Ebay "New" C-4040's -- How can I tell if it is Gray Market or real?

[11B3Y]

I am not sure this is a valid topic for "Underwater Photography" but I hope it becomes an informative one.

I have been looking for an Olympus C-3040 (predominently on ebay) and have that found most are used....and very close in price to what is advertised as a "New" C-4040 in an unsealed box. I have not been able to find a new C-3040 online and I have not as yet searched local camera shops.

Does anyone think these "New in the box with warranty" type cameras might be the so-called "gray market" cameras Olympus mentions on their website?

Thank you,

Thomas

 

[scorpionfish]

Hi, 11B3Y!

If it comes with an Olympus Corp. warranty, it is NOT a grey market camera. If it comes with any other kind of warranty, it probably is grey market material.

So, just ask the seller if it comes with an Olympus Corp. warranty. Then, you have to depend on his honesty...

Scorpionfish

 

[11B3Y]

Great news! Thanks scorpionfish.

 

[King Kong Matt]

11B3Y once bubbled...
Does anyone think these "New in the box with warranty" type cameras might be the so-called "gray market" cameras Olympus mentions on their website?

I would ask about the UPC code on the box...easy enough to ask the seller and basically what Olympus is telling you to check in order to verify.

Take a look:
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_productadvisory.asp

Hope this helps,
Matt

 

[Wreck Ranger]

The cameras online that I have seen have a 90 day Olympus warranty. I bought mine about three weeks ago (c-3020) and I also bought the Mack warranty in extension from the factory warranty. I am very satisfied with my camera and have no problems buying more items online. I didn't but it at E-bay, I bought it through a company on www.pricetool.com They gave me a list of about 40 companies. They listed them by reputation and price. The place I purchased mine was www.pcvideoonline.com I love mine and I know you'll love your's too ( which ever model Olympus you buy)

 

[clive francis]

i followed the video online link, it would seem they do not know what sort of memory the 4040 uses, as they are showing pictures and prices for CF in related links.

that doesn't look good, and they are charging $229 for 128Mb SM i could buy 3 for that in the over priced and expensive UK

 

[norcaldiver]

You will now find many places online that are selling the 4040 cheap because Oly doesn't make the 4040 any more..neat huh. So many places are clearing them out and they really are NEW IN BOX.

The other thing is...I found a great price on several cameras and I ordered and a rep calls me to tell me "now you DO know that this comes with the Japan Warranty, not the US warranty." I replace cameras pretty often so as long as it's not broken when I get it, It's not going to be used more than about a year so big deal on the waranty not being US...big deal if it even has one over 5 days...

Your case may be different and you would do best to get the US warranty

 

[scorpionfish]

norcaldiver once bubbled...
You will now find many places online that are selling the 4040 cheap because Oly doesn't make the 4040 any more..neat huh. So many places are clearing them out and they really are NEW IN BOX.

"now you DO know that this comes with the Japan Warranty, not the US warranty."

Your case may be different and you would do best to get the US warranty

Hi, gang!

Three comments are in order:

(1) Olympus will still honor its warranty on a discontinued product!

(2) The so-called "Japan Warranty" means it is a grey market product. It is not an Olympus Corp. warranty. Olympus Corp. is the American Subsidiary of Olympus, KK in Japan. DO NOT BUY items with a Japan Warranty, if a warranty is important to you. Olympus, USA will not honor them.


(3) Some marketing companies offer their own warranty. The problem is that they are much less responsible and reliable than Olympus. Beyond that, Olympus has authorized "service providers" in many cities around the US, making it possible to hand deliver your camera, if you wish--or, at least, have the work done in your home state. The marketing companies will require that you send the camera back to them and only them.


Scorpionfish

 

[Former FLL Now MSP Diver]

I didn't look at all the listings, but ones I did all said these were all factory refurbished. Not necessarily a bad thing, but these are not *brand* new. They are ones that have been returned for repair or warranty issues, have been fixed and are being resold again.

FWIW, my current camera and laptop were both bought as factory refurbs. It does take a big bite out of the price, and I haven't had any problems with either. YMMV.

Marc