Has anyone dealt with Panamoz?

Hadley

Hadley

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James
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I'm currently looking for a sigma 50mm 1.4, and Panamoz is selling it for the cheapest price I can find. Just wondering if anyone on here has dealt with them before and what they have to say about them.
 
Hi James I did a bit of a search and found this on another photography website: but on the other hand I went to the pricegrabber website and some people said they were ok, you just have to go with you own feelings James on this one, me personally I would be a bit wary.



Panamoz.com: Do - Not - Touch - Them!
Hi all,

Just wanted to share with you some information that you may find useful.

I came across this company called Panamoz.com. I found a lens I wanted, I looked at their "About Us" page, where they go: "Panamoz Electronics is one of UK and Europe's most popular consumer electronics shops".

Yet, something didn't smell right: they use PayPal only (a sign that they are running on he cheap), they have a currency converter on the site to get prices in the currency selected (a sign that they may buy elsewhere), they did not pick-up the phone when called.

But I was curious. Are they a complete fake or what? So, I wrote to them asking if they had the lens I wanted in stock. They said yes. I asked why they did not pick up the phone. They said because they were not in the office in that moment. So, I asked them how they could have checked the availability if they were not near the warehouse. They did not reply.

The thing smelled even more. But, I was still curious to understand what was going on, so I ordered the lens.

They shipped it promptly, but using the fedex tracking system I finally got confirmation that the item was shipped from Hong Kong. Now, if they had specified that they were shipping things from HK, that would have been ok. Trouble is, they did not.

I waited for the item to arrive and, when it finally turned up, it had three "small" issues:

1) A big mark on the front ring (Photo 1 attached)
2) Loads of 'bits' inside the lens (picture 3 attached shows some)
3) The diaphragm was gone (i.e. it was lose and not working: Photo 2 attached)

I then started a looong process to return the item and finally got an address where to send the item back. The picture of that address is attached (Photo 4), so now you know the stature of their operation (it is the white door with the satellite dish attached above).

I actually ended up going personally there to drop the faulty lens and saw the guy who signs himself in the various e-mails as "Tina" from customer service: he looks more like Mike Tyson rather than Tina, but at least he took the lens without too much fuss. At the question on why they never pick-up the phone he didn't really have an answer, but he assured me that he would have called me shortly to arrange the refund.

Of course he never called me.

At the end of all this I managed to get my refund but, please, if you are thinking of buying anything from these people, do not.

On a wider scope: it seems to me that most of the internet shops trading in photography equipment are grey import outfits. Even the ones that actually pick-up the phone: I spoke to another one on Saturday and asked specifically if they had those things in stock here in the UK. The guy said: yes, they are in our Gatwick warehouse. So I asked, what is the turn-around-time from order? He said 5 working days. I asked: how can it take 5 working days to get a thing from London to London? He said that was the policy. I read: that was a lie --> they take the order and then drop-ship from HK, that is why it takes 5 days. So, the bottom line is: if you want a lens from HK, go on e-bay: they cost less and the vendors clearly state that the lens comes from HK. As for internet shops, if you find currency converters or very attractive prices, they are most likely grey importers who are not prepared to admit that.
 
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Lesco said:
Just wanted to share with you some information that you may find useful....
Click to expand...

An interesting read Tony - but what happend to the 4 images - did you not attach/download them to TP:shrug:
 
Trig's said:
An interesting read Tony - but what happend to the 4 images - did you not attach/download them to TP:shrug:
Click to expand...



Hi Steve Im at work bud, and we are not allowed any rights on our computers so I cant download or see any pics on works computers
 
Hmm I think after that I might just go to One Stop Digital as a friend of mine recomends them.
 
Hadley said:
Hmm I think after that I might just go to One Stop Digital as a friend of mine recomends them.
Click to expand...

:thumbs: Cant go wrong with them - or there's DigitalRev as well (who are member's on TP as well..) but I haven't used DR as I usually use OSD
 
Lesco said:
Hi James I did a bit of a search and found this on another photography website: but on the other hand I went to the pricegrabber website and some people said they were ok, you just have to go with you own feelings James on this one, me personally I would be a bit wary.



Panamoz.com: Do - Not - Touch - Them!
Hi all,

Just wanted to share with you some information that you may find useful.

I came across this company called Panamoz.com. I found a lens I wanted, I looked at their "About Us" page, where they go: "Panamoz Electronics is one of UK and Europe's most popular consumer electronics shops".

Yet, something didn't smell right: they use PayPal only (a sign that they are running on he cheap), they have a currency converter on the site to get prices in the currency selected (a sign that they may buy elsewhere), they did not pick-up the phone when called.

