What's your view on buying grey imports

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Know we all like to save a few quid, but still not sure i'm happy buying grey imports, warranty issue notwithstanding.
Harsh economic times and feel guilty that it could send even more people here to the dole queue. Added to the fact that it can only mean high st shops go under, not great when you want something there and then

Don't like paying vat etc anymore than the next person, but if all our money goes abroad it can only make things worse for the home economy

Am I just being daft with some outdated views or do others share my concerns.
 
it's really not much different to spending an hour in Jessops trying out various cameras, lenses and the rest, then buying off the internet because it's cheaper.
 
Unless its the internet arm of a UK business such as Park, Jacobs, WE etc etc

Think I must be one of the few who actually like Jessops and have always received good service there
 
Stratman said:
it's really not much different to spending an hour in Jessops trying out various cameras, lenses and the rest, then buying off the internet because it's cheaper.
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But it is very different if the on-line store you buy from is here in the UK. That means the money remains in the economy, taxes are paid here in the UK and it helps to maintain UK jobs. Whilst Jessops (other retailers are available) may not benefit from your spending the wider economy does and that benefits everyone.
 
I don't see the point. If you're not fussed about the warranty you might aswell save more money by buying second hand.
 
DazJW said:
I don't see the point. If you're not fussed about the warranty you might aswell save more money by buying second hand.
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Peace of mind.
Keeping the UK economy going.
Helping keep British citizens in work and off the dole. To name just a few.


Personally, i'd like to think that if I was in the financial position to pay that bit extra then I definitely would, but sadly foreign internet warehouses are so cheap these days that you just can't ignore them when it comes to bargains.
It's a shame those bargains come at a cost..
 
Why spend MILLIONS on keeping other counteys running with there 3rd world rubbish!!!!! Thats where our money goes poking our nose in where its not wanted. Buying a lens from abroad is not an issue and why make companys rich and yourself poor!!!!
 
Stratman said:
it's really not much different to spending an hour in Jessops trying out various cameras, lenses and the rest, then buying off the internet because it's cheaper.
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Which is possibly one reason why people end up with ex display kit when buying from Jessops, or maybe even why they (Jessops sometimes have cashflow problems. They still have to buy their display stock and pay their staff so don't yopu think it's a little unfair on them to treat them like a showroom for the internet?
 
Whilst in an ideal world I would buy from a local shop that’s been family run for generations the majority of places available to me in the high street are just large companies out to make the most amount of profit they can for the shareholder, which in turn eradicates the local shop owners as they can’t remain competitive. So I’m left with a choice of two faceless organisations, which one am I going to go with? of course it will be the cheaper one. And before anyone gets upset I have and will pay more for a local friendly service, I get the product there and then rather than having to mess about with the royal mail.

That my friends is capitalism for you.
 
Some of the comments in this thread make me facepalm. To everyone saying STOP GIVING MONEY TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES - where do you think UK shops are getting their stock from??!
 
Buy grey imports do you mean product that has been sourced from overseas channels by the supplied, legitimately imported into the UK and import duty and VAT paid, then sold to the purchaser with a VAT invoice? Or do you mean bought direct from China in the hope of avoiding paying VAT and import duty?

In the former case, no problem with it although I wouldn't myself. In the latter case, it's illegal, so no. I take a very dim view of tax evasion, so am hardly likely to do it myself.
 
I saved well over a thousand quid buying lenses from kerso.. including a whopping great 800 quid saving on a 400mm lens... all Lens covered by canon UK and all imported..

Bit of a no brainer to be honest.. even if i bought from UK ..jessops or anywhere else.. I would still have to send to canon UK for warranty.. so why not save oodles of money and still use the same warranty system..
 
Nod said:
Which is possibly one reason why people end up with ex display kit when buying from Jessops, or maybe even why they (Jessops sometimes have cashflow problems. They still have to buy their display stock and pay their staff so don't yopu think it's a little unfair on them to treat them like a showroom for the internet?
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Indeed I do, which is why I made the post. One day there'll be no Jessops or Jacobs to use as a 'Try Before You Buy (elsewhere)' showroom. Then how will you know how the latest kit handles and performs?
 
don't care about jessops or jacobs

I know how a camera feels and I research info online - I've only ever bought in a shop once and thats cause only jessops had a canon 5D2 and I paid about £150 more than I could get online.

I'll buy a lens or camera at the cheapest place.


Stratman said:
Indeed I do, which is why I made the post. One day there'll be no Jessops or Jacobs to use as a 'Try Before You Buy (elsewhere)' showroom. Then how will you know how the latest kit handles and performs?
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I am with POAH on this one.
There is only one place I care about money and thats in my back pocket, why pay more for the same item just because its in a shop??

Grey imports?? yes I would buy one of those too.

spike
 
onomatopoeia said:
In the former case, no problem with it although I wouldn't myself. In the latter case, it's illegal, so no. I take a very dim view of tax evasion, so am hardly likely to do it myself.
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Actually - that would be tax evasion which is, as you say, illegal. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is just a handy term for minimising your tax bill through legal means. They're two different things.
 
I buy my photography products wherever suits me...after all *I* am the customer.

I have recently bought a new camera body from a grey import company, HDEW, but as they're based in Surrey I'm guessing the Treasury will be seeing some tax from them.
 
Im not that worried over Grey imports, they feel like a legitimate saving. I now no longer feel 'discount for cash' (evading appropriate taxes) is fair. At one time that seemed unimportant, but now, public services being cut etc, it seems very wrong, to be exasperating things.
 
My last camera ,the Nikon D300 and lens Nikkor 17-55 2.8 was bought from Jessops,as there was only £90 difference than buying online.

I can hear a lot of you saying "£90 is better off in my pocket" but to me the extra is worth it for the simple reason I don't have to faf about with ringing up numbers the might or might not work,wrap it all up and post it off,
I would sooner just go to the shop and deal with it there and then......

Worth a lot to me that.......:thumbs:
 
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scottthehat said:
If its cheaper and comes with warranty from a place you trust that's saves you money buy it simple as that i got a grey d700 which saved of 150.
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+1 :thumbs: HDEW were great at the time I bought my D700
 
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