topic Re: lenses sold in white boxes in EF & RF Lenses

lenses sold in white boxes

scOOCh — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 21:38:33 GMT

Does Canon covers grey market lenses (lenses that comes in white boxes) for repairs? why are they cheaper (way cheaper) than the one that comes in original box?

How do you read the date code on Canon lenses?

your expertise is greatly appreciated.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

cale_kat — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 02:11:02 GMT

Grey market goods are not typically covered by the US warranty. Not all white box items are grey market. Refurbished lenses are frequently sold in white boxes and have a refurbished lens warranty. I believe some store have been known to separate body and lens bundles and sell the lenses separately in a white box. Sold as such by an autorized dealer, these should come with a full warranty but don't purchase anything without knowing first.

The retail box version come with the better packaging and a warranty to protect you in case you have problems. These are value added parts/services.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

TCampbell — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 03:51:09 GMT

A "white box" is not necessarily gray market... but gray market isn't covered by warranty (if it is gray market).

Canon imports lenses for sale in various markets. But sometimes vendors get their own goods and import them on their own (not through Canon) and sell those as "imported". Those are gray market.

If you live in, for example, the US, then you have to buy gear imported to the US by Canon (you'll see a Canon North America (USA & Canada) warranty card in the box with a pre-printed serial number that matches the S/N on the product.

HOWEVER... sometimes stores have the "kit" version of a camera (body + lens) and they have a buyer who doesn't want the lens... but the store doesn't have a "body only" version to sell them. So they'll remove the lens and sell just the camera. That lens can then become a "white box" lens. e.g. it may have been properly imported and can be covered by warranty but isn't packaged with it's original camera.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

cuda719 — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 12:00:47 GMT

A "white box" is not necessarily gray market... but gray market isn't covered by warranty (if it is gray market). This is not totally a true statement. Canon USA will not cover the lens if it is (gray market). That means if a repair is needed the lens will need to be boxed up and shipped overseas. That is the huge issue meaning repairs can take months.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

ebiggs1 — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:22:10 GMT

Now for the correct answer.

Canon USA is the importer. They maintain the warranty facilities and other support.

No matter what the box looks like it is made by Canon to exactly the same standards.

White box lenses from “kits” are Canon USA and therefore carry exactly the same warranty.

Gray market lenses do not come through Canon USA. But there seems to be some confusion as to whether Canon USA warrants them or not. They say they don't but I know of folks that have had it done. On camera bodies, too.

B&H and Adorama maintain Canon warranty stations that do gray market service. So, it may be you will need to send a gray market lens back to the store for warranty but not overseas.

My personal advice and recommendation is to buy Canon USA and forgo gray market. My experience with Canon USA and CPS is worth the small extra, if any extra, cost.

Referbs come with a 1 Year Refurbished Limited Warranty

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

cale_kat — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:30:46 GMT

@ebiggs1, you couldn't be more wrong. There is nothing in your answer that hasn't already been written. Your answer can not be the first correct answer because it isn't the first.

Sorry for any disappointment.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

ebiggs1 — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:33:50 GMT

"Sorry for any disappointment."

How about letting the OP decide?

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

cale_kat — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 15:38:55 GMT

So you're putting down the other replies and you think you're immune to being called a peacock? Will wonders never cease?

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

TCampbell — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:39:05 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
Now for the correct answer.
Canon USA is the importer. They maintain the warranty facilities and other support.

No matter what the box looks like it is made by Canon to exactly the same standards.

White box lenses from “kits” are Canon USA and therefore carry exactly the same warranty.

Canon makes all the Canon lenses ... there's no dispute there. But Canon USA doesn't honor warranty or provide service for a "gray" market lens (regardless of packaging).

White box just means they don't have an original retail box, but you don't neceesarily know "why" they don't have an original retail box. But splitting the kit into a body-only sale and lens-only sale is one of the most common reasons why they don't have an original retail box.

If a buyer has doubts as to why a lens comes in a "white box", they should ask the seller to explain.

Lastly... often times the larger stores will claim to provide service on "import" (gray market) goods. This always makes me a bit nervous. I'd rather have Caon do the service.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

ebiggs1 — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:11:02 GMT

Tim,

I know personally of guys that had a non-Canon USA lens and/or a cameras that Canon USA warranted. It does happen but I did admitt Canon does not publish this. Perhaps some one else will not be so fortunate.

You do not have to worry about B&H or Adorama, they will do as they say and they have repair sources. Those two stores are also good sources for non-waranty work.

Again it is my advise and recommendation to buy ONLY Canon USA.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

Jason — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:07:06 GMT

Hi everyone,

Cameras and lenses purchased as new, in the USA, and from authorized dealers include a one year Canon USA warranty. The exception to this is for products advertised by authorized dealers as imported or gray market models; these do not carry a Canon USA warranty.

If you have purchased a product that is not covered by a USA or International warranty and the product develops an issue that requires repair, you can send the product to an Authorized Repair Facility. It is up to the discretion of the Repair Facility whether the product will be repaired under warranty or whether a charge will apply. Any such repair will also be subject to the availability of replacement parts, if required.

Check out the link below to view a list of our Canon Authorized Dealers:

http://www.usa.canon.com/CUSA/assets/app/pdf/dealer/CanonAuthorizedDealers.pdf

We hope this clarifies!

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

jay968 — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:07:10 GMT

The most common reason a lens is in a white box is because it was part of a kit and the customer wanted only the camera which the retailer may not have had in stock. Many retailers will then take thens out, sell just the body, then sell the lens seperately in its white box. It doesn't necessarily have anything at all with being a grey market lens.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

TCampbell — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 22:30:56 GMT

Canon sells cameras as "kits" in more than just North America. A gray market "kit" can be sold in the USA, for example, and a retailer can ALSO remove that lens from the box and sell it.

My point is, you don't necessarily know why a lens is in a plain white box and while the most common case is that it's a kit lens being solid separately, it could be a used lens, refurbished, lens, or kit lens from an "import" kit.

The safest thing to do is ask the seller why this particular lens is in a white box.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

djtapes — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:51:20 GMT

Hello Jason,

We are selling Canon products in Venezuela and Chile and we are autorized resellers from Canon

Can we as resellers take out a lens from a camera lens kit and sell them separately?

It is that autorized o permitted?

Regards

David A.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

RobertTheFat — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:19:57 GMT

@djtapes wrote:
Hello Jason,
We are selling Canon products in Venezuela and Chile and we are autorized resellers from Canon
Can we as resellers take out a lens from a camera lens kit and sell them separately?
It is that autorized o permitted?

Regards
David A.
www.djpro.tv
www.davidandjoseph.cl

I don't know who Jason is, but this forum is one of the last places I'd look for substantive legal advice.

Re: lenses sold in white boxes

Tiffany — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:52:14 GMT

Hi Djtapes!

Welcome to the Canon Forum! The Canon Forum is hosted and moderated within the United States by Canon USA. Please contact your Canon Latin America account representative for sales information.

Thanks and have a great day!