Buying a camera in Japan

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Hello,

My Japanese is a bit rusty, but if I intepret this correctly, the cost of the Nikon D7000 body only is 97,500 yen, which is about 780 GBP, which is about 100 GBP cheaper than here (the UK).
Nikon D7000

I'm due to travel to Japan on a work trip in a couple of weeks and now I'm thinking that it might make sense to stave off the camera purchase and buy it while I'm there.

Has anyone had any experience doing this? The two things I want to find out about specifically:
1. Is the Nikon warranty worldwide and would it cover me in the UK?
2. Would I have any problem with firmware, i.e. Japanese menus instead of English ones, etc?

Thank you.
 
Yes you will be charged vat and import duty if customs stop you.
If it goes wrong Nikon uk may refuse to repair it and insist you send it off internationally to get repaired.
For 100 GBP saving I don't think it's worth it.
 
Warranty: This is what the Nikon UK web site says:

Nikon digital products (digital SLRs, COOLPIX compacts & Coolscan film scanners) sold in Europe have a warranty which is honoured by Nikon European offices in the countries listed below. This warranty is not supported by Nikon offices outside of Europe. Nikon digital products sold outside Europe also have localised warranties and are not supported in Europe.

Pricing: You will be liable for 20% VAT on entry into the UK, plus import duty which is probably 4.2% if I've understood the very confusing HMRC tables correctly.

£780 + 4.2% + 20% = £975.
 
You're going to Japan and the best you can think to do is buy a new D7000? You need your head sorting. Japan is full of second hand camera shops, they stack Leicas up like we stack tins of beans. Get something used, save more and don't worry about the warranty.
 
For the potential saving it's really not worth it, you could probably save more buying on eBay or through a parallel importer and most will cover customs if you get stung. Even then, I'd probably just buy locally for the warranty cover. As Brian said you might be able to pick up a good second hand deal but obviously you have no chance of a warranty then so you might prefer just to buy new in the UK.

I've imported a lot of things (in NZ, camera gear is massively over-priced) and have been lucky so far with only one problem and that was sorted by the importer. For me it's worth the risk because of the 20-30% price difference but for 10% I wouldn't bother.
 
I'm sure I've read a few posts here, and on other forums, saying that gear is quite expensive in Japan; and a lot of Japanese prefer to buy in HK or the US if they can, because the prices are far better.

Don't think I'd bother just to save £100 at the point of sale, by the time you factor in import duty, VAT and the warranty issue.
 
It's my understanding that you only pay V.A.T. @ 20% on your purchase, not duty.
 
StewartR said:
Warranty: This is what the Nikon UK web site says:

Nikon digital products (digital SLRs, COOLPIX compacts & Coolscan film scanners) sold in Europe have a warranty which is honoured by Nikon European offices in the countries listed below. This warranty is not supported by Nikon offices outside of Europe. Nikon digital products sold outside Europe also have localised warranties and are not supported in Europe.

Pricing: You will be liable for 20% VAT on entry into the UK, plus import duty which is probably 4.2% if I've understood the very confusing HMRC tables correctly.

£780 + 4.2% + 20% = £975.
Click to expand...

Film cameras attract import duty, however digital ones don't......
 
StewartR said:
You will be liable for ... import duty which is probably 4.2% if I've understood the very confusing HMRC tables correctly.
Click to expand...

steveclem said:
It's my understanding that you only pay V.A.T. @ 20% on your purchase, not duty.
Click to expand...

Flash In The Pan said:
Film cameras attract import duty, however digital ones don't......
Click to expand...

Good job I qualified my statement!

It would be helpful if you could identify your sources.

This page on the HMRC web site says digital cameras attract duty betweem zero and 4.9%. It doesn't mention DSLRs specifically. But it also says VAT is 17.5%, so it's clearly out of date and not to be trusted.

This page on the Business Link web site sets out the tariffs for photographic equipment. It clearly says that duty on 35mm film SLRs is 4.2%, but I can't work out exactly where DSLRs are classified.

Any better sources, guys?
 
I'm curious about VAT now. I assume that OP is planning to use the camera himself, not buying to resell as new. How is VAT charged on used equipments? Do people always carry their VAT certificates for all their equipments while on vacation to show customs? I suspect that normal tourists wouldn't.

Of course, warranty could be a factor to decide if the saving is worth it.
 
I'd imagine that carrying receipts, boxes, manuals etc for ur gear would be a good indication it's new. Ditch the box at least and it might be able to sneak it in under the radar.
 
If you get one while you're out there, flat pack your box and packing as much as possible then post it back to this country separately. How can customs prove you bought it while you were out there, specially if you go out with a bag of gear like lenses, cards etc. I was thinking about doing the same for a 5D3 from abroad, save £800 on the price and pay £300 for airfare = net save of £500. Job done! Just sick of getting hammered for taxes over here.
 
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StewartR said:
... which would be illegal, and is therefore against the rules of TP to discuss, encourage or condone.
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modchild said:
If you get one while you're out there, flat pack your box and packing as much as possible then post it back to this country separately. How can customs prove you bought it while you were out there, specially if you go out with a bag of gear like lenses, cards etc. I was thinking about doing the same for a 5D3 from abroad, save £800 on the price and pay £300 for airfare = net save of £500. Job done! Just sick of getting hammered for taxes over here.
Click to expand...

