Simply Electronics vat free ?
Discussion
Ahhh . . . is there a reliable camera/lens supplier which offers sensible pricing ?
I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
Busa_Rush said:
Ahhh . . . is there a reliable camera/lens supplier which offers sensible pricing ?
I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
Which lens you after Canon/Nikon, do you mind second hand?I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
Chicken Pox said:
Busa_Rush said:
Ahhh . . . is there a reliable camera/lens supplier which offers sensible pricing ?
I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
Which lens you after Canon/Nikon, do you mind second hand?I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
Busa_Rush said:
Chicken Pox said:
Busa_Rush said:
Ahhh . . . is there a reliable camera/lens supplier which offers sensible pricing ?
I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
Which lens you after Canon/Nikon, do you mind second hand?I've only just got my charge back from Visa for a lens which didn't arrive, courier signed for it himself and even admitted such but the supplier still didn't believe that I'd not signed for it and told me I was a lier and refused a refund . . . I never did like cream crackers.
?
Simply Electronics ship from a fulfillment company in Reading. I have used them twice for high value orders and although it took 2 weeks to receive them there were no additional charges. I imagine the long delivery time is the shipping from Hong Kong to Reading. Not too sure if and how they bypass the VAT.
Probably would not use them again in retrospect as I think I got lucky nothing went wrong. The customer service seemed a bit lacking.
Probably would not use them again in retrospect as I think I got lucky nothing went wrong. The customer service seemed a bit lacking.
They don't and cant bypass VAT if they are shipping from Reading - that would be illegal. Even if they say they are saving you the VAT, they will still be charging it, just discounting the items. If they were shipping directly from HK to the customer, then it becomes the customers legal responsibility to declare the import for duty and VAT. Duty on lenses is 6.7%, but zero rated on bodies.
Just had a look at their website, and at first glance, some of their prices are not too special.
For example, Nikon D90 body, they list at £649.95, whereas you can buy it at RGB Photo for £549.00.
Try www.camerapricebuster.co.uk - a best price website. They list prices from UK vendors, and show UK trend pricing. Might be a good place to start.
Cheers Bradders.
Just had a look at their website, and at first glance, some of their prices are not too special.
For example, Nikon D90 body, they list at £649.95, whereas you can buy it at RGB Photo for £549.00.
Try www.camerapricebuster.co.uk - a best price website. They list prices from UK vendors, and show UK trend pricing. Might be a good place to start.
Cheers Bradders.
Further thought, if you do want to import yourself from HK, there can be savings to be made (even after declaring duty and VAT). In HK, even at retail, there is no VAT applied to products. Further their SRP levels appear to be much lower than the UK.
For example, Nikon D7000 in HK has an SRP of 10450HK$. when I was there a few weeks ago, I was told to expect discounted street pricing to be nearer 9750HK$. At today's rate, this equates to £805. SRP here is £1099 from Nikon UK. Add your VAT, £945, and £40 for Fedex to ship (quoted yesterday), gives a landed price of £985. All perfectly legal.
The cheapest place to buy it here, with stock today, is Amazon at £1029. So, you save £45, BUT don't get a Nikon UK warranty. Is it worth it??
Many of the eBay traders selling from HK let you take the risk. Don't declare and don't get caught, savings can be made. Get caught, and you will definitely be made to ay the VAT and duty (as applicable), but could also be hit with a penalty as well, which could be anywhere between 30% and 100% depending on how HMRC are feeling on the day. So you could end up coughing up double duty and double VAT!
There are traders from HK, DigitalRev spring to mind, who load the cost price with what they call an Import Handling Charge. Then they implicitly advise you to risk it, and not declare - if you get charged VAT and duty, they refund you. I have yet to see whether they will refund any penalty however, nor for how long they will refund - say you get caught on your 3rd import, and HMRC look back, and discover the previous 2 and levy charges and penalties for all three shipments.
If you are wondering why I've been looking so closely at this, well i am involved in a company in HK, and investigated the possibilities myself. The biggest stumbling block at present is to get better pricing that street pricing. It appears to be somewhat of a closed shop at present however. There is still the warranty issue to overcome as well.
