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What's the difference if you buy canon cameras or lenses etc from Germany or Hong Kong etc to buying in the Uk except for the obvious being the price difference?
black market
noun
an illegal traffic or trade in officially controlled or scarce commodities.
Erm you wouldn't get equipment taken off you per se for importing grey market goods. Only if you misrepresented the value of the goods to evade tax, customs charges etc. could that potentially happen. However that'd be extreme and would apply to any potential imported purchase, camera kit or not. I know some sellers have undervalued goods to reduce costs to seller / buyer but usually you'll get a courier letter saying you need to pay X amount to cover vat, customs charges and their 'processing fee' before they'll release the parcel. The amount will vary depending upon declared value.In extreme circumstances people have had their equipment taken off them by the authorities.
Importing direct from Hog Kong you are personally responsible for paying the relevant import taxes and duties, purchasing for yourself this is pretty much the limit of your liabilities but if you're even thinking about importing to sell on be aware that you then get into a completely different kettle of fish. The warranty situation is whatever the warranty situation is in Hong Kong, or perhaps you can fall back on to an International Warranty - which is never very comprehensive.What's the difference if you buy canon cameras or lenses etc from Germany or Hong Kong etc to buying in the Uk except for the obvious being the price difference?
Thats where i got my cameraMost of the cameras I have purchased recently were from Panamoz and the like. As far as I am aware, all relevant taxes are paid by the sellers and I have sold them on here and other places without any problems. In fact, buying from Panamoz generally means you can transfer the balance of warranty to the new owner, which is a good selling point. I'm pretty sure most of the big camera manufacturers will not allow you to transfer warranties
Another good reason to buy grey imports.
In which case you probably have a 3 year transferable warranty.Thats where i got my camera
Never dealt with Panamoz, presumably there is something in the small print saying the purchaser is responsible for any customs or other duties due (although they may offer to repay it)
So if any problems did occur you the importer are liable, some less than reputable companies describe the goods as samples or lesser valued items on the customs declaration
http://panamoz.com/index.php/faq/** We will pay for all import and customs charges, under all circumstances. There will be no additional charges. **
At great risk of disturbing a hornets nest! I would like to know where purchasers of grey imports go to 'look' at the cameras before they buy. I was in my LPS the other day when a person came in looked at a camera and then told the shop owner they would be ordering from Panamax!!! Even some reputable dealers are now putting 'grey' stock on their shelves. So where will the 'lookers' and 'feel it' customers go when the LPS is closed.
I did in fact have a good deal on my latest camera from my LPS, I admit not as cheap as Panamax or HDEW but it is only a quick train ride to go back if it goes wrong.
This does not apply to HDEW and other UK based 'grey' importers who import the goods into this country paying the duty/VAT on entry and correctly accounting for VAT when they sell the item to you.
This is why you can get a VAT receipt from the UK based grey importers and not when you buy direct from Hong Kong etc.
http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/terms.aspPlease note that by making a purchase on this website you will be acting as the importer of the product for all purposes including all customs regulations,copyright and trademark laws.You accept that the role of HDEW Cameras is limited to sourcing products and making them available for you to import directly from the country of origin.By purchasing a product through this website you authorise us to make arrangements for clearance of customs on your behalf for the products you have ordered.
I'd suggest you change the thread title thenAhhh yes sorry grey market ( not stolen )
An anomaly that has never been explained!
I don't know ... all I do know is that it clearly states that the buyer is the importer, which is the same as buying from Panamoz, DigitalRev etc, etc.Is that not some form of wriggle, allowing non-UK (EU) market goods to be imported, ie potentially not CE marked, or UK plug etc. I'd agree its not clear and possibly not actually enforcable in a court of law as they are a UK limited company Validhirst Ltd T/A HDEW Cameras
.. from some UK-based grey importers..This is why you can get a VAT receipt from the UK based grey importers and not when you buy direct from Hong Kong etc.
I think it depends on what you are buying tbh. If I bought a D750 from panamoz (which I intend to do once they have them back in stock), they are currently at £1255 including shipping. If I decided to go via jessops or wex for example then it would cost me £1599. That is £350 cheaper.You do make a good point, and to be honest at the moment the price differences are meaning it isn't worth the difference to buy grey, although it often seems that bodies are cheaper and lenses are much the same cost.
Personally I have in the past used Panamoz for bodies (D750 annd D810) but I haven't bought anything from them in a while, since the Brexit vote and the Pound dropping its not been worth it and frankly I got some great deals over Christmas from UK stockists.
