'White Box'

I've seen mentioned quite a few times that a Canon product comes in a 'white box', excuse my ignorance, but whats the significance of that??

I believe this is how kit items are shipped. If someone bought a T5i kit and sold the lens, it would be in a white box.

I could be completely out in left field but it seems to me that a white box cannon product has something to do with point of origin and possibly has an effect on the warranty. Seems the white box items are usually a little less costly.

Some retailers split up kits and sell the components (lens, body, etc.) separately. Those are known as 'white box'.

White Box lenses are the real deal. They have the exact same warranty. The exact USA Canon approval. There is no difference except the box is blank. They are the exact same product.
They come from camera 'kits' for some reason the buyer didn't want the lens or the store may have only had 'kits' and the customer wanted just a camera, etc.
They are not always available.

ImagesByBill wrote in post #17760821
I could be completely out in left field but it seems to me that a white box cannon product has something to do with point of origin and possibly has an effect on the warranty. Seems the white box items are usually a little less costly.

Don't confuse a white box item, a camera or lens sold solo which was originally part of a kit, and a "grey market" product which may have an effect on the warranty.