Discussion
Was cruising the web for lens-porn the other day and thought I'd give amazon a try for a rpice on a 70-200mm F4 IS - £649. WOW that's cheap, as cheap as the Hong Kong retailers.
It turns out it is in fact a HK retianler selling via amazon. (Simply electronics in this case)
Nowhere does it mention on amazon's web page that you might be stung for import tax on this when the delivery chap rings your doorbell. Bit harsh I'd say.
Anyone any experiennce of buying from HK via amazon like this ?
Chris
It turns out it is in fact a HK retianler selling via amazon. (Simply electronics in this case)
Nowhere does it mention on amazon's web page that you might be stung for import tax on this when the delivery chap rings your doorbell. Bit harsh I'd say.
Anyone any experiennce of buying from HK via amazon like this ?
Chris
Agreed amazons marketplace sellers are a bit of an unknown, more so even than ebay perhaps.
Was shopping for a D300. A couple of places have it under £900, and say they are UK sellers - but I doubt these are UK models with Nikon UK warranty. No way near enough info to say. Amazon proper don't seem to sell the D300 themselves at the moment.
Was shopping for a D300. A couple of places have it under £900, and say they are UK sellers - but I doubt these are UK models with Nikon UK warranty. No way near enough info to say. Amazon proper don't seem to sell the D300 themselves at the moment.
Well true, I've probably had 10 or so packages from HK in recent years, never had to pay any customs tax. My issue is however that Amazon has a duty to tell you these products are grey imports as most of the resellers list as being UK, not least as if you import a £200 lens and they declare it as a gift, you are dodging tax, and, as the importer, you are the one breaking the law.
They need to make amazon marketplace more transparent IMO.
They need to make amazon marketplace more transparent IMO.
ALthough not relevant for the Sigma, the good thing about L glass from Canon is that their gaurentee is worldwide, unlike camera bodies.
I've tried Ian Kerso but he seems to be slow in answering email and has said his prices have shot up recently. I guess that means he is no longer competitive, I'd guessing probably because of the recent Dollar:Pound changes.
I'd prefer to buy from a UK source simnply because they're in the UK, but if they are hopelessly over priced then I may take a gamble.
I'll make sure to use my credit card to buy this one.
I agree, Amazon is being slightly naughty in not requiring overseas based sellers to state the tax situation. Someone could get caught out badly at the door step.
I've tried Ian Kerso but he seems to be slow in answering email and has said his prices have shot up recently. I guess that means he is no longer competitive, I'd guessing probably because of the recent Dollar:Pound changes.
I'd prefer to buy from a UK source simnply because they're in the UK, but if they are hopelessly over priced then I may take a gamble.
I'll make sure to use my credit card to buy this one.
I agree, Amazon is being slightly naughty in not requiring overseas based sellers to state the tax situation. Someone could get caught out badly at the door step.
911newbie said:
I've tried Ian Kerso but he seems to be slow in answering email and has said his prices have shot up recently. I guess that means he is no longer competitive, I'd guessing probably because of the recent Dollar:Pound changes.
He was fairly prompt in replying to my emails, 2-4 days, but I had this off him on the 27/8.So I'd imagine if there have been price changes since then, they'll have been minor!
Canon EF 1.4X II Extender................................................179
Canon EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 L IS USM SLR lens -77mm...799
Canon EF 100mm F2.0 USM SLR Lens -58mm.....................259
Canon EF 100mm F2.8 Macro USM SLR Lens -58mm............309
Canon EF 135mm F2.0L USM SLR Lens -72mm....................549
Canon EF 135mm F2.8 Soft Focus SLR Lens -52mm.............209
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM Ultra-wide Angle Lens.........1190
Canon EF 15mm F2.8 Fisheye SLR Lens..............................369
Canon EF 16-35mm F2.8L II USM SLR Lens -82mm.............799
Canon EF 17-40mm F4.0 L USM SLR Lens -77mm................395
Canon EF 180mm F3.5L Macro USM SLR Lens -72mm...........779
Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Telephoto Lens...................3500
Canon EF 200mm F2.8L II USM SLR Lens -72mm.................429
Canon EF 20mm F2.8 USM SLR Lens -72mm........................279
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM SLR Lens -77mm..............595
Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L USM SLR Lens -77mm..................689
Canon EF 24mm F1.4L USM SLR Lens -77mm......................699
Canon EF 24mm F2.8 SLR Lens -58mm...............................205
Canon EF 28-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM SLR Lens -72mm.......265
Canon EF 28-200mm F3.5-5.6 USM SLR Lens -72mm...........239
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM SLR Lens -77mm...1349
Canon EF 28mm F1.8 USM SLR Lens -58mm.......................269
Canon EF 28mm F2.8 SLR Lens -52mm..............................119
Canon EF 2X II Extender..................................................179
Canon EF 300mm F2.8L IS USM SLR Lens.........................2500
Canon EF 300mm F4.0L IS USM SLR lens -77mm................749
Canon EF 35mm F1.4L USM SLR Lens -72mm.....................719
Canon EF 35mm F2.0 SLR lens -52mm...............................159
Canon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USM SLR Lens....................3390
Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS USM SLR Lens.........................4350
Canon EF 400mm F5.6L USM SLR Lens -77mm....................705
Canon EF 500mm F4.0L IS USM SLR Lens.........................3600
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Autofocus Lens -72mm............819
Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM SLR Lens -58mm.......................215
Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II SLR Lens -52mm............................53
Canon EF 50mm F2.5 Compact Macro SLR Lens -52mm.......169
Canon EF 600mm F4.0L IS USM SLR Lens.........................4600
Canon EF 65mm F2.8 MPE Macro SLR Lens -58mm..............529
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM SLR Lens -67mm.............639
Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM SLR Lens -77mm...........960
Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L USM SLR Lens -77mm...............719
Canon EF 70-200mm F4.0L USM SLR Lens -67mm...............339
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM SLR Lens -58mm.719
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM SLR Lens -58mm.........329
Canon EF 75-300mm F4.0-5.6 III -58mm............................119
Canon EF 75-300mm F4.0-5.6 USM III -58mm.....................149
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II L USM Lens -72mm.....................1049
Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM SLR Lens -58mm........................219
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Digital Lens -77mm......429
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM -77mm.........................590
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4.0-5.6 USM IS Digital Lens -67mm..315
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens -58mm...................109
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens -58mm....................175
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Digital Lens -52mm.......245
Canon TSE Tilt Shift 24mm F3.5L SLR Lens -72mm...............695
Canon TSE Tilt Shift 45mm F2.8 SLR Lens -72mm................695
Canon TSE Tilt Shift 90mm F2.8 SLR Lens -58mm................695
OK, I'm slightly confused and worried here. I ordered a 70-200 mm f4 L from Amazon for £523, which is £100 or more cheaper than Kerso (whom I usually take to be the absolute cheapest).
