Has anyone bought a lens directly from Japan?

[cymruchris]

Just wondered if anyone here has actually been to Japan - and whilst there bought a camera lens? Thinking of going there for a week to research something - and wondered how prices compared.

I know their VAT equivalent is 5% so technically they should be cheaper - but wondering by how much - considering they are not flying them around the world as such....

 

[puddleduck]

Yes, I have - I used to live and work in Tokyo

You might well find that with the exchange rate things are not any cheaper right now than over here - when I was out there £1 bought around 235 yen, but its much lower now.

The major stores are Yodabashi Camera and BIC Camera - if you take your passport you can get 5% tax ("consumption tax") taken off during the purchase.

Both stores also offer points cards and you can get 8 to 12% back in points which you can then spend on something else.

You can also have things delivered Cash on Delivery, you can shop online there but most online stores do not take credit cards, and you won't get tax taken off either.

 

[cymruchris]

Thanks puddleduck - I think the exchange rate is down around the 150 mark at the moment which isn't particularly great... I had a feeling that the prices weren't that much cheaper - but it was worth asking

 

[puddleduck]

Thanks puddleduck - I think the exchange rate is down around the 150 mark at the moment which isn't particularly great... I had a feeling that the prices weren't that much cheaper - but it was worth asking

This website lists the best prices:

http://kakaku.com/

If you want to order something from there, you need to know how to write your address in Japanese (you hotel or accomodation should have a name card)

It'll be cheaper than the large stores.

 

[StewartR]

I know their VAT equivalent is 5% so technically they should be cheaper

... but that's pretty irrelevant, since you have to pay VAT and import duty (22.9% combined) when you bring the lens into the UK.

 

[James Pardon]

I've only imported a few lenses through a retailer direct from Japan, on certain lenses the difference is not worth bothering, but on a few lenses I saved nearly 40%! I used DigitalRev who on a lot of their items if you got stung with import tax they'd reimburse you. The funny thing was they came in 2-3 days, where as some UK retailers take longer