Buying in the US

[Joshuashaw]

So my mum has planned for my step-dads 40th birthday a weekend in New York, and I was speaking to one of my friends just how cheap they are over there compared to us, and I was reccomended to look at BestBuy.

The retail shop looking at lenses I am thinking of buying next the Nikon Nikkor 105mm VR macro lens & the Sigma 105mm macro lens, but just converting the Nikons 105mm price in USD to british pounds, it doesn't work out any cheaper. The RRP of that lens in the UK according to Jessops is £499.99,
BestBuy's price in british pounds is £468 approx, not much that saving. I was reccomended BestBuy is the cheapest and cameras and technology are much cheaper over there.

Any ideas?

 

[MikeeB]

Target do electrical stuff, I'm sure they do lenses too. Theres also Circuit City but I'm not sure they stock lenses. The Americans on Flickr swear by a site called Craigs List too for extremely cheap lenses, typically second hand though.

Theres also a large camera shop chain throughout the US but I can't think of the name right now. Hopefully someone will know

EDIT: Graham got it below

 

[Graham_P_Clarke]

Try B&H for better prices in NY. but don't forget sales Tax

 

[Joshuashaw]

Try B&H for better prices in NY. but don't forget sales Tax

Whats the script with tax then? I thought if you hide all receipts & price tags they can't prove anything?

 

[kevshore]

Try Ed Berger at Berger Brothers in NY. I saved a huge chunk on my 200-400mm.

 

[Graham_P_Clarke]

I was talking about US sales tax which is often not included in advertised prices, and it varies from state to state New York city is 8.38% some states are 0%. Import Tax and VAT is another thing altogether.

see link to B&H page http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=0&shs=sales+tax&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=jsp%2Fproductlist.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

 

[MisterE]

Whats the script with tax then? I thought if you hide all receipts & price tags they can't prove anything?

If you think you can get away with it by doing this then you are in for a shock if you get caught. Customs can identify which country a camera or lens was purchased in from the serial number. It will take them no more than a couple of minutes to access their database. Been there. Assuming you make it through without being caught then you have the choice of never taking the item out of this country again, or run the same risk on every return for evermore.

Digital cameras are not subject to import duty. Only vat. Lenses are subject to both import duty (around 5%) and vat.

Should you carry with you anything of value bought overseas - say for example a camera/lens off ebay from Hong Kong - then you would do well to carry a copy of the receipt for your duty/tax paid. Assuming you had to pay it. If you got away without paying it, then once again you run the risk of being caught on re-entering the country. Just because you bought it off ebay and got away with paying anything does not exempt you. It is not up to the customs men to prove where you bought it. It is up to you, and to show that you have paid the required tax/duty.