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B&H Photo: USA vs. Imported
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Ok, I’m sending my friend off with a shopping list to B&H Photo in the morning and well, i thought it was as easy as just getting the B&H# and description of the items and giving it to her. I’ve always been aware that it was possible to buy either the USA version and Imported version of a lens but I have only really looked into the reasons now. Is it just down to warranty at the end of the day? The difference isn’t the issue – if something happens the equipment, i’d like to be able to give it to any authorized Nikon dealer and let them handle it. Does this mean i go for USA? Or does it matter?
Any help appreciated :)
oo oo, what are you getting? :) I’d like to know the answer to this too. I need a new lens and it’s hellishly pricey.
Si
You couldn’t ask your friend could they stuff a D80 and an 18-135mm Kit in their bag could ya Ali…? :wink: :wink: :wink:
Ali,
There is a thing called a Mack warranty which B&H do. Apparently it is better than the Canon warranty and covers worldwide.
Quote from their site: ” The advantage of the Mack Camera Worldwide Extended Warranty is the opportunity for worldwide service. We will honor your Mack Camera Extended Warranty where ever you are in the world!!! From North America to Asia, you are protected from any out of pocket expenses you may incur due to manufacturer defects of your equipment.”
Do a search on B&H for Mack warranty to find out the cost for the gear that you are buying. My feeling is that it is worth it.
The Mack site is here: http://www.mackcam.com/index.html
I’m off to B&H myself next month :) Let us know how you get on and what you get!! :wink:
Thanks a mil all for the info, definitely look into the Mack Warranty. I also read the Nikon UK will service Imported Lenses but not bodies?
Anybody able to shed some light on this. I still really have nothing to go other than on B&Hs’ site, they say that USA gear can be sent to any nikon
local warranty service center. My mind boggles. I’ve ordered a flashgun and the 50 1.4 (nothing too flashy this time round .. boom boom :lol: ).Expresbro – I’ve friends going over all of the time so if you want anything, give me a shout..try and sort something out for you
Valentia – thanks for the info :) I’ll let you know how i get on.
Just looking at the prices on their site actually. Do those prices include US taxes do you know? Because if so is incredible. Can buy a Nikon D200 with an 18-135mm kit lens for less than I’d pay here for a D80 with the same lens..!!
Eeek!!
Oh just read that there is an 8.3% local sales tax..and that’s it…
then ya just have toi worry about Irish Duty and tax…
Hmmm… :roll:
Expresbro wrote:
then ya just have toi worry about Irish Duty and tax…
If you get caught at Dublin Airport you would need to be the unluckiest person in the world. Post the receipts, guarantees etc from the States and carry the new gear as f it is in use,
Valentia wrote:
Expresbro wrote:
then ya just have toi worry about Irish Duty and tax…
If you get caught at Dublin Airport you would need to be the unluckiest person in the world. Post the receipts, guarantees etc from the States and carry the new gear as f it is in use,
Having recently bought a lens from B&H, and having paid all taxes and duties, there are still substantial savings to be made compared to European prices. If you’re going to manage to skip duty and VAT, you could nearly buy two cameras, one for Sundays :lol:
Valentia wrote:
Expresbro wrote:
then ya just have toi worry about Irish Duty and tax…
If you get caught at Dublin Airport you would need to be the unluckiest person in the world. Post the receipts, guarantees etc from the States and carry the new gear as f it is in use,
Absolutely. Having gone through the Dublin airport roughly 15 times in the last year and a half, at least 25% of the time there isn’t even anybody sitting at the customs desk. I have never once seen somebody stopped by the folks at the customs desk, ever.
Expresbro wrote:
Hope they don’t hang around this site … :wink: :wink:
Just what I was thinking!
I bought gear from Adorama a couple of years ago, and just skipped the international warranty. Make sure your house insurance covers you for it, and if it blows up, claim for it!
Tim
I’ve just bought a truck load of stuff from there too. I’m off in 2 weeks to pick it up and bring it back. I saved paying NY sales tax by posting it to my cousins house…big saving on over 5K worth of kit.
I always buy the grey version if the option is there.I know this is an extreme case but a Canon 17-40 f4L is ?499 in B&H at today’s rates and ?939 at Conn’s cameras in Dublin. Holy maloney that is some difference.
Here’s hoping the Euro goes ballistic in the next month!
Ali,
As far as i know the USA version can be returned to a service centre and the imported version has to be sent directly back to BHphoto for repair. But this information is based on the assumption that you are living in the US. I know that if you buy a Canon lens “USA version” it comes with an International warranty so it can be repaired FOC at any Canon service centre worldwide within the warranty period. I can only assume that Nikon have the same policy. This does not however apply to camera bodies. If you buy a camera from B+H and something goes wrong with it during the warranty period its back to America it goes or get it repaired locally at cost to you. So bottom line is I would buy lenses from B+H (USA version) but I would be a little wary buying camera bodies.
Carl.
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