buying options

rymus

While I realise that this thread may stir up the old 'ooooh don't talk about that in public' argument (which I'm all for by the way), I still need guidance and options.

Long story short, was waiting for a 5D replacement and now that it hasn't materialised, I'm off to do some shopping. Wondering really if Kea is still top dog or what other viable options are there? Looked into UR Galaxy but they're within a few quid of Kea so no point there. Digital Rev looks a bit sketchy on the ol' duty subject and Kerso doesn't either list his shipping charges or have everything I want in stock.

If I can beat about the bush somewhat, what is the current standing with the import situation? Have things gotten sufficiently stuffy that I might be better off buying from a seller like Kerso just to avoid bringing something in from outside Europe? Kerso is within a hundred euro of Kea but after reading a few threads on his communication and shipping abilities, I begin to wonder if he's a wise choice.

Before anyone says anything about warranty, I fully intend on getting a 3 year mack warranty with the body and any lenses anyway, so that's pretty much a non-issue. Just wanted to get some views & comment on it..

Paulw

In the last short while I've bought a 300mm f/2.8 IS L and a 1D MkIII all from Kea. Brilliant price, brilliant service and no "issues" with delivery. So, in the end, I saved ... a LOT of money.

I wouldn't give up just yet on the 5D replacement. There's still a few days in PMA to go.

Covey

Rymus,

what are the prices your looking at, including all extras, postage, mack warranty etc.

T.

rymus

I haven't given up but tbh, even if a replacement is announced, it'll take several months for it to reach the market and at quite possibly double the price that you'd pay for a 5D now. Also, I'm not too sure if I want to be a bug tester for Canon with a brand new model.

Cheers for the helpful info on the delivery situation.

rymus

Covey wrote: »

what are the prices your looking at, including all extras, postage, mack warranty etc.

so far it's a 5D at €1500, 3yr warranty at €52 grip at €170, 24-70L at €880.. Approximate prices including shipping.

I'd be getting the body and the grip immediately, lens in a couple of weeks (after I hopefully sell my existing sigma 24-70). Figured I'm not going to get any reduction on shipping anyway so I'll hit the bank account now and then again in a few weeks time after pay day

Covey

Ok can't beat those.

I generally buy most stuff in Germany at prices that more or less match Kea ( when you add in delivery and warranty). That works more or less up to €1000 but for items over that you can't compete.

Where are those prices from as a matter of interest?

T.

rymus

all from kea. kerso was more expensive for the body but cheaper for the lens (only a few quid each way)

Fajitas!

I bought my last lot of gear in Aperture Uk, in London... Great place. Worked out being a few hundred more expensive than HK, but I can try the gear before I take it away, I know it's sharp. I have a european warrenty and if there was any hassle, it means I can pop over to London in the worst case scenario. Think for the 135 f2 L and 70-200 2.8 IS L, it worked out 200 more expensive than HK. Flights cost me 26 quid, but I was in London at the time anyways.

The reason I went to a brick and mortar shop was the hassle I had making a payment through Paypal, but tbh, I'll be going back there.

If I wasn't happy with one 70-200, there was 6 more waiting there for me to choose from. Oh, and it's also a cafe, so I got to sit down with a coffee while purchasing... And even got fed.

rymus

you make a compelling argument... I'll have to remember that spot for future lens purchasing

AnCatDubh

Covey wrote: »

Ok can't beat those.
I generally buy most stuff in Germany at prices that more or less match Kea ( when you add in delivery and warranty). That works more or less up to €1000 but for items over that you can't compete.

Covey - is this an online shop - do you have a web address?

Sorry OP, Back on topic now. Ok - perhaps i can be a little help as to your original question on the customs front;

Over on the consumer issues, there doesn't appear to be an issue discussing same -

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055207609

rymus

might just stick with kea for the body and I'll decide later on about the lens.. That shop in London is good... but a good £300 higher than kea for the 24-70L.

Borderfox

Rymus, the 5d at the moment is such a fantastic body. I purchased one not too long ago and my reasoning is I wanted one before Canon f***ed it up with the newer version. I got all my gear from Albert in HK. Cant fault him on any service top class seller. I think out of all the cameras I have had in a short amount of time the 5d is the one that blew my socks off in all aspects of using the body...

rymus

that's all the convincing I needed...

Covey

AnCatDubh wrote: »

Covey - is this an online shop - do you have a web address?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055207609

Yep, a few online shops - PM me.

