buying in US for UK?

My husband is off to the US next month and has been doing some research comparing prices of the 5D mark II and a couple of lens i like with here (the UK). Are there any disadvantages buying in the US?

Thank you
Nikki

Don't want to put him off buying me a new camera too much

Not sure how the warranty thing would work but there's no doubting that the US has much better prices compared to the UK... total rip off around here..

HMRC when re-entering the country.

By the time you add in the import duty and taxes, you might find that there is little difference in the final price of buying it/them here in the UK.

DunnoWhen wrote in post #14786364
HMRC when re-entering the country.

By the time you add in the import duty and taxes, you might find that there is little difference in the final price of buying it/them here in the UK.

Of course, this is only if you declare the goods, which, if you are a perfect law-abiding citizen, you will do, after all, the government deserves your money...


The only disadvantage would be lack of warranty (useless in most cases for canon items anyway, since the warranty period is so short that it is either going to be used in the first week, or not before it expires).

DunnoWhen wrote in post #14786364
HMRC when re-entering the country.

By the time you add in the import duty and taxes, you might find that there is little difference in the final price of buying it/them here in the UK.

This is the biggest thing to think about. Add in duties and VAT and the price will end up about the same as here anyway.

You can try and claim that you bought them here, before you went abroad, but the customs people are very good at reading body language and, unless you are a VERY good liar, will spot that you are attempting to smuggle them in. At that point, you will be expected to produce the paperwork (receipts etc) to prove they were UK supplied and the duties have been paid on them. I would imagine that they have the power anyway to phone Canon UK and query the serial numbers, to check the origin, if they need to.

You can simply say "nothing to declare" and hope that you just get waved through, but again the customs bods are trained to spot those looking guilty or nervous and check their luggage.

If you get caught, the penalties for smuggling can be quite nasty and you could have the whole lot confiscated. So, you may end up saving a few hundred quid or you may end up losing thousands (confiscated gear, fines etc).

Yes, people do this and get away with it, but there are no guarantees and it is illegal. get caught and expect to pay a heavy price. They won't simply catch you out and then just ask you to pay the duties, if they did everybody would be smuggling stuff in.

Why not buy the goods in the US and transport them back without packaging, which can sent by mail separately? Transporting a 24-105L in a lowepro pouch in your suitcase is hardly likely to rouse the eye of suspicion is it? At worst you can say you bought it second hand, or were given it.

exactly. get rid of packaging, put the cam and lenses into photobag and be happy.

Post the packaging back to the uk and take the gear home in the suitcase.

Up to you to declare at customs.

Do you know anyone in the US, for the best best deal, buy it from an online retailer that doesnt charge tax too and have it shipped to a friend. Pick it up from your friend, take him or her to lunch. send the box back to the uk the cheapest way possible. get that box in a week or two. and like everyone said, pack the camera back into your regular bags.

make sure to take some photos with it too I was stopped in Munich airport and was asked to show that it worked and was used. but then again, i was with my friend and i think the security guy just wanted to handle his L lenses.

Also you want to test the camera at least a few times to make sure its fully functional before trying it back in UK only to find a dud.