Grey import suppliers
- Thread starter drb5
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id second hdew especially if you want to buy in uk they may be a little dearer but they are a proper uk shop selling greys
ive just bought a 60d from panamoz and it appears to be a bloke selling from his flat in hk
cant fault his price or service though
ive just bought a 60d from panamoz and it appears to be a bloke selling from his flat in hk
cant fault his price or service though
for Kerso
digital
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If the Panamoz website is showing out of stock email them and check. They were showing no stock when I was looking for my 5D3 but an email proved otherwise...
digital
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Not sure why you're SHOUTING. I was just trying to help.
harry66
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I bought an Lumix LX7 from ProCameraShop earlier in the month - paid Via Credit card and received it 2 working days later - despatched from a UK address via CityLink.
I then bought a 12-35mm lens from them last week via BACS transfer to save the additional 3%. Paid via BACS on Friday evening and received the Lens on Tuesday morning - again dispatched from a UK address via CityLink.
I then bought a 12-35mm lens from them last week via BACS transfer to save the additional 3%. Paid via BACS on Friday evening and received the Lens on Tuesday morning - again dispatched from a UK address via CityLink.
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OldCarlos
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I would definately NOT recommend pro......shop! Do lots of digging before using them.
(glad YOU had a trouble free purchase though)
They threaten legal action to get the more serious negative reviews deleted.
harry66
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I did a lot of searching before I went with ProCameraShop, I checked several forums where established poster had reported successful interaction with them including a few that had DOA items and reported positive remedial action.
Just to put into context I found ProCameraShop on 7th of December but did not order my lens till 11th Jan.
I first ordered the LX7 on the 2nd of Jan via credit card to test the waters.
I rang ProCameraShop several times with various questions and again found they answered the call fairly quickly. I got a BACS quote for the lens from them on the 31st December but the price had gone up by 11th Jan- however they were happy to supply at the original quoted price.
I did find a couple of negative comments too - but for me the positives seem to outweigh.
Carl - have you personally experienced problems with ProCameraShop? Interested to know as I currently have them at the top of my list for future purchases - but would re-evaluate based on any new info..
Cheers!
PS: I know I am new on here but have been on other forums (e.g avforums / mu-43 ) for several years with the same username. Just posting this in case you think I have any links with ProCameraShop...
Just to put into context I found ProCameraShop on 7th of December but did not order my lens till 11th Jan.
I first ordered the LX7 on the 2nd of Jan via credit card to test the waters.
I rang ProCameraShop several times with various questions and again found they answered the call fairly quickly. I got a BACS quote for the lens from them on the 31st December but the price had gone up by 11th Jan- however they were happy to supply at the original quoted price.
I did find a couple of negative comments too - but for me the positives seem to outweigh.
Carl - have you personally experienced problems with ProCameraShop? Interested to know as I currently have them at the top of my list for future purchases - but would re-evaluate based on any new info..
Cheers!
PS: I know I am new on here but have been on other forums (e.g avforums / mu-43 ) for several years with the same username. Just posting this in case you think I have any links with ProCameraShop...
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OldCarlos
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Umer, as said previously, i'm really glad you had a trouble free purchase, as do lots of others i'm sure.
If you do a `search`on other forums as well as on here, (there are quite a few threads around) & actively try to seek out the negative reviews, you MIGHT change your mind.
So called `independent` review sites (such as Review Centre) post reviews without actually needing to have made a purchase & are littered with spam OTT reviews imho & many actively promoting the 3% saving by using bank transfer. Also P........shop seek out negative reviews, on there aswell as sites like this, with serious issues & threaten legal action to get them removed, so that alone should ring alarm bells.
People just don't get unbiased info. let alone able to read about lots of the unhappy purchasers.
There are other sites with far better reputations & customer care out there imo, without taking extra risks?
If you do a `search`on other forums as well as on here, (there are quite a few threads around) & actively try to seek out the negative reviews, you MIGHT change your mind.
So called `independent` review sites (such as Review Centre) post reviews without actually needing to have made a purchase & are littered with spam OTT reviews imho & many actively promoting the 3% saving by using bank transfer. Also P........shop seek out negative reviews, on there aswell as sites like this, with serious issues & threaten legal action to get them removed, so that alone should ring alarm bells.
People just don't get unbiased info. let alone able to read about lots of the unhappy purchasers.
