Buying Equipment in Tokyo - Do or Don't

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PDub

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Im off away with work to Tokyo next month and was thinking about maybe buying a new lens out there as the exchange rate is pretty favourable at the moment.

I understand you can get an extra 5% off the price as a tourist so it makes it even more tempting.

Im thinking about spending up to £400 on something like a 24-70 2.8 sigma etc.. but im not sure whether to or not due to the warranty thing. Its a lot of money for something i cant really check. I'll be with a japanese co-worker as well which could help with checking the lens out first. Im also staying close to BIC and Yodobashi.

Any info would be great.
 
I'd asked the same question on this forums a while back. I got a really good deal on the Tamron 28-75mm, which I bought from Yodabashi, though I can't remember the specifics of the warranty.

One thing though, make sure you carry the lens in your hand luggage on your way out as customs might ask you to show the lens. If I remember correctly, the practice is to staple the discount to your exit card/passport, so you could get checked on your way out.
 
When I was there in 2010 - I was looking for a Canon 50mm 1.2 - and found prices there to be higher than buying it here, so didn't bother :) It's not a bargain city like HK.
 
PDub said:
Thanks for the info. I've checked the prices currently on Yodobashi and they are quite a bit cheaper than the UK and sites like Panamoz.
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I was there in April and the only thing that was cheaper than current UK prices were the Fujis (friend got one from Yodobashi). also note that warranty is not valid for most brands
 
Having worked for a Japanese company I found my Japanese counterparts useful with regards to buying gear - that was when £1 = 200+ yen. My Pentax D-FA 100 macro was bought from Yodobashi in Osaka for around a 30% saving on UK prices by a colleague and my FA 77 Ltd was bough from Fujiya Camera in Nakano (a Tokyo suburb) after he spent all night trawling the retailers to find the best deal...The trip to Nakano was enjoyable.

Beware - these shops can be harmful to your finances, only the fear of being apprehended by customs prevented me from spending too much money....
 
At least Sony is now Olympus' major shareholder.
I worked for Canon & shot Minolta ... :bonk:
 
PDub said:
Thanks for the info. I've checked the prices currently on Yodobashi and they are quite a bit cheaper than the UK and sites like Panamoz.
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I'm not surprised. The last time I was there, GBP was about 130 yen and it was still cheaper.

The lens I bought is listed at Yodobashi for 35,800 JPY, which works out to about £230 at today's rate. The same thing here costs about £350. That's a pretty serious discount.
 
insomniac said:
The lens I bought is listed at Yodobashi for 35,800 JPY, which works out to about £230 at today's rate. The same thing here costs about £350. That's a pretty serious discount.
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It is. Pay your import duty (6.9% on lenses) and VAT, and it's still only £295, so you're still significantly ahead.
 
StewartR said:
It is. Pay your import duty (6.9% on lenses) and VAT, and it's still only £295, so you're still significantly ahead.
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Even better - if you're bringing it in yourself don't pay the duty and VAT, because you don't have to for goods less than £390 - LINK
 
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