Any Europeans have experience with buying Binoculars from USA?

[keithdrengen]

Any experience?
And how much did it cost all in all(shipping, tax and so on), compared to the product price on the webpage?

[Fernando np]

I bought my Nikon 8X32SE from binoculars.com. Yes, I got a good prize. Then, there wasn't extra shipping cost, what takes sense in something round 500 euros and only half a kilo. The only extra cost was the VAT. I was required to pay it and to declare the item was inocuos.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

I bought my minox 8x32 also from binoculars.com
Great price, and they came by courrier perfectly.

[karmakanix7]

hi, if you go into the checkout on the various websites you should be able to get a price for shipping, eg usps, fedex ups. etc. a hint is to go for the usps as i have never paid a brokerage charge for them. tax in uk however is !7% if being sent from outside the eu. as far as i am aware there is no tax now for shipping within the eu.
example -the bushnel lelite 7x26 customs were $54 usps. and arrived in 3 days !
a lot of us companys wont send outside the us due to credit card fraud and lost items.ii have had 2 items lost from u.s. this year so best to get insurance or secure no risk shipping. hope this helps, marcus.

[karmakanix7]

apoligies for my dyslexic ways, vat is !7 1/2 % and this is uk tax.

[alan_rymer]

apoligies for my dyslexic ways, vat is !7 1/2 % and this is uk tax.

As far as I can work out.
You pay 17.5% Vat on: Price of item + 4% Duty+ Delivery cost
On top of this is an £8 charge from the post office for collecting the customs duty.

So on a pair of Bins costing $200 ( £100 ), you would end up paying £100+£4+Transport of £20 ( approx )+VAT at 17.5%, so about £30 + £8 Post office charge. Which ends up as £152 ( approx )

Saying that I have bought Bins and not been charged duty, only VAT and the post office collection charge.

[elkcub]

As far as I can work out.
You pay 17.5% Vat on: Price of item + 4% Duty+ Delivery cost
On top of this is an £8 charge from the post office for collecting the customs duty.

So on a pair of Bins costing $200 ( £100 ), you would end up paying £100+£4+Transport of £20 ( approx )+VAT at 17.5%, so about £30 + £8 Post office charge. Which ends up as £152 ( approx )

Saying that I have bought Bins and not been charged duty, only VAT and the post office collection charge.

What if someone were to send you a present from the US, either a new or used binocular from their collection, — what charges would be added other than delivery cost?

[mooreorless]

Elk, I don't think you can send anything in a package that won't be charged for what it is worth in duty etc. A fellow on CN had someone send hiim binoculars just to use for a while and it ended up costiing him a lot more than he thought the binoculars were worth.
Steve

[Jos Stratford]

With flights so cheap and the dollar so weak, just fly there for the weekend, have a couple of days birding in Central Park and Jamaica Bay, for example, then return with your new binoculars.

[Swissboy]

With flights so cheap and the dollar so weak, just fly there for the weekend, have a couple of days birding in Central Park and Jamaica Bay, for example, then return with your new binoculars.

That is definitely one of the better options. However, if you go to a store and buy what you want, you then pay sales tax. That can be rather hefty, depending where you go. I would assume NY to be among the higher ones.

The ideal way is to have the piece sent from out of state to someone you are going to visit. And with EO, even postage is free. The problem, of course, you can't try out that specific item you actually get before you buy it. EO lets you return it, but then you don't do it in a "couple of days" if you need an exchange. I have taken this route a few times, but only thanks to perfect quality did it pay off.

[gweller]

I would think that anyone living in the "Eurozone" might want to think about buying from England given the current exchange rate between the pound and the Euro.

For example in Holland the Swarovski EL 8x32 typically costs around 1450 euro. Warehouse Express has them for 869 ukp, which I reckon at today's exchange rate is about 1088 euro. So even plus postage there are probably some good savings to be made!

[ThoLa]

What if someone were to send you a present from the US, either a new or used binocular from their collection, — what charges would be added other than delivery cost?

A good idea (in principle).
You just have to have a "friend" you trust to send the appropriate amount of money.
Check money transfer costs (banks are greedy).
It just needs to be made out explicitly as a gift. Including a birthday card is a good idea.

T

[Pinewood]

Should you visit New York, with its 8.375% sales tax, you have shops with great selection and competitive prices: B&H, Adorama, Cameraland, etc. Just beware of shops on Fifth Avenue and on 42nd Street which thrive on the ignorance of tourists. Additionally, Cameraland on Lexington Avenue often has Zeiss Demos or obsolescent items, like FL's without Lotutec.

I had a very unfortunate incident when a European vendor sent me a classic Leitz binocular by FEDEX, from Germany. On entering the U.S., it was imposted for $5 by the U.S. Customs. FEDEX charged me an additonal $20 for paying the duties before delivery. When items travel to the U.S. by the post, the package is held at the local post office, if there is duty, then the recipient pays the duty when the item is retrieved. I do not know what happens with FedEx and UPS, when duties are charged in European countries.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :scribe:

[Swissboy]

.... I do not know what happens with FedEx and UPS, when duties are charged in European countries.

Arthur :scribe:

In Switzerland, the postman brings the item at my door and I pay him the amount due. Or if I'm not at home, I go to the post office afterwards to pick up the item and pay the same amount there. There is a surcharge of the equivalent of about 10 US$. However, if FedEx, UPS, DHL etc deliver it, I get the item and I later get a bill with a much higher surcharge (up to 50 US$). So my problem is to have the seller choose USPS and not one of the others. Items may be a bit faster with them, but in addition to the surcharge to customs/VAT, postage itself is exorbitant. I has happened that I ended up paying more for postage and customs plus surcharge than for the sent products! That's particularly annoying when I could easily have waited another week or so.

