Buying a lens from America........

[just_dave]

..... my other half is going to America in May and I am wandering will I be better off getting her to get me my new lens while she is out there or just buy one here? I am looking at somthing like a Sigma 17-70 to replace my kit lens.

Will I save a massive amount and also will I have any issues with warranty etc?

 

[User Name]

Depends on the exchange rate at the time and where you buy it from.
Depending on the area, the retail shops may not be competitive compared to online prices.
You could always buy it online, get it shipped to a hotel or office and pick it up from there.

 

[andrewc]

Strictly speaking she should declare it upon entry and pay duty and VAT (on top of potential sales tax in the USA). Sigma won't honour overseas warranties unless evidence of VAT and duty has been paid - but of course you could send it to Sigma USA.

 

[Briony]

Apparently if you buy in the USA the warranty is not valid here, so I was told as I am going in June also.

 

[rmitchell248]

Apparently if you buy in the USA the warranty is not valid here, so I was told as I am going in June also.

Again you could just send the lens back to the US for warranty repairs. Pretty simple especially for the very small chance warranty would be needed!

Right now with the exchange rate where it is I do not see much savings

 

[GaryK26]

As per Andrew's comment, you should declare the lens and pay import tax / VAT.
Take this into account when considering how much you could potentially save compared to buying in the UK.
Then consider the added hassle with the warranty....maybe it's worth spending a few quid more and buying in the UK.

 

[andrewc]

Sigma UK EX lenses get a 3 year warranty (you have to extend it online), vs 1 year rest of world.

 

[canonrebel]

I bought my Canon 100-400 in America, saved a bomb, came through customs no problem, lens in backpack-packaging in suitcase

 

[pragmatist]

Be careful though, If you go through the nothing to declare section and they pull you with a lens and check the serial number of your purchase then you WILL be in serious doo doo!

 

[malla1962]

I bought my Canon 100-400 in America, saved a bomb, came through customs no problem, lens in backpack-packaging in suitcase

Not sure I would be saying that on a public forum.

 

[Graham00]

Just goes to show we still get ripped of in Britain if many consumer goods are still cheaper abroad almost anywhere else.

 

[rmitchell248]

you have to pay VAT on a used item too?

and customs really has a record on hand of every serial number of everything ever sold in the UK that had VAT paid on it? The database would be very intensive but not impossible I suppose... It seems it would cost close to the 19% to maintain and keep current....

 

[andrewc]

yes, vat on used items.

 

[nikthomas]

But what proof do they have that you've just bought it? As long as its not in the original box they won't think you've bought it abroad

 

[malla1962]

But what proof do they have that you've just bought it?

They dont.

 

[Trev Rich]

I bought my Canon 100-400 in America, saved a bomb, came through customs no problem, lens in backpack-packaging in suitcase

That should alert the authorities in the Matrix

 

[Zebedee101]

Be careful though, If you go through the nothing to declare section and they pull you with a lens and check the serial number of your purchase then you WILL be in serious doo doo!

Not necessarily - all my lenses were purchased in the USA and no VAT was paid to the UK upon importing them. The loophole was by owning them for six months before I brought them to the UK.

 

[Trig's]

yes, vat on used items.

Isn't that upto to a certain amount thou - I may have miss-read it somewhere..

 

[Nod]

you have to pay VAT on a used item too?

IIRC, VAT is payable on any profit made on 2nd hand items.

and customs really has a record on hand of every serial number of everything ever sold in the UK that had VAT paid on it? The database would be very intensive but not impossible I suppose... It seems it would cost close to the 19% to maintain and keep current....

Again, IIRC, serial numbers can be used to find out the country of original sale so it's relatively easy for HMR&C to find out where the lens was originally retailed. Customs are also pretty well clued up on current models and do have access to the internet to find out what they're not sure of.

 

[postcardcv]

I bought my Canon 100-400 in America, saved a bomb, came through customs no problem, lens in backpack-packaging in suitcase

Not sure I would be saying that on a public forum.

I definitely would not advertise this fact - if you are found to have avoided paying duty on an item customs have the right to seize the item... so rather than a VAT bill you could lose the lens!

 

[andrewc]

Isn't that upto to a certain amount thou - I may have miss-read it somewhere..

Not as far as I'm aware. VAT at current rates, with no upper cap. Lower limit for VAT is £ 18, or £ 40 for a 'gift', with different rules for fags, booze and perfume.

 

[Trig's]

I also assumed or was once told that you didn't pay vat on anything 2nd hand as the vat was or already had been paid.. Or does that apply to UK goods only & not for item brought in from overseas...