kea photo on EBAY

corkandproud

Has anyone got caught with the import duty.

Thinking of buying a lens or two and the price is tempting.

Or am I better off going through a European webshop.

Elessar

corkandproud wrote:

Has anyone got caught with the import duty.

Thinking of buying a lens or two and the price is tempting.

Or am I better off going through a European webshop.

Bought the great Sigma 18-50 F2.8 EX lens from them at a good price, shipped via fedex and didn't get caught for taxes/duty. They mark it as a low value like €50.

You're taking a chance because if it arrives damaged, there is f*** all you can do about it.

alb

I bought a 400 quid lens from them early in the year and didn't get stung for duty.

Roen

I bought zillions worth of stuff of URGalaxy, which is a similar set up and Rymus has bought a heap off Kea. Fajitas just got some gear as well, and none of us has got caught yet.....yet.

mikeanywhere

I just got a sh1t load of stuff off him and had it shipped to me at work with Fedex. I was not hit for import tax.

I know Fjastis got his 5D off him recently and was in the same position (as in not being txed).

I have used another guy from HK too and was the same position where I wasnt hit with 2 out of 3 shipments.

corkandproud

Cheers Guys (and I aint the revenue!)

rymus

Elessar wrote:

You're taking a chance because if it arrives damaged, there is f*** all you can do about it.

I had a battery grip arrive and not work when I took it out of the box. I simply returned it to him to be swapped. He didn't even contest it.

PaulieC

I just got a 30D off Kea. It cost approx 500 quid less than The Camera Centre (not difficult I know) and arrived within three days of being shipped. I was onto Albert (one of the two guys who run Kea) and was asking him about stated value and insurance etc. Basically what they do is mark the shipment as a low value ( e.g. Commercial Sample $50). The only way that Fedex know to chanrge you VAT is on the Stated Value on the package. They are doing this on behalf of revenue and have no vested interest in opening packages etc to investigate the contents.
On the insurance front, Kea use a separate insurance company to insure the contents - you'll see if you buy something off them - shipping will cost GPB40 and insurance an extra GBP12, so thay are not relying on the insurance cover from Fedex. This is how they get around being able to put a low stated value on the packages yet still have cover in case of damages.
From my limited experience buying from them, I can say that the customer service is excellent, prices are as low as you'll get outside of B&H (and there you'll deffo get stung for VAT) and the shipping is fast...

I can't wait til I've saved enough to buy something else from them !!

mikeanywhere

Yep, great guys and that would explain for the 100% they have got as feedback and to also achieve Platinum status so quickly is a testament of the work they put in.

I have had 5 consignments off them within 3 days of ordering - very very good indeed!!

aFlabbyPanda

well I just bought a canon 17-85mm IS usm from them and saved around 300€ on the street price. I hope everything goes ok as I havent dealt with them before and only bought from them based on the reviews here.

FreeAnd..

I bought a couple of lenses from them and found them very quick, cheap and reliable. I'm not sure if i would buy really expensive items online but thats more of a personal choice. Its the same with all online shopping, its great as long as there are no problems and you dont have to deal with returns...

CrowdedHouse

Do they take Paypal for expensive items or have you to do a bank transfer ?

aFlabbyPanda

I used paypal for the lens.

Hugh_C

Sorry I ever read this thread, because I just need to buy something now...

corkandproud

pity they don't do laptops, I need one of those as well.

corkandproud

BrianG

How do you find the 17-85, thinking that will be my upgrade from the 18-55.

rymus

have always used paypal with kea, even though paypal's GBP to EUR exchange rates arent exactly wonderful. Having said that, I've gotten to the stage that if I had to pay by bank transfer, I'd feel comfortable that I wouldn't get ripped off.

I suppose paypal is just handy because once you are fully signed up you can send any amount of money. That and it comes with some buyer protection

mikeanywhere

rymus wrote:

I suppose paypal is just handy because once you are fully signed up you can send any amount of money. That and it comes with some buyer protection

As the man says, Paypal offers payment protection for non deliveries or being scammed etc so its defo worth it. I only ever pay by PayPal unless its someone I know and then am happy to do a bank tx.