I ordered it Mon eve and it arrived this morning - no demand for any import tax (yipee).
It works OK, more than OK in fact, with the IS turned on it's like a missile lock-on effect.
It seems absolutely kosher.
Where's the catch ?
Chris
I ordered it Mon eve and it arrived this morning - no demand for any import tax (yipee).
It works OK, more than OK in fact, with the IS turned on it's like a missile lock-on effect.
It seems absolutely kosher.
Where's the catch ?
Chris
Sounds like a great deal! Does it have a warranty card in the box or something similar? I've never bought a lens from Canon, but I'd imagine most companies would put something in the box to indicate which market it was intended for.
Some manufacturers will only carry out warranty repairs on items imported through the official importer for that country - if its a grey import you might have to send it back to the supplier if anything goes wrong with it. It might be different for Canon 'L' lenses, compared to their normal stuff - e.g. I think Sigma provide 1 year international warranty on their pro lenses, but only a domestic warranty on the others.
Some manufacturers will only carry out warranty repairs on items imported through the official importer for that country - if its a grey import you might have to send it back to the supplier if anything goes wrong with it. It might be different for Canon 'L' lenses, compared to their normal stuff - e.g. I think Sigma provide 1 year international warranty on their pro lenses, but only a domestic warranty on the others.
@rustyspit
It came with all the gubbins I'd expect, incl instruction book, and in a Canon box with the serial number on the outside. I'll look see if the warrnaty card is in the instruction booklet (or the box).
My understanding was that Canon L glass has an international warranty.
The company I bought it from turns out to be 'Smile UK' and they have a UK address on the return to label. (It couldn't have come all the way from Hong Kong in 2 days, not for £5 P&P !))
They have a store on Amazon -
http://tinyurl.com/5oqdzb
but there are loads of other stores on amazon like this (a la ebay)
eg http://tinyurl.com/5upbwq
@DucatiGary
there is a 100-400 mm for £880 here -
http://tinyurl.com/6cbqgq
... go on you know you want to don't you..... it's such a bargain atfer all..... will you ever find one as cheap.... etc etc ad infinitum
It came with all the gubbins I'd expect, incl instruction book, and in a Canon box with the serial number on the outside. I'll look see if the warrnaty card is in the instruction booklet (or the box).
My understanding was that Canon L glass has an international warranty.
The company I bought it from turns out to be 'Smile UK' and they have a UK address on the return to label. (It couldn't have come all the way from Hong Kong in 2 days, not for £5 P&P !))
They have a store on Amazon -
http://tinyurl.com/5oqdzb
but there are loads of other stores on amazon like this (a la ebay)
eg http://tinyurl.com/5upbwq
@DucatiGary
there is a 100-400 mm for £880 here -
http://tinyurl.com/6cbqgq
... go on you know you want to don't you..... it's such a bargain atfer all..... will you ever find one as cheap.... etc etc ad infinitum
911newbie said:
@DucatiGary
there is a 100-400 mm for £880 here -
http://tinyurl.com/6cbqgq
... go on you know you want to don't you..... it's such a bargain atfer all..... will you ever find one as cheap.... etc etc ad infinitum
Kerso for £859 (including delivery) or cheaper emailing him direct there is a 100-400 mm for £880 here -
http://tinyurl.com/6cbqgq
... go on you know you want to don't you..... it's such a bargain atfer all..... will you ever find one as cheap.... etc etc ad infinitum
your all not very good at this are you
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
cough . . . . . £731.20p
edit to add, i cant afford to buy the 400 quid fish eye lens let alone another 750 quid on the 100-400
mabe next month . . . . . .
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
cough . . . . . £731.20p
edit to add, i cant afford to buy the 400 quid fish eye lens let alone another 750 quid on the 100-400
mabe next month . . . . . .
Edited by DucatiGary on Wednesday 10th September 16:25
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