Author Topic: customs tax on Lens? (Read 4392 times)

stokfoto · « **on:** April 16, 2007, 15:01 »

I am planning to get some new lenses from 17thstreetphoto,which as far as I am concerned is a trusted seller with good reputation(according to the reviews I read)

first I like to know if there is any of you who has experience with this company (and anyone knows if they ship items to EU,I could't fin out from their website)

and may be members from UK could answer my question how much tax I would need to pay for a USD500 lens?

Thank you very much in advance

Vally · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2007, 16:35 »

Can't help on the seller but tax wise you will pay an import charge of probably around £20 duty and unless you are very lucky VAT which at the current exchange rates would be about another £43..00 ish

Still probably well worth buying from the US though if the shipping isn't too bad and you are happy seller is trustworthy.

yingyang0 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2007, 17:41 »

Stokfoto I'd be very careful with 17th Street Photo! This is the actual location of that 'company'. http://donwiss.com/pictures/ManhattanStores/h0028.htm
I've heard very bad things about that outfit. I would suggest buying from only B&H photo or Adorama if you're going to order from a US online company. Remember that the lowest prices online for photography gear are almost always scams.

sim · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2007, 18:07 »

Yingyang is right, there are several scam retailers that opperate out of New York. Scams include quoting low prices to get you interested and then the hard upselling and games begin. Make sure you spend some time checking credible reviews.

Personally I would only stick strictly to B&H or Amazon (US version). B&H prices are fair and they have an excellent reputation. If you are ever in New York it is worth stopping by their store!

Being a European living in the US its great to get equipment at much better prices.

stokfoto · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2007, 05:42 »

thank you Vally,Yinyang0,Sim for your inputs and warning me!
I apprecaite it!

this is such a great and helpful community,I love being part of it!

Cheers!

cornishman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2007, 07:07 »

If you're buying a couple of lens's at that price then perhaps a trip would be better. There are some good cheap flights to NY around, and once you're there, and have bought the kit, ditch the boxes and say they're used. You shouldn't have to pay tax on them when bringing them back into the country.

sim · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2007, 07:21 »

Cornishman has a good point there! Make a holiday and buy some lenses. If you are buying Canon lenses make sure you cut off the bar code part of the box before you discard it. You would need these for rebates. I just got a check for $160 from Canon for two lenses I recently bought, one through Amazon and one through B&H.

sharply_done · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2007, 10:10 »

I've been to NYC a few times to buy lenses (twice to B&H). I found it funny that a few of the smaller stores I visited didn't put price stickers on their merchandise - they just charged whatever B&H charged!

When I asked about it, each place said that everybody in town knew that B&H had the best prices, and that the only way to compete was to offer more personalized service - something B&H cannot do. If you go to the B&H store you'll see what I mean: it's extremely busy and highly streamlined.

CJPhoto · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2007, 04:20 »

If you buy at B&H in NY, they add NY sales tax which is an extra 8%??

If you get them sent to the UK,and they are discovered by customes, an extra 17.5% will be added for VAT I think.

yingyang0 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2007, 15:36 »

Quote from: CJPhoto on April 18, 2007, 04:20

If you buy at B&H in NY, they add NY sales tax which is an extra 8%??

If you get them sent to the UK,and they are discovered by customes, an extra 17.5% will be added for VAT I think.

I don't think you would be charged both because I don't think you would have them send them if you actually went to the store. You'd want to get them out of the boxes and use them while you're on vacation. VAT is a crazy thing so I don't know if you have to pay VAT when you come back across after declaring it on the customs form. If you do, I think I would renounce my citzenship to whatever european country you live in. wink.

stokfoto · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2007, 08:27 »

Thank you guys! now I think it is best to do shopping directly from USA in person in order to avoid shipping cost and taxes or I can ask someone is visiting there who get them for me .
cheers

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Author Topic: customs tax on Lens? (Read 4392 times)

stokfoto

Vally

yingyang0

sim

stokfoto

cornishman

sim

sharply_done

CJPhoto

yingyang0

stokfoto

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