Bigger purchases

[DrewPics]

I think everyone is well away that we get significantly shafted by the price of technology in Europe, and especially within the UK. Since the beginning of eBay, Hong Kong suppliers have flourished by supplying technology at incredibly reduced rates.

Recently when in New York, I decided to buy an iPad. The equivalent saving allowed me to buy the 64gb version for around £30 more than the 16gb version instead of £170 more. That saving alone covered the cost of flights one way.

Looking at more expensive purchases, super telephoto lenses for example.

On eBay the HK based Digital Revolution are selling the 500mm f/4 for £4559, the closest UK competitor is £4859. Calumet are £5469 and WEX £5199. Compare this to B&H in NYC selling at $6049 (= to around £3,875) and even importing from Hong Kong seems expensive!

Flying London Gatwick to Newark is £309 return, leaving on the 8th of Jan, returning next day. We're still under HK prices. Of course, you might as well make a holiday out of it and get out of New York to shoot some wildlife. The flight cost stays the same, and you add £1000 to cover accommodation and costs.

Total cost £5184, just under the price from WEX - except you got a £1300 holiday out of it too.

Ignoring for the moment any debate over import duty/ethics of going through the green channel, Why buy in the UK, when for the same price you can have your lens, and a holiday

 

[Arkady2]

When I visted NYC a few years back, we effectively covered the cost of the week's stay there by doing a monster clothes-shop in a retail outlet over in New Jersey...

Stupid-low prices...

 

[boliston]

I think I'd be worried about the warranty not being valid in the UK, and when I go on holiday the last thing I want to have to bother with is going shopping!

 

[StewartR]

Ignoring for the moment any debate over import duty/ethics of going through the green channel, Why buy in the UK, when for the same price you can have your lens, and a holiday

But that's the whole point, isn't it? Avoding import duty and VAT in the way you've described isn't an ethical issue, it's a legal issue.

I've got a much better idea. Just lie to HMRC when you fill in your next tax return. Get yourself a rebate of, ooh I dunno, say £10,000. Then spend that on all the tech you want, AND a holiday.

 

[Arkady2]

Even if you pay the import duty on some items it still works out cheaper:
when I sourced all the bits and pieces for my Mustang's suspension upgrade, it cost me about $2200 for the parts in the US whereas similar but lower-spec componentry sourced in the UK from specialist Mustang dealers typically cost over 200% more.

 

[Frobius]

Import duty and the whole taxation system are virtually criminal anyway! :\

 

[raathistle]

Just buy it from B&H anyway and declare when you come back
Duty on lenses is only 6.7%, which combined with the current VAT rate of 17.5% gives a worst possible price (assuming you pay VAT on the duty :annoyed: and your conversion of £3875 above) of £4858.
Obviously this doesn't include the cost of the airfare, but if you are going anyway its a steal. If you just order it to be shipped you would have to pay VAT on the shipping as well, but you would still save compared to WEX

 

[Graham00]

It's been the same for years now, i remember Levi jeans were a prime example £50 here and around £25/30 in the US, we just seem to put up with it, the Americans are moaning it's hitting $5 per gallon, well we're paying £6 + (even more so now) i'd love to swap !!
I saved about £90 buying a lens from Hong Kong, only had to pay £15 duty.

Bottom line is, TAX, we have an over huge generous benefits system to pay for, until that's culled back then it will go on.....unfortunately.

 

[neil_g]

is it really any cheaper importing though? its something that needs to be looked at if you concider imports.

i was lurred in by cheap manfrotto/head prices from chinese sites and by the time i paid to get them released by customs it worked out about 10 quid difference.. and i wouldnt have had to wait as long for them to arrive lol

 

[specialman]

A mate who deals with Nikon for it's binocs wanted a camera so his Nikon contact sorted him out at something like US trade prices - all he had to do was get a flight to New York there and back to pick the gear up. He ended up getting a D300s for about £700, 17-35 f/2.8 for £700, 70-300 VR for £200, SB900 for £200 and a 24-120 for £350. He effectively got the last three items free working against UK prices. Nice if you have the contacts.....

