Grey Market? (1 Viewer)

[Dennis Mau]

I bought a new pair of Swarovski 8x20 compact binoculars from Amazon.com and the seller was Focus Camera. I received them and they were fine and I went to the Swarovski website to register them for warranty validation. Well you need two numbers to register your binoculars. The serial number and the UPC number. Both of these numbers should be on your Swarovski box. I entered the serial number without a problem but when I went to enter the UPC number I noticed there was a non-removable sticker stuck over the UPC number with some goofy non-valid numbers on it. I know they were non-valid because I tried to enter them in as the UPC number. The UPC number MUST be a 12 digit number beginning with 708026 according to Swarovski or it won't take it. My question is is this binocular grey market? I returned it because I could not validate the warranty. I am not paying $729.00 for a binocular and not having any warranty. There was no way you could remove the sticker without completely disintegrating the UPC number underneath it. Have you guys ever encountered this problem before?

 

[barshnik]

I'd like to know what Focus Camera has to say about it. Definitely sounds fishy.

John F
LV NV

 

[Dennis Mau]

I'd like to know what Focus Camera has to say about it. Definitely sounds fishy.

John F
LV NV

Amazon is going to investigate it. Hiding or getting rid of the UPC is usually a method of disguising grey market merchandise.

 

[cycleguy]

That is why I have trended back to more reputable dealers!!! Cabelas has always been very good to me... so they get most of my money.

One i-net bino company made me send in pictures of the product I received before they would issue a RMA. Then, were slow to follow thru with correspondence. Then, took another 30 days to issue refund.

I don't deal with them anymore. I guess I've become too demanding and impatient for the BS.

I've always steered clear of Focus Camera... sounds like it was a wise decision.

CG

 

[jan van daalen]

Denco,
What was the sr number of the pocket. Check this with SONA. They know which optics is delivered to whom and when.
Jan

 

[Dennis Mau]

That is why I have trended back to more reputable dealers!!! Cabelas has always been very good to me... so they get most of my money.

One i-net bino company made me send in pictures of the product I received before they would issue a RMA. Then, were slow to follow thru with correspondence. Then, took another 30 days to issue refund.

I don't deal with them anymore. I guess I've become too demanding and impatient for the BS.

I've always steered clear of Focus Camera... sounds like it was a wise decision.

CG

I am staying with Eagle Optics and sometimes Adorama or B&H. Even Amazon can be risky because of NY sellers like Focus Camera and certainly E-bay is risky. Also, don't buy anything from Browe.com. They sell Docter binoculars. They are terrible! They never respond to e-mails and say they have stuff in stock when they don't. With these riskier sellers you might save a few dollars but it is not worth it in the hassle you often times encounter. My experience has been that Eagle Optics is the BEST. Quick shipping, easy returns and no problems.

 

[Dennis Mau]

Denco,
What was the sr number of the pocket. Check this with SONA. They know which optics is delivered to whom and when.
Jan

Too late I already returned them yesterday. I gave Focus Camera negative feedback and reported them to Amazon.

 

[jan van daalen]

Pitty. Lost chance.

 

[bearclawthedonut]

Denco:

Good luck with Amazon. My experience is that they will tut-tut with you and say that's no way to treat a valued customer like yourself - but they will actually do nothing. Certainly, they will refund your account (even if focus camera refuses to issue a refund), but take any action against focus camera - no, absolutely not.

It's best to check the merchant reviews (particularly the most recent reviews) prior to making your purchase. When dealing with Amazon you must contact customer service (866-216-1072) if you want to initiate a complaint. Pretty much everything done via email is a waste of time, except getting authorization (needed for a prepaid return shipping label) for your return. Good luck - you will get your money back, but no additional satisfaction.

bearclawthedonut

 

[ClayTaylorTX]

Denco,
What was the sr number of the pocket. Check this with SONA. They know which optics is delivered to whom and when.
Jan

Hi all -

Jan is correct, a quick phone call to the SONA Customer Service line at 800-426-3089 (follow the prompts for Customer Service) would have allowed the serial number to be traced and its origin quickly determined.

