Buying imported gear

[Shifty]

Apologies if this thread has already been discussed.

Having read lots of threads on BF I am planning to buy the EF 100 - 400 IS to go with a 40D (my mind is made up, I don't want to start this discussion off again!!! ;)).

However, if I get an import this works out at £200 cheaper, I can still get cashback and would come with a 1 year international warranty. How does this compare with getting a lens from a UK retailer? Are there any potential implications with quality that I should be aware of or other problems I may experience?

[postcardcv]

I don't think that there are any quality issues, however make sure that the lenses comes with the proper Canon warranty, some of the importers offer other warranties that are not as good.

[Ragna]

This is a bit of a grey area if its imported from the USA then it generally comes with a warranty that is covered by Canon UK.Anywhere else outside the EU and you would have to return to where you got it from.Hong Kong and most dealer on ebay wont be covered by Canon UK

[IanC_UK]

All L series lenses come with a Worldwide warranty, non L series lenses do not. Bodies will only carry warranty if supplied with a UK invoice, otherwise they have to go back to country of supply.

[Gemm]

Just watch out for the VAT (or was it import duty? - I can't remember). You may get lucky enough to pass through the customs but be prepared to receive the bill later (or you may have to pay upon delivery). I've bought a lens from a Hong Kong based ebay seller and there was no problem at all and I saved a lot of money. There shouldn't be any concern on the quality issue.

[JohnZ]

I have imported three lenses from the US and you have to pay both VAT and Import Duty.
On the first two occasions I did not pay anything but on the third I got slaughtered ! However it was still cheaper than buying the same lens in the UK. I eventually saved about £150.00.

[timp55]

Take a look at this thread:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=102545&highlight=kerso

I can thoroughly recommend the kerso suggestion. Just been out today with a new 100-400L bought direct from Ian - with Canon Cashback I'll have paid £740 total for the lens. Excellent service, well packaged, arrived in a couple of days.
Only thing I'd suggest is not complicating the order by asking for filter prices and the like, he wasn't very responsive!

[Duke Leto]

I have imported three lenses from the US and you have to pay both VAT and Import Duty.
On the first two occasions I did not pay anything but on the third I got slaughtered ! However it was still cheaper than buying the same lens in the UK. I eventually saved about £150.00.

It doesn't pay to shop in the US unless your bringing it back personally, all the Nikon Lenses I have bought from the east have an international 1 yr warranty and have been registered with Nikon. Sellers who offer extended Mack warranties are okay as long as your not paying for them, trust me you need to take these warranties with a pinch of salt. On the one occasion I had to send the lenses to Nikon it didn't concern them I'd bought it from HK. Can recommend Kea photo on eBay if your shopping around

[Cashie]

I bought mine off 123fstop a US supplier just over a year ago & got the cash back no problem at all.

Paul.

[Leif]

I have bought several lenses from overseas including a Nikon micro lens from Hong Kong (URGALAXY on ebay) and another Nikon micro lens from B&H Photovideo of New York. The latter lens was charged about 20% tax and import duty. And I had to pay shipping (with VAT).

URGALAXY avoids paying VAT by means of fraud. He encloses a receipt indicating that the lens is being returned from servicing, and hence VAT is not due. If the Revenue catch on, you are due, not URGALAXY. However, I'm not sure what the chances of seizure are. He also claimed a worldwide warranty, but provided none until pushed and he then supplied a Mack one instead. As Duke Leto says, that is not as good as the real thing.

It can make sense to search around in the UK. Sometimes you can get an item much cheaper. I bought a grey market Nikon micro lens from Microglobe in London for not much more than an ebay HK import (excluding VAT).

One problem with an import is that if the lens is duff - by which I mean not defective but not as sharp as it should be - you cannot return it. Buy a UK lens, and you can: by law if you buy mail order you have - I think - 14 days to return it as long as it is as received.

[JohnZ]

It does pay to buy from the US as, as Ian mentioned, all L series lenses come with a worldwide guarantee. It is also a lot cheaper even taking into account VAT and Import Duty. Unless, of course, you regard a saving of 15-20% as not worthwhile.
Not for nothing are we known as "Rip off Britain".

[Leif]

It does pay to buy from the US as, as Ian mentioned, all L series lenses come with a worldwide guarantee. It is also a lot cheaper even taking into account VAT and Import Duty. Unless, of course, you regard a saving of 15-20% as not worthwhile.
Not for nothing are we known as "Rip off Britain".

At the risk of stating the obvious, it pays to take care when buying from the US as there are some crooks about. Companies such as B&H Photovideo are highly respected, but some shops practice techniques such as bait and switch or worse.

Regarding ROB, I recently looked at buying a microscope. UK price including VAT £1,500. US price $1,500. Same item, same spec. Even allowing for VAT, how can that be justified?

[JohnZ]

I believe, or it appears, that the majority of bait and switch folks are located around the Brooklyn area of New York ?
However even with the current exchange rate should you buy from B&H it will cost approx. £660.00. If kerso will sell the same item for £740.00 then it may well be best to buy from him as the VAT and Import Duty may well exceed this.

[timp55]

...If kerso will sell the same item for £740.00 then it may well be best to buy from him as the VAT and Import Duty may well exceed this.the figure of £740 came after the Canon Cashback of £70 (kerso 790+20 shipping=total of £810, less £70 cashback = £740)