Wide pricing differences on 6D

[mikehiow]

I'm looking at getting a 6D with 24-105 kit lens.

Camerapricebuster and many places I've actually heard of seem to sell the kit for around the £2k mark.

However there are a few places like Digitalrev, eBay etc. that sell it for between £1300 and £1500.

Put simply, at £1500 it is within reach, but £2k makes it unobtainable for a little while. Why do the prices vary so much, and can I trust places like Digitalrev?

 

[Uxon]

See this question a lot, basically if you want to know the standard UK price look at Wex/Jessops, if you want to know the grey import price check out panamoz/digital rev. A lot of the 'grey import' places have decent reputations and are a reasonable option if you'd normally be buying 2nd hand anyway. However with grey import you'll usually only get 1 year warranty with the reseller and if you decide to resell the genuine UK/EU versions tend to hold their value better (particularly if still in warranty). There are probably some other differences but a quick google search for 'grey import cameras' will tell you all you need to know.

 

[Goody13]

A lot of the 'grey import' places have decent reputations and are a reasonable option if you'd normally be buying 2nd hand anyway.

That would infer grey import models are second hand, but that is not the case.

 

[Uxon]

Sorry wasn't quite what I meant to say, was more saying that with 2nd hand you wouldn't get a warranty anyway (usually).

 

[Musicman]

For clarity, when you're buying from Panamoz, Digitalrev or a number of similar suppliers, you're buying from Hong Kong or elsewhere abroad, not the UK.

Nearly all of the price difference is accounted for by the fact that they are not including any VAT or applicable Duty in their price. You then become the importer of the camera into the UK and are liable to pay these taxes when it enters the country.

Often these companies will offer to reimburse you should your package be stopped at Customs. They are relying on the probability that it will not.

Warranty issues talked about above arise because Canon UK will not repair the camera under Warranty and the camera needs to go back to Hong Kong for Warranty repairs.