There are other sites with far better reputations & customer care out there imo, without taking extra risks?
harry66
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Thanks - hopefully the 12-35mm will be my last purchase for quite some time. But I will check again before I order anything. Cheers!
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Anybody know whether Panamoz have 5D3 in stock ?
They're showing at £1855 on their site - or bank transfer payment (BACS) for £1755
It says out of stock but I'm sure I read somewhere on here (can't find it) that it wasn't the case.
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ecoleman said:
Yep really. Phone them. My first one came today and the next one will be here at 11:30 tomorrow.
They don't show them online but they have them.
Never been so happy with a company in so long. Really good to deal with.
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Gave them a call just after 10am. No longer supply the Canon 85mm for some reason and their prices for Canon 50mm and 70-200 were no better than other grey import suppliers.
Their Sigma prices, i'm still waiting on call back about, but they get them from Sigma UK, so although they get the 3 year warranty, i doubt they'll get anywhere near grey import prices.
Their Sigma prices, i'm still waiting on call back about, but they get them from Sigma UK, so although they get the 3 year warranty, i doubt they'll get anywhere near grey import prices.
OldCarlos
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Saw this, re grey imports (posted on ePHOTOzine)
What seems attractive at first glance often hides a very different story underneath. So it is when it comes to grey imports. Buying goods cheaply doesnt always mean youre getting great value. There are hidden pitfalls many of us are unaware of. And unfortunately, if the truth is revealed, the penalties can be rather more serious than mere personal embarrassment Things you should know before going grey
Products sourced from foreign markets will not usually include the valuable addition of any UK distributors extended UK warranty, offering maybe an extra two years free of charge to provide an unrivalled three years peace of mind.
Retailers operating outside the UK may not include VAT in the price of goods, so at first glance their offers may appear very attractive. However the purchaser then has to transport the item back to the UK, with two obvious disadvantages:
a) If the goods go missing during transportation then the responsibility of tracing or replacing them if the purchaser has been prudent enough to take out expensive insurance cover falls to the customer. The vendor has received his money and will show no further interest.
b) As a UK resident the purchaser is legally required, upon receipt of the goods, to pay import duty and VAT at 17.5%. For peace of mind it is advisable to check the small print of the vendors documentation. According to H.M. Customs and Excise, unscrupulous overseas suppliers may falsely describe or value items to evade import duty. If the Customs declaration form on the parcel is found to be misleading then the recipient may be liable to financial penalty or prosecution. Purchasers may even have to forfeit the goods.
You may have heard from friends and acquaintances of grey imports slipping through the net, but this is fast becoming a thing of the past as H.M Customs and Excise address the issue more thoroughly.The Post Office may also charge the addressee for clearing the package through Customs, and even hold the goods if the contents have not been properly declared by the sender. Post Office fees for doing so are completely separate to Customs charges.
If a desire to avoid paying VAT and import duty overcomes the above obstacles, then perhaps common sense will prevail. It is a widely accepted practice outside the UK not to sell the complete package that you would expect. Lens caps, lens hoods, back caps, accessories, cords, power leads, chargers and even instruction booklet are removed from the box and sold as optional extras.
While legitimate goods have been handled responsibly by importers, wholesalers and retailers, grey imports have often exchanged hands many times. Often they have been removed from their protective packaging and stored in damp, humid conditions, encouraging the growth of fungal spores in optics and seriously affecting the efficiency and life span of the microelectronics in todays high tech. products.
To sum up, grey importers can only undercut legitimate retailers because of their irregular practices. Their overheads are much reduced because they have no showrooms; help lines or workshops with knowledgeable staff.
They offer no service, support or back up. The knock-on effect is that independent and trustworthy importers and retailers, who offer the above advantages to customers, will disappear.
So dont confuse cheap with value for money.
What seems attractive at first glance often hides a very different story underneath. So it is when it comes to grey imports. Buying goods cheaply doesnt always mean youre getting great value. There are hidden pitfalls many of us are unaware of. And unfortunately, if the truth is revealed, the penalties can be rather more serious than mere personal embarrassment Things you should know before going grey
Products sourced from foreign markets will not usually include the valuable addition of any UK distributors extended UK warranty, offering maybe an extra two years free of charge to provide an unrivalled three years peace of mind.
