Shades Of Grey - A Modest Proposal

Life is very strange these days. I was discussing shades of grey with a chap who makes model battleships and we were able to classify them into various navies, time periods, and such and it was an interesting historical discussion - we got to 50 of them. Perfectly amicable conversation.

Yet when I asked a lady whether she knew all 50 shades of grey she coloured up, started sweating, and slapped me. I have no idea why  model battleships should provoke such an unusual response.

I am now hesitant to raise the subject here in the shop, yet I can anticipate the customer who tries to get a swingeing low price for a camera or lens by quoting the internet price from an eastern states dealer. In some cases it will be cheaper than we can buy from the Australian importer - so much cheaper that it immediately alerts us to the colour of the deal.

I've already mentioned in previous posts the business of the warranty - or not, as the case may very well be with the super-low pricers. As far as warning against disaster, I could just as well stand outside the casino with a sign board and a calculator and shout the odds. No-one would turn away. Neither will they from their computer screens - but the first time they buy a dud the story will change.

Please do not think that I am accusing the Greyhounds of being deliberately dishonest. They don't go down the warehouse shelves with a hammer and smash the lens boxes. They don't pour glue in the bodies. Any dents or glue you find has most likely come direct from the factory, or the cousins, uncles, and other relatives who have transported the items over the various borders. Some items are pristine. Some items work fine. You could be lucky.

And after all, even if you are not, remember if you save enough on repeated grey market purchases of a lens, you can accumulate the price of a real one from a real dealer. And you'll always have the dead ones to make a nice border in the garden...