Parallel Import from TCW
- Thread starter acidbyte
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Legally speaking, you as consumer have the priority to prosecute TCW. Because as customer, if I buy anything new, I expect FULL ORIGINAL warranty back up from the brand office. Which means to say, Sigma product purchase from ANY SHOP, should be able to be received by the Sigma office here in Singapore, for any service and repair.
Shop thats practise parallel imports MUST disclose such info to customer or they could be prosecuted for "MISREPRESENTATION".
Although parallel import stuff can be cheaper and does attract more buyer, but theres' always tonnes of inconveniences with regards to warranty, which ultimately the customer themselves have to bear.
As a customer, I'll not take it lightly that TCW can take things for granted and "PRESUME" customer show know theirs are parallel imports. If thats the case, TCW should also "PRESUME" that they can be sued and prosecuted any time.
I also agree with the point that if theres a problem with the lense, its better for the brand office people to service it, unless Sigma have no rep office here. Because Sigma brand office will have the actual parts and equipment for the job.
If things does get unpleasant, I suggest working out an initiative with Sigma brand office to prosecute TCW.
As customer, I've been shortchanged by various shop. I'm very pist off. Cant wait to "make them pay" Because when these busisness people happily earn your money, customer are made to bear the consequences.
Shop thats practise parallel imports MUST disclose such info to customer or they could be prosecuted for "MISREPRESENTATION".
Although parallel import stuff can be cheaper and does attract more buyer, but theres' always tonnes of inconveniences with regards to warranty, which ultimately the customer themselves have to bear.
As a customer, I'll not take it lightly that TCW can take things for granted and "PRESUME" customer show know theirs are parallel imports. If thats the case, TCW should also "PRESUME" that they can be sued and prosecuted any time.
I also agree with the point that if theres a problem with the lense, its better for the brand office people to service it, unless Sigma have no rep office here. Because Sigma brand office will have the actual parts and equipment for the job.
If things does get unpleasant, I suggest working out an initiative with Sigma brand office to prosecute TCW.
As customer, I've been shortchanged by various shop. I'm very pist off. Cant wait to "make them pay" Because when these busisness people happily earn your money, customer are made to bear the consequences.
Not here to defend TCW or anyone but its always been buyers beware!
Legally speaking, you as consumer have the priority to prosecute TCW. Because as customer, if I buy anything new, I expect FULL ORIGINAL warranty back up from the brand office. Which means to say, Sigma product purchase from ANY SHOP, should be able to be received by the Sigma office here in Singapore, for any service and repair.
Actually, you do not have priority. Sigma or any other company will always tell you to get a shop from their AUTHORISED dealers. TCW did not advertise themselves to be as such, no posters or anything, so you made the assumption that they were authorised.
Shop thats practise parallel imports MUST disclose such info to customer or they could be prosecuted for "MISREPRESENTATION".
Actually, shops are not require by law to disclose their sources. MISREPRESENTATION only comes into effect when they blatantly promised you something but gave you another. Ie: Used lens sold as NEW. Or if they mix gray and official stocks together and sell them as the same thing. A grey set is new, it just isn't brought in by the distributor.
Although parallel import stuff can be cheaper and does attract more buyer, but theres' always tonnes of inconveniences with regards to warranty, which ultimately the customer themselves have to bear.
As a customer, I'll not take it lightly that TCW can take things for granted and "PRESUME" customer show know theirs are parallel imports. If thats the case, TCW should also "PRESUME" that they can be sued and prosecuted any time.
I won't comment on the the inconvenience bit beyond that in my opinion, a spoilt lens, whether serviced by sigma or TCW is still an inconvenience. True, as a matter of practice, TCW should not assume that customers know their stock is gray. But as pointed above, they didn't MISINFORM you either. It is just bad practice, and i am surprised they didn't tell you as even as an old bird there, they still tell me all the time, right from day 1 that i went there. As for sueing them and prosecution, you could file a complain with CASE and they might get blacklisted by CASE but beyond that, i doubt you have the law on your side. Bringing them to court could backfire into a case of them sueing you for discrediting and defamation, which is more costly for you!
Legally speaking, you as consumer have the priority to prosecute TCW. Because as customer, if I buy anything new, I expect FULL ORIGINAL warranty back up from the brand office. Which means to say, Sigma product purchase from ANY SHOP, should be able to be received by the Sigma office here in Singapore, for any service and repair.
Actually, you do not have priority. Sigma or any other company will always tell you to get a shop from their AUTHORISED dealers. TCW did not advertise themselves to be as such, no posters or anything, so you made the assumption that they were authorised.
Shop thats practise parallel imports MUST disclose such info to customer or they could be prosecuted for "MISREPRESENTATION".
Actually, shops are not require by law to disclose their sources. MISREPRESENTATION only comes into effect when they blatantly promised you something but gave you another. Ie: Used lens sold as NEW. Or if they mix gray and official stocks together and sell them as the same thing. A grey set is new, it just isn't brought in by the distributor.
Although parallel import stuff can be cheaper and does attract more buyer, but theres' always tonnes of inconveniences with regards to warranty, which ultimately the customer themselves have to bear.