Without any other knowledge of the circumstances with the binocular from Focus, some dealers will cover the Swarovski Optik UPC with their own in-house bar code so that their internal inventory systems will correctly follow the product path.

In any case, the correct UPC number could also have been supplied by Customer Service at the same time as the phone call.

Clay Taylor
Swarovski Optik N.A.
[email protected]

 

[Dennis Mau]

Hi all -

Jan is correct, a quick phone call to the SONA Customer Service line at 800-426-3089 (follow the prompts for Customer Service) would have allowed the serial number to be traced and its origin quickly determined.

Without any other knowledge of the circumstances with the binocular from Focus, some dealers will cover the Swarovski Optik UPC with their own in-house bar code so that their internal inventory systems will correctly follow the product path.

In any case, the correct UPC number could also have been supplied by Customer Service at the same time as the phone call.

Clay Taylor
Swarovski Optik N.A.
[email protected]

That may be fine but just for resale sake I don't want a Swarovski box without the UPC number on it. That is baloney when you are paying full retail. No more Focus Camera binoculars for me. I ordered this one from Eagle Optics and I am sure I won't have any problems. That is stupid to cover the UPC number with their own label when they know you need it for warranty registration.

 

[Dennis Mau]

Denco:

Good luck with Amazon. My experience is that they will tut-tut with you and say that's no way to treat a valued customer like yourself - but they will actually do nothing. Certainly, they will refund your account (even if focus camera refuses to issue a refund), but take any action against focus camera - no, absolutely not.

It's best to check the merchant reviews (particularly the most recent reviews) prior to making your purchase. When dealing with Amazon you must contact customer service (866-216-1072) if you want to initiate a complaint. Pretty much everything done via email is a waste of time, except getting authorization (needed for a prepaid return shipping label) for your return. Good luck - you will get your money back, but no additional satisfaction.

bearclawthedonut

I agree with you. I think Amazon just blows smoke and makes you feel good but in reality they do nothing. They tell you what they think you want to hear. But customer service wise they are still one of the best around and returns are easy with printing out your own shipping labels.

 

[FXM]

If it's not too tricky what does 'Grey Market' mean please?

 

[Highway Dog]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market

 

[FXM]

Wow. Had a read of that Highway Dog. Thanks.

Minefield.

So if I bought the genuine article (camera and lens say) from a legitimate dealer in e.g New York and brought it back to the UK would I have done anything wrong? Would the warranty still be okay. I can hear import duties already I think!

You'll have discussed this before I'm sure, so sorry for asking again. I'm new to buying cameras.

Cheers.

Frank

 

[Binastro]

The warranty may not be honoured even an international warranty, which often isn't.
It certainly isn't with many cheap consumer digital compacts.
But buying grey imports from a good source in the U.K. means the store will just change it for another one.

 

[FXM]

The warranty may not be honoured even an international warranty, which often isn't.
It certainly isn't with many cheap consumer digital compacts.
But buying grey imports from a good source in the U.K. means the store will just change it for another one.

Thanks Binastro.

 

[jan van daalen]

If it's not too tricky what does 'Grey Market' mean please?

Just now read this post, so it's a bit late.

A few years ago, Holland had 1200 photoshops and at this moment it's about 250. The 6 biggest shops do 85% of the total business and a while back I was at a meeting with Optic, photo and hunting dealers and the following story about grey imports comes from a "bigger" photo dealer.

A few years ago, they imported a container photo equipment from the Far East and exported the same container to a country in Africa and received subsidy from the European Community because they exported to an developing country. From Africa the same container was imported to Europe and the received subsidy from the EC because they imported from an developing country to Europe.
The merchandise was free of costs after this and they sold it for very low prices, damaging the authorised dealers who could not sell for those prices.
The containers kept coming and moving.

I can imagine that this grey market seller will give you an other camera when yours is broken.
I can also imagine that the authorised dealer will throw you out of his shop when you come with that camera for warranty issues.

Jan

 

[Binastro]

But what does the above story tell us of the madness, unbelievable waste and ridiculous edicts that emanate from the European community.

 

[jan van daalen]

Well, I think their intentions are good, but the way others "stretch' the rules to their benefits.....

Jan