Okay so I thought that I should update on my recent experience with E-infinity, for the benefit of others seeking advice from this thread.
For those who can't be bothered to read any further - the short version is that I will NOT be buying from E-Infinity again.
As posted above, I recently took delivery of a Nikkor Z 24-120mm lens from E-Infinity. I have used them before - more than once - but prior to this my most recent grey market purchase was via Panamoz. I went with E-Infinity on this occasion as their price was considerably better for the 24-120mm. When I started shopping around for it, E-Infinity was quoting £799, compared to the Panamoz price of £930 - a huge difference. Then E-Infinity dropped their price to £779 - and I went for it. I do know - from personal experience and also from others that it is often worth seeing if Panamoz can improve their price - when I challenged them previously on their quoted price for the Nikkor 105mm Z macro lens they got very close to the E-Infinity price and their 3 year warranty swung it for me. On this most recent occasion I just felt that the price differential was too great to ignore.
So my main. issue with this recent purchase was that there was no matching serial number on the box and, secondly (but less importantly), there was no warranty card with the serial number. The warranty card issue is less important as (being a grey market lens) there is no valid UK Nikon warranty in place anyway - any warranty issues have to be addressed with the retailer - and I knew this in advance. The lack of a serial number on the box was of more concern, particularly given the reported experiences of others here (where the box carried the proper serial number).
Anyway - I emailed E-Infinity customer service yesterday to outline my concerns and seek some reassurance from them. It is the uncaring tone and off-hand (even evasive) manner of their responses that has turned me totally against the company. I will quote the correspondence in full below - you can make up your own mind.
In summary - I have sourced the lens that I wanted - at a very good price. But for my next purchase I will be going back to Panamoz - their Customer Service is much more open and friendly and not at all evasive. If you go back through this thread (and I have) there are no negative comments about Panamoz but plenty about E-Infinity.
Hi
I've just taken delivery of this order this morning.
I have a couple of concerns.
1. The serial number on the box does not match the serial number of the lens. Lens serial is 2004XXXX. The number on the box is 88487974 - which is not even a valid Nikon serial number.
2. I went to check the lens serial number against the warranty card, but there is no warranty card in the box.
I have used E-Infinity previously and I understand that these are 'grey market' products, sourced internationally. However I have previously purchased such lens - both from E-Infinity and Panamoz - and the serial numbers matched on the box and lens.
Please advise - I have not used the lens as yet, not even mounted it, as I feel that I may have to return it in these circumstances.
Thank you.
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Hi Brian,
Thank you for your email.
The serial number is 2004XXXX, the serial number didn't show on the box.
Regards,
CS Team
E-infinity
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Thank you for the response.
However it could hardly be briefer and explains nothing.
Why is the serial number not on the box? I've never heard of this happening before, even with grey import lenses.
And why no warranty card (again I know that the warranty is with E-infinity and not Nikon)?
Regards
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Hi Brian,
All products we sell are imports and international versions. It will be covered by our 12 months warranty instead of the manufacturer's guarantee. The warranty starts on the day that you receive your product. You may find more information about our warranty policy here:
https://www.e-infin.com/ww/common/return_policy
Regards,
CS Team
E-infinity
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Thank you.
And what about my query re the missing serial number on the box?
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[NO RESPONSE - further email sent]
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Can you please advise re the lack of serial number on the box.
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[NO RESPONSE]
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