As a customer, I'll not take it lightly that TCW can take things for granted and "PRESUME" customer show know theirs are parallel imports. If thats the case, TCW should also "PRESUME" that they can be sued and prosecuted any time.
I won't comment on the the inconvenience bit beyond that in my opinion, a spoilt lens, whether serviced by sigma or TCW is still an inconvenience. True, as a matter of practice, TCW should not assume that customers know their stock is gray. But as pointed above, they didn't MISINFORM you either. It is just bad practice, and i am surprised they didn't tell you as even as an old bird there, they still tell me all the time, right from day 1 that i went there. As for sueing them and prosecution, you could file a complain with CASE and they might get blacklisted by CASE but beyond that, i doubt you have the law on your side. Bringing them to court could backfire into a case of them sueing you for discrediting and defamation, which is more costly for you!
arttl said:From what I understand (and as an owner of a grey lens), GREY SETS DO NOT COME WITH WARRENTY CARD. So I do not know where your warrenty card comes from. :think:
If you are member of Nikon Professional Service (NPS), they don't bother whether your equipment is grey or not, as long as they are registered with them.
I believe NPS is for professional photographers only! Amatuers are not qualified! :nono:
Reflection
Senior Member
Sorry dude. Feel for you, but all i can say is "tough".
Grey sets have been around for the longest time, and it's a well-known fact among photographers that TCW sells grey sets for the most part.
My only advice is that you ask before you purchase ANYTHING.
Do not assume that everything is covered under local warranty. I do not see any deception on their part here, so no point giving a thumbs down.
Grey sets have been around for the longest time, and it's a well-known fact among photographers that TCW sells grey sets for the most part.
My only advice is that you ask before you purchase ANYTHING.
Do not assume that everything is covered under local warranty. I do not see any deception on their part here, so no point giving a thumbs down.
Is that true? So i can buy a grey lens from TCW and register with Nikon under NPS? Can anyone confirm this?arttl said:From what I understand (and as an owner of a grey lens), GREY SETS DO NOT COME WITH WARRENTY CARD. So I do not know where your warrenty card comes from. :think:
If you are member of Nikon Professional Service (NPS), they don't bother whether your equipment is grey or not, as long as they are registered with them.
good grief. just do it already...send it in to TCW, I send my lenses there for cleaning every now and then and they do know how to do it, if they spoil the lens for you they owe you a replacement, if they can't do the job, they would have closed down long time ago.
as far sigma "certification" goes, hello, lenses aren't rocket science. besides any ex technician poached from sigma would know how to 8)
it is common knowledge that all lenses from TCW are grey. those at the shop windows are used.
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and mentioning NPS seems irrelevant since NPS don't service sigma lenses.
8)
as far sigma "certification" goes, hello, lenses aren't rocket science. besides any ex technician poached from sigma would know how to 8)
it is common knowledge that all lenses from TCW are grey. those at the shop windows are used.
--
and mentioning NPS seems irrelevant since NPS don't service sigma lenses.
8)
easy for us who know TCW to sell grey sets to say... but as a new person taking this up as a hobby / work / fun, many would not even be familiar with the concept of a grey set. all one would see is that one shop offering a lower price for (seemingly) the same product compared to another shop.Reflection said:
always good to ask "all that you can ask" before buying, but to help out, better bring along someone who knows the products, in this case, maybe a friend who has been playing with cameras for a while.
Guys, come to think of it, does anyone of us really got all the time to research on stuff that we buy? Yes we may research but that does not mean we get to have every single information most of the time.
On buyer's responsibility to check first before buying, it is also on the shop's part to inform the buyer where the goods come from (when it it grey set) instead of assuming the buyer knows it that it is grey/2nd-hand stuff. Just like seller on B&S, they not only has to inform the age, but also the location of the camera body bought, rather then just saying it still has 5 months warranty (but never mention only in USA). Then buyer blur blur thought got warranty but cannot claim in SG.
On buyer's responsibility to check first before buying, it is also on the shop's part to inform the buyer where the goods come from (when it it grey set) instead of assuming the buyer knows it that it is grey/2nd-hand stuff. Just like seller on B&S, they not only has to inform the age, but also the location of the camera body bought, rather then just saying it still has 5 months warranty (but never mention only in USA). Then buyer blur blur thought got warranty but cannot claim in SG.
bernardsia
New Member
This is strange. I once bought a 70-200 HSM to Sigma for a check-up. Nothing was wrong with the lens and no repair was done. But they registered my lens with the warranty card and TCW receipt I brought along.
Are some of the lenses TCW sells authorized and some parallel imported?
Are some of the lenses TCW sells authorized and some parallel imported?
In the past, TCW used to get their sigma stuff from PhotoGuide (RIP). These days, i heard its all parallel.
ITguy: It is the buyers responsibility, even on B&S, to check. Hence the caveat, buyers beware! Sellers never ever reveal their sources. U'd be apalled if you ever found out where some of your daily stuff comes from.
ITguy: It is the buyers responsibility, even on B&S, to check. Hence the caveat, buyers beware! Sellers never ever reveal their sources. U'd be apalled if you ever found out where some of your daily stuff comes from.
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