Buying camera equipment in Canada/USA

[dave0010]

I'm soon to be in Canada then the USA on holiday from the UK. Does anyone have any experience of buying equipment abroad? I was hoping to possible save some money due to currency conversion rates?

[TheRainMaker]

You can buy equipment abroad if you like, just remember your personal allowance is £390.00

I guess if you were to throw away the box etc etc who would know you bought it in the US but thats up to you

Also just check the warranty situation and any specification which may be different in the US, like only recording in NTSC instead of PAL and NTSC etc etc.

Oh and have a think on how you will pay, you may get stung on card charges if it's a large purchase.

[K12beano]

TheRainMaker said:

I guess if you were to throw away the box etc etc who would know you bought it in the US but thats up to you

.....or conveniently throw all the packaging into an envelope and send it back home to Blighty, addressed to Cecil, your relative's cat....


More seriously, warranties - as TRM says. There can be interesting anomalies about how they work, worldwide. E.g. Nikon bodies v Nikkor lenses!

[sgrimshaw]

Also, be wary of the ticket prices.

In the USA, prices are always shown exclusive of Sales Taxes and range from 0% to over 10% depending on what State/City you are in.

For Canada, prices are generally shown exclusive of Sales Taxes and range from 5% to 15%, depending on which Province you're in.

[paul.deitch]

Don't forget the serial numbers are allocated to countries, so if they really want to collect the tax they will get you. Or file the serial number off, but then you might have a warranty problem.

[dave0010]

Humm, I was really starting to look forward to a shopping spree in B & H in New York. I'l have a think about my "need" a bit more I think.

[mikef]

I've bought a lot of gear from there. Take an empty camera bag with you and lose the boxes

Just don't turn up at B&H on a Saturday

[dave0010]

mikef said:

I've bought a lot of gear from there. Take an empty camera bag with you and lose the boxes

Just don't turn up at B&H on a Saturday

It would be a week day so hopefully quieter, I'm just spending endless hours now researching a camera I can justify spending the money on :/

[mikef]

B&H is closed on Saturdays, open Sundays

It's never quiet unless you go in when they're just opening up

[satans worm]

It also closes early on Fridays , so beware.
It seems all the photography shops are owned by Jewish people as they all close on a Saturday!

[Ledaig]

mikef said:

B&H is closed on Saturdays, open Sundays

It's never quiet unless you go in when they're just opening up

They also close for other Jewish holidays as I found out. But it was okay - Tiffanys was open so the Wife was happy......