CraggyIslander

grrrrr, stop tempting me... now I want one too!!!

*gets pitchfork and aims it at rymus*

Borderfox

They are coming down in price by the week, when I bought mine it was €1700 and now they are down to approx €1450 bargain for such a tool.

rymus

ze veels are in motion.. Ordered a couple of small bits like eyecups too... and I'm damned if I'm going to pay £8.50 postage on a 99p eyecup when I'm buying £1300's worth of gear

GristlyEnd

and soon you will receive the tracking number and check the website at least once an hour for an update

440Hz

Ordered my 24-70L from Kea and was perfectly happy as always with his service, bought a body there last week. I have dealt with Digital Rev too though and been very very happy with that service. There is usually very little difference in the price between the two, and Albert tends to give better service the more custom you give him, which is worth considering too, which would be in your favour Ryan as a previous good customer.

PaulieC

Send a mail to Kerso (kerso1123@msn.com) detailing what you want and ask for an off ebay price - he has much more stuff than is listed on his abay page. I sent him a mail this morning and he came back within an hour and gave me a price that was within a tenner of Kea for a 430EX flash and ST-E2 trigger. Postage is usually cheap too - last two things I bought off him were a tenner, but your list will probably cost a bit more. Also, because it's from Scotland, the delivery is fast (3 days) and there's no chance of getting stung by customs.

I'd recommend heartily. In fact, if you do order, mention my email and I get something too! )

rymus

DarrenG wrote: »

and soon you will receive the tracking number and check the website at least once an hour for an update

Ah yes.. it's been a long long time since I last did that. Once every half hour, 24 hours a day until I get to go to little island and battle with the incompetent nightline staff dragging their knuckles all around the warehouse looking for the box. Such fun will be had.

Carrigman

rymus wrote: »

Ah yes.. it's been a long long time since I last did that. Once every half hour, 24 hours a day until I get to go to little island and battle with the incompetent nightline staff dragging their knuckles all around the warehouse looking for the box. Such fun will be had.

I must say I never have had any problems with the local Cork courier firms when importing stuff. DHL are top class - I usually go to their airport depot just before 8am on the morning the item arrives. Have the parcel number and they will locate the item in a jiff.

UPS and Fedex are both based in Little Island and again very helpful and very competent in my experience.

I haven't had to use Nightline for some time but had no issues with them either.

rymus

nightline are fedex's agents in ireland. Anything I've ever had fedex'd to me had come via them. Last couple of packages weren't even attempted delivery. They just returned to the depot at the end of the day (one sat in the drivers van over the weekend) and when I called down to get it they've constantly had trouble finding stuff. Either I'm one of the unlucky ones or you're just blessed Carrigman

DHL are great, but they're bloody expensive!

deRanged

It took Fedex 5 days to get a parcel to me earlier this month.
I'm in Glounthaune - which for those of us not in Cork, is the neighbouring parish to Little Island. I'd use any company other than them - UPS ideally.

rymus

The thing I found is that once the tracking website says the package is in Ireland (normally Shannon), give them until that afternoon and then start mercilessly hounding them for information. Inevitably I'll probably end up at the depot on Friday evening biting my nails waiting for some driver to come back with a story about a failed delivery attempt. Ah well.. dont want to turn this into a courier discussion thread either now

SOL

AmI wrong in thinking that there may be more anouncements yet to come at PMA?

rymus

there may be.. but as I said on page one, anything that's announced will take months to filter down and emerge on the market. Then there will be a several month long feeding frenzy while early adopters buy the new technology, complain about it and whine about when the fixes are coming out. Could be christmas before any potential problems are recognised and into next year before a fix is available..

I'd rather go with a proven piece of technology that's been field tested all over the world for the last couple of years. Being on the bleeding edge is just no damn fun

King Eric

Damn you Rymus, I want, but cant afford........yet

Just wondering tho whats the story with mack warranties, how do they work?

whats covered and who do you send it to if something goes kaboom?

rymus

afaik, and this is afaik because I've never had to invoke their warranty claim service.. you email them when something goes arseways.. they they refer you to a repair centre. You pay the repair centre and send the receipt to mack. They send you a cheque. Happy days.

Open to correction on all of the above. I think the general concensus on them is that they're more useful than the manufacturers warranty in most cases. That's not a bad claim at all.