Rockdog said:
WHat is 'Grey Market' a reference to?
Manufacturers will make specific models for Pacific Rim countries that are sold and supported only there. Entrepreneurs in North America will buy up these tractors from the used marketplace in those countries, load them onto a boat and ship them to Canada or the USA. Because they are able to buy them fairly cheap, they can sell them for a very competitive price when they arrive on our shores. The problem is mostly one of parts availability and supporting information such as parts manuals, Op manuals and service manuals that are written in English. Such tractors are called "grey market" units because the manufacturers frown heavily on their import but are powerless to prevent it.
I have a guy near me that buys grey market Komatsu product. We bought a rubber-tired loader from him and getting parts for it was a challenge every time we needed them. Thankfully, we did not need that unit any longer and we sold it.