There is a certain limit that goes through as duty-free. This limit is in the order of one or two CDs, but it is considerably higher for books. Though HBW is above that limit. Thus, it was particularly annoying when Lynx chose FedEx one year to distribute the book. They must have received sufficient complaints to change things back, fortunately.

[keithdrengen]

Just beware of shops on Fifth Avenue and on 42nd Street which thrive on the ignorance of tourists. Additionally, Cameraland on Lexington Avenue often has Zeiss Demos or obsolescent items, like FL's without Lotutec.

Arthur :scribe:

What about this store? : www.hotbuyselectronics.com

Thanks for on informative thread so far.
CJ

[Pinewood]

What about this store? : www.hotbuyselectronics.com

Thanks for on informative thread so far.
CJ

CJ,

I wrote of three reliable shops with good reputations. Of the three, I like Cameraland. Hot Buys, which does not have a shop, is mentioned in the the following thread here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=16698&highlight=hot+buys). Follow the link to the ratings and you should understand why I did not recommend it.

Happy bird watching,
Arthur :scribe:

[keithdrengen]

Oh no! i allready had gone used to the thought that i would buy the Nikon e2 for 240$ at that shop.. but thanks very much for the warning, not going to buy there..

CJ

[keithdrengen]

Under shipping options I can choose UPS - worldsaver for about 30 $.
Risky´er or anything using UPS - worldsaver, since its cheaper and all?
Thank´s
Carsten J

[Swissboy]

Under shipping options I can choose UPS - worldsaver for about 30 $.
Risky´er or anything using UPS - worldsaver, since its cheaper and all?
Thank´s
Carsten J

As I mentioned earlier, UPS etc charge more getting things through customs, compared to having things sent via USPS. I would assume that problem is not unique to Switzerland.

[keithdrengen]

Ok, i thought USPS was within United States only.
Carsten

[Swissboy]

Ok, i thought USPS was within United States only.
Carsten

That's what the more expensive companies would like everyone to believe. And some stores actually don't ship overseas using USPS. I think it's because constant tracking is not possible. But with registered or insured mail there is no problem. And that is still much cheaper in the end. I buy a lot of model railroad stuff, so I know from extensive experience.

[andrew_s]

With flights so cheap and the dollar so weak, just fly there for the weekend, have a couple of days birding in Central Park and Jamaica Bay, for example, then return with your new binoculars.

You still have to pay duty and VAT on them.

Of course, you can just walk through the nothing to declare channel, but if you get caught the customs have the powers to jump very hard if they choose.

[karmakanix7]

hi again, as mentioned previously ups, fedex etc can accrue unexpected brokerage fees, usps do not. i have realised that there was no tax or duty on my bushnell elites :>) making them a great deal.

[keithdrengen]

Well, now I ordered something from warehouseexpress.com (UK - site) and I get this message in a mail half an hour after I placed my order:

"Dear Carsten Jorgenensen,



Many thanks for your recent order



We are having difficulties in obtaining address verification on the credit card details that you have supplied. Can you please confirm via e-mail or our sales lines the address to which the card is registered? (Please note: this may be different to the delivery address)



To speed up the process, if you could please send us a copy of the card statement, verifying the card number and the registered address by fax on 01603 481837 or email to supportservices@warehouseexpress.com so that we may then process your order.



We are unable to despatch any goods at this time."

I called my bank, and they suggest that I dont provide Warehouseexpress any of that information..

Have any of you guys experienced this before?

Thanks,
Carsten J

[Brosnabirder]

I would think that anyone living in the "Eurozone" might want to think about buying from England given the current exchange rate between the pound and the Euro.

For example in Holland the Swarovski EL 8x32 typically costs around 1450 euro. Warehouse Express has them for 869 ukp, which I reckon at today's exchange rate is about 1088 euro. So even plus postage there are probably some good savings to be made!

Seconded.

I bought a pair of Minox recently from Ace optics in Bath. I was pleasantly surprised at the price. Good company too. Very helpful on the phone and the bins arrived to Ireland within three days. No problems with VAT etc.

I see you (Carsten) went for the euro versus sterling savings from warehouseexpress in the end. I have no experience of them but I hope your problem is sorted soon.

I was also considering buying from America but it just seemed like a huge headache with regard to VAT, delivery and warranties.

For anybody thinking of buying Minox bins Ace prices beat warehouse etc by a considerable margin at the moment.

Best of luck
Tom

[Peewee]

See my first (and last) experience ordering from Optics planet

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=115373

Cheers Peter.

[phiwinuk]

Have dealt with Warehouse Express on several occasions - have had no problems whatsoever with them. Presumably the address issue is something to do with the credit card people and they want to make sure it's a legit transaction. Hope it all got sorted out OK.

[keithdrengen]

Have dealt with Warehouse once (today) sent me a Opticron Taiga 8x25 and a Kowa Ts-501 20x. Opticron fell apart once out of the box, cant focus. So i threw it out. After all the Kowa(inclucding the Opticron) ended on the same price that it costs here in denmark. But it still sucks that they send me a faulty piece. No matter what. In the future ill stick to Denmark and Non-chinese toys. I have tried 2 opticrons now, both faulty, had a Nikon monarch (chinese bin) couldn´t focus on long range. And my friend have a Honda 125 MC (Made in Taiwan) that starts to fall apart in the engine, after 10000 mileage.
Kowa, made in japan, no problems with that mmmm.
Thanks for listening, i feel better now ; )