Can I safely buy grey-market camera gear from US retailers for use in India?
Asked 11/3/2010
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2 answers
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I'm considering buying a new or refurbished DSLR in the US and having it shipped to India because prices are significantly lower. Since I'd be using the camera in India, I may not benefit from a US warranty anyway.
Are there reputable US sellers that offer grey-market cameras or lenses? Besides warranty coverage, are there other drawbacks or trade-offs with grey-market gear? Is it sensible to rely on deal aggregators or product search results when choosing a seller?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Most grey market sellers are robbers. The will never sell you the camera, unless you agree to pay exorbitant prices for the accessories that should be included anyways.
BH Photo is a reputable stored based in New York that ships internationally. They label some of their products 'Imported' and give a small discount for that. Those count as grey market, I think.
If you're lucky enough the warranty will be valid for you. That depends on the company. I once got a warranty card that said 'Export warranty, not valid in the country where purchased' (something like that).
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is a useful question, and the main concern is seller reputation. Community answers warn that many grey-market sellers use bait-and-switch tactics, especially by pressuring buyers to pay inflated prices for accessories that should be included.
A safer approach is to buy only from well-known, established retailers. One answer specifically mentions B&H Photo as a reputable US store that ships internationally and labels some items as “Imported,” which typically indicates grey-market stock.
The main trade-off is usually warranty coverage, though in some cases manufacturers provide export warranties or region-specific terms. Beyond warranty, the biggest practical risk is the seller rather than the camera itself.
Be cautious with deal aggregators or product search listings: the lowest price can come from unreliable sellers. It’s better to verify the retailer’s reputation first and confirm exactly what is included in the box.
Used-gear marketplaces can also offer savings, but shipping and international logistics may be more difficult.
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