HUSA Gray Market Policy

[dougfromtumwater]

Hello

 

Could I get some advice? I recently became aware of Hasselblad USA's

new Gray Market policy. It reads aggressively with statements such

as:

 

"Hasselblad USA is actively involved in eradicating gray market as a

source of Hasselblad product in the United States."

 

It also implements a Nikon USA like embargo on the service of Gray

market products:

 

"You will not receive warranty service, spare parts or out-of-

warranty service from Hasselblad USA or its authorized service agents

for the life of the equipment and regardless of the owner."

 

 

If I buy gray market, new or used, what will I do for servicing?

Should I resist those low prices from reputable stores like

DeltaInternational?

[jeff_rivera5]

Send it oveseas or have one of the many qualified private techs repair it for you.

[db1]

I always prefer to have my gear worked on by the Manufacturer, if possible.

[david_henderson]

Hasselblad's behaviour is apparently not illegal but in my view it

should be. These sorts of policies often are stimulated by

pressure from distributors not the manufacturer and are purely

discriminatory, intended to protect high (some might say too

high) distributor margins. Provided you are prepared to pay for

out of warranty service or parts then you *should* be able to get it

irrespective of where you bought the camera originally. Indeed

given decent administration there is no reason why a

manufacturer's warranty shouldn't apply worldwide, and where it

doesn't it's because distributors don't want it to be.

 

However this doesn't appear to be true and no one will force

Hasselblad USA to behave reasonably. You have the option of

sourcing technical help in the country of origin for ever; relying on

a non-specialist repair source that still has to get parts; or

choosing another brand that adopts less aggressive policies.

 

One wonders how companies that treat potential customers as

enemies will survive long term.

[david_goldfarb]

International shipping being no big deal in this day and age, I don't worry about USA warrantees in general. Even if one considers that international shipping is costly, it is often minimal compared to the price difference between USA and grey market, and if it doesn't, then that's when to go with the USA item.

[hasselblad technician]

If you buy used gray market equipment, you can have the equipment serviced by an independant Hasselblad technician, such as myself. You would get the same quality service that Hasselblad would provide, but at less cost.

 

David S. Odess

 

Factory trained Hasselblad technician

 

28 South Main Street #104

 

Randolph, MA 02368

 

(781) 963-1166

[chris_henry1]

That is a shame. And what about those photographers who may have bought their

gear while travelling overseas, from legitimate Hasselblad dealers? This undermines

the notion of universality of the brand, and confidence in the fairness of pricing. I

don't mind paying a little more for the USA product to support a local dealer

(considering it isn't any different from any of those sold elsewhere), but the price

gaps in some goods sold here versus prices from legitimate brick and mortar dealers

in other countries (even with VAT!) is too great to ignore. Hasselblad is favoring its

dealers over its customers, those that are left, that is. I live in a major metropolitan

area on the U.S. east coast, and the "dealers" are really nothing more than order

takers, with pitifully little stock on hand to justify any markup. I don't see what

advantage an experienced photographer would have ordering goods from them over

an overseas seller; many salespeople aren't that knowledgable about the line, and

there isn't much stock on hand for a swap-out if there is a problem, something that I

would be expecting if I were a pro depending on my gear for a living.

 

If Hasselblad wants to inspire any confidence in its customers, it needs to hold its

dealers to higher standards of service and performance to justify these market

protections.

[azdustdevil]

Hasselblad (Hasselbleed you to death) is acting like an American corporation. I indeed use Hasselblad equipment, sometimes, but beware: I have a new degital camera system that blows the Hassy away for a mere fraction of the cost. Maybe Hasselblad really wants to get out of the camera business. At the rate they are going, it won't be long. I for one, am through with Hasselblad until they decide to come off the high-horse.

[bob_salomon]

A camera purchased while traveling overseas is not a gray market camera.

 

A camera imported from a dealer who is overseas and is imported with the object of

reselling it in the US is gray market.

 

A camera imported from a dealer who is overseas for your own use may be gray

depending on the distributor's policies.

 

Hasselblad is not simply a distributor in the US. They are a factory subsidiary of

Hasselblad.