[Leica] Buying Leica gear from Hong Kong

Nathan Wajsman photo at frozenlight.eu
Thu Dec 10 14:34:07 PST 2015


Frank, everything gets counterfeited, from detergents to smartphones to airplane parts. Trust me.
A grey market serial number would still be recognized; you might not get warranty service in the “wrong” region, but the item itself would be genuine.

Cheers,
Nathan

Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/>
http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/>
Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator>
YNWA













> On 10 Dec 2015, at 22:58, Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> In the US, if you try this with Nikon gear, bought abroad ( not US), you would most likely get the same message and result.
> 
> The counterfeiting of a camera body or lens is so difficult, that it is highly unlikely.  The report that the attempted registration was invalid is more likely to be the equivalent of punishment for the user for daring to buy on the world market and try to get future service or support in the users country.  ( Nikon's actual reason...!)
> 
> IOW, a very tough tariff punishment from the country agent... not the manufacturer .... and probably does not affect your actual Manufacturer's warranty, from wherever it was purchased.
> 
> Leica included......
> 
> YMMV
> 
> Frank Filippone
> Red735i at verizon.net
>> 
>> You have reminded me of the ZD lens I bought over the counter in HK some years ago, Nathan. It appeared to be completely genuine, from an established well-known vendor. As with most of the range, the lens was manufactured in PRC. When I came to register it on the Olympus website, the serial number was rejected as invalid. Thus, while I knew I would not have the Olympus European 2-year warranty for a lens bought in HK, I ended up with no warranty at all.
>> 
>> I have to assume that as well as outright counterfeiting, there is off-the-records manufacturing taking place, whereby perhaps an order for a batch of 1000 ends up in 1050 being produced, and the surplus sold off "from the back door". 
>> Piers
>> 
> 
> 
> 
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