Buying from Digital Rev

[theboyfold]

I've been looking through the Digital Rev website and the prices seem very low indeed. I know they are a decent company, but what's the catch with the prices? Do you have to pay duty on them as they are shipped from Hong Kong?

[Nicholas Blair]

Bought my last Canon 550D there - no issues, very happy

[Pints]

theboyfold said:

I've been looking through the Digital Rev website and the prices seem very low indeed. I know they are a decent company, but what's the catch with the prices? Do you have to pay duty on them as they are shipped from Hong Kong?

Incidentally, I've been looking at them too.

I really don't know whether I'm prepared to take the risk of having the price jacked up by the cost of VAT/duty.

[theboyfold]

Nicholas Blair said:

Bought my last Canon 550D there - no issues, very happy

Did you have to pay any duty on the camera?

[Podie]

Bought an Olympus XZ-1 without issue.

Olympus had a cashback offer on at the time, and didn't include DigitalRev. That said, DR were miles cheaper...

[malc350]

Hi I have bought from them a couple of times. They say they supply their own warranties (i.e. return to their UK address under warranty). I didn't pay any duty or VAT and despite them saying they had UK each time they came from HK though still next day delivery (!)

However, I bought a Canon 7D from them and then decided to sell it. I never checked actuations (not easy on a 7D) as I just took it as being brand new.

When I sold it having only shot a couple of hundred actuations the buyer emailed me saying he started using it with a file number starting with 14,000.

Even formatting the card and using new cards he could only reset to a file number starting with 14k.

He was still happy with the camera so kept it but he felt it was actually a used or ex-display 7D.

I'm not sure about buying from them now though if in doubt there are now online shutter count checks. Of course not all their stuff can be used sold as new but this did place a big question mark on them as far as I am concerned.

They are not always much cheaper than Ebay but definitely cheaper than UK shops.

I know for a fact Canon won't fix bodies under warranty if not bought in the UK so may be worth seeking out a slightly used body on fleabay as long as it has a UK purchase receipt. I managed to get a 5D Mark 2 fixed under warranty that died on me at Le Mans (of all places) after about 600 shots. The receipt was in someone else's name but they weren't bothered.

Malc

Edited by malc350 on Sunday 12th August 15:32

[Nicholas Blair]

theboyfold said:

Did you have to pay any duty on the camera?

No, just arrived.

[theboyfold]

Thanks for the replies so far. I was originally looking at the new Canon 40mm/2.8 pancake as it's very cheap there, then I ended up looking at the new 5dMk3 which is about £700 cheaper than a UK store.

If I were to sell my 5dMk1 and a couple of bits of Leica glass I have gathering dust...

[malc350]

I was wondering about a 5D Mark III for sometime in the future. It is way too expensive in the UK. You usually find that DigitalRev's prices can vary slightly, e.g. when I bought that 7D it was £785 from them and £1199 in the UK so maybe I'd still buy from them...

[Pints]

This thread has certainly made me a bit nervous about using them. I'd look at a saving of £290 on an order that would be £1245 in the UK (Jessops) but the idea that I might be getting a camera/equipment that had already had use - when I'd be expecting new - is not something I like the sound of.

[350Wedge]

To add to try looking at Panamoz

Prices are better than Digitalrev in general (plus extra 5% discount if you pay to their UK bank account). They sell out of HK but warranty claims are dealt with here in the UK if need be (think digitalrev may be doing this too but not sure)

I've just ordered a 650D with 18-135 IS STM for £750, should be here in the next day or so

Also used One-stop-digital before and had fantastic service, extremely quick delivery even from HK.

[malc350]

Pints said:

This thread has certainly made me a bit nervous about using them. I'd look at a saving of £290 on an order that would be £1245 in the UK (Jessops) but the idea that I might be getting a camera/equipment that had already had use - when I'd be expecting new - is not something I like the sound of.

The guy I sold the camera to and I did loads of seperate research on resetting the filenumber on a 7D but unfortunately it did appear that it really had been used.

Like I say it isn't possible that all their gear that comes to the UK could be used but it did place a huge question mark for me. I was prepared to take the camera back from the buyer but like I said he was happy with the camera.

Sadly I have also experienced (from Ebay) supposedly genuine Canon grips turning out to be copies, and that's with an amazingly genuine looking box and instructions. (BG-E8 for 600D and BG-E7 for 7D).

Malc

[williredale]

I've used them in the past without any problems. No duty to pay either.

[Gemm]

I've had no issues with them either, and I will use them again. Mine was one of those 'no VAT guaranteed' item. I had to pay VAT when I received it but it was refunded promptly as promised within days.

Edited by Gemm on Sunday 12th August 16:56

[Pints]

Gemm said:

I've had no issues with them either, and I will use them again.[/footnote]

williredale said:

I've used them in the past without any problems. No duty to pay either.

Did either of you check whether the equipment had been used before?

[williredale]

Pints said:

Did either of you check whether the equipment had been used before?

No, but they were lenses and I'm not sure you can. They certainly looked brand new though.

[Pints]

Fair enough if they were lenses. Thanks.

[Gemm]

Lens here as well, and looked brand new to me. I probably won't buy a body from them due to warranty issues.

Edited by Gemm on Sunday 12th August 17:37

[williredale]

Gemm said:

Lens here as well, and looked brand new to me. I probably won't buy a body from them due to warranty issues.

Edited by Gemm on Sunday 12th August 17:37

Probably the same for me. All of my bodies have been from Bristol Cameras and they've been very good to me regarding warranty repairs so I keep using them.

[theboyfold]

Gemm said:

Lens here as well, and looked brand new to me. I probably won't buy a body from them due to warranty issues.

Edited by Gemm on Sunday 12th August 17:37

It's a body that I might be interested in. If it was a smaller difference I wouldn't risk it, but for 600 quid it's interesting