- This topic is empty.
Buying from B&H Photo in New York
-
Has anyone had any experience buying online from them? Just wondering if you got charged by customs and how much. And can anyone direct me to where i might find out how much tax i would expect to pay?
i have my eye on a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM AF Lens for Nikon, almost half price, even with the postage.
HI SD,
this is a very reliable source for photo equipment – it is very hit and miss if you get charged at all by Customs.
If stopped, it will be liable for vat at 21%, and then about 5% duty on top of that! (bear in mind that the shipping cost
is added before these calculations).Still probably a good deal, particularly as you have a good chance of not being charged at all!
Hope this helps
Ken
wait, is that tax calculated on the price i bought it at? so in usd converted to euro then plus the tax?
summerdreamn wrote:
wait, is that tax calculated on the price i bought it at? so in usd converted to euro then plus the tax?
that’s correct – the US purchase price converted, so you don’t lose the saving!
Ken
I bought a Nikon lens from them a few months back and it arrived with no problems within a week. Great service.
I’d say you more than likely will be charged VAT and Customs. On lenses it works out at 21% + around 6%. So the dollars price, plus postage, converted to Euros and then multiplied by 1.21 and the n multiplied by 1.06. As you know it still works out cheaper. The only problem would be if you need to get your lens fixed under warranty but I believe the lenses are generally quite reliable and you should be alright.
Good luck anyway.
You will always be charged VAT and Import duty at the rates already mentioned when purchasing from B&H NY.
Purchases from some Hong Kong sites offer no vat and sent via FedEx arrive free of charges usually. Anything sent by POST will attract charges usually, almost always in fact.
Hong Kong stores saying they PAY the Vat & Duty on your behalf ~ DON’T **** ~ so don’t bother with those guys, even though they will refund the charges to you on production of the appropriate Customs & Excise form, it’s a hassle and your goods are tied up in customs for some three weeks. An Post and Customs use letters ~ yes like back in the stone age and won’t accept credit cards either, so it’s more of a hassle.
UPS charge but will ring you and accept Credit Card over the phone payment.
FedEx charge via invoice after delivery, usually two months after delivery and they accepted credit cards over the phone.
An Post deliver to Customs & Excise. Roughly a week after your package arrives you get a letter. You have just a few hours to replay or the package is sent back. You can phone them to tell them you’ve received their letter they will wait for your letter and cheque or PO to arrive then. Package arrives second next day allowing for weekend obviously.It’s well worth paying for a courier ~ you may not escape the charges but your goods arrive pronto!! :D
I buy from BH also as the savings to be made are substantial, particularly with the
weak Dollar at the moment. Duty on camera lenses is exactly 6.7%, plus standard
VAT rate of 21%. It’s worth noting that it’s only lenses and accessories that you have
to pay duty on; camera bodies are exempt from this tax but VAT still applies…Rob.
i brought this in last week…..paid duty etc, but still found it a bargain and the quality is excellent……
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/376871-REG/Libec_LS22ZC3_LS_22_Aluminum_Tripod_System.html
Ger Bee wrote:
An Post deliver to Customs & Excise. Roughly a week after your package arrives you get a letter. You have just a few hours to replay or the package is sent back. You can phone them to tell them you’ve received their letter they will wait for your letter and cheque or PO to arrive then. Package arrives second next day allowing for weekend obviously.
I’m not sure about that. I bought a Feisol tripod from Taiwan at Christmas which came via An Post. It went through customs, and there was duty/VAT payable, but it was sent out and I gave the postman a cheque (plus the “collection fee” which is the bit that pisses me off), no letters or any of that stuff.
John
Keep in mind that Import Duty is charged first and then VAT, not the other way around. Not that it makes a blind bit of difference of course. What really annoys me about this whole setup is that you pay tax on a tax!
This thread has been ureally useful for me too. Looking to buy from there also. The saving do seem to worth it even with the taxes… and yeah, Tax on a tax! what a joke.
Rob wrote:
It’s worth noting that it’s only lenses and accessories that you have
to pay duty on; camera bodies are exempt from this tax but VAT still applies…Rob.
Hmmm, what happens if you buy a camera & kit lens, is it still duty free?
fig wrote:
Rob wrote:
It’s worth noting that it’s only lenses and accessories that you have
to pay duty on; camera bodies are exempt from this tax but VAT still applies…Rob.
Hmmm, what happens if you buy a camera & kit lens, is it still duty free?
No. Only camera bodies sold separately are exempt…
hi there to all
i purchased the nikon 70-200mm 2.8 vr from b&h photo, they send in a box marked b&h photo all over it, it was quick from ny in only two days, but when it arrived i was stung for 326€ tax and duty, could of bought cheaper from pixmania!!!!!!!!!!!
just be aware!!in saying that it is a super lens
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
