Canon USA statement on Grey Market Products

[turbguy]

I'd like to see the "grey market" compete with the Official USA Canon rebate deals on the PRO-100's!

That said, a "Generic Drug" is not "grey market". It is (supposedly) an identical chemical manufactured by someone other than the original drug manufacturer. It's compounding (fillers, binders, color, shape) may be different from the origional manufacturer, so it cannot be identical. It's efficacy is "supposed" to be within 80% of the origional drug. Since the patent on the original drug has has expired, others are free to manufacture and market the generic drug.

 

[3dogs]

@turbguy
There is no way that I can see not to respond, and no way that I have at my disposal to be more diplomatic, other than to ask you and others take what follows as comment on what the words represent to me, not as a comment on you personally, please! I really make commentary here, no offence intended and if taken, I apologise in advance, but I wont back down.

I'd like to see the "grey market" compete with the Official USA Canon rebate deals on the PRO-100's!

Canon supply BOTH the Gray Marketer, and Canon USA and are manipulating both, why cant folks "get" that FACT.
It is the blind, dogged, desperate grip that folks have on "well if Canon went out of business where would we get our Cameras/Printers......." answer : someone else, better, smarter ? and seamlessly in today's world, would not be a moment lost, AND folks with Canon products would be no worse off, Canon support...what support, its a bloody JOKE, you pay and pay and PAY. Are Canon alone in this? ........Was Noah alone in the Ark?
It astounds me to the core that otherwise intelligent human beings will line up to denounce and mock, insult, and pillory anyone daring to point out Corporate gouging or "disloyalty" to OEM inks and supplies outside this forum.


That said, a "Generic Drug" is not "grey market".

In the sense of a BRAND manufacturer, no it is not, but in the sense of an outcome it very definitely is! forget the smoke and mirrors, we are talking a product here, a compound, that delivers an outcome, just like a camera or printer. The patent system's very existance is predicated on greed, the need to protect an idea, concept, whatever, against predation... to what end.....as it has turned out in the fullness of time, the outcome has been legalised gouging, extortion, and manipulation and NO industry can get within cooee of the Chemical/ Pharmacutical/Medical Industry for their exploitation/ leverage of vulnerability.

Again what has this to do with Printer Knowledge, I say a lot, I enjoy printing, the Manufacturers spend a greater part of what they manage to fleece out of me to find ways to make me pay more and more.

I do health drugs to keep my heart beating steadily, Pharmacutical fat cats strive to deny me that medication and EXTORT many millions of dollars from my Goverment, that I fund because we in Australia cling (just) to the idea of Universal Health Care.

If I did'nt do the drugs I would die, if I died I would not buy ink, or paper or printer so.....John Cone, Xerox, Canson and Epson.......send your donations to my letter box care of the double gates ( 4th on the right, going South) ...that way I keep buying your products, and you keep getting richer.

Come to think on it, add Toilet paper, another essential so Bowater-Scott, out with the wallet too

 

[turbguy]

@3dogs

I had to google cooee...
...even though I have read "The Boscombe Valley Mystery"!

 

[turbguy]

The Canon statement is MOSTLY propaganda.

BUT, there are some truths that do matter.

-If you need to press a warranty claim here, you may/will not receive it on a "gray market" purchase.
-You may receive a product set-up for another language or power supply.
-You may not receive accessories included with a USA-marketed product.​

 

[3dogs]

The Canon statement is MOSTLY propaganda.

BUT, there are some truths that do matter.

-If you need to press a warranty claim here, you may/will not receive it on a "gray market" purchase.
-You may receive a product set-up for another language or power supply.
-You may not receive accessories included with a USA-marketed product.​

Agree, we can work around all of those, not all can. BTW all instructions are written in a foreign language......for me!!

 

[PeterBJ]

Cartridges for Canon home use printers are regionalized to prevent parallel import, but cartridges for some Pro models are not. By telling that they don't like parallel import, Canon also tells that it might be worth checking if it is possible to save money by doing your own import of cartridges for Pro series printers.

 

[stratman]

Milton Friedman on greed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A


During the Cold War era, two Eastern Europeans behind the Iron Curtain were having a chat.

One asked the other if he knew the difference between Capitalism and Socialism? The second man answered no.

