'grey' imports

A friend almost bought a DSLR from Pixmania, which we both understood to be a UK based company, then noticed in the small print that the camera was being shipped from France (with French plug and instructions iirc). Where would he stand on that? Is that 'grey', and would there we warranty issues?
 
MJ Stebbings said:
As I have said before about going "grey", make sure you have the extra 20% put by, just in case. Onestop will refund you, and as Redhed said, Digital Rev also will.
Click to expand...

I don't know about Onestop, but Digital Rev will refund the import Tax if it was part of the original listing that they would.

TopBanana said:
A friend almost bought a DSLR from Pixmania, which we both understood to be a UK based company, then noticed in the small print that the camera was being shipped from France (with French plug and instructions iirc). Where would he stand on that? Is that 'grey', and would there we warranty issues?
Click to expand...

When I was buying from Purely Gadgets, the camera was from France, and Nikon UK didn't want to have anything to do with the Warranty. :shrug: I doubt it's changed, and I assume other manufacturers would be the same. But until you ask each manufacturer you wouldn't know for sure. :shrug:
 
I don't have any knowledge of HDEW, but here's one thing I find very odd.

Take a look at their write-up of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM here. Now take a look at the write-up on my site here. I can assure you that that's all my own work. Strange that HDEW would feel the need to copy it...
 
Sorry cocked it up
 
Last edited:
That's weird.. because it does now say £225, but was showing £185 yesterday.
Click to expand...

Alastair don't frett it just goes to show what a murky business we are tangled up in.
 
bulldog5988 said:
Alastair don't frett it just goes to show what a murky business we are tangled up in.
Click to expand...

Not fretting, just observing.. and what I'm observing is that the difference is very roughy equal to adding VAT to the lower price to get the higher one.. :suspect:

I can't find any mention of VAT on the Hdew website..
 
Everybody can buy where they like,but don't start moaning when all the small high street shops are gone.

One you won't be able to walk into your local store,try a camera then try to find the cheapest one on the Internet.
Or nip in for a bit of advise,when you don't understand anything.

No part exchange no more s/h.
90% of my stuff comes from the same to local shops,the rest of.forum.
:(
 
Alastair said:
Not fretting, just observing.. and what I'm observing is that the difference is very roughy equal to adding VAT to the lower price to get the higher one.. :suspect:

I can't find any mention of VAT on the Hdew website..
Click to expand...

That's because they don't seem to want to charge it:

Please note that by making a purchase on this website you will be acting as the importer of the product for all purposes including all customs regulations, copyright and trademark laws. You accept that the role of HDEW Cameras is limited to sourcing products and making them available for you to import directly from the country of origin. By purchasing a product through this website you authorise us to make arrangements for clearance of customs on your behalf for the products you have ordered.
Click to expand...
 
simonblue said:
Everybody can buy where they like,but don't start moaning when all the small high street shops are gone.

One you won't be able to walk into your local store,try a camera then try to find the cheapest one on the Internet.
Or nip in for a bit of advise,when you don't understand anything.

No part exchange no more s/h.
90% of my stuff comes from the same to local shops,the rest of.forum.
:(
Click to expand...

Your comments here make me laugh so much!
Because buying from HK will kill the high street shops? You just basically pointed out you are doing the same by going in, using the equipment and then sourcing it from an online retailer who probably has 1 shop max (take WEX as an example).

No Part ex or Second hand? Sorry, thats just rubbish! Second hand photography equipment is still usually cheaper than you can source it from HK and there will always be a vast amount of people who will buy from the Uk, even if its second hand, as they dont want the hassle of "grey" imports.

Buying from people on the forum or from Ebay is just as much likely to kill the high street stores, because you arent putting any money into Jessops etc back pocket. Why should we pay over inflated prices just because they have a shop? Why should we buy from people who have no idea at all about photography equipment? At the end of the day, its easier to ask for advice on here then it is speaking to some little teenager who has not the first clue about cameras or lenses.

