Unauthorized dealer with a great price on a EOS R

https://www.ebay.com/i​tm/173592020524

It will an Import body not US model. If you need a repair, it will need to go back to the seller and who knows who will do the repair. I doubt that Canon USA would honor warranty work and you might have to pay for repairs. I've always heard that Nikon USA will not touch Imports so be careful and do your homework.

The seller is a reputable seller. For the small price difference ($170) though, I'd probably go with the USA model for Canon's direct warranty. Canon also offers free 13 month CarePAK Plus coverage with product registration.

davinci953 wrote in post #18749929
The seller is a reputable seller. For the small price difference ($170) though, I'd probably go with the USA model for Canon's direct warranty. Canon also offers free 13 month CarePAK Plus coverage with product registration.

I agree that this a reputable seller I have only purchased all my Canon Dslr's form an authorized dealer with a Canon warranty and will continue to do so but this is actually 320 dollars less than the 2299 that it is being sold at.I was just passing the info along.

Amarinelli wrote in post #18750083
I agree that this a reputable seller I have only purchased all my Canon Dslr's form an authorized dealer with a Canon warranty and will continue to do so but this is actually 320 dollars less than the 2299 that it is being sold at.I was just passing the info along.

The CPW 'street price' from an authorized dealer is $2149.99. That's how I arrived at the $170 price difference. Anyway, thanks for the information. It's always good to have options.

In all the years of buying gear, I have never had anything fail inside the warranty period. In just a couple of cases, they both failed well outside the warranty period. Gray market matters little to me personally. However 10% is my threshold for extended warranties and savings through gray market, warranties have to cost under that, and gray market savings has to be above that.

Chances of a camera failing within warranty are very slim. Not saying it can happen. Knock on wood I been with canon since 1994. Never had anything fail within warranty period. Grey market is the same exact item. Save your $170 and buy it

tcphoto1 wrote in post #18749634
It will an Import body not US model. If you need a repair, it will need to go back to the seller and who knows who will do the repair. I doubt that Canon USA would honor warranty work and you might have to pay for repairs. I've always heard that Nikon USA will not touch Imports so be careful and do your homework.

It's my understanding, from speaking with Canon, that they will work on grey markets but not under warranty. If the model is the same worldwide, which seems to be the case with the R, they will work on it. The problem, if any, stems from a European or Asian model being sold to someone in the US. Then it may come down to parts availability. That's why Canon may not work on certain non US models.

saea501 wrote in post #18755665
It's my understanding, from speaking with Canon, that they will work on grey markets but not under warranty. If the model is the same worldwide, which seems to be the case with the R, they will work on it. The problem, if any, stems from a European or Asian model being sold to someone in the US. Then it may come down to parts availability. That's why Canon may not work on certain non US models.

It's not parts availability, that would be the same world wide. A Japan, European, USA, China Canon camera are all identical and can be used anywhere. What changes are the terms of the warranty. If you buy a camera in the US from an authorized dealer, part of the purchase price includes the 1 year Canon warranty. If you buy the exact same camera gray market (European/Japan/China) the price may be a little lower as the warranty cost is not included. Canon will work on these just as they would any camera but you assume responsibility for the cost of the repair

Being that the EOS R is new for 2 reasons (mirrorless FF, brand new model with new tech), I would be hesitant to trade savings for the potential lack of covered warranty work. If we were a year or two beyond this release, and history shows that the EOS R has no issues at all, then my risk level for this type of thing drops.

The same for vehicles for me. If I buy a first year release (even if it is a redesign of current model) vs I buy the last year in a series of a model, the decision for an extended warranty becomes different.

You can get deals. I got my R/24-105 kit via Greentoe for less than the "Street Price" that CPW offers.

gjl711 wrote in post #18755671
It's not parts availability, that would be the same world wide. A Japan, European, USA, China Canon camera are all identical and can be used anywhere. What changes are the terms of the warranty. If you buy a camera in the US from an authorized dealer, part of the purchase price includes the 1 year Canon warranty. If you buy the exact same camera gray market (European/Japan/China) the price may be a little lower as the warranty cost is not included. Canon will work on these just as they would any camera but you assume responsibility for the cost of the repair

You did notice that I said I got that information from Canon....yes?

But, I'm sure you know better than they would.

saea501 wrote in post #18755693
You did notice that I said I got that information from Canon....yes?

But, I'm sure you know better than they would.

Don't need to go any farther that Canon's website although Canon seems to lump gray, black, counterfeit, and broken up kits into one category, gray market cameras. Also, Chuck Westfall (rip Chuck) had a question and answer session a while back where he addressed gray market cameras (not black or broken up) and he discussed the warrenty issue.

saea501 wrote in post #18755665
It's my understanding, from speaking with Canon, that they will work on grey markets but not under warranty. If the model is the same worldwide, which seems to be the case with the R, they will work on it. The problem, if any, stems from a European or Asian model being sold to someone in the US. Then it may come down to parts availability. That's why Canon may not work on certain non US models.

During 2017, Canon was being more aggressive in terms of its website stated policy.

1. Gray market goods, those that have no Canon USA warranty card in the box, may be refused serviced by Canon USA in the warranty period.
   
2. And even after the warranty period, service of the gray market goods may be refused -- even when the user is willing to pay for repair services!
   

"Customers should also be aware that Gray Market products MAY NOT be eligible for:

• Coverage under a U.S. warranty
  
• U.S. promotions, including mail-in and instant rebates
  
• Technical support
  
• Membership programs and other service benefits"
  

Also, in recent years, Canon has been suing gray market retailers of Canon goods.

The possible gains and pitfalls of buying grey market goods are very well known. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. There is an added concern with newly developed and released products as recalls are more likely. Repair would be the same as the warranty. You'd have to return the unit to the original market for service or pay for the repair locally.