Has Anyone an Opinion on KEH

Andysnap

Andysnap

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Andy Grant
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Going back to my current Bronica GS-1 obsession I had a look at KEH in the good old US of A and I can get body/waist level finder/65mm & 100mm lenses for just over £400. I know that I will have to pay postage and probably import duty/tax/VAT whatever, on top of this but it would be cheaper than the single lens kit from Ffordes. Does that sound right?

So, has anyone used KEH, they do seem to have a good reputation but having never bought from them or indeed from anyone across the pond, your thoughts would be welcome.

Cheers

Andy
 
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Andysnap said:
Going back to my current Bronica GS-1 obsession I had a look at KEH in the good old US of A and I can get body/waist level finder/65mm & 100mm lenses for just over £400. I know that I will have to pay postage and probably import duty/tax/VAT whatever, on top of this but it would be cheaper than the single lens kit from Ffordes. Does that sound right?

So, has anyone used KEH, they do seem to have a good reputation but having never bought from them or indeed from anyone across the pond, your thoughts would be welcome.

Cheers

Andy
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Well, they do have a very good reputation, although part of the reputation is their good returns and exchange policy, which is made quite a bit more complicated when you're in the UK and they're in Georgia, USA. I also don't think that their shipping charges are particularly cheap for international postage, as I recall.
 
That's pretty much what I've heard too, and they seem to be quite conservative in describing the condition of their used gear. I suppose you can work out the full cost of importing (postage/courier, insurance, duty and tax) and then decide if it's worth it, but would you also factor in the cost of returning/exchanging anything you're not satisfied with, or just take a chance on this?
 
Andy, I haven't used KEH but I do import quite a bit from the USA for one of my other interests. You need to factor in Import Duty which is often around 5% for optical equipment (that is what I usually import) then add the VAT at 20% on the item and on the shipping costs. There is then a £12 handling charge by the post office for the privelege. This can all add up to a significant wack on top of the original costs. I am looking at a bil for an item that arrived to me last week from California that cost £200, on top of which my charges amount to another £87. Because of this I only import items that are unavailable to buy in the UK. I am sure others will have experience of importing kit but what can look like a cheap deal can work out quite a bit more incharges. That said I have had stuff arrive that has just landed on the doorstep with no customs involvement at all, oops probably shouldn't have said that!
 
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Thanks guys. It does seem that in the end, if you do get stung for everything, the total cost isn't much cheaper and if anything needs to be returned, you are looking at another fair whack.
 
I have bought quite a few things from them and have ALWAYS been surprised how much better the things I have bought were than they sounded in the description. The last I bought from them were lenses for my RZ 67 described as excellent and when I got them they were new in the box never opened that I could see. I completely trust them and for me that is saying a lot. Their bargain bin stuff is often surprisingly good. If I lived on the other side of the Atlantic I might be more cautious. However my experience has been very good without exception.
 
Thanks Ron, always good to have a little local knowledge.
 
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