I take it you didn't read Stewart's post then? :lol:
 
modchild said:
How can customs prove you bought it while you were out there, specially if you go out with a bag of gear like lenses, cards etc.
Click to expand...

At a guess they could ask for a receipt to be given.

The serial number on the camera will state where it was made for (read about that a while back when considering USA imports whilst on a trip there...) Something in the serial number says that its for usa/uk/europe/japan.

And I think that if they really wanted to, they can hold your stuff until you can prove where you bought it/pay for it (not sure of that though). Majority of cases they wont check though.

I have been searched on return from a trip (had to open baggage get a swab etc). Best thing is to get in the UK if you can, plus its covered warranty wise.
 
ecniv said:
And I think that if they really wanted to, they can hold your stuff until you can prove where you bought it/pay for it (not sure of that though).
Click to expand...

They certainly can, it's up to you to prove that the duty has been paid, rather than for HMRC to prove it hasn't....
 
modchild said:
If you get one while you're out there, flat pack your box and packing as much as possible then post it back to this country separately. How can customs prove you bought it while you were out there, specially if you go out with a bag of gear like lenses, cards etc. I was thinking about doing the same for a 5D3 from abroad, save £800 on the price and pay £300 for airfare = net save of £500. Job done! Just sick of getting hammered for taxes over here.
Click to expand...

The most logical answer.
 
brianwar said:
I'd imagine that carrying receipts, boxes, manuals etc for ur gear would be a good indication it's new. Ditch the box at least and it might be able to sneak it in under the radar.
Click to expand...

StewartR said:
... which would be illegal, and is therefore against the rules of TP to discuss, encourage or condone.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Please don't do this.
 
brianwar said:
You're going to Japan and the best you can think to do is buy a new D7000? You need your head sorting. Japan is full of second hand camera shops, they stack Leicas up like we stack tins of beans. Get something used, save more and don't worry about the warranty.
Click to expand...

Why would you want to buy an overpriced Film camera?
 
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The old camera shops in Japan are great to explore!

I've been over there a few times now and if anything, camera prices are more expensive than in the UK.
 
Craikeybaby said:
The old camera shops in Japan are great to explore!

I've been over there a few times now and if anything, camera prices are more expensive than in the UK.
Click to expand...

The days of cheap gadgets in the Fast East are over. They were cheap because of the exchange rate, they were never really "cheap" to locals. But the last few years, the pound has gotten weaker and there are no more bargains.

I've been to Hong Kong every year for the past 3 years, everytime i take a look at prices of lenses and in most shops they are the same price, may be 5% lower than WEX. I suppose if you compare them to Jessops they are cheaper. Even if you haggle to 10% cheaper than WEX it is still not worth it.

VAT 20%
No warranty
Declaring it at customs (or risk getting caught and fined)

It is much much easier just to buy it from Kerso. I've done the math, 3 years ago it was $12.50 HK to £1. Today it is $11.50 to £1. It wasn't worth it 3 years ago, it certainly isn't worth it today. When it was $16 to £1, that's when it was worth a pun. Those days however are gone and don't see it ever coming back to be honest.
 
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Craikeybaby said:
The old camera shops in Japan are great to explore!

I've been over there a few times now and if anything, camera prices are more expensive than in the UK.
Click to expand...

If you know where to look they are much cheaper ;) - try http://www.kakaku.com- its all in Japanese but if you type into the search bar you should be able to understand the pricing anyway!

edit: this is the equivalent of camerapricebuster.co.uk except for all gadgets in Japan....
 
Raymond Lin said:
The days of cheap gadgets in the Fast East are over.
Click to expand...

travellingcello said:
If you know where to look they are much cheaper ;) - try http://www.kakaku.com- its all in Japanese but if you type into the search bar you should be able to understand the pricing anyway!

edit: this is the equivalent of camerapricebuster.co.uk except for all gadgets in Japan....
Click to expand...
I tried this, with three more-or-less random examples.

Canon 100-400L
... lowest price 161,800 Yen = £1272
... typical low price 170-180,000 Yen = £1336-£1414
Amazon £1235, WEx £1239

Canon 16-35L
... lowest price 151,500 Yen = £1191
Amazon £1099, WEx £1149

Canon 7D (body only)
... lowest price 92,428 Yen = £726
... typical low price 95-100,000 Yen = £746-£785
Lowest UK price £1089 at Mifsuds

Make of that what you will.
 
With respect that article's from 2005 and rates and thresholds change from year to year :-)

And what was said above is true, it's always the taxpayers responsibility to prove that they have paid the right amount of tax and duty.
 
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I should be able to answer this question with some clarity (and possibly a touch of sadness) this week.
I think I have read elsewhere that only VAT is liable, the rates may change but I understand duty is not payable on digital cameras today. I'll let the forum know what happens to me.
 
Hello,

I don't really intend to fan the flames and as this topic has already veered wildly off course into the realms of the virtues of HMRC and paying the correct amount of tax, I'd like to thank everyone for their opinions and insight.

I have decided to buy the body here after all. I spent some time looking at lenses, and Japanese prices weren't that competitive after all.

However, the next time I'm in New York and I manage to slip in a 10-24mm wideangle ($799 vs £659), I'll remember to keep my mouth shut and not mention it on this forum. ;)
 
Last time I did that and dutifully went through the red channel upon arrival, I was told "it's s__t sir" and to "move along".
 
Customs duty-£0
Excise duty -£0
Import vat @ 13.5%
Clearance fee (royal mail 'handling' fee) -£8
 
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