Buying In America
Discussion
I have a Canon 300V, but are spending so much on film & developments it seems worth while going digital. I have had a look around and so I can keep the lenses, etc which I already have it makes sense to stick with Canon.
Over here the 2 cameras which seem to stand out are the 300D and the 10D (approx. £700 & £1100 resp.). Whereas in states these can be obtained for $600 & $1000 resp.
With current exchange rates being what they are then the prices are half that of over here, and also due to the fact I have a trip to florida coming up very shortly it makes sense to buying abroad.
Is there anything to be wary of ? Also, import tax ? How much would it be & would you have to declare (how would they know ?)
www.everyprice.com/cgi-bin/search/hyperseek.cgi?search=CAT&Category=Consumer%20Electronics%3ADigital%20Cameras%3ACanon%3ARebel%20Digital%20Eos-300D&Qualifier=
www.everyprice.com/cgi-bin/search/hyperseek.cgi?search=CAT&Category=Consumer%20Electronics%3ADigital%20Cameras%3ACanon%3AEOS-10D&Qualifier=
Would probably opt for 10D, $989 = £539 at current exchange rates.
>>> Edited by hobo on Tuesday 13th April 14:35
>>> Edited by hobo on Tuesday 13th April 15:40
Over here the 2 cameras which seem to stand out are the 300D and the 10D (approx. £700 & £1100 resp.). Whereas in states these can be obtained for $600 & $1000 resp.
With current exchange rates being what they are then the prices are half that of over here, and also due to the fact I have a trip to florida coming up very shortly it makes sense to buying abroad.
Is there anything to be wary of ? Also, import tax ? How much would it be & would you have to declare (how would they know ?)
www.everyprice.com/cgi-bin/search/hyperseek.cgi?search=CAT&Category=Consumer%20Electronics%3ADigital%20Cameras%3ACanon%3ARebel%20Digital%20Eos-300D&Qualifier=
www.everyprice.com/cgi-bin/search/hyperseek.cgi?search=CAT&Category=Consumer%20Electronics%3ADigital%20Cameras%3ACanon%3AEOS-10D&Qualifier=
Would probably opt for 10D, $989 = £539 at current exchange rates.
>>> Edited by hobo on Tuesday 13th April 14:35
>>> Edited by hobo on Tuesday 13th April 15:40
hobo, there are a lot of threads on this...try www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=86842&f=109&h=0 as your first port of call.
Maybe you got me wrong. The camera choice is not my major concern. The way I see it is if I can afford the extra then the 10D is the way to got.
My main worry was buying abroad.
Is the kit identical ?
I understand warranties will be void, but with the money I'd be saving on the camera itself, this is something I could live with.
My other worry was import duties. Although I would be going to States to buy equipment (not just getting it shipped over here) would I still be liable for import duties ? And if so, how much are they ?
Cheers.
My main worry was buying abroad.
Is the kit identical ?
I understand warranties will be void, but with the money I'd be saving on the camera itself, this is something I could live with.
My other worry was import duties. Although I would be going to States to buy equipment (not just getting it shipped over here) would I still be liable for import duties ? And if so, how much are they ?
Cheers.
Technically you are liable to pay VAT when you arrive in the UK..
BUT... lots of people take the camera out of its box and use it a bit. Fold the box up and post it to your home address with all the paperwork..
Put the camera in your hand luggage. When you go through customs try not to look guilty.
They are'nt really interested in nailing the odd guy with a camera. But then you may catch them in clamp down mode, and be asked to prove that you bought the camera in the UK..
So there is a risk, but lots of people do it !
BUT... lots of people take the camera out of its box and use it a bit. Fold the box up and post it to your home address with all the paperwork..
Put the camera in your hand luggage. When you go through customs try not to look guilty.
They are'nt really interested in nailing the odd guy with a camera. But then you may catch them in clamp down mode, and be asked to prove that you bought the camera in the UK..
So there is a risk, but lots of people do it !
toppstuff said:
Technically you are liable to pay VAT when you arrive in the UK..
BUT... lots of people take the camera out of its box and use it a bit. Fold the box up and post it to your home address with all the paperwork..
Put the camera in your hand luggage. When you go through customs try not to look guilty.
They are'nt really interested in nailing the odd guy with a camera. But then you may catch them in clamp down mode, and be asked to prove that you bought the camera in the UK..
So there is a risk, but lots of people do it !
So then, even if I got the equipment shipped from US to UK the only payment (on top of cost of equipment) would be VAT @ 17.5%.
The 300D costs $539USD which at present equates to £297GBP. Add VAT to this becomes £349GBP.
Compared to prices over here for same kit (i.e £700 ish) then surely you'd have to be stupid not to.
>> Edited by hobo on Wednesday 14th April 08:19
V6GTO said:
Try looking here:- www.hmce.gov.uk/
Thanks for that.
Just spoke to them & there is no duty to pay on digital camera equipment, so the only thing to pay would be VAT.
Therefore on that basis:
300D would be £297 + VAT + Shipping
10D would be £550 + VAT + Shipping
Bargain.
I've been living in Europe for 6 years now but go back to the States twice a year or so... I buy nearly all my electronic stuff over there, assuming you don't have a problem with the voltage. As pointed out, it is much cheaper.
I've NEVER EVER EVER had a problem with customs trying to get me to pay for something I bought over there. If I had a doubt, I took it out of the box so that it looked like I went over there with it.
