Buying lens from eBay sellers in China

[MSW]

Hey everyone! This is my first post here and hopefully it won't be considered an idiotic one!

 

I'd like to get an 18mm/f2 and haven't found too many used options on eBay. However, there are quite a few new ones up for grabs from sellers in China. I'm wondering if anyone has gone the grey market route and what the experience has been, both with delivery time and actual product. If you've had your lens for over a year, that would be good to know, as well. I read somewhere that sometimes these grey market lenses begin to have issues after 6-12 months time (not sure how legitimate that claim is, however).

 

Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I have gone grey market a couple of times.  No problems.   I have never (over 40 years) needed a repair on a lense from a camera body manufacturer, only on third party lenses.  

 

To encourage no problems I suggest:

Only high volume sellers with a 99% rating.

If it's coming from China, stick to Hong Kong.  

Gray market from Japan seems to be totally reliable as well.

 

Reference to "white box" is good it means a retailer has a stock of camera plus body kits and has broken them up to sell seperately.  These are new and untouched.  At least that's the way it is supossed to be.

 

You only get hurt if you need warranty service during the standard warranty period.  You could still get warranty service if you want to ship the item back to HK or where ever.  If you need a repair in the US you are in the same boat as someone with an expired warranty.  (I have read that Canon and/or Nikon may refuse to do anything -even for $$$ -- in this situation, but I've also read Fuji is friendlier)

Edited June 23, 2016 by MSW

[CRAusmus]

Just picked up the 27, that shipped out of Hong Kong for 217.  Transaction cleared today, and when I got home from work the lens was on my doorstep.  I ordered on the 21st.  Now that's fast shipping.

 

I'll put it through it's paces and see how I like it for sure, but looks like the one down the street at the camera shop to me, and the shot I took of my back yard looked nice.  We'll see...