Buying an electrical item UK vs US, how to?

[Dupont666]

Im looking at getting a Canon G11 for the Miss Dupont and there are some big price differences between here and the US?

US

http://www.thecamerabox.com/catalogsearch/result/?...

$443.95 == £286

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Stabilized-a...

$479 > £309 But are they allowed to ship here?

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UK

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/76503...

£399

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/3640038/art/canon/...

£388

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So what costs are going to be extra from the US that I dont know about so that they can send the goods across here, is there an tax Im missing and is it going to suck up all the £90-100 saving that I get from buying from Amazon, etc?

No I dont have anyone going or is out in the US that can assist and it needs to be in my hands for absolute latest of the 6 August.

Any help is gratefully recieved.

Thanks

[Laurel Green]

Think you'll have to add VAT & custom clearance to the price.

[Spudler]

From what i understand, yes tax goes on top, but the main reason i dont buy from there (and im there alot) is because North America has a seperate guarentee to Europe. By the time you pay the tax, shipping and duty (unless claimed as a gift) there is hardly, if any savings.

[Simpo Two]

Laurel Green said:

Think you'll have to add VAT & custom clearance to the price.

And import duty. And if it goes wrong where do you take/send it?

[Plotloss]

Some products do have a worldwide warranty. Unsure whether this does specifically but some do.

[Dupont666]

Since it is a gift for my OH, does that make it any cheaper?

Its for me to give to her in August when we meet for a few days in Finland before I go back to UK and her to Egypt... She wants a nice camera and has been on about this one for ages, but there is no way that she can currently afford it and at the moment has no camera so I thought given I have 2 weeks to get it before I see her, I would get her a gift....

[Laurel Green]

Afraid it doesn't work like that. It is only if the item is sent as a gift from point of origin.

[Spudler]

Dupont666 said:

Since it is a gift for my OH, does that make it any cheaper?

Its for me to give to her in August when we meet for a few days in Finland before I go back to UK and her to Egypt... She wants a nice camera and has been on about this one for ages, but there is no way that she can currently afford it and at the moment has no camera so I thought given I have 2 weeks to get it before I see her, I would get her a gift....

Unfortunatly it dosen't work like that. It has to come as a gift from the person sending ie:the retailer.
Regarding buy camera equipment i've bought most of my latest equipment from Hong Kong via ebay (must check feedback), and they'll send as a gift. Never had a problem, bought a 400d, Sigma 10-24, tripods and various filters for said lens which are rather expensive.
Can only speak as i find.

If i can find the link i'll post it up.

[tubbystu]

You will (most likely) get caught for import duty and VAT on the duty and the shipping when it enters the UK if you order it from .com.

Check the power adaptor supplied from US is OK for 230v supply. You may need a mains connector adaptor which she might notice means you purchased her camera cheap and cause you undue flak perhaps.

IIRC Dixons at airports do not stock Canon cameras products due to some pricing issue between them, so don't bank on picking it up vat free at Heathrow or similiar. Of course if you are flying from Stanstead on Ryan then this doesn't count anyway.

[onomatopoeia]

Dupont666 said:

So what costs are going to be extra from the US that I dont know about so that they can send the goods across here, is there an tax Im missing and is it going to suck up all the £90-100 saving that I get from buying from Amazon, etc?

VAT and import duty on the total including shipping cost, nearly 25% between them. Gift declaration makes no difference at this level, it only increases the amount that goes through without duty being charged from ~£18 to ~£36. There will also be a customs clearance fee charged by the shipper at this end, expect it to be at least £10.

Incidentally, don't think about asking the seller to mis-declare the value, the importer (you) is responsible for the item being correctly declared.

[Dupont666]

onomatopoeia said:

Dupont666 said:

So what costs are going to be extra from the US that I dont know about so that they can send the goods across here, is there an tax Im missing and is it going to suck up all the £90-100 saving that I get from buying from Amazon, etc?

VAT and import duty on the total including shipping cost, nearly 25% between them. Gift declaration makes no difference at this level, it only increases the amount that goes through without duty being charged from ~£18 to ~£36. There will also be a customs clearance fee charged by the shipper at this end, expect it to be at least £10.

Incidentally, don't think about asking the seller to mis-declare the value, the importer (you) is responsible for the item being correctly declared.

I wasnt going to, I just wanted to see how much cheaper it would be if any, other than I happen to be in the US and buy it for £280, throw away the box and packing and claim it was a camera that I took there... but that aint happening and dont know if I would have the balls to do that.

[Neil H]

On something of this value you'd have to be very lucky to avoid customs charges, and if you were unlucky you'd also be charged by the courier (Royal Mail and I think DHL both charge you a fee if you incurr import duty). It could even work out more expensive.

[Olivero]

The warranty for things bought in the UK is just about the best anywhere (partly thanks it has to be said to the EU), the US one is/will be a bit pants. You will most likely also have to post it back to get it fixed. Canon are better than most, but all things considered i would just buy in the UK.

[Simpo Two]

onomatopoeia said:

Incidentally, don't think about asking the seller to mis-declare the value, the importer (you) is responsible for the item being correctly declared.

How can you be responsible for what somebody writes 5,000 miles away? The seller is making the declaration not the buyer, no?

[wibble cb]

Seeing as I can't order from Amazon.com (here in Canada), I doubt you will be able to....you need a US billing address credit card, they don't do international shipping, though other sites might.

[tubbystu]

Simpo Two said:

onomatopoeia said:

Incidentally, don't think about asking the seller to mis-declare the value, the importer (you) is responsible for the item being correctly declared.

How can you be responsible for what somebody writes 5,000 miles away? The seller is making the declaration not the buyer, no?

But the buyer is requesting the import and any false declaration will only come down to the importer not the shipper/sender. Only Customs at point of entry to destination country will decide if the declaration is valid.

[BigBen]

wibble cb said:

Seeing as I can't order from Amazon.com (here in Canada), I doubt you will be able to....you need a US billing address credit card, they don't do international shipping, though other sites might.

I have ordered stuff through .com here in the UK in the past, this may have changed but certainly has been possible in the past

[camelot1971]

BigBen said:

wibble cb said:

Seeing as I can't order from Amazon.com (here in Canada), I doubt you will be able to....you need a US billing address credit card, they don't do international shipping, though other sites might.

I have ordered stuff through .com here in the UK in the past, this may have changed but certainly has been possible in the past

Yep, i have too, CDs and the like, never had any issues at all.

[Neil H]

It is possible to order certain things from Amazon.com, I think you can even use your .co.uk login. Certain things can't, and it will say on the site whether you can or not. I bought the deluxe Blade Runner bluray set from there a while back as it wasn't available here.

I've also had stuff from the Japanese one, but that's a little trickier.

[Parrot of Doom]

At that price bracket, once you've paid VAT and shipping, and import duty, it simply isn't worth it.

The slight difference in price by then is worth it, for the ease of returning it should it go wrong.