Is equipment cheaper across the pond?

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There probably is a quicker way to find out if gear is cheaper in the U.S. than starting a thread here, but I've started now..

I'm on a budget because I'm going to New York this month, but I'm tempted to blow all my spending money on a lens out there. Would I save a buck or two in doing so. (I'm thinking Tamron 17-50mm or Sigma or Canon of similar range)
 
Big US photo store in new york
http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Exchange rates
http://www.xe.com

Remember if you are importing you will be liable to VAT and Duty on the total price (including shipping)

Oh, if you are actually going to the store you will have to pay NY state sales tax (think its 5%?) but when you come back to the UK you are meant to claim that back and pay VAT and Duty as well... Not sure how clued up customs are on camera gear tho ;)
 
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I'm told B&H is well worth a visit anyway, one point i forgot to make is they close at weird times for religious holidays, check their site before you go to make sure its actually open. Think there is a big calumet nearby as well.

I had a friend who lived in that part of the city, i was gutted when he moved before i got a chance to go stay with him :D
 
I'm in Australia and I've bought a lot of gear online from B&H. If I spend over a $1000 AUD I sometimes get hit with import duty but its cheaper than locally especially at the moment our dollar is worth about 109 USD.

An SB900 is nearly half price landed and even my local camera store tells me to get them from there as they can't get them from Nikon that cheap.

I buy bodies and most lenses locally though if I can because the shop looks after me if I have an issue.
 
I buy most of my gear from Adorama (also a NYC outfit, comparable to R&H). I'm a US citizen and travel back semi frequently. I carry everything with me in my luggage. Yes, the prices are MUCH better, but only if you are buying there and carrying back. Shipping it from the US to here will often incur VAT and customs.

thanks
rick
 
Cheers guys, will be sure to check out b&h. If I just bought a lens and put it on my body, customs will never know right.. Not that you'd condone it of course
 
casts_by_fly said:
I buy most of my gear from Adorama (also a NYC outfit, comparable to R&H). I'm a US citizen and travel back semi frequently. I carry everything with me in my luggage. Yes, the prices are MUCH better, but only if you are buying there and carrying back. Shipping it from the US to here will often incur VAT and customs.

thanks
rick
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Carrying it back in your luggage without declaring is illegal and you should be paying the vat etc anyway...
 
Yes it is cheaper.. I get all my new gear off kerso who imports it.. i saved a thousand pounds on my last purchase by buying it from him. He sends it to his base in scotland.. its sent from there to you so no import duty
 
THREAD HIJACK....... apologies.

I am heading to Bangkok and Thialand on my honeymoon, what are prices in stores like there?
 
Donki said:
Eh? I missed somthing? :thinking:
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My sense of humor :)

Coal to newcastle is.. you dont take coal to newcastle.. the first coal mines in the country

what are you supposed to be doing a lot of on your honymoon? and what is thailand well known for?


nowhere near as funny when you have to explain it :)
 
lensflair said:
I'm in Australia and I've bought a lot of gear online from B&H. If I spend over a $1000 AUD I sometimes get hit with import duty but its cheaper than locally especially at the moment our dollar is worth about 109 USD.

An SB900 is nearly half price landed and even my local camera store tells me to get them from there as they can't get them from Nikon that cheap.

I buy bodies and most lenses locally though if I can because the shop looks after me if I have an issue.
Click to expand...

An SB900 is nearly half the AUS price here in the UK -

P1030105.jpg


That works out at roughly £566 at the current exchange rate.....
 
menthel said:
Carrying it back in your luggage without declaring is illegal and you should be paying the vat etc anyway...
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Flat pack the box in one set of luggage (or dispose of it).

Come back with equipment in a bag for example :)



Note: Not that I condone this action any shape or form ;)
 
menthel said:
Carrying it back in your luggage without declaring is illegal and you should be paying the vat etc anyway...
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That's true for pretty much everything you buy on holiday though isn't it? I would guess that everyone goes on holiday and comes back with loads of trinkets and presents and then doesn't declare them on the way back home.
 
Hell yes carry it back, IMO if its a one off item then you are having it for personal use anyway. I bought a Sigma lens when I went to NYC but that was when it was $2 to £1!
 
KIPAX said:
My sense of humor :)

Coal to newcastle is.. you dont take coal to newcastle.. the first coal mines in the country

what are you supposed to be doing a lot of on your honymoon? and what is thailand well known for?


nowhere near as funny when you have to explain it :)
Click to expand...