I am glad I still have my UK bank accounts as all my latest deliveries were invoiced in GBP (so in theory my purchased were in excess of 50% savings - cha ching!!)

CrowdedHouse

Thanks Rymus & Mike,

I thought I saw that they would only send to confirmed addresses,(which of course we can't get in Ireland) if the value was over £100.

Its not always easy to get to a bank during working hours and I've never done an international transfer.

rymus

I've got a confirmed address via paypal...

ehh.. at least I think I do.... It shows me as "Irish - Verified" anyway

FreeAnd..

Ive got a confirmed address too, Paypal simply charge your card for 1.50 euro and then on the monthly statement it will show an activation code. Once you then enter this in paypal your address is registered (as they had to send the bill to the address). They they re-imburse the card for the 1.50 euro. Thats they way it works as far as i know. I havent heard anything about not being able to confirm addresses in Ireland.

Padraig Mor

FreeAnd.. wrote:

I havent heard anything about not being able to confirm addresses in Ireland.

AFAIK you can't have a CONFIRMED address in Ireland - only verified. I think they only confirm in the US and UK. Not quite sure what the difference is exactly but I think sellers are protected by Paypal only if they ship to a confirmed address - hence some not shipping to non-confirmed addresses.

FreeAnd..

Just had a quick look and it seems you are right, I have never had any problems off any sellers though using my Verifed Address. It must only apply to sellers who will accept payment from users in the US.

PaulieC

Kea will send to a verified address, but no an unverified address.

rymus

was just gonna post what cambo did... last two purchases from kea were for £1400 and £1100 and no problems whatsoever. He did moan when I asked to change the shipping address but that's understandable as the other address wouldnt have been verifiable by him (unless I sent along requested details).

440Hz

BrianjG wrote:

well I just bought a canon 17-85mm IS usm

you like???

mikeanywhere

CrowdedHouse wrote:

I thought I saw that they would only send to confirmed addresses,(which of course we can't get in Ireland) if the value was over £100

My paypal still shows my UK address and I added an alternative addy for here in Ireland. Was never questioned by Kea or anyone else that I have had stuff paid and shipped to Ireland.

PaulieC

actually I just had one order form them and when I ordered my paypal address wasn't verified. He asked me to send him a photo of a utility bill before he'd post the order...once he got that there was no problem. As I said already, I will be ordering from them again...

mikeanywhere

They are defo on the ball thats for sure - well done to them!!

CrowdedHouse

........and after all that they have no D200..........:D

FreeAnd..

Looks to me like el albert is basically canon ireland..he seems to be supplying everyone. The guy must be clearing up, should this thread be removed from existence so nothing happens to the unofficial canon ireland supplier as it is so close to another thread for the official canon thread detailing their rip off prices...Could anything be done to ruin this great supply of reasonably priced gear or am i being too paranoid? I guess Canon wouldnt mind as much as Mr. Cowen...

rymus

FreeAnd.. wrote:

I guess Canon wouldnt mind as much as Mr. Cowen...

Got it in one. After taking delivery of a Canon 70-200 f2.8 IS a few weeks ago, I was horrified to see a letter from the courier, thinking it was a duty bill. Thankfully, no.

Canon are still making their money. It's just nice to buy without the rip off Ireland tax applying. I suppose in the end of it all, how is your average joe going to know if it's a new lens, a repaired lens or a second hand reconditioned model? Or more to the point, how is your average joe going to know what the hell is in the box. Having had some experience in dealing with them at this stage, I'd say that a good deal of the staff of a certain Irish delivery company have trouble with even writing their own names. (not to mention finding simple street addresses).

In line with not having Kea imports completely screwed by the Irish government, I propose we now refer to them as "Hong Kong Phooey" to throw the scallywags off the scent...

FreeAnd..