 

[Scarecrow]

is it really any cheaper importing though? its something that needs to be looked at if you concider imports.

i was lurred in by cheap manfrotto/head prices from chinese sites and by the time i paid to get them released by customs it worked out about 10 quid difference.. and i wouldnt have had to wait as long for them to arrive lol

That's your problem. You were buying cheap kit. The biggest savings are to be made on more expensive items.

 

[Davec223]

Several things, most have already been said, but I will say them again.

1. Not declaring an item at customs is a criminal offence not an ethical one.
2. Warranty, I really don't want to have to be sending kit back abroad as to get repairs done where you can have to pay for the import again. Plus I know that Nikon will not do work on grey imports.
3. Would rather support out economy than another countries.
4. Just a personal thing, I does get on my goat people moaning about this country in general, if you don't like it go live where you think it is better. Sorru, this one is just a personal rant.

 

[Arkady2]

Nikon lenses have 'worldwide' warranty and will be handled by Nikon UK with no problems - camera bodies have country-specific warranties and won't be.

 

[onomatopoeia]

Bottom line is, TAX, we have an over huge generous benefits system to pay for, until that's culled back then it will go on.....unfortunately.

Actually, we have an NHS to pay for, which the Americans don't.

 

[Davec223]

Nikon lenses have 'worldwide' warranty and will be handled by Nikon UK with no problems - camera bodies have country-specific warranties and won't be.

Opps forgot to put bodies in my reply

 

[Arkady2]

Opps forgot to put bodies in my reply

I'd always try and buy a body at home as it's the bit most likely to develop a fault by itself.

Lenses are generally sturdy enough. Buy in person overseas and you'll be testing it there anyway, so a return isn't out of the question.
If I was in the market for a 200mm f/2 or fast 300, 400 or 600mm lenses, I'd definitely be looking at visiting the relatives in Virginia...

 

[DrewPics]

Interesting to hear everyone's views. As stated before I don't want to turn this in to a debate about clearing things at customs as everyone has different opinions (and yes, I know it is illegal to not declare, it's also illegal to do 75mph in a 70mph zone.) I personally ere on the side of caution.

A point I found elsewhere is that whilst "lenses" attract an import duty of 6.7%, these lenses must be of a focal length of between 25mm and 180mm and the elements must be greater than 60mm diameter.

There appears to be a "35mm camera part or accessory" category which attracts 0% duty.

[/end my contribution to any customs debate]

 

[PaulF]

4. Just a personal thing, I does get on my goat people moaning about this country in general, if you don't like it go live where you think it is better. Sorru, this one is just a personal rant.

Hi, can I moan without upsetting you as I am actively attempting to live somewhere better........

Or, I have lived here all my life and paid my taxes, if the people running the country do things I'm not keen on I have the right to voice my opinion, as does everyone else, if you don't like it then maybe a democracy is not the place to be

sorry, not trying to offend, been 'on-call' over new year, now free and alcohol is nice

 

[Davec223]

Hi, can I moan without upsetting you as I am actively attempting to live somewhere better........

Or, I have lived here all my life and paid my taxes, if the people running the country do things I'm not keen on I have the right to voice my opinion, as does everyone else, if you don't like it then maybe a democracy is not the place to be

sorry, not trying to offend, been 'on-call' over new year, now free and alcohol is nice

Paul, you have not offended at all. I didn't say what I meant that well. As you say everyone can voice their opinion, the people I meant are the ones who moan, do something like moan about our prices, import something then moan when they have to pay import duties. Also the people who moan about this country imigrants etc etc then b****r off to another country and yet still expect the NHS to care for them and then moan about that country. Anyway thats my moan done, probably to political, if so I apologies. Enjoy your ti£e off and a few drinks.

 

[Graham00]

Actually, we have an NHS to pay for, which the Americans don't.

Indeed, but they don't let people lounge around who've never had a job and give them too much money to live on so they can get tattoo's and run a nice car and get all their council tax, rent paid.

 

[POAH]

Indeed, but they don't let people lounge around who've never had a job and give them too much money to live on so they can get tattoo's and run a nice car and get all their council tax, rent paid.

the support for people out of work sucks for the most part. I've been out of work for a year there and I get b****r all from the goverment. the only thing we get is child tax and working tax credit which effectively pays for our bills.

