Grey market deals for the Panasonic LX100 II

The Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II is a enthusiast COMP that features a 16.8MP sensor. It was launched in August 2018 at a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of USD 999. Over time and in particular once a successor model appears on the horizon, camera prices tend to come down. Yet, while waiting for the discounts to kick in, you might have seen some very attractively priced offers from online sellers that advertise international versions of the Panasonic LX100 II. Are these grey market deals too good to be true?

What are grey imports?

Grey market cameras are products that are imported outside the manufacturer's official marketing channels. They are sometimes also referred to as parallel imports. Like other camera producers, Panasonic sells its imaging devices world-wide, but prices them according to prevailing exchange rates (which change over time) and local market conditions. As a result, the Panasonic LX100 II can be found in Japan or other Asian countries at a substantially lower price than in North America or Europe. These pricing differences are exploited by grey market vendors, who buy the cameras in low-priced locations and ship them to countries where Panasonic via its in-country division and its authorized retailer network maintains a higher price level.

The term "grey market" places parallel imports somewhere between manufacturer authorized trade of cameras (the "white market") and trade in illegal or stolen goods (the "black market"). This terminology should, however, not be taken to imply that a camera from the grey market is of somehow inferior quality or of shady origin.

Are grey market transactions illegal?

Grey market imports are subject to the same border taxes and regulations as officially authorized imports of the LX100 II. The products are not smuggled into the country (which distinguishes them from black market merchandise), and they do not represent counterfeit or refurbished goods, but genuine new items. Buying or selling a parallel-imported camera does not violate any laws. However, Panasonic obviously tries to discourage grey market imports, as the latter undermine the company's pricing strategy and squeeze its profit margins.

Is a grey market LX100 II different from an official LX100 II?

Grey market cameras are technically identical to officially marketed ones. They are brand new, probably originate from the same production line, and have passed through the same quality control checks as a camera from an authorized retailer. They also generally come with the same set of accessories and in similar packaging. However, the cameras might be customized for their target markets. This customization might be most visible through the menu languages that the camera's firmware supports. A grey market Panasonic LX100 II might feature several Asian language options alongside English and Japanese, while a camera that comes from an authorized retailer in North America or Europe would complement English with other European languages, such as French or Spanish. Also, the instruction manual that comes with the camera might be in a different set of languages. Sometimes, grey market sellers will modify the original camera set and replace or add a non-original power cord or adapter to localize the camera to the electrical plug standard in the target market (e.g. add a US plug for a camera sold in North America, or add a UK plug for one sold in Britain).

In some cases, grey market retailers will break down camera and lens kits and sell the individual components separately. The latter will then be shipped in white box packages, rather than the standard Panasonic packaging.

Does a grey market LX100 II benefit from the official warranty?

Panasonic discourages grey market imports and does not provide any manufacturer's warranty for these products. So, if the camera fails due to a manufacturing defect shortly after its purchase, Panasonic will not repair or replace it for free. That said, most grey market vendors are providing their own warranty, so that the buyer can send his or her LX100 II back to the seller for fixing or replacement if the camera is faulty. This seller warranty will normally be backed by an insurance company, so that it will be valid even in the case that the seller meanwhile discontinued his or her business. In addition, some buyers find it advantageous for reasons of peace of mind to additionally buy the extended warranty policies that some shopping platforms, such as Amazon or Ebay, offer.

Panasonic UK states on its website: European consumers may find that grey market products do not meet their expectations because the products were not set up and tailored for that local market.; and further: In some cases the manufacturer will not support the standard warranty.

It should be noted that both the Panasonic warranty and the seller warranty are limited warranty policies. These limited warranties protect the buyer from any manufacturing defects, but they do not cover any damage from user error or neglect. So any harm that the owner has done to the camera through mis-handling or accident will not be covered under a limited warranty. The owner will have to pay for the camera repairs, even if the incident occurs before the end of the warranty period.

Will Panasonic repair a damaged grey market LX100 II?

Some camera manufacturers, notably Nikon, keep track of serial numbers and refuse to touch any grey market cameras. Their authorized repair facilities will not even fix them against payment if broken. Panasonic, however, will repair a faulty or damaged grey market LX100 II for a service fee.

Do grey market vendors provide good customer service?

Grey market sellers compete primarily on price. Most vendors will process transactions quickly and accurately. However, grey sellers tend to have very limited staff and run a tight stock management regime. These constraints can sometimes lead to stock-outs and delays. Hence, if you are unlucky, your Panasonic LX100 II might arrive a couple of days later than you had been hoping for. Also, it is probably advisable to be conservative with respect to the quality of the phone support that you can expect. The transaction is all about getting the best price...

A grey market LX100 II will not be eligible for any promotional programs that Panasonic might run, such as special offers or mail-in rebates. Grey market sellers do not offer any such promotions.

How do I identify a grey market Panasonic LX100 II?

Grey market cameras are rarely advertised as such. Indicators of the parallel-importing origin of a Panasonic LX100 II would be a price that is substantially below the prevailing retail price and a mention of "international version", "direct import" or "no manufacturer warranty" in the product description. Alternatively, many grey market sellers just specify the applicable warranty terms at the bottom of the item page, stating that a seller's warranty (rather than a manufacturer's one) is provided.

How do I know a grey market seller is trustworthy?

It is always good to be careful when encountering deals online that seem too good to be true. Yet, Panasonic seems to realise a healthy profit from sales of the LX100 II in Europe and North America, such that grey imports can undercut the MSRP markedly. Grey market offers for the Panasonic LX100 II can be found notably on Ebay, and sometimes also on Amazon. Both of these shopping platforms provide buyer protection policies and feedback facilities. The latter make it possible to check the sales record of different vendors and weed out the unreliable ones. For example, if an Ebay shop has a history of hundreds of positively evaluated transactions for high-value items and a feedback score of 97 percent or higher, one can realistically expect a smooth sale. Conversely, if a seller has little experience with high-priced products and several of these transactions have been negatively assessed by buyers, it is probably advisable to look elsewhere. You can check the currently available offers for the Panasonic LX100 II on Ebay and Amazon via the buttons below.

Should I buy grey market?

Going for the cheaper price of the grey imports can be tempting, but might not be desirable for everyone. If your income depends heavily on your photography, you might value the assurance that comes with an authorized purchase more than the savings the parallel import offers. In particular, in case of any problems with your new Panasonic LX100 II, you can send it to Panasonic and get it fixed quickly and without hassle, while calling in a seller's warranty will likely be more time-consuming and cumbersome, and, thus, could cost you dearly in terms of lost imaging income. Also, if the currently available discount of the grey market LX100 II over the authorized retailer price is modest, you might prefer the peace of mind that comes with the official marketing channel and the associated customer service. On the other hand, if the parallel import is much cheaper than the prevailing retail price, you might well be willing to accept a little bit of additional risk with your camera purchase in return for the possibility to save a good chunk of money.

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