


So what i personally take from that is....Any canon lens your OK with.. they made that clear.....they don't honor warranties on grey impoorted camera bodies but they will if you have a UK reciept from a uk company because you probably bought it in good faith.. its not up to you to investigate where a UK company gets there stock.. you may not even be aware of what a grey import is or its implications...

PS this was maybe 4 yrs ago... I would advise doing the same as Ashley or myself who had the good sense to ask manufacturer if your at all worried..
 
Last edited:
flashp said:
Not confused at all Gary. I put it where I believed it's content was most relevant...where people buy secondhand equipment.
Now it is in a section that has nothing directly to do with secondhand equipment which seems to suit some better.
Click to expand...
But if youre buying Nikon secondhand equipment as you do in the classifieds then you have nothing to worry about because you HAVE NO NIKON WARRANTY because its not transferable so 100% not relevant to where you posted it, oh and by the way, your opening statement is wrong anyway.
 
JYC said:
These are not, as you claim 'facts', these are your recollection of a conversation with Nikon.

Unless you have this in writing?
Click to expand...
A fact has to be verifiable, this alone qualifies it as a fact. How verification is achieved in this instance might be another individual calling Nikon UK. They have then verified it as fact.It does not have to be in writing.
 
Gary Coyle said:
But if youre buying Nikon secondhand equipment as you do in the classifieds then you have nothing to worry about because you HAVE NO NIKON WARRANTY because its not transferable so 100% not relevant to where you posted it, oh and by the way, your opening statement is wrong anyway.
Click to expand...

I made this point in my original post, you have duplicated it.
  • A warranty is not transferable.
I made the above statement because some seem to think that when buying s/h equipment they then get the remaining warranty. How is the warranty status of secondhand equipment not relevant to the secondhand equipment section of this forum? Particularly when buyers seem to ask this question over and over in this section.
 
Last edited:
@flashp what you are saying would be brilliant news if true, don't get me wrong. I am only posting here because I don't want people to go out and buy grey imports thinking they have UK warranty on the basis of a possible misunderstanding which can easily happen over the phone.

My belief was that unless your product had a worldwide warranty card (which bodies tend not to, perhaps lenses do), Nikon UK would not take it as a warranty repair.

It's detailed here:

https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5409

What does owning a "Grey Market" Nikon product mean to you?
Nikon European offices cannot provide any technical support or warranty service for Grey Market product, additionally they may not perform any fee-based repair work on Grey Market products. Contact the reseller or importer of your Grey Market products for warranty and service information as well as software updates and downloads.

(Page last updated 08/06/15)
Click to expand...

And: https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24908/related/1
What should I do if my product requires service under Warranty?
1. Carefully study the Intruction Manual or read the FAQ's contained within this support site. If you have lost the manual you can probably download a PDF manual from this site. You may find an explanation which avoids unnecessary inconvenience for you.
2. If your product is faulty check if it is covered under the Nikon Corporation one year Nikon Europe or Worldwide Service Warranty.
a. If covered under warranty - send the product to a Nikon Authorized Service Provider.
b. If not covered under warranty - send the product to the Dealer from where the product was purchased.

(Page last updated 20/05/15)
Click to expand...

I would love for their policy to have changed but forgive me if I am slightly sceptical on the basis of one conversation with Nikon, hence my questioning of the 'fact' part of your statement.
 
flashp said:
A fact has to be verifiable, this alone qualifies it as a fact. How verification is achieved in this instance might be another individual calling Nikon UK. They have then verified it as fact.It does not have to be in writing.
Click to expand...

So "someone told me on the phone" is your verifiable fact?

It's funny how Nikon say exactly the opposite on their website (Which being in writing seems a little more verifiable).

What does owning a "Grey Market" Nikon product mean to you?
Nikon European offices cannot provide any technical support or warranty service for Grey Market product, additionally they may not perform any fee-based repair work on Grey Market products. Contact the reseller or importer of your Grey Market products for warranty and service information as well as software updates and downloads.

Does owning a "Grey Market" Nikon product mean I don't have a warranty?
Nikon Europe offer a warranty service system for products which are sold via it's own distribution channels. If you own a Grey Market product it will have to be returned to the reseller or importer for warranty service. Refer to your reseller for service contact information.