But I was curious. Are they a complete fake or what? So, I wrote to them asking if they had the lens I wanted in stock. They said yes. I asked why they did not pick up the phone. They said because they were not in the office in that moment. So, I asked them how they could have checked the availability if they were not near the warehouse. They did not reply.

The thing smelled even more. But, I was still curious to understand what was going on, so I ordered the lens.

They shipped it promptly, but using the fedex tracking system I finally got confirmation that the item was shipped from Hong Kong. Now, if they had specified that they were shipping things from HK, that would have been ok. Trouble is, they did not.

I waited for the item to arrive and, when it finally turned up, it had three "small" issues:

1) A big mark on the front ring (Photo 1 attached)
2) Loads of 'bits' inside the lens (picture 3 attached shows some)
3) The diaphragm was gone (i.e. it was lose and not working: Photo 2 attached)

I then started a looong process to return the item and finally got an address where to send the item back. The picture of that address is attached (Photo 4), so now you know the stature of their operation (it is the white door with the satellite dish attached above).

I actually ended up going personally there to drop the faulty lens and saw the guy who signs himself in the various e-mails as "Tina" from customer service: he looks more like Mike Tyson rather than Tina, but at least he took the lens without too much fuss. At the question on why they never pick-up the phone he didn't really have an answer, but he assured me that he would have called me shortly to arrange the refund.

Of course he never called me.

At the end of all this I managed to get my refund but, please, if you are thinking of buying anything from these people, do not.

On a wider scope: it seems to me that most of the internet shops trading in photography equipment are grey import outfits. Even the ones that actually pick-up the phone: I spoke to another one on Saturday and asked specifically if they had those things in stock here in the UK. The guy said: yes, they are in our Gatwick warehouse. So I asked, what is the turn-around-time from order? He said 5 working days. I asked: how can it take 5 working days to get a thing from London to London? He said that was the policy. I read: that was a lie --> they take the order and then drop-ship from HK, that is why it takes 5 days. So, the bottom line is: if you want a lens from HK, go on e-bay: they cost less and the vendors clearly state that the lens comes from HK. As for internet shops, if you find currency converters or very attractive prices, they are most likely grey importers who are not prepared to admit that.
Click to expand...

Most of what describe here is unfair in my opinion. Looking at their website i can see that they do mention that they do ship items from Hong Kong so they are not hiding it.

This to me sounds like a deliberate attempt to discredit the seller. Probably from a competitor.
 
I've bought over £1,600 worth of camera equipment from www.panamoz.com since january this year, a Canon 60D and 2 Sigma lenses, and have been delighted with the level of service they have given. The prices are brilliant, the goods are excellent and the speed of service from Hong Kong to the UK is nothing short of amazing. 3 to 4 days from order to delivery and trackable on the UPS website all the way. Any email questions are answered within 24 hours and if you ring the UK phone number they will contact you back.
I think Lesco may have some genuine problems with his purchase, but how many companies are perfect in everything they do and never have a problem? Not many I suspect, specially in the photographic world. The only regret I have with this company is that I haven't started shopping with them earlier as I could have saved £100's to put towards other purchases. I fully expect to continue shopping with Panamoz for a long time, and the only connection I have to this company is that I'm a very happy customer.
 
Hi Hadley Ignore that letter on the web it is posted about a few of the hk sites, (circa 2009)?
I bought a 120-400mm sigma lens of them a few weeks ago it came from hk and it took 4 days to deliver.
Also if you look through the posts on this forum you will find there are a few people that have bought off them
 
I just bought a nikon 24mm 1.4 from them this week, arrived within a few days.. super price, super service. Everything spot on. UPS tracking. Customer services email you to update you, at least for me as I needed to do bank transfer instead of paypal credit card.

Personally, my one experience with them as you can see has been 100%.
 
Hi The same question was asked in a thread 16/3/2012. Lots of answers.
 
This thread was a year old ? Panamoz might have been a bit dodgy then .
 
Bought a G1 X from them. Arrived quickly with no problems. Great price.
 
I bought my D7000 from them back in November. They were far cheaper than anywhere else and delivery was very quick (3 days), fully tracked and they communicated with me very efficiently all the way through the transaction and afterwards. I would use them again.
P.S. I seem to remember reading something on their site about a further discount if you paid by bank transfer - I didn't notice until after I had completed my purchase :-(
 
BOught my sigma 150-500 from them a few months back, posted friday and I got it Monday! From Hk aswell. No issues so far! Lens is working a treat!

A little example of the sigma 150-500 (im not a pro either)
IMG_0443
 
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Taxes and duty is all prepaid by them and included in the price.
 
gblades said:
Taxes and duty is all prepaid by them and included in the price.
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I think that you need to read the terms and conditions a little bit more closely.
 
gblades said:
Taxes and duty is all prepaid by them and included in the price.
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Is this stated on the customs docket? If it is the case then it should clearly state "Import VAT Prepaid" along with the company's authorisation number......
 