Times are changing though and consumers are changing behaviour. Not all granted but the high street is well on it's way to be replaced by the click of a button. Not saying that's good or bad, just a reality.At great risk of disturbing a hornets nest! I would like to know where purchasers of grey imports go to 'look' at the cameras before they buy. I was in my LPS the other day when a person came in looked at a camera and then told the shop owner they would be ordering from Panamax!!! Even some reputable dealers are now putting 'grey' stock on their shelves. So where will the 'lookers' and 'feel it' customers go when the LPS is closed.
I did in fact have a good deal on my latest camera from my LPS, I admit not as cheap as Panamax or HDEW but it is only a quick train ride to go back if it goes wrong.
Times are changing though and consumers are changing behaviour. Not all granted but the high street is well on it's way to be replaced by the click of a button. Not saying that's good or bad, just a reality.
Very good shout and it'd be an interesting read.I do agree, only the fittest will survive. Maybe a survey on here would tell us how many buyers look at a product locally, whether it be Jessops, London Camera Exchange or the local private shop etc before ordering on line.
If you look at Nikon body prices on camera price buster (current cheapest uk price) against Panamoz the price differences are interesting.I think it depends on what you are buying tbh. If I bought a D750 from panamoz (which I intend to do once they have them back in stock), they are currently at £1255 including shipping. If I decided to go via jessops or wex for example then it would cost me £1599. That is £350 cheaper.
I could buy a cheap sigma macro lens with the price difference.
I do notice there isn't much difference with 3rd party lenses mind, but bodies are a lot cheaper. Just compare the d610 and d810 price difference at panamoz - Wex/jessops.
If you look at Nikon body prices on camera price buster (current cheapest uk price) against Panamoz the price differences are interesting.
D810 £1766 uk £2139 difference 17.4% ( if you take uk price as £2299 then it's a 23% difference)
D750 £1255 uk £1595 difference 21%
D610 £965 uk £1099 difference 12%
D500 £1347 uk £1679 difference 20%
D7200 £684 uk £799 difference 14%
D5500 with 18-140 lens £703 uk £795 difference 12%
Why is there a price difference of 12% to 21% across these cameras? It's interesting the biggest price differences are the more expensive models with there being less discount on the lower end models.
What we can be sure of that price difference will slowly drop as they get more market share and uk high street stores start to disappear. I can see it staying at around 10-12% making it enticing if you are buying an expensive model as it will still be a large chunk but the cheaper range wouldnt be as enticing.
I guess if you are prepared to pay U.K. prices, you should seek out bricks and mortar shops, but most things, not just cameras, are sold online now sight unseen.At great risk of disturbing a hornets nest! I would like to know where purchasers of grey imports go to 'look' at the cameras before they buy. I was in my LPS the other day when a person came in looked at a camera and then told the shop owner they would be ordering from Panamax!!! Even some reputable dealers are now putting 'grey' stock on their shelves. So where will the 'lookers' and 'feel it' customers go when the LPS is closed.
I did in fact have a good deal on my latest camera from my LPS, I admit not as cheap as Panamax or HDEW but it is only a quick train ride to go back if it goes wrong.
At great risk of disturbing a hornets nest! I would like to know where purchasers of grey imports go to 'look' at the cameras before they buy. I was in my LPS the other day when a person came in looked at a camera and then told the shop owner they would be ordering from Panamax!!! Even some reputable dealers are now putting 'grey' stock on their shelves. So where will the 'lookers' and 'feel it' customers go when the LPS is closed.
I did in fact have a good deal on my latest camera from my LPS, I admit not as cheap as Panamax or HDEW but it is only a quick train ride to go back if it goes wrong.
I was very interested in a D500. Consequently, I hired one for Motogp @ Silverstone last year.
That way, I was able to actually get some experience with the camera, way above just holding one in a shop.
Im about to order one from Panamoz,mainly because I couldnt really justify the Uk price of £1700 odd.
If I couldnt buy grey, I would have to just play the long game and wait for prices to become affordable for me.
Would be interested to know what the customs declaration on the label stated? Gift?Quick review. My 5D Mark IV from Digitalrev arrived today via UPS in perfect condition (ordered 23. March). Ordered the camera + 3-year Mack international warranty (I know some don't like them but I had not issues, repaired the broken the SET button on my 1Ds Mark III without any questions) and they offered a 2nd battery for free. Everything was well packed, all the original stuff in the box, even that 600+ pages monster manual in english. No complains here.
If it's from interest, the label on the box shows that it was packed from Canon 27.12.2016.
Hi ChrisYou do make a good point, and to be honest at the moment the price differences are meaning it isn't worth the difference to buy grey, although it often seems that bodies are cheaper and lenses are much the same cost.
Personally I have in the past used Panamoz for bodies (D750 annd D810) but I haven't bought anything from them in a while, since the Brexit vote and the Pound dropping its not been worth it and frankly I got some great deals over Christmas from UK stockists.