Winterdune
Well-known member
Given that £1=$2 presently, has anyone done this? Is it still worth it with import duty? Do you ALWAY have to pay the import duty?
Sean
Sean
seanofford said:Given that £1=$2 presently, has anyone done this? Is it still worth it with import duty? Do you ALWAY have to pay the import duty?
Sean
Some optics seem twice as expensive (eg Leica bins) but others don't - a cursory glance at prices suggests the Nikon ED50 with zoom is significantly less in the states.PYRTLE said:Are you assuming then that the price of discountedUS binoculars are 50% of that in the UK? Might get a very good value holiday in the USA but not sure how their prices are. Why not try an example - eg how much is the cheapest Zeiss 8 x 42 FLs in the states? They would have to be below $1700 to be cheaper methinks.
Also, is the question for someone in the UK buying from the States or other way round, not sure, bit tired.
seanofford said:Given that £1=$2 presently, has anyone done this? Is it still worth it with import duty? Do you ALWAY have to pay the import duty?
Sean
stuprice68 said:Dunno about the Warranty though.
Erm... yes. You would need to provide evidence that it was bought in the UK. If you take expensive goods abroad you ought to take a copy of the purchase receipt with you in case you are stopped.Leif said:...One thing I have always wondered about is what happens if you go on holiday, buy a binocular, and come back with it round your neck. Do customs check? I would guess not.
I inquired similarly in the past and found myself in a confusing subject area, here is what I recall:seanofford said:Given that £1=$2 presently, has anyone done this? Is it still worth it with import duty? Do you ALWAY have to pay the import duty?
Sean
From what I've seen, a typical US price for ED50 plus 13-30 zoom is $699 (around £350). That combination would cost £428 here. But you would have to add shipping ($40?), Import Duty (9%?) and VAT to the £350, bringing it up to around £463. And when you consider warranty problems and general hassle, it's not worth it.seanofford said:Some optics seem twice as expensive (eg Leica bins) but others don't - a cursory glance at prices suggests the Nikon ED50 with zoom is significantly less in the states.
medinabrit said:As for birding optics, I take the view that it is important to try out equipment first, and that it is immoral to try here, then buy elsewhere. So make use of your local dealer, negotiate fair deals before trying, then buy from them if they have an item you like.
Just my opinion. Other will disagree.
narawood said:
My understanding is that it is a misconception that goods sent as a 'gift' are exempt from VAT\import duty etc.