Importing lens from US to UK

[Red Squirrel]

I see b&h are selling the 17-40l for $699. This comes with a USA warranty, but does anyone know if this would be valid within the UK?
At around £430 inc shipping this a pretty good bargain..
:shock:

[PaulB]

Don't forget to add the import duty and VAT and the carriers fees when you come to total up what you may have saved.
It may be that the hassle of not having a Canon UK or Europe warranty does make the importation of a lens rather less attractive - do you want to have to send a faulty lens back to the US for repairs or pay Canon UK when the lens is only a couple of months old?
Having said all that, the jury does seem to be out on this topic as it has been raised before but I have not seen a definitive answer from anyone who has done it.

[nucki]

I see b&h are selling the 17-40l for $699. This comes with a USA warranty, but does anyone know if this would be valid within the UK?
At around £430 inc shipping this a pretty good bargain..
:shock:

Hi!

last year I was in New York at B&H. They told me, that if I purchase the USA version not the imported, then the warranty is valid worldwide. If you buy the imported version of the lens, you save some extra $$ on the one hand, but if something is wrong with the lens, you cant bring it to your lokal canon store, you had to send it back to NY.

Have you read the terms of you customs about inporting camera lenses? But as far as I know the UK has the lowest fares in europe!

best regards
Peter

[Red Squirrel]

Looks like this is the government's description of L glass..

" - - - - - - 8529 90 81 34 Assembly consisting of a lens unit, having an adjustable focal length of 4 mm or more but not exceeding 69 mm and comprising a zoom encoder, a stepping motor unit, a zoom motor unit, an iris motor unit and a photo interrupter "

Import duty is 5%
VAT 17.5%

That still works out as a good deal, just need to contact Canon UK to see how the US warranty will hold up here...

[Red Squirrel]

ok, spoke to Canon UK and US warranties are valid in the UK. However digital cameras are not covered, only lenses. Strange.

Here's how it breaks down.

$699 17-40L
$50 postage
$169 vat and import tax

total $918 or £533

cheapest uk price £600.

Not much of a bargain after those taxes, but not bad. :?

[billhercus]

I purchased a 75-300 IS lens last year via ebay merchant from USA.

He stated that import tax etc., is often not charged. I thought this was merely sales 'caca del toro' but went ahead anyway.

Took a month but he was right, no tax and a saving of UK pounds 80 on a not so expensive lens.

I too am humming and haaing about the purchase of a 17-40L and am quite tempted to go the B&H route. What have we got to loose :?:

Bill

[Canuck]

ok, spoke to Canon UK and US warranties are valid in the UK. However digital cameras are not covered, only lenses. Strange.

Here's how it breaks down.

$699 17-40L
$50 postage
$169 vat and import tax

total $918 or £533

cheapest uk price £600.

Not much of a bargain after those taxes, but not bad. :?

Hey don't look now but the dollar/pound extortion rate is getting better and better for you British and worse for us Americans (me included).

According to the extortion rate I get, it was $1.89 to £1!!!

Believe, you me that I know and have to follow this extensively. Also I wonder if you can milk it for the int'l rate, or the extortion by the banks?
The bank which I go thiru here is a real rip-off and I am surprised there has not been a class action lawsuit against them for ripping us off. You need not worry, this bank is run by bank of a******* (or bank of America as it is really known).

I know this much, whatever is left over in pounds are staying pounds!

[billhercus]

Good point - it is worth checking the rate your credit card company is giving which can sometimes be less than advantageous before attempting to save a few pounds over the net.

Been stung. Got the 'T' shirt!

Bill

[Jesper]

Yes, the US$ is now so low (about $1 = €1.26) that it's getting REALLY interesting to buy stuff from the USA when you're in Europe. Even with shipping costs and tax it's still a good deal.

Specifically, for my situation in the Netherlands: here is a list with import taxes for various goods: http://www.belastingdienst.nl/9229237/t/internet.htm

The computation goes as follows: You pay import rights, for camera lenses 6.7%, over the price + shipping costs. Then you pay 19% VAT over that amount.

Do you also have to pay 8% NY sales tax when you buy from B&H on the Internet? Suppose I'd want the 17-40... I'd have to pay $699 + $38.75 (shipping) = $737,75 -> x 1,067 x 1,19 = $937, which is €738, for it. The cheapest European prices are around €900, so that's definitely worth the trouble.

