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no issues, except it was in japanese when I switched it on......
Isn't that a contradiction?
no issues, except it was in japanese when I switched it on......
I expected it to be honest, though DR could have set it up to English language for me, but it only took a couple of minutes googling and a few more button presses. Just might be something the OP might want to consider before purchasing. Saved a small fortune though. Have had a few bits and bobs via grey market, without any issues (thankfully!)Isn't that a contradiction?
Have you had to claim off warranty with any of them ? (honest question as warranty is generally then other issue mooted with greys)
I had a Canon S100 P&S of Digital rev that developed a fault, they told me to send it to Canon UK they sorted it all out for me and gave me a full brand new replacement camera.Have you had to claim off warranty with any of them ? (honest question as warranty is generally then other issue mooted with greys)
If some one buys a second hand camera or lens, how do you know it, s a grey import ?. Would it be the serial number?.
....Yes, very helpful and thanks for your clarification.
In the case of where I am happy to buy my so-called 'grey' products, the retailer provides a vat inclusive receipt, therefore exempting the purchaser from any responsibility. It is neither my business nor my moral concern how the supplier achieves such highly competitive and attractive retail prices. I think that it is often and unfairly assumed that it can only be as a result of not paying vat. Other factors such as price at source and low overheads are ignored by those retailers who are controlled by main UK distributors and also have much heavier overheads - They don't like the competition and consequently try to trash the reputation of their competitors by alleging that they are illegally avoiding/evading (or whatever you want to call it) vat. They operate a cartel.
Personally, I think that a vat rate of 20% is inequitable! But that is besides the point - That's just my opinion.
....No, it would not be determined by the serial number as ALL (I refer to Canon) cameras and lenses are manufactured by them in their established factories and part of their serial code identifies which factory. The camera/lenses then start their journey to distributors and/or retailers anywhere and everywhere throughout the world. Fundamentally, Canon UK and other *** UK organisations are merely national distributors whose best interests are served by operating a cartel. As they understandably don't want the price competition from 'grey' retailers they tend to try to diminish their reputation. Of course there are both good and bad grey importers and the bad ones, as always, can spoil the overall reputation.
If you are buying secondhand privately all you can do is ask the seller and hope that they either still have their purchase receipt as proof or don't tell you a lie. Most sellers here on TP Classifieds seem to be open about their product if it was a grey import.
Ironically, if you are buying secondhand from a retailer you have no way of knowing because retailers don't offer you proof of their purchase. So for example, I could trade in my grey imported product to a shop without needing to show my proof of purchase and they could sell it on.
The only thing to consider from wherever you buy is the warranty and aftersales service.
Personally, my first port of call for brand spanking new gear is the so-called 'grey' importer HDEW and then secondly 'non-grey' Wex Photographic. My experience with Park Cameras on several occasions is poor and so now I avoid buying from them.
...also they are importing grey items and then selling them on, rather than selling them from overseas and making the customer the importer...
Hmm - thats changed, the last time i bought anything from them i went to surrey and collected it, so they were definitely the importer ... its possible they've changed practice to be more competitive with the offshore grey firms
I doubt that any more than a tiny proportion of potential customers go the 'grey' route.Survey results at 90% in favour of buying grey must be pretty depressing for anyone with camera shop
the main point is that there is unlikely to be warranty on a second item anyway (other than from the 2nd hand dealer) so its grey import or otherwise status is irrelevant.
RR is wrong though - grey imports are identifiabnle by their serial numbers because canon/nikon etc know which serial numbers they've shipped to which territories.
If some one buys a second hand camera or lens, how do you know it's a grey import ? Would it be the serial number?.
(he's also wrong about the cartel thing , by the time a camera has been imported honestly with all tax and duty paid there is no real price competition with canon uk (etc) who after all have volume sales that no independent importer can match)
.. Especially those who supply a receipt which includes vat and who do not shift responsibility for import duties onto the purchaser via the smallprint. Any form of price dictation is by definition operating a cartel but I am not saying it's a sin to operate a cartel.
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I had a email back from HDew earlier today saying that they were not the same as DigitalRev as they were in Hong Kong and HDew were a UK company. How does HDew remain competitive with HK prices if they are not importing from there?
I had a email back from HDew earlier today saying that they were not the same as DigitalRev as they were in Hong Kong and HDew were a UK company. How does HDew remain competitive with HK prices if they are not importing from there?
Has anyone got the VAT number for HDEW?
Hdew will provide a Vat receipt if you ask for one - I've never got to the bottom of why they don't just provide them as a matter of course (unlike most grey importers Hdew are a bricks and mortar camera shop - in wallington surrey - so its not beyond the realms of possibility that they are VAT registered in the uk)
also they are importing grey items and then selling them on, rather than selling them from overseas and making the customer the importer so the usual issues about goods getting held at customs etc don't apply. (if any evasion was going on - and i'm not saying there is - it would be between them and HRC not the customer who buys in the UK ... this is virtually unique in the grey import scene)
this is why Hdew are generally more expensive than the overseas based grey importers
....Yes, it's printed on their customer receipt. I just checked
Also that vat is included at 20%.
....No, it would not be determined by the serial number as ALL (I refer to Canon) cameras and lenses are manufactured by them in their established factories and part of their serial code identifies which factory. The camera/lenses then start their journey to distributors and/or retailers anywhere and everywhere throughout the world.
To me your reply to rocket reads that they (canon) don't know which serial numbers have gone where.
So no one has their VAT number then?
So no one has their VAT number then?
Vat No. 671 9479 88
....I already told you that my HDEW receipts had a vat # so why do you want to know it? Didn't you believe me?
That VAT number checks out as belonging to VALIDHIRST LTD not HDEW?
I did believe you but I can't see how they can bring these cameras into the country and still issue VAT invoices.