Grey import question

realspeed

realspeed

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If i went to the USA and purchased say a lens while there, bought it back to the UK paying import duty, would it still be classified as a grey import ?. The serial number would show where it was purchased from obviously but not as a personal legal import.
Or in other words when is a grey import not a grey import?
 
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it'd still be grey because it wasnt bought in the uk - but it'd be legally imported which would put it substantially in front of most grey imports in the honesty stakes
 
Thanks Pete suppose it it was needed repair proof of import duty may be required? just out of interest .Hasten to add none of mine want repair
 
I suspect that if it needed repair under warranty it might (depending on what 'it' is as different manufacturers have different policies) have to go back to the states - that said both nikon and canon have international warranty on lenses I think
 
If you imported such a lens and if wasn't covered by an international warranty you'd still be able to pay for repairs and service over here should you feel it economic to do so
 
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I don't know about Canon/Nikon, but I've heard that Sigma will repair US lenses that have proof of VAT being paid. You should get a receipt for the VAT when you declare it at customs.

But first check you are getting a bargain...

Canon 70-200 f4 IS is $1200 from B&H. That's about £800. Add in 20% VAT and 8.3% (IIRC*) duty that adds up to £1040. You can get it from WEx for £825!

*Edit: Whoops. It seems I didn't recall correctly. Thanks to Stuart for reminding me that it's 6.7% duty. That drops the price down to, a still unimpressive, £1024. Still £200 more than you'd pay in the UK.

Edit #2. I forgot that you'd also have to pay any local US taxes when you bought the lens. If you bought from B+H that would be 8.875% (combination of local and state taxes). I'd guess that you'd be able to reclaim those - but I've no idea how easy they make it.
 
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big soft moose said:
it'd still be grey because it wasnt bought in the uk - but it'd be legally imported which would put it substantially in front of most grey imports in the honesty stakes
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As Pete says, but lenses have international warranties anyway. (albeit probably only 12 months)
 
You need to pay import duty (6.7% on lenses) and VAT (20%) in order for the import to be legal. And by the time you've done that, as @hollis_f says, you'll probably have paid more than you would in the UK.
 
big soft moose said:
it'd still be grey because it wasnt bought in the uk - but it'd be legally imported which would put it substantially in front of most grey imports in the honesty stakes
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No, it's not grey because it wasn't imported for sale. It's a personal import which is a different animal altogether.
 
realspeed said:
suppose it it was needed repair proof of import duty may be required?
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If it needed repair nobody would care where you got it from .. they would just repair and take your money..

If it needed repair under warranty then for canon you would need a UK reciept.. doesnt matter if grey or not.. proof that bought from UK dealer gets the warranty ....thats a fact for canon bodies but lens warranty will work anywhere (I asked canon)
 
Snapsh0t said:
No, it's not grey because it wasn't imported for sale. It's a personal import which is a different animal altogether.
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not for warranty repair reasons it isnt...and thats kinda why he is asking :)
 
I don't know where this warranty issue came in, certainly not in my original question.
 
realspeed said:
I don't know where this warranty issue came in, certainly not in my original question.
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If its out of warranty there's no problem you can get it repaired at your expenses just as you would a Uk lens - without showing any proof of purchase or payment of duties

if its in warranty it depends which make it is as they vary from not giving a toss to refusing to touch grey imports at all
 
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