Ha I see, sorry need my caffine. I should of realised as my better half said something similar when I said I couldnt wait to see the camera prices and have a talored Thia suit made :lol:.
 
I'm off to New York in October and staying just around the corner from BHPhoto, and I'm sorely tempted to start saving and buy a lens when I'm there. The one I want (EF-S 10-22mm) is about £80 cheaper over there currently. I definitely need to go in and drool over the lenses, I'll only be one block away.
 
Davey_Pitch said:
That's true for pretty much everything you buy on holiday though isn't it? I would guess that everyone goes on holiday and comes back with loads of trinkets and presents and then doesn't declare them on the way back home.
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Over a certain value, yes. Mind you I am a tight git and don't bring any presents back! ;)
 
menthel said:
Over a certain value, yes. Mind you I am a tight git and don't bring any presents back! ;)
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Heh, I tend to bring back lots of goodies for myself, nice presents for the niece and nephew, and a few small bits for close family members. Everyone else can sod off :D
 
I've been to the b&h store in new York its bloody huge , the exchange rate has got better recently too so defiantlyworth a visit .

They have a section for used gear including accessories like bags , I got a few bargins in there.

There is another store in new York that is worth a visit but I can't remember the name of it, ill look for it when I get home later.
 
From HMRC site. ( If you are bringing it back yourself. This is always a good starting point.)

You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 without having to pay tax and/or duty.
 
indolent said:
From HMRC site. ( If you are bringing it back yourself. This is always a good starting point.)

You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 without having to pay tax and/or duty.
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Useful, thanks! And very brave of you to tackle a government website and gain useful information!
 
or you could buy 2nd hand. I buy pretty much all my gear 2nd hand. Less hassle perhaps?
 
If it's brought back as a gift for someone else does the vat bit still apply?
 
im pretty sure when i was looking into this before its only illegal if you bring it back new as they think you may have the intention to sell it! apparently they have the right to tax you on clothes etc if they still have tags on them... dont quote me on it but i remember reading that somewhere
 
swanseamale47 said:
If it's brought back as a gift for someone else does the vat bit still apply?
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It does. That is why, in theory, all of this marking things as gifts that you see on eBay actually has no meaning and is also illegal.
 
KIPAX said:
coals to newcastle ...

SORRY :)
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I liked the humour anyway. Thai prices are still cheaper than the UK, but it is not the cheapest in Asia for photographic equipment despite the nikon plant there! However, worth picking a lens up if you see one. Have a great trip.
 
B&H is a brilliant store...even if you aren't into photography it's worth a visit!

If you do buy something there I would suggest either disposing of all paperwork/boxes and mailing them back, including your receipts and credit card slips. That's the first thing they look for if you get stopped. Oh and if you want to be really careful pay cash as HMRC can and do seize credit card and bank statements to check what you have spent abroad. Having said that with camera gear it's very easy to find out where it's bought through the serial numbers so you'd be knackered anyway.

I often wonder why someone can't just open a shop like B&H in London....it would make a bloody killing.
 
J&R down by City Hall can also be worth a visit. Got my first digital compact (An Ixus 200) from there many years ago. Not as specialised as B&H though, more like an independent version of Best Buy I guess.
 
indolent said:
From HMRC site. ( If you are bringing it back yourself. This is always a good starting point.)

You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 without having to pay tax and/or duty.
Click to expand...

menthel said:
Carrying it back in your luggage without declaring is illegal and you should be paying the vat etc anyway...
Click to expand...


What indolent said. Keep in mind that £390 is about $650 right now, so you can get quite a lot of stuff for that.

Thanks
Rick
 
chri23 said:
im pretty sure when i was looking into this before its only illegal if you bring it back new as they think you may have the intention to sell it! apparently they have the right to tax you on clothes etc if they still have tags on them... dont quote me on it but i remember reading that somewhere
Click to expand...


Anything that is purchased and shipped in over the value limit (about £28 I think which includes chipping cost) is liable for VAT and import. Doesn't matter if it is marked gift or intended as a gift.

Personally carried items which have been purchased have the value limit as described above. Doesn't matter if it was a gift or intended as a gift.

If you already owned the item then not VAT is liable. Carrying it will likely not be charged in the first place. Shipped you will probably get hit and have to claim it back.

Thanks,
Rick
 
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