Smaller shops are usually the way forward, run by knowledgeable people can give you help and the best advice around. However, the cost of actually owning a shop is so high these days that they cannot afford to sustain the business. So, blame the councils for that one!

In summery, your points are pretty nul and void.
 
MJ Stebbings said:
No Part ex or Second hand? Sorry, thats just rubbish! Second hand photography equipment is still usually cheaper than you can source it from HK and there will always be a vast amount of people who will buy from the Uk, even if its second hand, as they dont want the hassle of "grey" imports.
Click to expand...

I think the post about 2nd gear hard was in regard to shops not taking or selling 2nd hand gear anymore. (though I may be wrong)

Ebay has had a lot to do with that because of the poor prices shops were offering either to buy or part exchange. It is another example of how the retail World has changed. :shrug:
 
redhed17 said:
I think the post about 2nd gear hard was in regard to shops not taking or selling 2nd hand gear anymore. (though I may be wrong)

Ebay has had a lot to do with that because of the poor prices shops were offering either to buy or part exchange. It is another example of how the retail World has changed. :shrug:
Click to expand...

Exactly, its a sign of the times.
Personally, I dont give a damn about the high street. Harsh as it may sound, I much prefer ordering online for better value for money and varity and stock levels etc. There is nothing more annoying than finding a top in a shop and they dont have your size!
 
MJ Stebbings said:
Your comments here make me laugh so much!
Because buying from HK will kill the high street shops? You just basically pointed out you are doing the same by going in, using the equipment and then sourcing it from an online retailer who probably has 1 shop max (take WEX as an example).

No Part ex or Second hand? Sorry, thats just rubbish! Second hand photography equipment is still usually cheaper than you can source it from HK and there will always be a vast amount of people who will buy from the Uk, even if its second hand, as they dont want the hassle of "grey" imports.

Buying from people on the forum or from Ebay is just as much likely to kill the high street stores, because you arent putting any money into Jessops etc back pocket. Why should we pay over inflated prices just because they have a shop? Why should we buy from people who have no idea at all about photography equipment? At the end of the day, its easier to ask for advice on here then it is speaking to some little teenager who has not the first clue about cameras or lenses.

Smaller shops are usually the way forward, run by knowledgeable people can give you help and the best advice around. However, the cost of actually owning a shop is so high these days that they cannot afford to sustain the business. So, blame the councils for that one!

In summery, your points are pretty nul and void.
Click to expand...

It's up to you if you want to put your money,into the Chinese economy,and I was talking about the smaller shops,with knowledgeable staff,who have told me,and I have seen it,come in for the knowledge,then go to straight to the HK sites to get the cheapest price.
I don't know what your job is,but I hope one day they outsource it to the cheaper Chinese Market :p
 
simonblue said:
I don't know what your job is,but I hope one day they outsource it to the cheaper Chinese Market :p
Click to expand...

I work for a photography company, sorry, but they cant do it! Unlucky in your taunt my friend, and my points all still stand against your original contradictory post
 
MJ Stebbings said:
I work for a photography company, sorry, but they cant do it! Unlucky in your taunt my friend, and my points all still stand against your original contradictory post
Click to expand...

Yep the kind of I am alright,sod everybody else reply I expect :bang:
 
Back on topic please
 
simonblue said:
Yep the kind of I am alright,sod everybody else reply I expect :bang:
Click to expand...

Far from it, my wife was made redundant the other month, its ok though, she got herself another job.

But, my points still stand, the high street is a dead ally now, and if you can buy cheaper online (regardless of if its a grey or from a UK supplier) then I will. I dont pay extra for things because I like helping corporate fat-cats line their pockets, I support myself because at the end of the day, I wont bankrupt myself to help others.

If the smaller stores dont have a web based sales site, then thats their fault also, especially when retailing second hand items. I wonder how many people have ordered items online from second hand retailers and yet have never visited the shop? I know I have.

