I'm about to press the buy button on a new Nikon mirrorless camera and lens, and have found it (new) considerably cheaper via a 'grey imports' business, Cotwold Cameras. Their reviews look decent and the only potential issues I can spot are a slightly longer delivery timescale and absence of manufacturer warranty, which is replaced by their in-house three year warranty. Is there anything else to consider before spending a few grand with them?
Apart from used/second hand camera/lens gear I’ve bought, new purchases have almost all been ’grey’.
I’ve used HDEW and Panamoz, haven’t yet used Cotswold but I’ve heard they’re fine. The warranty ’coverage’ of reputable grey importers has been very good in cases where a couple of friends of mine had to use it.
Ditto the above.
HDEW have a reputation for reliably shipping gear world-wide which makes them a very popular choice amongst pro photographers who work overseas.
I've used Cotswold years ago for some stuff but not camera/lenses, faultless service then. Also used Panamoz no issue. In fact about 15yrs ago a couple of other HK suppliers too with no issue. I now use e infinity bought 2 cameras and 4 lenses, no issues. However, having said this I've not had any faulty products either, so no idea how that might be handled by any of them. e infinity appears to offer best prices.
I bought something from cotswold. Arrived very quick and was what was advertised. The best question to ask is if anyone has ever had to return anything or had to deal with guarantee complaints regards Gray imports.
I bought a camera and lens from e-infinity, a few months after the lens failed. After making me go through various diagnostic steps, they got me to send it to FujiFilm UK to get it repaired, and reimbursed me the repair costs.
Peej said
I've used HDEW in the past and faultless each time.
+1 - I can't speak for Cotswold.
Used Cotswold a week or so ago for camera and lens - flawless comms, delivery tracking and delivery (in about a week) saved £920 on a UK price of £2,519 what's not to like?
I used Panamoz at the end of September. What would of cost me 7k here cost me just shy of 4k.
Also email if you have seen it cheaper and they will match it or better it.
Delivery was 6 days. Faultless service, kept me up to date with tracking etc.
For you personally? Yeah. Assuming the warranty is worth a damn and they aren't some sketchy operation working out of someone's house that can't process a return.
For the community/country? Depends if they are paying all the right tax.
Collectively we all lose out if we tolerate tax dodgers who sell warranty-free products for lower prices. If they are replacing the warranty with something of equal value and paying the correct tax, then it's just a kind of arbitrage.
Thankfully the grey import situation is way, way less shady than it was 10-15 years ago, and the really sketchy discounters have been largely driven out of the market.
Edited by Unfocussed Mike
A few years ago I bought a second-hand Canon 5D mk 3 from a reputable UK based retailer and then tried to register it to my Canon Prof Servs ‘kit bag’. When I entered the serial number a pop-up told me that registration was not possible as the camera was assigned to the North American market. For a company producing kit in the Far East and selling it world-wide, that seemed a bit strange.
I've bought from Cotswold Cameras, no problems at all. And while I didn't get a Nikon guarantee I did get (if I remember correctly) their own 12 month guarantee. 80,000 clicks later its still going strong!
@Golding said
I've bought from Cotswold Cameras, no problems at all. And while I didn't get a Nikon guarantee I did get (if I remember correctly) their own 12 month guarantee. 80,000 clicks later its still going strong!
3 years warranty upgradeable to 5 years
photofervor said
@Golding said
I've bought from Cotswold Cameras, no problems at all. And while I didn't get a Nikon guarantee I did get (if I remember correctly) their own 12 month guarantee. 80,000 clicks later its still going strong!
3 years warranty upgradeable to 5 years
Wow, it was a good one then! I'd forgotten how long it was.