From the FAQ

3. Will I have to pay Import taxes?

No, all import taxes/duties/VAT are covered by us. We are responsible for all additional tax charges.
 
gblades said:
From the FAQ

3. Will I have to pay Import taxes?

No, all import taxes/duties/VAT are covered by us. We are responsible for all additional tax charges.
Click to expand...

Which doesn't say that the import tax & VAT are prepaid!
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Is this stated on the customs docket? If it is the case then it should clearly state "Import VAT Prepaid" along with the company's authorisation number......
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Prepaid as in paid before you get the item not necessarily paid before going through customs. My sigma lens was with a single courier from start to end so if vat wasn't prepaid then they would bill panamoz I guess instead of trying to collect it from the end customer. I didn't get any customs docket but I expect this would go to panamoz as they are the ones paying.

The original poster asked if they would get caught with customs charges.
No you won't have to pay additional charges.
Any customs charges and vat will be paid by panamoz before you get the item so you won't have to pay customs charges and claim it back either.
Hopefully that makes it clearer.
 
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gblades said:
Prepaid as in paid before you get the item not necessarily paid before going through customs. My sigma lens was with a single courier from start to end so if vat wasn't prepaid then they would bill panamoz I guess instead of trying to collect it from the end customer. I didn't get any customs docket but I expect this would go to panamoz as they are the ones paying.
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You received a parcel from HK with no customs documentation? That sounds iffy in the extreme, how would HMRC know what was in the package?
 
gblades said:
The original poster asked if they would get caught with customs charges.
No you won't have to pay additional charges.
Any customs charges and vat will be paid by panamoz before you get the item so you won't have to pay customs charges and claim it back either.
Hopefully that makes it clearer.
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Ok, Panamoz may well have prepaid the VAT, but if they have then that needs to be stated on the Customs docket, as does the company's authorisation number that confirms to HMRC that they are part of the scheme that allows them to do so.
 
It's handled by the courier company. When they take the package in to go through customs they submit the paperwork. When it comes out they deliver the parcel and send customs documents back to the sender together with the bill for any charges. It's a standard service couriers offer so the sender can resolve any issues easier and it's better for the end customer.
 
brad28 said:
BOught my sigma 150-500 from them a few months back, posted friday and I got it Monday! From Hk aswell. No issues so far! Lens is working a treat!

A little example of the sigma 150-500 (im not a pro either)
IMG_0443
Click to expand...

Did the body of the Sigma you got come with the newer finish or the old greyish finish?
 
gblades said:
It's handled by the courier company. When they take the package in to go through customs they submit the paperwork. When it comes out they deliver the parcel and send customs documents back to the sender together with the bill for any charges. It's a standard service couriers offer so the sender can resolve any issues easier and it's better for the end customer.
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Sorry, but if someone told you that then they were fibbing, a copy of the customs and shipping paperwork should be given to the addressee.

Put it this way, if HMRC come knocking what proof (other than a "promise" on an a website in another country) do you have that the duty has been paid?
 
Not sure of he exact difference between the two finishes but mine bought a couple of months ago is definitely black.
 
If you buy the lens in the UK what proof do you have?
 
gblades said:
If you buy the lens in the UK what proof do you have?
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You mean if you buy it new from a proper retailer?

You'd have a receipt and one with a VAT registration number on it.
 
gblades said:
Fedex
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The Fedex documentation is in triplicate, one copy is given to the customer, one retained by Fedex and the remaining one goes to the sender.

All of the forms contain the Customs information, including details of what the parcel contains and the declared value. If the duty has been prepaid this will also be stated on this form.

If you weren't given such documentation by the Fedex agent then something is seriously amiss....
 
A good friend of mine recently bought a Canon 100mm L IS Macro lens thru Panamoz with no problems whatsoever. If they stand by their warranty claims is another thing entirely. That said I have never had a lens or camera go wrong in the first year of owning it.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
The Fedex documentation is in triplicate, one copy is given to the customer, one retained by Fedex and the remaining one goes to the sender.

All of the forms contain the Customs information, including details of what the parcel contains and the declared value. If the duty has been prepaid this will also be stated on this form.

If you weren't given such documentation by the Fedex agent then something is seriously amiss....
Click to expand...

I bought another lens from them. The customs info arrived by letter a week later was wasnt marked as personal in the address which is probably why I didnt get the last one as work assumed it was for something they received.

Anyway on the sheet of paper it sais under the item tax details :-
Item Value : 15.00

But later under tax code information :-
Customs Value: 71.49
VAT Value: 76.99
Statistical Value:
License Value: 76.99

Not sure I understand exactly what this means.
 
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