 

[Yardbent]

Indeed, but they don't let people lounge around who've never had a job and give them too much money to live on so they can get tattoo's and run a nice car and get all their council tax, rent paid.

did you know that if you are a registered alcoholic [ yep, working on it...] , you get an extra allowance for booze if you're on benefits

heresay - so stand to be corrected

 

[Yardbent]

the support for people out of work sucks for the most part. I've been out of work for a year there and I get b****r all from the goverment. the only thing we get is child tax and working tax credit which effectively pays for our bills.

aha...your problem is you're not a teenage asylum-seeking black pregnant lesbian alcoholic

then the Lanarkshire C. Council will give you EVERYTHING.......:shake:

SORRY, bit bitter here - struggling on pension whilst paying taxes....:bang:

BTW .. some of my best friends are ...well you get the idea...

 

[Graham00]

Yeah i know some of these things John, the system is unfair and very unbalanced, i know someone who's 27 never worked, has a kid, his partner does 16hrs minimum to get the maximum benefit and they're getting paid a couple of grand to MOVE from a council house to a brand new housing association home here in Sleaord, they built 96 of these homes, but but but...there are no jobs it's mainly agricultural and a lot of shops have closed in the town with no fewer than 5 charity shops, i could go on............

Sorry i've gone slightly off topic !

 

[mid_gen]

Hong Kong isn't the promised land of cheap electronics that everyone assumes it is. One or two companies offer good deals shifting grey imports into the UK.....but getting good prices on the high street here is another thing entirely. We've got used to the price comparison website style of shopping in the UK, which makes for a much more competitive market.

Trying to get a good deal on gear out here involves hours of slogging around streets and markets and frustrating conversations with people that have a tenuous grasp of English. I'd kill to just hit up camerapricebuster.com.hk then stroll down the road and get the best price as easy as in the UK!

I spent all afternoon stomping round Mong Kok yesterday, was after a lightweight manfrotto tripod, found it for HKD580 in the depths of Mong Kok. Gave up eventually, and stopped in the HK equivalent of PC World on the way home and found it for 360 (and got a free Hello Kitty coffee flask).

 

[mid_gen]

Edit :duplicate

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Nikon lenses have 'worldwide' warranty and will be handled by Nikon UK with no problems - camera bodies have country-specific warranties and won't be.

From what I remember,if you buy the camera body in person from an authorised Nikon dealer (in a non-EU country) and can prove it then I believe Nikon UK will honour the warranty.

What they won't do is warranty work on an item that has obviously been bought via the internet from overseas or purchased from a grey market dealer in the UK.

 

[Lesco]

But that's the whole point, isn't it? Avoding import duty and VAT in the way you've described isn't an ethical issue, it's a legal issue.

I've got a much better idea. Just lie to HMRC when you fill in your next tax return. Get yourself a rebate of, ooh I dunno, say £10,000. Then spend that on all the tech you want, AND a holiday.

Stewart thats a ridiculous example, surly you dont support rip off Britain, and you have never ever been on holiday and brought back a peice of merchandise that you should pay the VAT or import duty on and walked through the green channel?? thats like saying, I drove to France last week and filled my car up wth petrol, I only paid 50p a liter for it so when I arrived back in Britain I drove the customs and excise dept and paid the money I had saved as it was wrong!!

Its this countries fault that people like us go abroard and purchase goods that we are being ripped off for because of greedy goverments taxing us till we bleed.

Good luck to you sir if you can go to NY and get a lens and a holiday for the price of a rip off one in Britain.

 

[The23rdman]

I'm amazed at the small-minded political opinions expressed by some of the Daily Mail readers here.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Stewart thats a ridiculous example, surly you dont support rip off Britain, and you have never ever been on holiday and brought back a peice of merchandise that you should pay the VAT or import duty on and walked through the green channel?? thats like saying, I drove to France last week and filled my car up wth petrol, I only paid 50p a liter for it so when I arrived back in Britain I drove the customs and excise dept and paid the money I had saved as it was wrong!!

