Is there nothing they won't fake?

Is that happening to Nikon and others let's say in China? The Chinese manufacturer making it for Nikon runs off an extra 500 copies of the lens or camera and sells it internally in China or elsewhere. Nikon doesn't find out about it even though there are serial numbers. What if someone sends it in for warranty repairs? Nikon will either have serial numbers never reported by the Chinese company. Or there will be duplicates filed under warranty with their company flagging the fraud. The Chinese company would be taking a huge chance of losing its contract with Nikon. Do you have a case where this has happened?

Yes, there is at least one case. One involving bags. No serial numbers. Just as filters, also no serial numbers.

The case involving bags shows how complicated things can become, because, as aforementioned grey import, they entered the main, 'official' sales channels, and were sold in shops that were official dealers of the brand. So same brand, same factory, same materials, same product, sold to end customers by same shops. But still rip offs.

I thought the usual gray market were official product meant to be sold in a different country.

Some cameras have a different name in different countries, which would make it more obvious.

Usually without factory warranty service, but the dealer might supply their own

warranty service.

I remember a story about iPhones being sold in China, it am not so sure how they got there,

but (unlike US) with two SIM card slots. It seems common in China, so one can have two

different phone services. Might be nice in the US, but they don't sell them here.

No. Grey market is an unofficial import and sale of genuine goods that are part of what the brand company ordered and received. What i am referring to is goods leaving the factory that aren't part of the production ordered by and delivered to the brand company. Can happen because of the production of almost everything now being outsourced.

These are fakes, only because they are not part of the 'official' stream of goods. But genuine, because they differ in nothing from the goods that are delivered to and sold by the brand company. 'Cut out the middle man' and all that.

Light on facts, as usual. Show us the specifics, examples, evidence rather than hearsay and made-up stories. Counterfeits of pricey, desirable goods are old news. No one buying a fake Hermes Birkin bag is unaware of the scam--or cares that it's a phoney. Real new Birkins aren't MIA ex-factory and sold out of a car boot.

Yes, there is at least one case. One involving bags. No serial numbers. Just as filters, also no serial numbers.

The case involving bags shows how complicated things can become, because, as aforementioned grey import, they entered the main, 'official' sales channels, and were sold in shops that were official dealers of the brand. So same brand, same factory, same materials, same product, sold to end customers by same shops. But still rip offs.

Of course, bags don't have serial numbers and no one files a warranty. So they're harder to track, unlike cameras with serial numbers and warranties.