Retailers operating outside the UK may not include VAT in the price of goods, so at first glance their offers may appear very attractive. However the purchaser then has to transport the item back to the UK, with two obvious disadvantages:
a) If the goods go missing during transportation then the responsibility of tracing or replacing them if the purchaser has been prudent enough to take out expensive insurance cover falls to the customer. The vendor has received his money and will show no further interest.
b) As a UK resident the purchaser is legally required, upon receipt of the goods, to pay import duty and VAT at 17.5%. For peace of mind it is advisable to check the small print of the vendors documentation. According to H.M. Customs and Excise, unscrupulous overseas suppliers may falsely describe or value items to evade import duty. If the Customs declaration form on the parcel is found to be misleading then the recipient may be liable to financial penalty or prosecution. Purchasers may even have to forfeit the goods.
You may have heard from friends and acquaintances of grey imports slipping through the net, but this is fast becoming a thing of the past as H.M Customs and Excise address the issue more thoroughly.The Post Office may also charge the addressee for clearing the package through Customs, and even hold the goods if the contents have not been properly declared by the sender. Post Office fees for doing so are completely separate to Customs charges.
If a desire to avoid paying VAT and import duty overcomes the above obstacles, then perhaps common sense will prevail. It is a widely accepted practice outside the UK not to sell the complete package that you would expect. Lens caps, lens hoods, back caps, accessories, cords, power leads, chargers and even instruction booklet are removed from the box and sold as optional extras.
While legitimate goods have been handled responsibly by importers, wholesalers and retailers, grey imports have often exchanged hands many times. Often they have been removed from their protective packaging and stored in damp, humid conditions, encouraging the growth of fungal spores in optics and seriously affecting the efficiency and life span of the microelectronics in todays high tech. products.
To sum up, grey importers can only undercut legitimate retailers because of their irregular practices. Their overheads are much reduced because they have no showrooms; help lines or workshops with knowledgeable staff.
They offer no service, support or back up. The knock-on effect is that independent and trustworthy importers and retailers, who offer the above advantages to customers, will disappear.
So dont confuse cheap with value for money.
ukaskew
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Unfortunately the majority of points made are utterly irrelevant to most people (especially when it starts to clutch at straws with regards to lens caps etc), so if it's a deterrent it's not a very good one. The 'slipping through the net' thing is particularly scare-mongering, it wouldn't take long to count up maybe a couple of hundred orders on the Panamoz thread, to my knowledge not a single one has ever had any issue with customs.
It's kind of like those movie piracy ads with grainy footage (and somebody walking in front of the camera!) that have absolutely no relation to the direct transfers that most people appear to obtain these days.
I disagree strongly with grey imports that are cheaper purely because of the tax issue, particularly the impact on honest UK independents, but the deterrents need to be better (and stronger) than those described.
harry66
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I have to agree with you - I ordered two items from ProCameraShop this month saving me over £300 in total - the saving on the lens pretty much paid for the compact camera. The items were despatched to me from a UK address so I cant see how I could be held responsible for avoiding / paying any VAT etc. Also, my camera came with a UK power lead.
I am a higher rate tax payer living in London and I feel like I am giving more and more of my hard earned money away - and getting less and less in return. So, the idea of the tax man getting a bit less VAT / Excise duty from me is rather appealing.
I do try to buy stuff from UK retailers when the prices are reasonable - and have spent a few thousand quid with CameraWorld in the past 2-3 years. I even spent a few hundred at Jessops when the items weren't seriously overpriced. But when there is say a 30% difference between the UK price and an import, on an item over £300, I wont hesitate to buy the import.
mortimerhill
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Are they really grey imports? They are more like personal imports; a grey import is something that is already in the UK with all duties and taxes paid, just not imported by the official UK importer
chrism_scotland
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Am I right in thinking that a Canon DSLR bought from HDEW is eligible for the 1 year Canon warranty as it has a UK VAT receipt?
Does this also apply to Nikon?
Does this also apply to Nikon?
harry66
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When I had a Nikon, I was told by their customer service people that only bodies purchased in the UK (and I think EU) were covered for warranty here - based on serial number. So, having a HDEW receipt probably would not qualify. Lenses however came with an international warranty.
Don't know about Canon.
Don't know about Canon.
chrism_scotland
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HDEW have confirmed to me that the first year warranty is with Canon and after that their own cover.