Buying from Hong kong on ebay?

Bill19

Bill19

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Hi all, Im pretty new to ebay, having never bought anything off there. Im wondering if people have experience with buying from Hong Kong via ebay?
I want an SLR, and I am thinking a canon eos 550D, but I can't quite do the usual shop price, so i looked on ebay and saw a dealer in Hong Kong selling them for £370 or so. They have a good feedback (99.7%), and are top rated and everything, but not really knowing what I am doing, I just wanted to make sure it was for real and if others had any experience with them or someone similar?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS...Cameras_JN&hash=item27c3b8f2bb#ht_9062wt_1270

Thanks!
 
I havent heard of them personally, I'd look for one from Digital Rev, Onestopdigital, Hdew or Kerso from on here
 
Watch out as you could get stung for import tax - try having a look at www.onestop-digital.com their prices are all that you will pay & if you do get stung for tax then they will reimburse you or there is digital-rev as well...

Also HDEW you could try as well, plus there is Kerso (TP member that deals with Canon) you could drop him aline on here...
 
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:lol: seems Tom beat me too it :p
 
Trig's said:
Watch out as you could get stung for import tax - try having a look at www.onestop-digital.com their prices are all that you will pay & if you do get stung for tax then they will reimburse you or there is digital-rev as well...

Also HDEW you could try as well, plus there is Kerso (TP member that deals with Canon) you could drop him aline on here...
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Trig's said:
:lol: seems Tom beat me too it :p
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+1 for what these guys have said. I have purchased from both Onestop-digital and Kerso with absolutely no problems...:thumbs:
 
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I've bought from DiditalRev in Hong Kong but direct from their website rather than ebay. No problems and the price included the local import duty.
 
If they have good feedback, then it should be ok. Don't expect a top class product as most of them are refurbished. I bought 400D and 500D few years ago and was quite happy, even when I've noticed that they've been used before. 400D didn't have original box but I didn't want to return it for that reason due to low price I've paid. Condition was like new and no issues with any feature.
 
As already mentioned, be aware of import tax.
I've bought small bits like lens caps etc fom outside of the EU ( Hong Kong, USA etc) and not had to pay any tax fees.
However I did make some large purchases ( not camera gear) several years ago.
I was a little "green" as to how tax systems operated and believed I had got myself a bargain.
It was 2 years after the purchase that I received a demand from the local tax authority for tax duty liable on that purchase....I had 14 days in which to pay it!!
If you are confident with the seller and his listing then I cannot see any reason why not to purchase if the price still works out a good deal for you with the addition of import tax.
Something else to consider is how warranties work in these instances...I personally don't know but others may be able to offer advice.
 
If you buy from outsiide european union make sure they mark the item as "gift" it should be no import tax or customs well that's with Irish law I am pretty sure UK is the same
 
shane1980 said:
If you buy from outsiide european union make sure they mark the item as "gift" it should be no import tax or customs well that's with Irish law I am pretty sure UK is the same
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Yes I believe the same applies to the UK too...In the listing posted by the OP, it does state at the bottom under the "Shipping and Sales Tax Policy" that they will mark the item as gift and endeavour to "legally minimize your VAT exposure on your request".

Often this works but does not garuantee that the tax will be omitted.

For the OPs peace of mind, I would recommend he clarifies directly seller how the taxing system will work.

If the seller says something like " normally it's ok" or "we will list it as gift but i is ultimately the buyers responsibility", then I would tread carefully and presume that the tax is likely to be imposed.
 
In the Uk the personal import limit is £15 and £40 for a gift.

The trouble with marking as a gift is you may get insurance problems if anything goes wrong as the insurance normally only covers the declared value.

I've found its luck of the draw as to whether I get charged or not.

I believe Digital Revs shop prices are the final price you pay including taxes etc. but their eBay listings may be liable.

Here's a link to Customs and revenue http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm with the info needed.

Hope this helps and hasn't trod on anyone's toes.

Andy
 
Ajd1 said:
I believe Digital Revs shop prices are the final price you pay including taxes etc.
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They are and when you purchase online their website clearly states that all import duties in your country are included in the price. Also they only sell new, you won't get anything used or refurbished.
 
Another vote for Onestopdigital from me, I bought two L series Lenses and a 580EXII from them.

They promise to refund any import duty charged but in my case there was none. I seem to remember they mark the invoice as a "service return" item, but all the items were brand new and never removed from the box.
 
Will OSD pay the VAT/duty if you get charged after the initial purchase (e.g. when bringing the kit back from abroad)?
 
I bought a Canon Kiss X5 ( which is Canon 600D) from Hongkong for 421 GBP. Customs charge me 17GBP for tax which must be ~80 GBP. This is because they send me that camera as gift so you can reduce tax :D

The camera I got is new, working perfect so far :)

Ask them if they could send you as gift :)
 
Get it from digigood on ebay, 2-3 days max. 550d with 18-55 kit for £415.
 
gridlock said:
Will OSD pay the VAT/duty if you get charged after the initial purchase (e.g. when bringing the kit back from abroad)?
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I'd imagine that they will only reimburse the tax/vat duty if its posted & not if you went to HK & brought it back....
 
shane1980 said:
If you buy from outsiide european union make sure they mark the item as "gift" it should be no import tax or customs well that's with Irish law I am pretty sure UK is the same
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Just to clarify though, what he's suggesting is technically illegal.
 
Asha said:
Yes I believe the same applies to the UK too...In the listing posted by the OP, it does state at the bottom under the "Shipping and Sales Tax Policy" that they will mark the item as gift and endeavour to "legally minimize your VAT exposure on your request".
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If it's not a gift but is marked as such it is not legally minimizing anything, it is fraud, which last time I looked is a rather more serious offence than the one that gets complained about on here a lot, that of copyright violation (using an image without permission).

The offence is committed by the importer, which is the purchaser in the UK and not the vendor in Hong Kong.
 
dtsrules2 said:
Get it from digigood on ebay, 2-3 days max. 550d with 18-55 kit for £415.
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Was just about to post a link to Digigood when I saw I'd been beaten to it. I can highly recommend Digigood as I have personally used them a number of times for cameras, lenses and flashguns. Great service, no extra charges and quick delivery.
 
I'm in Hong Kong just now and I'll stick to buying from the UK.

A Canon 17-55 is HKD 8200 which is about £715, I'd rather pay £744 from Amazon.
 
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