buying cameras from the states (B&H)

the pants man

has anyone or heard of anyone using B&H (www.bhphotovideo.com) in the states to buy cameras, they seem to be great value an example of this would be a canon eos400d or rebel xti as they call it for $529 (372euro) body only or $673(473euro) with normal 18-55 lens as compared to 717euros from pixmania.com for the same camera and lens. i know you would have to pay for postage but that only comes to 40 odd dollars and if you buy a few extras ie bags, memory or extra batteries it would increase the saving even more whilst only changing the postage slightly. is it to good to be true.

sombaht

B&H are a well established outfit, so it would be safe to buy from them. However you could get hit for VAT when the goods arrive at customs. Savings may not be so good then.

Cheers,
sombaht

the pants man

i never thought of the damm taxman. its gets delivered by DHL or FEDEX would that make a difference.

DotOrg

it is that cheap especially withthe dollar being so low but you will have to pay vat and import taxes too but it'll still work out cheaper than buying from ireland.

i've spent thousands in B&H and will use them again in the future

DotOrg

all delivery companies will charge you the taxes, sometime syou get the bill several months after recieving the goods.

it will still be cheaper than buying in ireland but nearly the same as buying from germany

the pants man

what german sites do you use

ciarancummins

I was going to buy one in the States, but pulled out because Canon warranty is not honored here, when bought in the states. I did not look further into it, but may be something you need to take into account,

Ciaran

Thirdfox

I was under the impression you could buy one of the cheaper "grey market" lenses which comes with the 1 year international warranty instead of the US 5 year warranty...

OnLooker

Thirdfox wrote: »

I was under the impression you could buy one of the cheaper "grey market" lenses which comes with the 1 year international warranty instead of the US 5 year warranty...

What are the differences as far as a customer is concerned?

In most cases the difference between a USA import and a Grey Market, or imported product, is the cost of the item and the terms of the item’s warranty coverage. The products themselves are otherwise identical in every way. Occasionally the manufacturer might change a product name of model number to differentiate between products targeted for US distribution and products targeted for distribution elsewhere.

As a rule, Grey Market items cost less than their USA counterparts. The warranty of Grey Market items are often, but not always, the same as their USA counterparts. Specific details of product warranties vary by product and manufacturer.

If you should experience a problem with a product sold with a USA warranty, it can be sent to any of the manufacturer’s worldwide authorized service facilities for servicing. A "direct import" or grey market item would have to be returned to B&H Photo-Video if it required in-warranty attention.

A resident of the USA may wish to make the buying decision based on price since the cost of shipping to a US service center or to B&H should be about equal.

A non-USA resident should consider the cost of returning a product to B&H in New York for servicing as opposed to the cost of taking the product to a local warranty service center.

What kind of warranty is available?

Any "grey market" item B&H Photo-Video sells includes a B&H warranty, which covers the same particulars the USA warranty would cover for a period of one year. The only difference is that you would ship the item to B&H for service. Your original B&H Photo-Video product invoice is all that is required.

Why offer "Direct Import"?

Direct Import, or grey market items often cost less than comparable US imports. There are also items sold at B&H that are not brought into the US through normal distribution channels.
PAL (Phase Alternate Line) Video Equipment

Video equipment sold in the US , Canada , Mexico , and Japan is designed to record and playback video images at 525 lines-per-frame @ 60 frames-per-second. This is commonly known as an NTSC format (National Television Standards Committee).

B&H also sells video equipment that is set to record and playback video using the European broadcast standard (PAL) of 625 lines-per-frame @ 50 frames-per-second.

PAL and NTSC are not interchangeable recording formats.

Video equipment sold by B&H Photo & Video designed to record video in the European (PAL) format is only available in the US as grey market and as such does not include a factory authorized warranty.

For PAL-format video products B&H includes a 90-day warranty.
What about film?

Film is also sold at B&H from both US and grey market channels. In most, but not all cases, there is no difference between the imaging qualities of similar film stocks. Price-wise, the grey market products cost less than their US counterparts.

We advertise Kodak film in three types:

* IMPORTED - Film made outside the USA and imported for us. This may also be referred to as "GREY".
* USAW - Film manufactured in the USA for Worldwide distribution.
* USA - Film manufactured in the USA or overseas and imported for domestic distribution.

Agfa, Fuji, and Ilford films are not manufactured within the USA and are available from both US and grey distribution channels.

B&H Photo recognizes that for many professionals, the method of handling the film and its storage conditions during transport are important factors.

Optimum performance is essential for any professional, whether shooting food, fashion or portraits. We know that you need contrast, tonal range, color rendition and saturation to be accurate, reliable and repeatable. We are also aware of the fact that many of our amateur customers devote the same care and consideration to their photography and deserve the same quality.
For critical work it is always recommended you pre-test any film emulsion, US or otherwise, before shooting projects that require critical color and tonal parameters.

henryp

sombaht wrote: »

B&H are a well established outfit, so it would be safe to buy from them.

Thank you.

Biro

You can buy a MACK warranty with any items and that'll cover you for international warranty work. I got a 5 year MACK warranty with my camera. See website for details.
For the more expensive lenses, it's cheaper to fly out and buy it there and bring it home!

Deacon Blues

I used B&H for a Canon 100-400L lens a few months ago. Once you get past the initial hurdle of them validating your card for your first purchase, they're fantastic. They couldn't make contact with my bank to validate, so there was a few days delay. I shouldn't have this problem in future.