Sounds good to me, all i care about is a reliable source of cheap top quality gear...its good to hear that you didnt have too much hassle returning stuff. I remember you saying you had some hassle with him the last time so glad that worked out, i was a little weary after that and havent got anything new since - i think ill have to change when i send Santa via Hong Kong for christmas

rymus

ahh dont listen to my rants.. he's a perfectly good seller. I was just narky because after spending a mint to return a faulty item to him (because I needed a replacement quickly), he then sent that replacement by normal post and it took about 11 days to get here.

He's also not one for bending to suggestion. While buying a 30D and a few more smaller bits he wouldnt budge on either the price or even the delivery cost. Ah shur, cant complain too much; It is still remarkably cheaper than local sources after all...

CrowdedHouse

rymus wrote:

In line with not having Kea imports completely screwed by the Irish government, I propose we now refer to them as "Hong Kong Phooey" to throw the scallywags off the scent...

Good idea Rymus....I recall a few years back I was for a long time getting fags duty free from Switzerland for about a tenner a carton...they were declared correctly on the customs sticker,I wasn't greedy just a carton a week.

All was grand 'til a fcuking rag of a Sunday tabloid ran a big story about it.......3-4 weeks later packets started arriving with customs bill of £40 + making them more expensive than they were in Ireland..end of imports:(

FreeAnd..

So just more frustration than anything Rymus, thats good to know. It would be hard to justify not using them at the difference in prices, I think after someone uses them once and realises they are on the level and the gear is cosher its hard to go anywhere else. Raise a glass for Hong Kong Phooey...

leinsterman

rymus wrote:

... completely screwed by the Irish government, I propose we now refer to them as "Hong Kong Phooey" to throw the scallywags off the scent...

Amen to that mate ...

I recently asked Mr phooey if he would be interested in supply an additional discount to us boardsies (chancing my arm with a bit of collective bargaining) ... here was his response -

Mr Phooey wrote:

For us smaller sellers out of this region, it is sometimes best to stay low, as Canon in other regions consider us as grey market exporters and they just may not like what we’re doing. I’m sure Canon Ireland does not like us because we can take away a lot of their business, and if it really comes to the point they need to defend their business, they’ll either contact Canon Japan headquarter to stop our source of inventory or step up with Irish customs to make import difficult for you guys.

This is why I prefer to stay low and I think it’d be the best for the interest for our customers.

I think we need to stop talking too openly about this source ...

... but I also think we need to keep the pressure on Canon Ireland ... it is better for us all to be buying locally.... Any change will take the actions of a sizeable group not a single person. ... please send you letters to Mr Philip Brady.

aFlabbyPanda

440Hz wrote:

you like???

i bloody well hope so as I sold my sigma 18-50 2.8 which I was told was just as good (???) but I dont actually have it yet. Should be here friday fingers crossed. It left yesterday anyway.

FreeAnd..

All the talking about HKP made another lens purchase irrisisitble...In my haste I never checked the delivery method as all of the other lenses I bought off him were delivered by FedEx within 2-3days so I assumed this was the case again until I got a tracking number for Hong Kong Post. I then checked and it was an extra 10 punds for fedEx (which i would of paid happily)..but this was to late for me as the lens was on its way. Has anyone had any trouble with HK post? I did get a small 50mm delivered by them and i dont remember it taking too long but having to rely on them and then An Post - the odds of delay\damage increase greatly no?

mloc

im going to ny over christmas, so I'm thinking, I wanna get a Nikon SB800, opinions on whether to get it on ebay or wait and get it in BH when I get to NY?

mikeanywhere

mloc wrote:

im going to ny over christmas, so I'm thinking, I wanna get a Nikon SB800, opinions on whether to get it on ebay or wait and get it in BH when I get to NY?

I am heading there also too and I will be spending a fair few bob in BH for sure

Xios

I got stung on duty, i bought my olympus e-500 from digigood, an american website, 100 quid more

Roen

Get it in the States, from what I hear BH is a tourist attraction in it's own right.

mloc

Roen wrote:

Get it in the States, from what I hear BH is a tourist attraction in it's own right.

Yeah I was there a few years back, it's like a camera shop inside a synagogue, crazy haired orthodox jewish folk everywhere. Some range of stuff though, It's photography and AV heaven.