Beware of grey imports

The South African Radio League is warning the country's Radio Amateurs to think twice before buying grey imported equipment as a bargain may turn into an expensive purchase.

Grey imports are goods that bypass the official agents or distributors and are often sold at much lower prices than those charged by the official agents and their distributors and do not carry manufacturers' guarantees.

The South African law is quite clear on the issue of grey imports. Companies selling grey imported products must declare at the time of selling these goods that they are grey imports and are not covered by guarantees.

Most amateur radio equipment such as Yaesu, ICOM and Kenwood only carry a guarantee if purchased from the appointed distributors and their agents. Distributors and agents are not obliged to service or repair grey imported goods.

There are brands that carry a world guarantee which means that if you purchase a PC Notebook in the USA and something goes wrong when you are back home in Johannesburg, they will honour the guarantee period and fix the notebook.

In most instances that is not the case, therefore think twice before buying grey imported goods and if after considering the odds and you buy a grey imported transceiver, understand that it is at your own risk and that the authorised Distributor will not support the goods with service and repair.

The South African Radio League