Cotswold and Panamoz

phinix

phinix

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What is that shop and why they have better prices?
Have you bought anything from them?
 
Simply put.........I have not bought from either....

Both, in UK terms, are Grey Market importing agents and IIRC if you read the terms "you" are the importer not 'them'.

Having said that, a number of other members IIRC are happy customers of both?
 
There’s also h.dew a long established u.k based grey importer ,again 3 year warranty on most items and a good to deal with company
 
Never heard of them and now I've had a quick look at Cotswold, I've bookmarked them lol. The camera I have my eye on is £500+ cheaper than Amazon.
 
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I've bought from Panamoz for a few years, bodies and lenses. I've also had occasion to use their warranty and the service was impeccable. Currently waiting on new body to arrive from them.
 
I've bought from both and my next camera will be from them, if uk suppliers were only a hundred or so more then yes the uk but if the uk only gives a 12 month warranty the Panamoz, there's a fair profit then there's greed or what they can get from each region of the world, just my opinion. Read up and make your own decisions.

Example:

Nikon Z6 III Mirrorless Digital Camera Body £1590 - Panamoz (3 year warranty) inc shipping​

​

£2199 - Wex/Park Cameras and most others (Nikon warranty 1 year?) £1527 - Wex used (73000 count) really?​

 
Mark65 said:
there's a fair profit then there's greed or what they can get from each region of the world, just my opinion
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I think the prices of new photography equipment is largely determined by the manufacturers and the margins achieved by the retailers are quite low. This is only based on a conversation with one of the retailers and my experience of the retail market, so it may be correct or not. I expect your comment about “what they can get from each region of the world” has a lot of merit.
 
nandbytes said:
They are cheaper because they smuggle in cameras on your behalf and hence avoid paying import duty.
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Here we go again.
Have you any hard evidence of this?
 
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nandbytes said:
They are cheaper because they smuggle in cameras on your behalf and hence avoid paying import duty.
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My recent Canon RF100-500 purchase was correctly declared on FedEx shipping documentation...
 
nandbytes said:
There's plenty of evidence for it online, including on this forum.
You are welcome to search for it.
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All hearsay. What evidence direct from HM Customs, who are aware of these dealers?
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Just ask them to provide a VAT receipt :)
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Why should I? I'm asking if there are any proven instances of HM Customs objecting to these organisation's practices. Anyway, this risks the original topic being side-lined yet again, which isn't fair on the OP.
 
Just ordered Nikon 400mm f/4.5 from Panamoz arriving next week, as a regular customer (Sony and Nikon) asked for best price and saved £629 on a UK well known dealers price.
I understand some people do not agree with buying from these companies but £629 is a lot of money.
Russ.
 
Stephen L said:
All hearsay.
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:ROFLMAO:
Yes because truth is inconvenient
Stephen L said:
What evidence direct from HM Customs, who are aware of these dealers?
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Stephen L said:
Why should I? I'm asking if there are any proven instances of HM Customs objecting to these organisation's practices. Anyway, this risks the original topic being side-lined yet again, which isn't fair on the OP.
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HM customs i think you'll find objects to smuggling. You can contact them and ask if you are unsure.

The organisations themselves are doing nothing wrong, they are importing goods on behalf of the buyers. (Grey) importing in itself is not illegal, not declaring the value of goods with the intension of avoiding tax is another matter.
 
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If you prefer to spend hundreds of £ more fine go for it but don't spoil a better deal for others, Im mulling a Z8 body and can just about afford there £2300 price or I can get fleeced for another £1000 from a UK shop which would be a no for me to buy one. I for one am sick of being taxed to death in this country so could not care less if the government doesn't get its pound of flesh.
 
Mark65 said:
If you prefer to spend hundreds of £ more fine go for it but don't spoil a better deal for others, Im mulling a Z8 body and can just about afford there £2300 price or I can get fleeced for another £1000 from a UK shop which would be a no for me to buy one. I for one am sick of being taxed to death in this country so could not care less if the government doesn't get its pound of flesh.
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As far as i can see I have not suggested whether people should or should not use camera grey importers. That's down to the individual.

OP explicitly asked the question "why they have better prices?" And i answered which seems to touch a nerve with few people (wonder why that is ;) )
 
Bletch said:
Never heard of them and now I've had a quick look at Cotswold, I've bookmarked them lol. The camera I have my eye on is £500+ cheaper than Amazon.
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Amazon tends to be expensive in my experience, yes you get stuff next day (mostly) but it's also likely to be left on your doorstep or chucked over your 6 foot high gate (or a neighbours down the road) I've had all three, and I've found soaked parcels for my neighbour left in my recycling bags that the bin men had thrown back on my path.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Amazon tends to be expensive in my experience, yes you get stuff next day (mostly) but it's also likely to be left on your doorstep or chucked over your 6 foot high gate (or a neighbours down the road) I've had all three, and I've found soaked parcels for my neighbour left in my recycling bags that the bin men had thrown back on my path.
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With expensive electronic products Amazon give you a passcode that has to be given to the delivery driver so they can't dumped it on the doorstep and b****r off.
 
Don't over look HDEW either. Excellent customer service and you can collect by arrangement if you prefer. Very professional business that has been around a long time.
 
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Stephen L said:
All hearsay. What evidence direct from HM Customs, who are aware of these dealers?
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I don't think it is all hearsay. I've had gear from abroad which came with a receipt which was for much less than I paid. Some companies might do this and some may have other means but the end result is the same and what you get is an item from abroad much cheaper than from a UK outlet most likely because the company has found a way to avoid paying UK import and other taxes.