The first man explained that "In Capitalism, man exploits man."

The second man nods his head in agreement.

The first man then continues and explains "In Socialism, it's vice versa."

(it's a joke told by Milton Friedman)

 

[stratman]

That said, a "Generic Drug" is not "grey market". It is (supposedly) an identical chemical manufactured by someone other than the original drug manufacturer. It's compounding (fillers, binders, color, shape) may be different from the origional manufacturer, so it cannot be identical. It's efficacy is "supposed" to be within 80% of the origional drug. Since the patent on the original drug has has expired, others are free to manufacture and market the generic drug.

You are referring to "bioequivalence" of generic medications, which must be between 80% - 125% the "bioavalability" of same amounts of the active ingredient taken. (Bioavailability = the rate and amount of absorption of the active ingredient in the body) This means that the generic can be between 20% less to 25% more active ingredient available to cause a response. Bioequivalence means that the original and generic have similar desired effects (efficacy) even if the bioavailability is not a 100% match (ie between 80%-125% of the original medication).

 

[Emulator]

You are referring to "bioequivalence" of generic medications, which must be between 80% - 125% the "bioavalability" of same amounts of the active ingredient taken. (Bioavailability = the rate and amount of absorption of the active ingredient in the body) This means that the generic can be between 20% less to 25% more active ingredient available to cause a response. Bioequivalence means that the original and generic have similar desired effects (efficacy) even if the bioavailability is not a 100% match (ie between 80%-125% of the original medication).

I find that very interesting and something I have wished to know for sometime. The cocktail of drugs we find ourself being fed to moderate the effects of old age - Amlodipine, Bisoprolol and various statins plus 75mg of Asprin have a habit of being supplied by a different source manufacturer every few months (depending on which is the best offer price, I suspect). But the variability of the effectiveness seems to be very noticeable. That's a 45% possible swing, that explains it.

Incidentally, the idea is that it is less costly to the National Health Service (wonderful facility as you get older), to feed us the pills, than to pick up the pieces.

One more comment, I heard a quote of a quote from Stalin, on the TV today - "Freedom is precious so it must be rationed".

 

[stratman]

I find that very interesting and something I have wished to know for sometime. The cocktail of drugs we find ourself being fed to moderate the effects of old age - Amlodipine, Bisoprolol and various statins plus 75mg of Asprin have a habit of being supplied by a different source manufacturer every few months (depending on which is the best offer price, I suspect). But the variability of the effectiveness seems to be very noticeable. That's a 45% possible swing, that explains it

Excellent point and one I deleted from my post but will now include in this post.

Generally speaking, the medications you listed are not ones I generally am concerned with when it comes to generics and bioavailability. Of course, YMMV and any difference in effect should prompt you to discuss it with your physician ASAP.

Generics are wonderful cost savers and work well for many types of medications, including antibiotics, antihypertensives and diabetic medications, but may not be appropriate in certain circumstances where narrow therapeutic effect parameters are in play, such as with certain cardiac meds, thyroid meds, blood thinners, etc. With these narrow effect parameter generic meds, you can be safely titrated to appropriate effect on a generic, but if the pharmacy you purchase the medication changes the source of the generic manufacturer - different brand, which pharmacies were / are not required to tell you they have changed the manufacturer of your drug, it is possible you could be getting less or more which might cause issues for certain specific meds.

Why is this? Because if you are on a generic that is at the maximum of the bioavailability scale (125%) and then the pharmacy gives you a generic by a different manufacturer at the lower end of the bioavailability scale (80%) then that decrease (36%) may be enough to alter efficacy. The same may be true in the reverse from low to high bioavailability. Again this is for a small number of generics and not the potential for the vast majority.

For instance, if you take a generic of the blood thinner coumadin and the pharmacy changes suppliers and it is from a different manufacturer, then your INR (measure of the effect of the drug) may increase or decrease enough to be out of desired range. This causes you to have more blood tests and increased concern for your safety until titrated back into desired INR range. When the pharmacy changes their formulary in the future you may again experience the same disturbance in what was a previously well controlled INR.

As I stated, generics can be excellent medications at low cost and I support their use. If you get a prescription that is marked "Dispense As Written" then the reason may be as I have written.

Ask you physician about any concerns you might have with your medications such as generics or side effects.