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http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=1724
Grey Market: $39 Billion and Counting
By Remy Davison, Insanely Great Mac
February 21st 2003
Apple, HP, Xerox out to stomp out grey marketeers.
KPMG have estimated the world-wide cost of the IT grey market at �25 billion ($US39
billion). Corporations, including Apple, have formed alliances to fight a grey market
which is "gaining momentum", according to a story at VNU Net.
Apple and its Anti-Grey Market Alliance (AGMA) partners sponsored the KPMG study.
Apple's partner's include HP, Compaq, Nortel and Xerox. The group was founded in 2001.
The key problem for firms is the diversion of their products from authorized
distributors to other vendors, or even across borders. Some grey market activity
involves smuggling and other unlawful activities.
Some authorized dealers use the grey market to gain access to inexpensive profit; but
KMPG's study argues that the vast majority of distributors (81%) surveyed said that
their position would be improved, if the grey market were eliminated.
Analysis: Buyer beware: grey market goods might not be guaranteed; may not work
correctly with your country's AC power; or may not comply with government regulations.
But, generally speaking, they are not illegal as such.
I've seen only a few grey market Apple products; liquidated goods from resellers,
usually, which are then sold via PC dealers (who are definitely not Apple Authorized
Resellers). They're passed off as 'new' (and they may very well be 'in box' and
unopened. But they could also be ex-demo and refurbished. I can't say exactly what
status the original 12-month Apple warranty has in this instance, but my gut feeling
is that it's compromised, despite the transferrability of products like AppleCare.
Fortunately, the PC shop I know which deals in this stuff is totally clueless about
the Mac market and sells superseded PowerBooks for $1,000 over the going rate, months
after they've been upgraded. No wonder they never sell any...
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