So, my final point on grey goods is, and always was: If you can get it cheaper, and they are willing to pay the VAT if you have to, then why wouldnt you look after number one? The only down side is it will cost you if it fails after 2 weeks. Its the risk you take.
 
MJ Stebbings said:
Far from it, my wife was made redundant the other month, its ok though, she got herself another job.

But, my points still stand, the high street is a dead ally now, and if you can buy cheaper online (regardless of if its a grey or from a UK supplier) then I will. I dont pay extra for things because I like helping corporate fat-cats line their pockets, I support myself because at the end of the day, I wont bankrupt myself to help others.

If the smaller stores dont have a web based sales site, then thats their fault also, especially when retailing second hand items. I wonder how many people have ordered items online from second hand retailers and yet have never visited the shop? I know I have.

So, my final point on grey goods is, and always was: If you can get it cheaper, and they are willing to pay the VAT if you have to, then why wouldnt you look after number one? The only down side is it will cost you if it fails after 2 weeks. Its the risk you take.
Click to expand...

I guess their are no big fat cats,on the internet their all just nice guys,wanting to help us :cuckoo:
 
simonblue said:
I guess their are no big fat cats,on the internet their all just nice guys,wanting to help us :cuckoo:
Click to expand...

Oh my god, nothing like twisting my words.
Tell you what, you go pay your inflated prices on the high street because you care, I'll happily buy from where ever I want, if it saves me money, I'll do it.

Anyway, I tried to get it back on topic, someone just insists on changing AGAIN....

So yeah, "Grey" imports.....
 
any body got a link to kerso's camera gear for sale
 
Geez,

Never seen people get so worked up over something as silly as money...oh wait...yes I have.

Nothing wrong with spending your money how you want. But what I think the op wanted to know was what was the difference with a grey import.

The answer is basically nothing. Apart for additional risk associated with ordering goods from the other side of the world. If you are happy to accept the risk, then go for it.

Thing that confuses me is why this seems to be popular with camera gear. Im sure most people wouldn't order a car, from a dealer you've never met and have it shipped to other side of the world, risking potential intervention by customs, just for the sake of saving a few hundred quid. And yes, some lenses can cost the same as a small car.
 
I rarely buy new, my bodies where bought new and all my current lenses are 2nd hand. I have bought grey, but saved a small fortune on 2 lenses at the time. It was also when the price difference was a lot bigger. You take a gamble, mine paid off, now my gear gets a lot more use combined with reduced price difference, buying uk stock and even local shops actually holds weight for when I need as little hassle as possible.:-)
 
OP opened a can of worms with this one!

there is a thread around here somewhere about an Australian 'High st' shop charging $30 for advice; thats the long and short of it; because people are "walking in, getting advice, then buying online".
Firstly, the advice, as we are all more than accutely aware, is absoute crap from these stores, that's not specific to this country! hah

Secondly, these stores have been making way more than enough money, for far too long, and now that the buyer is aware, they are starting to cry foul.
Especially true in Australia, where the prices have not changed comparitive to the rest of the world, even though the $AU is way WAY stronger now than it was years ago.
It is simply cheaper nowadays to buy online from B&H usa site (yes, i know there are cheaper still, that just gives more weight), pay the Customs fees [VAT] when it arrives onshore in Australia, and send it back to USA should you have any issues.
Why should the $AU be, for eg, twice what it was 12mths ago, but you are still paying the same price instore? The store is obviously paying less for it, those savings are not being passed on. Yes, i am aware that flow on is not instant, stock levels blah blah. But this has been rife in AU for a long time now.

B&H USA have been selling greys for years online, JB Hi-Fi (an Australian "High st" store) is now seling them in B&M stores in Australia. As long as you have a relationship with your vendor, repairs shouldn't be a hassle. It is next to always a hassle dealing with the High st shops anyhow.

This post of course has been Australian-centric, but the moral is the same. The Bricks and Mortar stores need to offer something to stay competitive, not just cry poor.
I am sure that if anyone was to receive good, knowledgeable service, support with repairs etc, that everyone would have no problem in paying a little more. Especially when you have it right there in your hot little hands, and dont have to wait for it to be shipped.
Paying a little more.