You WILL be hit for VAT and duty. VAT is 21% on the total cost, including shipping. Duty varies depending on the tariff.

I bought the lens, a filter and a bag. Had I just bought the lens, the duty would have been 9.6%, which is the rate for lenses. By buying different items, UPS used the "camera parts" tariff code, which is 6.2%, so I saved a few bob.

I spoke to Cathy in Gunnes before I bought the lens and told her the price I could get it from the 'States for. She went to her Canon rep, and it turned out that the price I could get it for, including VAT was cheaper than she could buy it from Canon for. She'd have to add 21% VAT, and then or course, her markup. All I had to add was duty, so there was at least a €450 saving, probably more.

All in all, a very nice web shopping experience, and I'll certainly be using them in future. Only disappointment was that I couldn't afford to give Gunnes the business.

DrummerBoy

I'm off to NY tomorrow so will be popping by B&H for a small perchase and a good look see!

Smokeyskelton

Goodness, is this the very selfsame Henry Posner of B&H?

We are indeed honoured that you would drop in on our Irish boards site. You really are keeping your ear to the ground. Keep up the good work.

I have been in your New York superstore, and it is some operation!

henryp

Smokeyskelton wrote: »

Goodness, is this the very selfsame Henry Posner of B&H?

As a matter of fact, it is. Howdy.

We are indeed honoured that you would drop in on our Irish boards site. You really are keeping your ear to the ground. Keep up the good work.

Thank you. That's very gratifying.

I have been in your New York superstore, and it is some operation!

You will have to plan another visit as we're doubling the retail store space and should have the newly expanded store operational in a month or two.

Thirdfox

So in regards to the international warranties - B&H only offer US warranty, not international warranties?

And grey market lenses only come with a B&H 1 year warranty.

What is the local tax rate in NY right now if you don't mind me asking?

henryp

Thirdfox wrote: »

I was under the impression you could buy one of the cheaper "grey market" lenses which comes with the 1 year international warranty instead of the US 5 year warranty...

Nikon USA offers a 5-year warranty on US-warranted lenses. Canon USA's warranty is one year.

Thirdfox wrote: »

So in regards to the international warranties - B&H only offer US warranty, not international warranties?

For lenses, film cameras, & on-camera speedlights we offer both "grey market" (see below) and US-warranted products. Our web site is specific about what you're looking at. If you buy a lens, speedlight, or 35mm SLR with a US warranty, your warranty should be reciprocally honored by authorized service centers worldwide. With digital cameras, particularly digital SLRs things are different. First, Nikon USA prohibits authorized retailers from shipping a digital SLR to any address outside the USA. Second, almost all digital SLRs with US warranties are warranted in the USA only. B&H does not sell any "grey market" digital cameras.

And grey market lenses only come with a B&H 1 year warranty.

One year or the length of the manufacturer's warranty, which ever is less. Offhand I think it'd be one year for any new lens.

What is the local tax rate in NY right now if you don't mind me asking?

I don't mind -- I have to pay it too. The rate is 8.38% I believe. This is not a VAT & there's no way to get it back when you leave the USA.

Thirdfox

Thanks for setting everything straight. I hope to have a chance to visit your store in the future.

RoryW

henryp wrote: »

we're doubling the retail store space and should have the newly expanded store operational in a month or two.

:):):)

DaireQuinlan

Deacon Blues wrote: »

I spoke to Cathy in Gunnes before I bought the lens and told her the price I could get it from the 'States for. She went to her Canon rep, and it turned out that the price I could get it for, including VAT was cheaper than she could buy it from Canon for. She'd have to add 21% VAT, and then or course, her markup. All I had to add was duty, so there was at least a €450 saving, probably more.

Which is just bizarre ! I mean, I understand about economies of scale and so on and so forth, but I presume the Canon wholesale price to the retailer here (and I'd imagine europe wide with some small differances) is vastly in excess of the Canon wholesale price in the states. Now, these products are all shipped from China or Japan right ? so why the difference ?!? And in short, what is it worth to Canon (or indeed nikon) to maintain any sort of retail prescence in a particular country ? do their sales come mainly from P&S cameras nowadays in the retail sector here ? do they presume that buyers of high end kit are going to shop online ? do they even -care- about a market as small as Ireland ? I can imagine why they -wouldn't- i suppose. I've always compared prices half jokingly with US prices by saying that they translate the dollar amount directly into sterling ($200->£200) and then when they sell them here apply the exchange rate from GBP to EUR. It never seems to be too far off the amount :mad:

dr strangelove

Hi,
I bought a couple of lenses from B&H in the last year, and was very impressed with the service. Delivery was fast, and the lenses were cheap - even after getting stung for VAT.

I'd heartily recommend them.

murphy_j

Hey guys

Can someone clearup the duty requirements If I buy from B+H (they have some great deals on a Canon 40D).

I get stung for duty at 21% - is that it? And is that 21% of the total cost including shipping etc etc?

Thanks for the advice

oshead

21% of the total cost, yes including shipping. You get whacked with duty aswell. Around 5%.

GristlyEnd

There is no duty on digital cameras only 21% of the camera plus shipping.

Stephen

I've never ordered from B&H online but have bought stuff in their store. Always an experience in itself

oshead

DarrenG wrote: »

There is no duty on digital cameras only 21% of the camera plus shipping.

My bad... The duty I paid recently was on flashes & len accessories.