THIS SITE IS OPERATED BY NIKON U.K. LIMITED ON BEHALF OF NIKON EUROPE B.V.
Click to expand...

https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5409
 
flashp said:
  • Nikon UK will honor a warranty claim on a grey import in the first 12 months. They don't care where the item came from.
  • 2nd and 3rd year warranty are provided by a third party. This is the case for UK provided stock also.
  • A warranty is not transferable.
.
Click to expand...
Well i just logged into my Nikon pro account and spoke online with a UK adviser who said NIKON will not honour warranties for grey equipment, he did however say if greys are subject to a recall by the manufacturer they will consider fixing it but not at the expense of making UK buyers wait for their fixes (this happened with my grey D750, they fixed it but it took 14 weeks) he pointed me to this page https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5409 and below is a quote

What does owning a "Grey Market" Nikon product mean to you?
Nikon European offices cannot provide any technical support or warranty service for Grey Market product, additionally they may not perform any fee-based repair work on Grey Market products. Contact the reseller or importer of your Grey Market products for warranty and service information as well as software updates and downloads.

Does owning a "Grey Market" Nikon product mean I don't have a warranty?
Nikon Europe offer a warranty service system for products which are sold via it's own distribution channels. If you own a Grey Market product it will have to be returned to the reseller or importer for warranty service. Refer to your reseller for service contact information.

Ends any speculation i think, straight from the horses mouth.
 
flashp said:
A warranty is not transferable.
I made the above statement because some seem to think that when buying s/h equipment they then get the remaining warranty. How is the warranty status of secondhand equipment not relevant to the secondhand equipment section of this forum? Particularly when buyers seem to ask this question over and over in this section.
Click to expand...

Many sales in the classifieds go ahead on the basis that the seller is willing to act as a go between with the manufacturer for any warranty issues in the remaining warranty period.
 
flashp said:
That looks like a veiled threat to me
Click to expand...
No veiled threats it was a general, genuine heads up, to all.


flashp said:
Check my stats. You'll find my post behavior doesn't fit that profile.
Click to expand...
Having just just checked your posting stats you do seem to be spending rather a lot of time posting in the classified section,
flashp said:
. Don't allude to something in public which you have no evidence for.
Click to expand...
As above
 
Last edited:
flashp said:
I think the message is what's important here rather than the location. Sorry if you find it confusing.
Click to expand...

Regardless of the location, as pointed out by others, your post is not a fact & plainly inaccurate, so not only false, but misleading! (n)
 
My brief experience with Nikon has been pretty good. I got two 'grey' D750's. Both went to Nikon for the flare issue - then they both went for focus issues. Fortunately, both have been 'fixed' without any cost and the focus issues were done within 5 working days.

Both times I sent the bodies to Nikon, they requested the original invoice so I'm pretty certain that they knew about the 'grey' issue.
 
KIPAX said:
I did the same as you as I was about to spend around 6 thousand pounds on a 400m Canon lens ..so I spoke with Canon who told me

they will honor warranty on all lens no matter where they come from
they will only honor camera bodies if you have a UK reciept


So what i personally take from that is....Any canon lens your OK with.. they made that clear.....they don't honor warranties on grey impoorted camera bodies but they will if you have a UK reciept from a uk company because you probably bought it in good faith.. its not up to you to investigate where a UK company gets there stock.. you may not even be aware of what a grey import is or its implications...

PS this was maybe 4 yrs ago... I would advise doing the same as Ashley or myself who had the good sense to ask manufacturer if your at all worried..
Click to expand...


I can confirm this as I spoke to Canon before buying my 5D mk3 two years ago.
 
flashp said:
I know this isn't a sale post but having looked through this section it's clear that for Nikon equipment at least there is a lot of ignorance regarding warranty cover provided and also the provision of warranty once ownership has changed.
I've spoken with them and asked the question directly and have the answers which are:

  • Nikon UK will honor a warranty claim on a grey import in the first 12 months. They don't care where the item came from.
  • 2nd and 3rd year warranty are provided by a third party. This is the case for UK provided stock also.
  • A warranty is not transferable.
I don't want to get into the opinions etc of whether buying grey is morally correct or not. The above are facts and this is the current position according to Nikon.

Canon for example may have a different policy.
Click to expand...
This is only partly true. Nikon warranty is worldwide on lenses, and so grey imports will be covered under UK warranty for the first 12 months. However, cameras are regional and so grey imports are not covered under UK warranty.

I have this is writing directly from Nikon today.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top