I go home every year for Christmas and come back with loads of stuff in the original packaging and have never paid anything in import duties. (oh, what I meant to say, in case any Customs officials are lurking, is that I have a *friend* who does this... yeah, a friend!)
As pointed out in another thread, customs officials have a roulette wheel that they spin to determine how much to actually charge you for import duties. That is the most logical explanation of how the calculate these things. When living in France, I paid as much as 100% duties on a set of tyres I bought in the US, and as little as 0 on an alternator. Go figure.
In the case of your camera it's a no-brainer. You are going over there anyway, so buy it there. If you aren't going over there, then you need to study a little more to see what happens with VAT and import duties and ??? It can still be worth it.
I've NEVER EVER EVER had a problem with customs trying to get me to pay for something I bought over there. If I had a doubt, I took it out of the box so that it looked like I went over there with it.
I go home every year for Christmas and come back with loads of stuff in the original packaging and have never paid anything in import duties. (oh, what I meant to say, in case any Customs officials are lurking, is that I have a *friend* who does this... yeah, a friend!)
As pointed out in another thread, customs officials have a roulette wheel that they spin to determine how much to actually charge you for import duties. That is the most logical explanation of how the calculate these things. When living in France, I paid as much as 100% duties on a set of tyres I bought in the US, and as little as 0 on an alternator. Go figure.
In the case of your camera it's a no-brainer. You are going over there anyway, so buy it there. If you aren't going over there, then you need to study a little more to see what happens with VAT and import duties and ??? It can still be worth it.
After weighting both camera's up (and also my talent levels), I think I'll go for the 300D.
As it is only £300 then I think I'll pay the VAT (not worth the hassle for £50).
Based on the fact that in total it will be £350 for 300D & I should be able to get rid of my 2 months old 300V on ebay for £125ish, all told its only going to cost £225 to go digital (excluding memory cards, etc).
As it is only £300 then I think I'll pay the VAT (not worth the hassle for £50).
Based on the fact that in total it will be £350 for 300D & I should be able to get rid of my 2 months old 300V on ebay for £125ish, all told its only going to cost £225 to go digital (excluding memory cards, etc).
I don't know about the 300D as I wasn't buying one, but unless things have changed in the last 3 months, I very much doubt you'll get a kosher 10D in the US for 989USD.
There are plenty of web sites offering them, but all the ones I mailed either didn't get back to me, or noted that "prices had risen" or "we don't have them in yet, but should get stock in a few days".
If you talk to the US guys on the Canon EOS Forum (a few posts here have the link), you'll find out quickly that the guys offering absolutely rock bottom pricing on gear that is still hard to get hold of should be avoided.
I picked a 10D up, in person, from Adorama camera. It cost a bit less than 1400USD and I got a good deal on on a couple of other bits I was buying too. They would only price match on places that had the goods in stock, and basically knew that few other places did. Certainly no one charging less than them.
Another good place to try is B&H Photo. Both are in NY, but there are places in Florida that have them too. Check out the EOS Forum for tips.
With this in mind, I would suggest that any Digital Rebel (300D) kit price (i.e. with lens) at less than dollar equivalent to the best prices here - say 850USD - should be treated with due caution.
I would be very wary of buying this sort of kit from web vendors who I didn't know. Too much scope for being fleeced.
Topstuff's notes about bringing gear back in are sound. Avoid red eye flights, I'm told...but it's never been a hassle for me.
Even at the prices I noted (1400USD/850USD respectively), you are still getting a very good deal and you are buying amongst the best digital cameras out there at the moment.
Make sure you check out the prices of decent CF cards too. These are also good buys. Have a look at the San Disk Ultra II or Extreme prices for 512Mb or 1Gb, and check them with www.valuemedia.co.uk.
Good luck.
PS If you buy when you're out there, buy early in your holiday and give the camera a *lot* of use. If it's going to let you down, the highest chances are that it'll do so in the first hours of use.
There are plenty of web sites offering them, but all the ones I mailed either didn't get back to me, or noted that "prices had risen" or "we don't have them in yet, but should get stock in a few days".
If you talk to the US guys on the Canon EOS Forum (a few posts here have the link), you'll find out quickly that the guys offering absolutely rock bottom pricing on gear that is still hard to get hold of should be avoided.
I picked a 10D up, in person, from Adorama camera. It cost a bit less than 1400USD and I got a good deal on on a couple of other bits I was buying too. They would only price match on places that had the goods in stock, and basically knew that few other places did. Certainly no one charging less than them.
Another good place to try is B&H Photo. Both are in NY, but there are places in Florida that have them too. Check out the EOS Forum for tips.
With this in mind, I would suggest that any Digital Rebel (300D) kit price (i.e. with lens) at less than dollar equivalent to the best prices here - say 850USD - should be treated with due caution.
I would be very wary of buying this sort of kit from web vendors who I didn't know. Too much scope for being fleeced.
Topstuff's notes about bringing gear back in are sound. Avoid red eye flights, I'm told...but it's never been a hassle for me.
Even at the prices I noted (1400USD/850USD respectively), you are still getting a very good deal and you are buying amongst the best digital cameras out there at the moment.
Make sure you check out the prices of decent CF cards too. These are also good buys. Have a look at the San Disk Ultra II or Extreme prices for 512Mb or 1Gb, and check them with www.valuemedia.co.uk.
Good luck.
PS If you buy when you're out there, buy early in your holiday and give the camera a *lot* of use. If it's going to let you down, the highest chances are that it'll do so in the first hours of use.
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff