Re: grey goods
It is my impression that grey goods are items initially sold to a manufacturer's authorized dealer or distributor who then re-sells the goods to another non-authorized dealer or distributor. This circumvents the original manufacturers intended distribution channels/dealers. The unscrupulous dealer or distributor (who shipped outside of their authorized market or territory) will usually remove the item's serial number before sending to the non-authorized dealer or distributor making it difficult for the manufacturer to determine who is undermining their intended distribution decision(s). Smart manufacturers keep a record of the serial numbers so they can trace who they originally shipped the product to. If the offending authorized dealer or distributor is "caught" by the manufacturer shipping to the non-authorized dealer or distributor, they are usually in jeopardy of losing their authorized status and will no longer be able to purchase that brand any longer. Since the items (or watch) have now been sold to the consumer by a non-authorized source, the manufacturers usually reserve the right to refuse warranty service, especially if the serial numbers have been removed. IE-buy a grey market good, whether it's watches or consumer electronics, and you risk losing any after sales service. Not worth the risk in my opinion plus you'd be supporting an unscrupulous dealer who is infringing on legitimate, qualified authorized dealers. Good watch brands carefully select their authorized dealers based on the dealer's reputation in the marketplace which includes knowledgeable salespeople, clean attractive displays/stores, a commitment to carry and display a broad representation of the watch brand (IE-an investment in the brand), credit worthiness and most important of all, their ability to provide superior service to their customer base. If you know a dealer is an non-authorized source for the item in question, you too could be judged unscrupulous by others as well.
