A semiconductor vendor will sign agreements with certain distributors. That is the "white" market.

Other distributors might obtain and sell that vendor's parts without the vendor permission. That is the "grey" market. In many areas, the grey market is bigger than the white market.

Problems arise when grey distributors obtain and resell counterfeit parts. (knowingly, or unknowingly)

The level of support may be substantially less with a grey distributor, since they do not have to worry about ruining the relationship with the original