[PaulB]

Be aware that Canon UK have just dropped their lens prices again - on top of the December '03 drop!
The January 2004 price list for the UK which CPS sent me just before Christmas has a drop of £100 on the 17-40/4L and I stopped by Jacobs in Leeds today and they quoted £580 for one if I heard right................just checked on their website and that's right
Don't jump at a US import until you check the UK price you can get.

[billhercus]

Walters Video have had it at £580 for several weeks now ......


Decisions ..... decisions .....

Bill

[jalafer]

if you want you can buy this lens in Spain for 600€. try fotoganga.es this is a shop from Madrid. THey have the 17-40 at 610€VAT included.
Buyimg in Spain you don't have to pay duties.

[billhercus]

Sorry about this but I've just looked at Fotoganga with no luck. Would be surprised if Spain was that cheap. For example the 50mm f1.8 is 70UK pounds here but 215 Euros in Fotoganga = £146.

[Canuck]

Do you also have to pay 8% NY sales tax when you buy from B&H on the Internet? Suppose I'd want the 17-40... I'd have to pay $699 + $38.75 (shipping) = $737,75 -> x 1,067 x 1,19 = $937, which is €738, for it. The cheapest European prices are around €900, so that's definitely worth the trouble.

Jesper,
No the NY sales tax only applies if you buy it in store, or have it sent to an in state (NY) address.

[jalafer]

If you can not contact fotoganga, try this shop in Barcelona
http://www.jordibasfoto.com/
They have the 17-40L for 625€
Anyway you can also phone fotoganga 34-91.530.83.74 in Madrid
Or Irudi Foto in Basque Country 34.943.08.53.03 their price is 5
610€.
All the prices VAT included, transport NOT included.
At this price you still have money to spend the weekend in Spain.

[billhercus]

Jalafer.

Thanks. Have just emailed Irudi Foto - will let you know ....

Must say, never thought of Spain. So many items are on a par price wise with UK but not it seems - the 17-40L!!

[Red Squirrel]

At around 1.4 Euro to the pound, thats £446. That's VERY cheap. Now if only I could hablo espanol :(

[pompeygreg]

I bought my 17-40mm L from Digital Rev in HK via e-bay. It cost me approx £489 including insured delivery and I didn't end up having to pay import duty.

Previous to ordering I had contacted a few of their past customers to check on service etc...

[billhercus]

That's a hundred pounds of best UK price which is significant. One day everyone here will buy from wherever in the Globe is cheapest and unless UK Customs hire a few thousand more officers (unlikely) UK rip-off prices will have to fall.

Can't happen soon enough!!

I await my Spanish attempt for the 17-40 with interest!!

[jalafer]

I've checked today in fotoganga and the current price for the 17-40L is 598€. Check this adress
:http://www.fotoganga.com
good look

[billhercus]

Thanks for the gen. I have tried this site (Fotoganga) - it is very slow - even on broadband and is aimed solely at Spanish customers. I have now emailed them so will wait and see.

My email to Irudi Foto on Friday has not elicited any response. If emailing fails I'll try phoning - but that too failed with Irudi Foto on Friday (I may have been too late)

At the price though, some hassle is worth it!! :)

[jalafer]

Irudi Foto is an small shop. They are serious I bought a Sigma 500 flash from them without any problem, but it is possible that they do not speak english. If they not answer you, try FotoGanga by phone, they are a much bigger shop located in Madrid.

[billhercus]

Thanks Jalafer - I'll maybe have a go tomorrow.

Bill

[samdring]

I've checked today in fotoganga and the current price for the 17-40L is 598€. Check this adress
:http://www.fotoganga.com
good look

Tried this site
17-40 going for 598 Euro
70-200F4 is 592
Jessops have 17-40 going for £70 more (£679) than 70-200 so saving is not consistent.

[billhercus]

Finally got through to Fotoganga on the phone but no one speaks even enough English to take an order which is a pity.

I have now tried by email and phone both Irudi Foto and Fotoganga without success.

I guess its B&H in USA and hope I'm lucky with HM customs - again!!

Thanks for gen anyway a good idea :idea: - worth a try!!

[thom@s]

If they speak french I can help you ;)

[billhercus]

Just a feeling but I suspect not. On a recent visit I found many spoke English which is more of a second language than French.

Ta anyway!!