Doctor wrote:👍 👍
Saved me typing it!
AzzA_teu wrote:Sorry mate that's just completely false.
Im not being rude, but you should probably learn the meaning of grey import before commenting any further. Its worth learning the difference as it could benefit you one day.
Not once has a manufacturer ever said there is a difference between the "manufacturing quality" of a grey import and local product. It's just not true. Are you under the impression that they manufacture cameras differently for Australia than every other country in the world?
Pricing is an infinitely more complex issue than claimed "manufacturing quality", but we can just look at simple supply and demand for starters. To give you an example, one of the U.S's largest camera retailers B&H sells more Canon camera equipment than the whole of Canon Australia. We are a minuscule market.
The only difference between grey market equipment and local stuff is the warranty conditions NOT quality. Most grey market gear needs to be sent back to the original country it was supplied to. Then there is some grey market equipment that has international warranty and can we serviced/repaired locally with no dramas at all. It's up to the individual whether or not they want to accept the potential hassle of sending overseas for replacement or repair if they don't have international warranty.
Oh, to throw another spanner in the works, one can even buy a Mack International warranty for piece mind.
DubCrazy wrote:AzzA_teu wrote:Nope, that's completely incorrect about "cheaper parts".
"Grey" imports are made exactly the same as the local products. They are made in the same factories by the same people and have the same warranty conditions. Only thing that differs is the region of the warranty, hence why many Grey import items don't have Australian warranty.
You are also wrong when you make the generalisation saying Grey Imports don't have Australian warranties. Most don't, but there are a number of items which in fact do have International warranties such as the Canon L series lenses (off the top of my head).
There are a number of Grey importers which have a better reputation of handling warranties than local retailers also. However you definitely do need to shop around. Grey import products are a trade-off. Considerably cheaper prices vs potential hassle of warranty and depending on the item you may not be saving much.
I am not going to dive into a slanging match but the vast majoryity of grey import is not the same componants as this is how they make them cheaper. many times it has been shown to the be the case. The grey import stuff even feels different, i know u mite say its all in the mind but a friend has the same nikkon body as my wife but tis a grey and we weighed them and it was a fair bit lighter if they are the same they would weight roughly the same....
some people are more than happy useing grey imports and thats fine i personaly wouldn't touch them. its a choice.
at the end of the day people will buy what they want and as long as they are happy so be it...
steff.......................
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+ 1. "grey Imports in aus, are just what you get from the main factory of the maker of the product.
and if you look close enough, DD Photographics never claim that they are selling the australian product.
"FAQs
1. Where is Discount Digital Photographics Pty Ltd located?
We are located in Sydney, New South Wales, in the northern suburbs, and in New Farm, in Brisbane, Queensland.
2. Can I pick up the goods I purchase?
Yes, unlike many Internet sellers, we welcome it as we actually like to meet our customers. Pickup outlets are located in Sydney and Brisbane.
3. Are your cameras genuine manufacturers' products?
Yes, they are. We sell only cameras manufactured by leading brand manufacturers. All cameras come with manuals, software and other original items typically included in the manufacturer's factory-supplied pack, unless otherwise specified. Menu controls and screen displays are in English.
4. Are your cameras new?
Yes, they are. We do sometimes offer refurbished or secondhand items, and this will be clearly stated in such items' descriptions.
5. Are your cameras Australian stock?
No. We are importers and buy our stock from overseas either directly from the manufacturer or a reseller, and do not source our products from the Australian office of each manufacturer. We do not believe this makes a difference for the purchaser as even Australian stock is brought in from overseas. There is no camera model made especially for the Australian market. In this globalised world, all cameras and photographic accessories are made side-by-side in the same factories for the world market. On the odd occasion, included accessories with a camera we sell may differ. We provide a list of included accessories with each camera model we sell.
6. Can I claim rebates or cashbacks from the manufacturers?
No. Cashbacks are typically offered by the manufacturers' Australian branches and apply only to the items they themselves imported. As we do not buy our stock from them, our customers are not entitled to claim on any such cashback offers. We do factor in these offers in our pricing.
7. What about warranties?
Our products do not come with the Australian manufacturer warranties. Some do come with manufacturer international warranties, in which case you can take them to the manufacturer service centre. Most of our products come with a 12 month parts and labour warranty. Where we are the warrantor, you must return your purchases to us for in-warranty repairs. You should clear up any warranty questions you may have before purchasing. Should an item you purchase from us have a manufacturer defect within 7 days of purchase, the item will be replaced. You must contact us by filling in the Repair/return merchandise form and wait to hear back from us before sending anything back.
8. What about the negative statements that have been made about parallel or 'grey' imports?
We believe that most of such comments are unwarranted, sometimes even false, and sometimes used to scare consumers. Parallel imports are called 'grey imports' by some to suggest some illegality about the origin of the products offered for sale. Factually, parallel imports simply refer to items that have been imported outside of the authorised distribution network in a particular country. It does not imply that the item is illegally sourced. We source our products directly from the manufacturer overseas or from a reseller. The fact is that parallel imports are legal in Australia. We believe this increases competition and ultimately, benefits the consumer.
9. How do you select which cameras to stock?
We sell only branded cameras. We keep up with the newest innovations in the digital camera market and selects from the latest products available in the global market. We typically stock the latest models that are the best in their class. Call us if you are interested in knowing what is coming up next in the marketplace.
10. How can we trust buying from you?
We are an Australian registered company and provide a full tax invoice with every transaction. We have been in business since 2004. We also allow pickups which makes us transparent and open to you, the customer. Finally, we have major Australian bank credit card merchant facilities, which are provided only to trusted, security-conscious merchants."
http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/faqs.htm
yes, they are amazingly cheap... but, take that page and make your own choice.
personally my thoughts are:
you want a point and shoot camera? get something from teds/camera house with a warranty! (canon G12!!!!!!! - almost an slr, rugged and super sweeeeet!! and you can use a larger flash, like a ex270 too!)
you are super keen on the artistic side of photo's/ are making money from photos, buy a body from a place you know you can take it back/ get help and,
buy lenses second hand (forums - photography-on-the.net/forum/ ) or from DDphotographics or ebay or other places online ( digialrev)
🙂
hope thats helpful....