For example, Nikon D7000 in HK has an SRP of 10450HK$. when I was there a few weeks ago, I was told to expect discounted street pricing to be nearer 9750HK$. At today's rate, this equates to £805. SRP here is £1099 from Nikon UK. Add your VAT, £945, and £40 for Fedex to ship (quoted yesterday), gives a landed price of £985. All perfectly legal.
The cheapest place to buy it here, with stock today, is Amazon at £1029. So, you save £45, BUT don't get a Nikon UK warranty. Is it worth it??
Many of the eBay traders selling from HK let you take the risk. Don't declare and don't get caught, savings can be made. Get caught, and you will definitely be made to ay the VAT and duty (as applicable), but could also be hit with a penalty as well, which could be anywhere between 30% and 100% depending on how HMRC are feeling on the day. So you could end up coughing up double duty and double VAT!
There are traders from HK, DigitalRev spring to mind, who load the cost price with what they call an Import Handling Charge. Then they implicitly advise you to risk it, and not declare - if you get charged VAT and duty, they refund you. I have yet to see whether they will refund any penalty however, nor for how long they will refund - say you get caught on your 3rd import, and HMRC look back, and discover the previous 2 and levy charges and penalties for all three shipments.
If you are wondering why I've been looking so closely at this, well i am involved in a company in HK, and investigated the possibilities myself. The biggest stumbling block at present is to get better pricing that street pricing. It appears to be somewhat of a closed shop at present however. There is still the warranty issue to overcome as well.
Edited by bradders on Friday 3rd December 08:12
Edited by bradders on Friday 3rd December 08:13
OP, one final thought directly to you in the hunt for a good Canon lens price. If you are not already registered, get yourself over to the Talk Photography website. When settled, have a look for a poster called Kerso (Ian Kerr), and drop him a PM with you exact requirements.
Ian imports (legally) Canon equipment from USA. He sells from the UK, and gives full warranty support. He gets rave reviews on there, and I recently bought a Canon S95 from him - the transaction went very smoothly. It will more than likely be well worth your time hunting him down, and asking the question.
Cheers Bradders.
Ian imports (legally) Canon equipment from USA. He sells from the UK, and gives full warranty support. He gets rave reviews on there, and I recently bought a Canon S95 from him - the transaction went very smoothly. It will more than likely be well worth your time hunting him down, and asking the question.
Cheers Bradders.
bradders said:
OP, one final thought directly to you in the hunt for a good Canon lens price. If you are not already registered, get yourself over to the Talk Photography website. When settled, have a look for a poster called Kerso (Ian Kerr), and drop him a PM with you exact requirements.
Ian imports (legally) Canon equipment from USA. He sells from the UK, and gives full warranty support. He gets rave reviews on there, and I recently bought a Canon S95 from him - the transaction went very smoothly. It will more than likely be well worth your time hunting him down, and asking the question.
Cheers Bradders.
Ian is also on here as Kerso as well. Ian imports (legally) Canon equipment from USA. He sells from the UK, and gives full warranty support. He gets rave reviews on there, and I recently bought a Canon S95 from him - the transaction went very smoothly. It will more than likely be well worth your time hunting him down, and asking the question.
Cheers Bradders.
I tried Kerso for a price on a few items, Customer service was non existant, it ususally took him 3+ days to answer an email, In the end I passed and bought elsewhere reasoning if he couldn't be bothered to reply quicky to a potential customer price enquiry, then he probably wouldn't reply at all if any problems arose.
I've imported several items from HK, Singapore & S Korea without problems, and saved considerable amount of £'s. Guess you pays your money, though its certainly worth asking a Q about an item B4 you buy it, if the seller responds quickly then that's a good sign IMO
I've imported several items from HK, Singapore & S Korea without problems, and saved considerable amount of £'s. Guess you pays your money, though its certainly worth asking a Q about an item B4 you buy it, if the seller responds quickly then that's a good sign IMO
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