grey market
Parallel distribution channel
Grey market (also gray market) refers to the trade of goods through channels that are legal but unauthorized or unintended by the manufacturer.
A grey market camera might be genuine but imported outside official distribution, voiding the warranty.
The term also applies to unofficial trading in securities before their formal issuance: Grey market prices suggested strong demand for the IPO.
Unlike the black market, grey market goods aren't illegal—just sold outside sanctioned channels.
Unauthorized replica product
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
- imitationCopy of the original
- fakeNot the real thing
- bootlegIllegally produced goods
pirated · unauthorized · unlicensed · forgery · sham · phony · spurious · counterfeit goods
Having had prior ownership
- preownedPreviously belonging to another
- usedAlready been employed
- refurbishedRestored to working order
- consignmentBatch delivered for selling
vintage · auction · classifieds · eBay · Craigslist · trade-in · swap · pawnshop
Exchange of goods between nations
- warranty voidPromise of repair invalidated
- importationBringing goods from overseas
- wholesalersBulk goods merchants
- resellersThose who retail others' goods
electronics · software · pharmaceuticals · luxury goods · automotive parts · cosmetics · brand protection
Not controlled by rules
- unofficialNot formally recognized
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- quasi-legalArguably within bounds
- tax avoidanceLegal payment minimization
import duties · licensing requirements · consumer protection · shadow economy · trade restrictions
knockoff
Unauthorized replica product
bootleg · pirated · unauthorized · unlicensed · forgery · sham · phony · spurious · counterfeit goods · intellectual property
secondhand
Having had prior ownership
- preownedPreviously belonging to another
- usedAlready been employed
- refurbishedRestored to working order
consignment · vintage · auction · classifieds · eBay · Craigslist · trade-in · swap · pawnshop · thrift
cross-border trade
Exchange of goods between nations
- warranty voidPromise of repair invalidated
- importationBringing goods from overseas
- wholesalersBulk goods merchants
resellers · electronics · software · pharmaceuticals · luxury goods · automotive parts · cosmetics · brand protection
unregulated
Not controlled by rules
- unofficialNot formally recognized
- loopholeExploitable gap in rules
- quasi-legalArguably within bounds
tax avoidance · import duties · licensing requirements · consumer protection · shadow economy · trade restrictions
- underground economyshadow economy, cash in hand, off the books, under the table, unreported income
- marketsbazaar, souk, vendors, food stalls, Grand Bazaar
- retirementretirement, retire, retirement age, retirees, retirement income
- tradetrade balance, free trade, trade barriers, customs, trade deficit
- salessale, sales, selling, salesperson, salesman
- black marketillegal trade, smugglers, contraband, traffickers, bootleggers
grey marketblack market
Illicit trading system
illegal trade · contraband trade · underground market · smuggling · trafficking
gray, market, marketing, grey, supermarket, markets, grayish, marketplace, marketer