Gery Inports

tonkie

tonkie

Messages
190
Edit My Images
Yes
Dont know if I'm asking this in the right place, if so can a mod please move.

My question is,what are the draw backs with grey inports from HK apart from the warranty and the shipping back to HK for repair,the VAT is not a problem for me as I live were theres no VAT, so will not be charged it from our customs.The item I'm after is a lens,so less chance than a camera at going pear shaped.

I have never had to send any of my lens for repair so I wont worry about that if I buy from HK.

So are there any other things I should worry about,the lens in question is a Canon 24-105 f/4 L

Thanks in advance
 
When I saw the title thought it was going to be about buying cameras from Germany :)
 
GREY IMPORTS

:)

wouldn't bother, get a price off Kerso on here - great price & service

p.s. it looks like you've got a jonny as you avatar :D
 
buckas said:
GREY IMPORTS

:)

wouldn't bother, get a price off Kerso on here - great price & service

p.s. it looks like you've got a jonny as you avatar :D
Click to expand...

But why wouldn't you bother,dont think he can match £650 delivered and yes it is a jonny:D
 
Earlier this year I bought my 70-200 f4L lens from Simply Electronics. It came from HK. I was given the tracking number and was able to see it's updated movement throughout. I have had no problems at all with the lens and was so glad to get it at the cheapest possible price at the time:thumbs:
 
Alan Sandham said:
Earlier this year I bought my 70-200 f4L lens from Simply Electronics. It came from HK. I was given the tracking number and was able to see it's updated movement throughout. I have had no problems at all with the lens and was so glad to get it at the cheapest possible price at the time:thumbs:
Click to expand...

I have bought from them before without any problems,but I have heard so many horror stories it has put me off,I'm not bothered about getting it from HK but was wondering if there are any pit falls with the lens,are they exactly the same as if I had bought in the UK
 
HI Sorry, switched off last night. Cant see any pitfalls here. The lens came in exactly the same Canon packaging, has code UY03 on the lens and has worked perfectly. I am about to get my Christmas bonus and have just ordered the 17-40 f4L from them, for £509.

The only poor things I have seen about Simply Electronics is slow deliveries from time to time, but I have bought a few items from them, always with deivery in the 2-7 day timeframe as promised. Good luck! :)
 
Thanks Alan

I will wait till Monday to see if there are any price reductions in the UK and if not will order from One Stop Digital
 
tonkie said:
Thanks Alan

I will wait till Monday to see if there are any price reductions in the UK and if not will order from One Stop Digital
Click to expand...

Just had a look there and their prices look good. Seem to have a good reputation too. Good luck with your order:thumbs:
 
Without wishing to appear to be too pedantic, what you are considering is a personal import, not a "grey" one.
The source of the item in HK may/may not be a fully authorised Canon dealer (bit difficult to tell even if you are in HK, as the manufacturers don't have the same strangle-hold on retailers as they do over here) but as you rightly state you may have problems with warranty support with someone 8000 miles away.

Personally, I wish we had more "proper" grey importers actually located in the UK, they would put a lot of pressure on equipment manufacturers/suppliers to lower their prices.
I would be wary of a dealer in HK unless I could see lots of good reports; if you pay by credit card I would suggest that any "grey" importer into the UK is worth a try - providing of course that there is a decent price differential.
I bought my watch from a grey importer in the UK, I saved £250 on an £800 watch, the dealer was giving his own 2 yr warranty in lieu of the "official" warranty - as I paid by credit card, my card company also was liable for the implementation of that warranty. The watch is genuine, just had a new (first) battery fitted after 6 years. I would have said the risk on that purchase was negligible.
 
Update on my Gery Import:D

Just ordered a Canon 24-105 f/4 L with optional 3 year warranty for £667 from One Stop Digital and by what they say I hope to get the lens later on in the week:thumbs:

I will update you if your interested:D

Thanks for all the input that I have had
 
Moonrakerz said:
Without wishing to appear to be too pedantic, what you are considering is a personal import, not a "grey" one.
Click to expand...

If you want to be really pedantic, the lens he is buying is a parallel import and will be exactly the same as one bought from any high street store in the UK and will include a full Canon warranty enforceable and valid anywhere in the world.



:D
 
interesting thread as i want to get the 35mm 1.4L and one stop are about £100 cheaper than in the uk.

have been hesitating to get it from them (although have bought a couple of sigma lenses from them a few years ago and no complaints) due to wondering if the lens became faulty, would it be covered by canon to be repaired in the uk (even though it came from hk)?
 
I've ordered a couple of lenses from One Stop Digital, great customer service and I've had no problems with them at all my Tokina 11-14 and Sigma 50 1.4)
 
I am looking for a Tamron 10 - 24mm and One Stop have it at £313.99 against Jessops £399.00. Still can't decide on Hong Kong or not. Will be there in April but want it befoe then.
 
Update

just received my 24-104 L from One Stop,so from ordering late on Monday afternoon to receiving it today,I would say thats pretty impressive,thats from Hong Kong to Guernsey in less than 5 days.

So in short, I can recommend One Stop Digital for service and price:thumbs:
 
You've convinced me One Stop Digital it is!
 
all is fine... until something goes wrong (delivery/defect/warranty etc). it's risk return - I tend to risk on lenses (where less things go wrong) but not on bodies.
 
Don't forget import duty. You actually have a legal obligation to pay it (although most people don't). Even so, there's every possiblity that customs will charge you, and if they do you'll will lose any savings made on the UK price in most cases.
 
RichieRich said:
Don't forget import duty. You actually have a legal obligation to pay it (although most people don't). Even so, there's every possiblity that customs will charge you, and if they do you'll will lose any savings made on the UK price in most cases.
Click to expand...

No duty for me,Channel Islands VAT free:thumbs:

Lens wrapped up under the Christmas Tree and me waiting for the big day:D
 
admirable said:
If you want to be really pedantic, the lens he is buying is a parallel import and will be exactly the same as one bought from any high street store in the UK and will include a full Canon warranty enforceable and valid anywhere in the world.
:D
Click to expand...

I covered that in my pedantry ............ :lol::lol:

Moonrakerz said:
The source of the item in HK may/may not be a fully authorised Canon dealer (bit difficult to tell even if you are in HK, as the manufacturers don't have the same strangle-hold on retailers as they do over here)
Click to expand...
 
No you never, I suspect you are confusing personal imports, parallel imports and grey imports.
 
Changed my mind, taken the safe road, gone for Amazon in UK, only a few quid more than Hong Kong, and I have more trust in them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top