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<DIV>
<DIV>Thanks so much, David</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A
title=mailto:David@piano.plus.com href="mailto:David@piano.plus.com">David
Boyce</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=mailto:pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 06, 2007 5:42
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: What is the "grey
market"</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>The term "grey" need not apply to second-hand
goods.<BR><BR>It's a general term used to apply to imported goods purchsed
wholesale via a <BR>route outher than the manufacturer's approved distribution
channels.<BR><BR>Large retailers can save money by, among other things, taking
advantage in <BR>currency exchange rate fluctuations to buy goods in a
particular country at <BR>an advantageous price and exhange rate, and then
import them for retail. <BR>Thus, taking for example, a Nikon camera sold in
the UK. There is an <BR>"official" route, where Nikon UK will import the
cameras into the UK from <BR>where they are made, and be responsible for the
selling-on to wholeslaers <BR>and retailers. Nikon UK will guarantee
cameras they have brought into the <BR>country and whose distribution they are
responsible for.. But there is <BR>nothing legally to stop a wholesaler
or retailer sourcing a bulk supply for <BR>themselves in some other country,
and buying and importing for themselves. <BR>Nikon UK will not Guarantee those
cameras, however.<BR><BR>Manufacturers tend not to be too keen on the practice
of "grey imports", as <BR>they see it as devaluing their brand, and leading to
possible customer <BR>disappointment, when the national distributor will not
have any interest in <BR>the gray imported item, as regards warranties or
servicing.<BR><BR>In photography, before digital came in, great savings could
be made in film <BR>costs, via compaines specialising in grey imports of
film.<BR><BR>Best regards,<BR><BR>David.
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