Why Customs haven't stopped this I don't know and of course there are other savings to be made such as not having a physical shop which needs to be paid for and not employing many people at UK rates and costs.
 
woof woof said:
I don't think it is all hearsay. I've had gear from abroad which came with a receipt which was for much less than I paid. Some companies might do this and some may have other means but the end result is the same and what you get is an item from abroad much cheaper than from a UK outlet most likely because the company has found a way to avoid paying UK import and other taxes.

Why Customs haven't stopped this I don't know and of course there are other savings to be made such as not having a physical shop which needs to be paid for and not employing many people at UK rates and costs.
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Happened to me when I inadvertently bought some Ink Cartridges that were Grey imports.
The customs declaration said "sample" and they were under valued, I wasn't very happy about the situation.
 
woof woof said:
I don't think it is all hearsay. I've had gear from abroad which came with a receipt which was for much less than I paid. Some companies might do this and some may have other means but the end result is the same and what you get is an item from abroad much cheaper than from a UK outlet most likely because the company has found a way to avoid paying UK import and other taxes.

Why Customs haven't stopped this I don't know and of course there are other savings to be made such as not having a physical shop which needs to be paid for and not employing many people at UK rates and costs.
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So have I, but never from Panamoz and the like. Which sort-of proves my point that if their exports have not been stopped, yet others have, they surely must have made some sort of arrangement with Customs and/or the handling agents (UPS, FedEx, etc) etc to legitimately allow their products into the country, maybe by paying tax and duty up-front in the country of despatch. Unless someone goes over to Hong Kong (yes please) to audit their procedures we as mere customers will not know. Just wonder if the nay-sayers have tried reporting their doubts to the authorities, and if so what response was received?
The ethics of buying from offshore are of course a totally different matter. Personally if the savings are small I am happy to use UK shops, but for large savings (into the hundreds) I'm afraid sheer economics come into play.
 
Stephen L said:
... they surely must have made some sort of arrangement with Customs and/or the handling agents (UPS, FedEx, etc) etc to legitimately allow their products into the country, maybe by paying tax and duty up-front in the country of despatch.
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Which is the proper way to behave.

Those who feel justified in cheating the rest of us, by evading a tax, are to be denigrated, not applauded.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
Which is the proper way to behave.

Those who feel justified in cheating the rest of us, by evading a tax, are to be denigrated, not applauded.
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Of course, there are always those who wish photography to be an elitist hobby, available to only those who can afford retail UK prices. The same people who insist their cars only have UK manufactured components, not cheaper Chinese parts.
 
I think this thread should return to answering the original question for the sake of everyone’s sanity.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Amazon tends to be expensive in my experience, yes you get stuff next day (mostly) but it's also likely to be left on your doorstep or chucked over your 6 foot high gate (or a neighbours down the road) I've had all three, and I've found soaked parcels for my neighbour left in my recycling bags that the bin men had thrown back on my path.
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Ouch! :)
Never had a problem with them like that, BUT now I'm aware of those two companies mentioned above - there's no way I'm giving Amazon an extra £500+.
 
Stephen L said:
Of course, there are always those who wish photography to be an elitist hobby, available to only those who can afford retail UK prices. The same people who insist their cars only have UK manufactured components, not cheaper Chinese parts.
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There's nothing wrong with saving money in an honest manner, only in "saving" it by dishonesty.

I spent a lot less money on my cameras, equipment and materials for more than fifty years by seeking out second hand bargains and purchasing those items offered by reputable dealers at lower prices but with the import duties and other taxes paid.
 
hashcake said:
With expensive electronic products Amazon give you a passcode that has to be given to the delivery driver so they can't dumped it on the doorstep and b****r off.
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The camera I bought off them was the one thrown over a neighbours 6 foot gate. My mate has had lens and grea left on his doorstep when I've been in his house with him. They didnt even knock the door. Even if we hadn't heard the dog would have.
 
swanseamale47 said:
The camera I bought off them was the one thrown over a neighbours 6 foot gate. My mate has had lens and grea left on his doorstep when I've been in his house with him. They didnt even knock the door. Even if we hadn't heard the dog would have.
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Wow that's really bad.
Was this recently?
For me it's been quite a while that they've been giving me passcode.
I remember seeing herpes driver throw parcels over a fence but that was a few years ago.
 
swanseamale47 said:
My mate has had lens and grea left on his doorstep when I've been in his house with him. They didnt even knock the door.
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I've had this with various items including once a piece of electronic equipment in a cardboard box left on the doorstep in pouring rain ... when I found it (by accident) I could just pour the water out before sending it back!
I wonder about stuff being stolen from the doorstep - legally, has it actually been delivered?
 
T
hashcake said:
Wow that's really bad.
Was this recently?
For me it's been quite a while that they've been giving me passcode.
I remember seeing herpes driver throw parcels over a fence but that was a few years ago.
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The parcel over the fence was about nov last year, but my mate has had stuff left on and off for ages, the last one was a few weeks ago while I was there. I found one on his doorstep last month, I arrived and handed him his new flash which was left on his step while he was in. Worse it's in sight of the pavement and maybe 15 foot from a road.
 
swanseamale47 said:
T

The parcel over the fence was about nov last year, but my mate has had stuff left on and off for ages, the last one was a few weeks ago while I was there. I found one on his doorstep last month, I arrived and handed him his new flash which was left on his step while he was in. Worse it's in sight of the pavement and maybe 15 foot from a road.
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That's really strange with Amazon.
I've not bought any bodies or lenses from them but everything electronic over £100 I've been given a passcode for at least a few years.
 
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