Importing Canon EOS 20D from US

server_girl

My friend is heading to the states soon & can purchase a 20D for $1250 with 18-55mm lens. Has anyone else done this? I presume it's 21% import duty when re-entering Ireland? I also believe the warranty is an issue, an international warranty would have to be purchased?

rymus

i did it with a camcorder back in 03. If you can make it look like you bought it back in Ireland you'll pay no duty.. youd have to get an international warranty

qwertz

Give Canon Ireland (or UK) a call, they might honour the US warranty.

FX Meister

Post the box, manuals and receipt home. Get them to take a load of flicks in the states and then when they bring it home, if stopped, they can say it is their camera.

cecilwinthorpe

what my brother did was stuck a sticker on his cam when he went to america so that they couldnt say he had just bought it cos the sticker got all worn so you could try that too

qwertz

Customs can check the serial number and determine where the camera has been bought/sold. Not sure if the Irish customs do that, thought.

dublinguy05

Its no big deal put the camera in ur bag and you be fine, I have bought thousands of euro worth of camera equipment from BHphotovideo NY, and I have never got stopped coming back through Dublin, to be honest I have never seen anyone out there to check the items, any if your friend did get stopped, 21% Vat on top would still be cheaper than buying it in Ireland...the US warrantly is not valid in europe you have to return it back to the shop were you bought it from in America and they will sort it out, but the shipping cost from Ireland are expensive. Check it out before you return home and you should be fine, I have never had to return any lens or camera bodies...

rymus

121% duty would be cheaper than buying in Ireland

If any customs officers went to the trouble of checking serial numbers I'd be amazed. It's not like youre trying to get weapons of mass destruction through or anything :rolleyes:

Regarding the warranty, why not just buy the camera in the EU and get an EU warranty? I'm getting a 20D from technikdirekt with 18-55 kit lens & 1gb CF for around the €1500 mark.

DotOrg

i got my 20D and a big L lens from the states and even with the customs, it cost less than it costs to buy wholesale in ireland. my next purchases may be from hong kong through ebay as some of the traders (with 4000 100% positive reviews) say they will mark the package with 'gift of no commercial value' on the outside to avoid duty

Burago

DotOrg wrote:

my next purchases may be from hong kong through ebay as some of the traders (with 4000 100% positive reviews) say they will mark the package with 'gift of no commercial value' on the outside to avoid duty

I bought a Sekonic light meter from one of those HK retailers and it arrived perfectly in good time too. I avoided tax as he marked the value as $60, the real value was over $200. About a month after it arrived FedEx in the UK sent me an invoice looking fro 25euro for vat, duty, handling etc. I'm ignoring them obviously, they let it slip through the net.

FX Meister

DotOrg wrote:

i got my 20D and a big L lens from the states and even with the customs, it cost less than it costs to buy wholesale in ireland. my next purchases may be from hong kong through ebay as some of the traders (with 4000 100% positive reviews) say they will mark the package with 'gift of no commercial value' on the outside to avoid duty

A lot of them say this and you get nabbed by customs. They don't care because they have their money already.

DotOrg

well it took about 6 months between getting my 20D from New York and UPS sending me the bill for customs but even still, it's always cheaper it seems to buy outside ireland, whether you pay duty or not

kasintahan

Burago wrote:

I bought a Sekonic light meter from one of those HK retailers and it arrived perfectly in good time too. I avoided tax as he marked the value as $60, the real value was over $200. About a month after it arrived FedEx in the UK sent me an invoice looking fro 25euro for vat, duty, handling etc. I'm ignoring them obviously, they let it slip through the net.

After 3 warning letters you will get a letter from Regecy Legal Services (spelling?).

qwertz

Why don't you get it on the continent? Germany/Austria has decent prices, you will get European warranty, you won't break the law Have a look at geizhals.at and guenstiger.de, both are in German but you will find your way around. PM me if you need help.

Burago

kasintahan wrote:

After 3 warning letters you will get a letter from Regecy Legal Services (spelling?).

I look forward to it:D

FX Meister

DotOrg wrote:

well it took about 6 months between getting my 20D from New York and UPS sending me the bill for customs but even still, it's always cheaper it seems to buy outside ireland, whether you pay duty or not

That's strange, usually UPS process it straight away and you won't get the package until you pay the charges on delivery. I got stung by Fed Ex before and didn't pay and it slipped through.
I've recently bought stuff from computeruniverso.net and would recommend them. I got a lens and a flash for €1100 that were priced at €1500 here.