Its this countries fault that people like us go abroard and purchase goods that we are being ripped off for because of greedy goverments taxing us till we bleed.

Good luck to you sir if you can go to NY and get a lens and a holiday for the price of a rip off one in Britain.

That's a completely illogical comparison - France is part of the EU, so it is perfectly legal to buy, in your example, petrol there and drive through customs in the UK without declaring it as the tax has already been paid in an EU member state. The same goes for any (tobacco/wines/spirits etc excepted) other purchase,for example a camera or lens, purchased in an EU country.

If you decided to pop over to New York and buy a £4k Nikon lens and got stopped on the way back it wouldn't take a genius to work out there was duty due on it, as the serial numbers for American-market Nikon glass all start US-xxxx

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Import duty and the whole taxation system are virtually criminal anyway

Unless you have cancer in which case paying your taxes takes on a whole new perspective.

If you want American taxation levels , then I am afraid you have to put up with a heath care system that bleeds you dry and 'dumps you on the street when the money runs out .
Good quality health care or new toys , I know which I would choose.......

 

[realspeed]

Why worry about Nikon or any other make not honouring the warrantee on grey imports?
The simple answer is get the camera equipment insured, then if it goes wrong ,ie damaged-lost-stolen, then let the insurance company pay out.

Realspeed

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Why worry about Nikon or any other make not honouring the warrantee on grey imports?
The simple answer is get the camera equipment insured, then if it goes wrong ,ie damaged-lost-stolen, then let the insurance company pay out.

Realspeed

You mean make a fraudulent insurance claim in lieu of a warranty?

 

[Yardbent]

Nikon lenses have 'worldwide' warranty and will be handled by Nikon UK with no problems - camera bodies have country-specific warranties and won't be.

I would really like to keep my Nikon F3, and

sell the 28mm and 50mm NON_AI lenses
and buy one Nikon 35mm AI-S...not Series E

these are over my pensionable budget

any one bought from eBay - USA..?

sorry if off-topic but seems a few people here have experience of importing....thanks

 

[StewartR]

... you have never ever been on holiday and brought back a peice of merchandise that you should pay the VAT or import duty on and walked through the green channel??

No I haven't.

... surly you dont support rip off Britain

Define "support". I pay my taxes and I obey the law, and I find any sugestion to the contrary quite offensive. What do you do?

 

[realspeed]

No definately not Graham, members are talking about grey imports/bringing back from abroad and warrantees. All I am saying is that should something happen to the photographic equipment as I mentioned, then a legitimate claim can be made on the insurance for a replacement if the warrantee doesn't cover it.

Realspeed

 

[Flash In The Pan]

No definately not Graham, members are talking about grey imports/bringing back from abroad and warrantees. All I am saying is that should something happen to the photographic equipment as I mentioned, then a legitimate claim can be made on the insurance for a replacement if the warrantee doesn't cover it.

Realspeed

Are you sure?


That's not the way it read

 

[onomatopoeia]

Stewart thats a ridiculous example, surly you dont support rip off Britain, and you have never ever been on holiday and brought back a peice of merchandise that you should pay the VAT or import duty on and walked through the green channel?? thats like saying, I drove to France last week and filled my car up wth petrol, I only paid 50p a liter for it so when I arrived back in Britain I drove the customs and excise dept and paid the money I had saved as it was wrong!!

Two problems. We are EU members, there are no import duties between EU member countries. If we left the EU we could of course start charging import duty on things bought in from the EU - however no-one talks about buying lenses from France or anywhere else in the EU to get cheaper prices, do they . Other problem is that petrol in France costs much the same as petrol in the UK and definitely not 50p a litre. So as well as "Rip off Britain" there is rip off France (and Germany etc) as well.

Other than that, you're fine.

 

[Llama]

I'm amazed at the small-minded political opinions expressed by some of the Daily Mail readers here.

glad im not the only one thinking this

 

[Chrisbie]

if you buy something abroad while you are on holiday and use it I didnt think you had to declare it as it was used. Or am I wrong? I bought some clothes on holiday last year to wear but I didnt declare my dirty laundry when I came back home, did I break the law? I thought you could bring in up to £390 of "other goods" without paying duty but what if I spent more ?