Besides, whatever you save on a 'grey import' you are gonna pump back into the economy somewhere anyhow :-P lol

It REEEEALLY annoys me though, that should i buy something here, and ever return/ move to Australia, and have to have it repaired/ warrantied by Canon, that the implication is that they wouldn't repair it. Real world situation I suspect they would though.
Also, didn't L series lenses come with "Worldwide warranty" at one stage. Is that still the case?!
 
I got a Tokina grey import lens which developed a fault. Kenro, the UK importer and repairer wouldn't touch it with a sh**ty stick.:nono:
It was less than a year old so should be under warranty if I returned to HK but the postage was too much. Even when I offered to pay for all costs of parts and labour to Kenro they still said no way!
Ended up sending to PJC Cameras for repair - top job done by them:thumbs:
 
Capt_Crash said:
OP opened a can of worms with this one!

....

It REEEEALLY annoys me though, that should i buy something here, and ever return/ move to Australia, and have to have it repaired/ warrantied by Canon, that the implication is that they wouldn't repair it. Real world situation I suspect they would though.
Also, didn't L series lenses come with "Worldwide warranty" at one stage. Is that still the case?!
Click to expand...

My reason for asking is the same as your last paragraph. I wanted to know what the difference was (besides financial) but also I couldn't see how you would be unable to get a repair done here. It is mentioned earlier in the thread that lenses do tend to have an international warranty but cameras do not.
 
I would be interested to know the percentages of new cameras that develop a warranty fault within 12 months from purchase, grey imports or not.

Given the nature of electronic items it is inevitable that there will always be some failures but what sort of things can or do go wrong with DSLR cameras that are repaired under warranty?
 
Iris said:
My reason for asking is the same as your last paragraph. I wanted to know what the difference was (besides financial) but also I couldn't see how you would be unable to get a repair done here. It is mentioned earlier in the thread that lenses do tend to have an international warranty but cameras do not.
Click to expand...

This comes up quite often. I think you'd have to speak with Canon, Nikon (or whoever) to get any sort of definitive answer. AFAIK Canon L glass has/had an international warranty, but not the consumer lenses. I've never had to test this though, and I can't be certain.

It may vary from country to country too. I used to live in South Africa, and Canon were reasonably accommodating. They would repair/service grey imports on an out of warranty basis, but Nikon wouldn't touch them. Some dealers offered their own warranty, which was usually a swop out, unless it was something their own technicians could handle.
 
Rico said:
I would be interested to know the percentages of new cameras that develop a warranty fault within 12 months from purchase, grey imports or not.

Given the nature of electronic items it is inevitable that there will always be some failures but what sort of things can or do go wrong with DSLR cameras that are repaired under warranty?
Click to expand...

This would be interesting, but I doubt if you'll be able to find out. The manufacturers aren't going to release this information, and I don't think anyone else would be able to maintain a database. It would be a guess, at best.

Quite a few things can go wrong, as with any electronic product, as you say. I suspect that DSLRs are pretty reliable, in the shorter term anyway, but people do post their bad experiences on the internet far more often than their good ones. You have to allow for user abuse/error too. Others may come in with different opinions, but I think I've seen more complaints about 'errors' that just lock up the whole camera than anything else.

Perhaps some of the pros on these forums, who use their gear constantly, can comment?
 
There was a piece in today's Sun (cough cough) newspaper re the cost of a stores extended warranty against purchase price of a few household essentials (ie washing machine) and the percentage of those products that needed to be repaired in the first 5 years. In the majority of cases, the number of repairs was in single figures (%) so it would be good to see similar figures on cameras (although not likely)

We tend only to discuss these things when we have a problem but there are a very many second hand products available so you would like to think the majority are without fault. I suppose, like with many manufactured products, there is the chance of getting the 'Friday afternoon' jobbie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top