‘Grey imports’

silvercar

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

silvercar said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

silvercar said:

keepitlegal said:

Cymruchris, I’ve never knowingly bought any grey imports and although there’s savings to be made, I wouldn’t ever buy a grey import. That’s just how I am.
I also didn’t get a better price from the retailer, in fact it was slightly more expensive than the same model cameras in their other stores. 

Fair enough. Though enough people do so without a second thought. Apple products are common as they can be cheaper in USA and Australia. Shop in Costco and you will see plenty of grey imports, coke cans are routinely sourced from Ireland rather than the UK supplier, often ending up in small independent cafes.

Pedantic time but goods from within the EU aren't grey imports, with free movement of goods a rights owner isn't able to restrict where their goods are sold within the EU. 

They can however restrict goods from being imported into the EU for sale so grey imports refer to such goods. 

(Bar any changes that Brexit may have had on this issue for the UK). 

Obviously Brexit has a major impact on this.

Even before Brexit, brands would put major barriers in the way of companies selling their products outside the countries that they had given a franchise for. If the licensed distributor for country X isn’t involved in the sale of those brands in country X, but the distributor for country Y is selling them directly or indirectly into country Y than the franchisee for country Y is losing out. I would call that grey exports. They are great because they aren’t black market and they aren’t white market as they aren’t licensed for sale in that country.

The term refers to goods placed inside a territory not intended by the rights owner.

A fizzy drinks company can’t prevent their German, French or Greek can of drink being sold in another EU country therefore for all intents and purposes their territory isn’t Germany, France or Greece, it’s the EU. There is no ambiguity or “grey” in the matter, the law is clear.

In practice, a production company gets the right to the branding on condition they only supply to companies within their territory. Break the rules and you lose the branding rights. At one point I had a business based on exporting a product that the manufacturer couldn't supply direct. Ironically a major customer had the branding rights in that European country but neither would trade directly with each other for fear of losing the rights to the brand in their country.

keepitlegal

Update.
I wrote a complaint and emailed it to the company’s HQ, received a reply the same day, I was told it would be passed to the area manager who would contact me, that was over two weeks ago. Today I have emailed the CEO directly, copied in my original complaint, so hopefully I’ll hear something tomorrow, but I’m not holding my breath! 

tightauldgit

silvercar said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

silvercar said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

silvercar said:

keepitlegal said:

Cymruchris, I’ve never knowingly bought any grey imports and although there’s savings to be made, I wouldn’t ever buy a grey import. That’s just how I am.
I also didn’t get a better price from the retailer, in fact it was slightly more expensive than the same model cameras in their other stores. 

Fair enough. Though enough people do so without a second thought. Apple products are common as they can be cheaper in USA and Australia. Shop in Costco and you will see plenty of grey imports, coke cans are routinely sourced from Ireland rather than the UK supplier, often ending up in small independent cafes.

Pedantic time but goods from within the EU aren't grey imports, with free movement of goods a rights owner isn't able to restrict where their goods are sold within the EU. 

They can however restrict goods from being imported into the EU for sale so grey imports refer to such goods. 

(Bar any changes that Brexit may have had on this issue for the UK). 

Obviously Brexit has a major impact on this.

Even before Brexit, brands would put major barriers in the way of companies selling their products outside the countries that they had given a franchise for. If the licensed distributor for country X isn’t involved in the sale of those brands in country X, but the distributor for country Y is selling them directly or indirectly into country Y than the franchisee for country Y is losing out. I would call that grey exports. They are great because they aren’t black market and they aren’t white market as they aren’t licensed for sale in that country.

The term refers to goods placed inside a territory not intended by the rights owner.

A fizzy drinks company can’t prevent their German, French or Greek can of drink being sold in another EU country therefore for all intents and purposes their territory isn’t Germany, France or Greece, it’s the EU. There is no ambiguity or “grey” in the matter, the law is clear.

In practice, a production company gets the right to the branding on condition they only supply to companies within their territory. Break the rules and you lose the branding rights. At one point I had a business based on exporting a product that the manufacturer couldn't supply direct. Ironically a major customer had the branding rights in that European country but neither would trade directly with each other for fear of losing the rights to the brand in their country.

If those two territories (and the production co) are within the EU that would be illegal though.

keepitlegal

Update.

I was promised over two weeks ago, that the area manager would be in touch, I heard nothing so yesterday I email the CEO directly, I've returned the camera today, I've been told I will receive a full refund and be given a gift voucher to spend in their shop.
As this matter is hopefully concluded, I think it's only fair to not name the company involved.

Thanks to all who gave me input to help clear this matter up.
Keepitlegal

silvercar

tightauldgit said:

silvercar said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

silvercar said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

silvercar said:

keepitlegal said:

Cymruchris, I’ve never knowingly bought any grey imports and although there’s savings to be made, I wouldn’t ever buy a grey import. That’s just how I am.
I also didn’t get a better price from the retailer, in fact it was slightly more expensive than the same model cameras in their other stores. 

Fair enough. Though enough people do so without a second thought. Apple products are common as they can be cheaper in USA and Australia. Shop in Costco and you will see plenty of grey imports, coke cans are routinely sourced from Ireland rather than the UK supplier, often ending up in small independent cafes.

Pedantic time but goods from within the EU aren't grey imports, with free movement of goods a rights owner isn't able to restrict where their goods are sold within the EU. 

They can however restrict goods from being imported into the EU for sale so grey imports refer to such goods. 

(Bar any changes that Brexit may have had on this issue for the UK). 

Obviously Brexit has a major impact on this.

Even before Brexit, brands would put major barriers in the way of companies selling their products outside the countries that they had given a franchise for. If the licensed distributor for country X isn’t involved in the sale of those brands in country X, but the distributor for country Y is selling them directly or indirectly into country Y than the franchisee for country Y is losing out. I would call that grey exports. They are great because they aren’t black market and they aren’t white market as they aren’t licensed for sale in that country.

The term refers to goods placed inside a territory not intended by the rights owner.

A fizzy drinks company can’t prevent their German, French or Greek can of drink being sold in another EU country therefore for all intents and purposes their territory isn’t Germany, France or Greece, it’s the EU. There is no ambiguity or “grey” in the matter, the law is clear.

In practice, a production company gets the right to the branding on condition they only supply to companies within their territory. Break the rules and you lose the branding rights. At one point I had a business based on exporting a product that the manufacturer couldn't supply direct. Ironically a major customer had the branding rights in that European country but neither would trade directly with each other for fear of losing the rights to the brand in their country.

If those two territories (and the production co) are within the EU that would be illegal though.

I guess it is a question of companies not wanting to upset the applecart. My buyer was happy to buy from me , as the producer wouldn't (couldn't?) supply them direct and they had no other way of getting supply. This was before Brexit, so they were both in the EU.