Grey import lens from Amazon UK

leybald

This email I've just sent to Amazon explains my problem, any thoughts or advice? It was supplied new by a 3rd party retailer via Amazon UK. This is the ad (no mention of it not being a UK model.)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-10-20mm-f4-5-6-Nikon-lens/dp/B0007U00XK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270753164&sr=8-1

" I have tried to register my lens with Sigma UK and they state that this is not a UK import and does not qualify for their extra 2 years (on top of the standard 1 year) warranty for the EX series of lenses. It's what's known as "grey import." If I had known it was not a UK lens I would not have purchased it as I won't have the security of the extended 3 year warranty and may not even be covered by the standard 1 year warranty. The serial number which I checked with Sigma UK is 10550157. The contact at Sigma UK is a Gary Rutter [EMAIL="grutter@sigma-imaging-uk.com"]grutter@sigma-imaging-uk.com[/EMAIL], tel 01707 329 999.
There is no mention on your webpage of this item being a grey import therefore I would be obliged if you could arrange for a UK version of the lens to be shipped to my registered home address and I will have the none-UK version packaged ready for collection by the courier.
If this is not satisfactory I will be contacting my credit card company to resolve the matter. "

withabix

You didn't buy it from Amazon, however

1) You can return it to the 3rd party seller under DSR assuming you've only just bought it.

2) You can return it as 'not as described' , because Amazon website says:

Box Contents

Lens Hood
Fitted Padded Case
Front and Rear Caps
Instruction Manual
1 Year Warranty Card
2 Year Extended UK Warranty Card

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=1161010

leybald

withabix

Your a star!! Well spotted, I didn't see the "2 year extended Uk warranty card"

I've saved the page and printed it off as evidence.

PBurt

I've just got caught out in exactly the same way with a Sigma 10-20 lens bought through Amazon.co.uk from a marketplace seller of unidentified location.

Sigma will not provide the additional 2 years warranty cover because the lens is not an official UK import. And because I did not discover and report this within 14 days Amazon and the seller have turned down my request for an exchange official import lens, or a refund.

They obviously know of past cases and have reacted by now omitting any reference to UK warranty eligibility on the UK website, rather than clarify that goods supplied may not be UK official stock. Buyer beware, but I expected better from Amazon.

In future I shall only use Amazon for less expensive purchases where warranty issues are unlikely to arise.

moonrakerz

There is a little more to this than meets the eye initially.

"Grey imports" originally got this name from the "legitimate" importers/manufacturers to try and cast doubt on the provenance of goods.
What it really is, is a crude attempt by these people to keep the prices of their products artificially high.

If you are happy with a 12 month warranty from Amazon - fine. If you want to pay an higher/inflated price to buy a "non-grey" item, with a 3 year warranty - also fine, but the important thing to remember is that you are buying the same item.

I recently bought (strangely enough !) a Sigma lens from Amazon, I considered the difference in price to be be well worth the slight risk of not having a 3 yr Warranty.

"You pays your money............."

PS: it does say in the box contents: "warranty card" NOT "Warranty" !!!!!

PBurt

Thanks for your comments. You make a valid point that I had not really thought about before this purchase.

But in this instance I had not really been casting around for the lowest price. In fact I've actually ended up paying about £20 more for a "grey import" lens through the Amazon UK website than I would have had I used an official UK photographic retailer, who upon checking (after the event) would have supplied a lens imported via Sigma UK.

I used Amazon.co.uk for convenience as I already have an account with them and until now held them in high regard. Lessons learned I guess?