Buying gear in the USA

[alexramsay]

I've just been asked to do a shoot in LA in the near future (I live in the UK). Thought I might take the opportunity to stock up on some bits and pieces while there - does any UK photographer have any advice on issues such as firmware compatibility, voltage, etc. and not least on matters regarding VAT and import duty?

[GregW]

It depends on the specific items/commodities you have in mind.  I can't comment on voltage etc without knowing the specific item your are interested in.  Most kit these days is globally sourced with multi-voltage power supplies being pretty ubiquitous e.g. laptops, DSLR's etc.  The only exception I can think of might be lighting equipment.  A quick visit to the manufacturers website should confirm that one way or another.

If your total goods are over 145 quid you are liable for import duty on the full amount not the difference between GBP 145 and the purchase price.  It's also a personal allowance, which means it's not possible to combine the allowance(s) of your traveling partner(s).

You will need to check the customs and excise website for specific tariff codes but the following rates generally apply:

Digital camera's 0%, Film camera's 4.9%, Lenses 6.7% and computers 0%.

You are also liable for VAT, all of the above are charged at 17.5% of the full purchase price.

The other thing you might want to think about is warranty and repair.  Not all companies offer an international warranty and those that do sometimes have quite restrictive terms.

[Jonathan Wienke]

Canon DSLR battery chargers are 110-240V compatible, so all you'd need is a different cord or plug adapter. Firmware is global, Canon puts all supported languages in a single global firmware release. Lenses are powered by the camera, so power is a non-issue, but warranty service might be an issue; read the fine print. You'll probably take a tax hit on stuff you bring in as mentioned earlier.

[feppe]

I bought a Canon 30D, two lenses and lots of accessories from the US on my last trip in August. Even after getting slapped by ridiculously high import taxes and VAT (gotta love paying for the privilege of living in socialist Europe) it's much cheaper than buying anywhere in Europe, especially with the weak dollar.

The Canon, as said, came with a 100-240V charger so I only need to use a plug adapter (I'm planning to get an iGo adapter as I have some other stuff with US plugs).

The only thing I was really concerned about was the warranty. Canon and major lens makers do have international warranties but they are generally short (1 year). For this reason I bought Mack warranties. These cover the dSLR for 3 years and lenses for 7 (!) years, worldwide. All you have to do is keep the receipt, register your stuff on www.mackcam.com within 30 days of purchase (you don't have to send or upload them anything at this time) and you have full coverage. At least B&H sells Mack warranties, probably other large camera vendors do, as well.

The only other issue that might come up with some cameras is the UI language. Some cameras bought in the Old World come with a good selection of European languages in their UI and instruction booklet. But as you're from the UK I doubt you want anything but English.

[DavidRees]

I've bought quite a bit of my photography gear in the US. Apart from medium format gear (esp. Mamiya!) it often works out cheaper. Lenses, camera bodies, etc., are global and will work anywhere; as Jonathon says above, chargers are normally switchable between US and Eupoean voltages (though a plug adapter may be necessary).

If you buy in person in the USA, then in most states you will have to pay sales tax (which is additional to the displayed price for the goods). It is my understanding that you cannot reclaim this tax when you leave the USA. If you have the goods shipped to you from another state, however, I believe you won't have to pay the sales tax.

When bringing items back into the UK, VAT at 17.5% will be payable. Duties may also be charged, depending on the category of goods (last time I imported some lenses, for example, there was duty of 6.7%). Any duties are added to the price of the goods you bought, and then the VAT is calculated. It can mount up! However, it can still work out cheaper than in the UK.

One point to watch out for is warranty. I've always taken the view that reputable manufacturers are unlikely to have defects out of the box, and so far the gamble has paid off, so I've never needed to test the warranty situation.

Not all goods are worth importing yourself, but some can offer substantial savings. Gitzo tripods, for example, can be had a lot cheaper in the US than here in 'blighty.

No reason why one has to travel to the US to import goods. I've bought stuff from B&H in New York, and had it delivered here in the UK within a week. Made quite a saving on Canon L lenses, despite the duties and VAT levied. Note that if you import, VAT is charged on the package value, and the delivery cost is included in this -- pretty mean of HMRC!