UK purchase of lens from Hong Kong

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Picking up on John Ortt's thread on £1000 camera purchase, does anyone in
the UK have experience of buying say the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS lens from one
of the Hong Kong (or Canada) sellers. At typically £330 + £30 postage this
seems a good buy.

How much duty is one likely to face from UK customs and what is the warranty
conditions ?

Rob

 

[dylan]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Rob Graham" <robert.k.graham@baesystems.com> wrote in message
news:43203a18$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...
> Picking up on John Ortt's thread on £1000 camera purchase, does anyone in
> the UK have experience of buying say the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS lens from one
> of the Hong Kong (or Canada) sellers. At typically £330 + £30 postage
> this
> seems a good buy.
>
> How much duty is one likely to face from UK customs and what is the
> warranty
> conditions ?
>
> Rob
>
>

try this...

http/customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

look for the link to Common internet goods.

Regarding warranty ask if it's got an international warranty.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

"Rob Graham" <robert.k.graham@baesystems.com> wrote in message
news:43203a18$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...
> Picking up on John Ortt's thread on £1000 camera purchase, does anyone in
> the UK have experience of buying say the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS lens from one
> of the Hong Kong (or Canada) sellers. At typically £330 + £30 postage
> this
> seems a good buy.
>
> How much duty is one likely to face from UK customs and what is the
> warranty
> conditions ?
>
> Rob

I very nearly went this route myself when I bought my 17-85 earlier this
year. The prices are extremely good considdering how much you would pay in
the UK.

As to the UK VAT I believe most of the sellers mark the items as a gift but
it is a lottery as to whether the customs open the package and subsequently
charge you or not.

Some advertise that they are willing to pay the VAT for you but I have no
experience with these either.

In the end I endeduk buying a UK supplied lens second-hand form a user who
had replaced it with 'L' Glass.
I paid £350 + £10 P&P (I think, can't remember exactly).

 

[roy]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Rob Graham" <robert.k.graham@baesystems.com> wrote in message
news:43203a18$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...
> Picking up on John Ortt's thread on £1000 camera purchase, does anyone in
> the UK have experience of buying say the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS lens from one
> of the Hong Kong (or Canada) sellers. At typically £330 + £30 postage
> this
> seems a good buy.
>
> How much duty is one likely to face from UK customs and what is the
> warranty
> conditions ?
>
> Rob
>
The Customs will almost certainly demand VAT at 17.5%, they know who the
suppliers are, and know it is not a gift, and how much it costs.

Im addition be aware that the courier will put on a surcharge because they
have had to collect the VAT from you, this can be as much as £30.

Have a look at Ritz Camera in the USA, they will arrange to have it imported
officially, and will add on the VAT to your bill. Or just order it from B &
H or Adorama. Canada is not really a very cheap market for photo hardware,
lots of them cross over to USA for major purchases.

Regards,

Roy G

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I got another Canon lens via the same route. It all arrived fine and was
delivered on precisely the day I was told it would.

Had an international warranty with my lens. No duty or tax was payable on
my lens although I suspect as John Ortt has said that it might be a bit of
a lottery as to whether or not it gets opened and then tax is highly likely
to be payable IMHO.

I would go the same route again when the time comes around if the price
differential remains so marked.

Steve


On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 14:28:39 +0100, "Rob Graham"
<robert.k.graham@baesystems.com> wrote:

>Picking up on John Ortt's thread on £1000 camera purchase, does anyone in
>the UK have experience of buying say the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS lens from one
>of the Hong Kong (or Canada) sellers. At typically £330 + £30 postage this
>seems a good buy.
>
>How much duty is one likely to face from UK customs and what is the warranty
>conditions ?
>
>Rob
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In article <li01i1d14vu1149ne7r47r4fnjaq9j0qt6@4ax.com>, Steve M
<noman@nowhere.com> writes
>
>>
>I got another Canon lens via the same route. It all arrived fine and was
>delivered on precisely the day I was told it would.
>
>Had an international warranty with my lens. No duty or tax was payable on
>my lens although I suspect as John Ortt has said that it might be a bit of
>a lottery as to whether or not it gets opened and then tax is highly likely
>to be payable IMHO.
>
Be aware, though, that with some shippers the bill for the customs duty,
VAT and shipper's handling charges will arrive through the post a week
or two later. I got caught that way last year with an eBay purchase of a
microscope accessory.

David
--
David Littlewood

 

[keith]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Have you looked at the USA?

Checkout www.bhphotovideo.com. Sometimes they can be competitive with UK
ebayers shipping from Hong Kong, depending on product. Don't forget to add
delivery, VAT and duty to the prices.




"Rob Graham" <robert.k.graham@baesystems.com> wrote in message
news:43203a18$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...
> Picking up on John Ortt's thread on £1000 camera purchase, does anyone in
> the UK have experience of buying say the Canon EF-S 17-85 IS lens from one
> of the Hong Kong (or Canada) sellers. At typically £330 + £30 postage
this
> seems a good buy.
>
> How much duty is one likely to face from UK customs and what is the
warranty
> conditions ?
>
> Rob
>
>