Buying a Camera in the US?

[Richard Bruvofetc]

I have my eye on a Panasonic Lumix FZ7 which I was hoping to buy in the UK before going to Orlando. However, as they have just been rerleased over here they are very difficult to get hold of.

So, just out of interest I thought I would check out camera shops in Orlando. They're about £100 cheaper AND in stock (I want the black one).

So my question. What are the pitfalls if I were to buy one in Orlando? :wave2:

[KayleeUK]

Moving this over to trip planning for you :)

[AlanUK]

The main pitfall would be that fact that you would have to pay VAT and Duty when you came back into the UK through customs :( You could decide not to declare the item and take a chance but then you would run the risk of being picked up every time you left the country and came back in again!

Also I would make sure that the charger is capable of being run on a 240v mains system as well as a 110v mains system, and that the warranty was valid outside of the US :)

Can't think of anything else :teeth:

[AndRu]

This might not be strictly legal or, to use a British term 'cricket' but how about:

Buy the same camera in this country using your credit card.
Take it back for a refund, not suitable etc (Argos are great with a 16 day money back thing)
Keep the reciept.
Buy the camera you want in the USA.
If it's not had "Refund" stamped on it, Show Mr Customs your UK receipt "Honest, I bought it in the UK!". Failing that, the credit card statement showing a purchase in the UK.

:bitelip:

[Shane]

I'm going to orlando in just over a month, I've decided to order my camera before hand so I can get use to it etc, If you have time then save money and buy it over there.

[daipp]

Buy the same camera in this country using your credit card.
Take it back for a refund, not suitable etc (Argos are great with a 16 day money back thing)
Keep the reciept.
Buy the camera you want in the USA.
If it's not had "Refund" stamped on it, Show Mr Customs your UK receipt "Honest, I bought it in the UK!". Failing that, the credit card statement showing a purchase in the UK.

:bitelip:

HM Customs know by a serial number where the camera was marketed for, so they would know immediately that the camera in your hand came from USA.

David

[AndRu]

Hmmm, they can tell serial numbers on electrical items yet they can't stop mass illegal immigration ;)

I'd take the chance with a camera!

[Fionasmommy]

I would absolutely do it. Every time I travel to the UK I'm amazed at how much more expensive things are - and conversely, when family comes here to visit, they bring an empty suitcase to take all their shopping home in! :teeth:

I wouldn't worry at all about Customs asking about it, and if they do you can say it was a gift from an American relative. There's no VAT or duty paid on gifts. Or, send the box and manual home before you leave, so that all they might see in your case is the camera. I highly, highly doubt they would even ask if it was new or where it was purchased. Most people take a camera on holiday, they must see thousands every day and would hardly have the time to cross reference every single serial number.

Now if you had a stack of US $100 bills tucked in your carry on, that's a different story! :thumbsup2

But even then chances are you won't be stopped in the first place. I've flown through Heathrow and Gatwick nearly twenty times, and I only had my baggage gone through once (at Heathrow), and that day they were going through everyone's stuff.

[tartangirl]

We've bought a couple of cameras in Florida with no problems.

The ones we've had work off batteries so we've had no issues with chargers. We also bought from Walmart so if there were any problems we could take them back to Asda.

[Tron[ADS]]

Ive bought plenty of consumer electronic goods in the US, and have no qualms about doing so. However camera prices in the UK are now pretty competative, particularly online, and I'd only consider buying one in the US if, like you say, supplies are limited over here.
Ive heard in the past about Customs having databases of US serial number ranges on products, and to be honest Im not sure I believe it. I think its more likely they just look for the working voltage or the EC approval stamp or the FCC stamp, and work out from that where the product has come from from those.....lets face it its pretty easy to work out where things were bought.

[AlanUK]

I wouldn't worry at all about Customs asking about it, and if they do you can say it was a gift from an American relative. There's no VAT or duty paid on gifts.

I don't think this is correct :( It doesn't matter how the items were sourced, the fact is that if you are bringing goods back into the UK from outside of the EU then they are liable for VAT and Duty once the value of the goods exceeds £145.

Also can I politely request that this thread does not turn into a discussion on how to bring back goods and avoid paying customs charges which is after all smuggling and illegal. Thanks for your co-operation :)

[SimonY]

One thing to note - many US warranties are not international. I was looking at exactly the same camera and was put off buying one on a recent business trip in the US because of this.

The strategy of buying in Walmart as things can be returned to Asda stores here seems sensible - I don't think they do the Panasonic.

Incidentally now looking at the Sony DSC-H2 or DSC-H5 as well that are just coming out - or the Canon S3. Decisions, decisions.

[SimonY]

I have my eye on a Panasonic Lumix FZ7 which I was hoping to buy in the UK before going to Orlando. However, as they have just been rerleased over here they are very difficult to get hold of.



They appear to be available at http://www.ukdigital.co.uk/panasonic_dmc_fz7.htm in black with a 2 year warranty for £289.00 + P & P.

[edenlee]

I would reiterate the warning about the warranties. Many US ones are not valid here. Also the camera is probably just as cheap on the internet and you would get chance to use it here first and get fmailiar

[Goofyish]

Panasonic is also available here:

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/188377/art/panasonic/lumix_dmc_fz7_silver.html?srcid=36

for £265 plus postage.

and here

http://www.bestcameras.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FZ7b_111.html ?ref=kelkoo

and here

http://www.ukdigitalcameras.co.uk/product_info.asp?prdID=3342

and here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EN5P26/qid=1145536681/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_3_2/203-2837131-0600739

[Graeme]

Incidentally now looking at the Sony DSC-H2 or DSC-H5 as well that are just coming out - or the Canon S3. Decisions, decisions.

Don't set me off! I've come on this board to stop me reading and re-reading any info on the S3. :surfweb: Mine's ordered and I'm hoping to get it before flying to Disney next Friday. It isn't officially released until 1st May though so I might miss out.

Seriously though, I was aware that I would be in the US around release date and had a choice of $450 or £360. I went for the more expensive UK price for two reasons

1. Taking it back to the shop down the road for technical advice or repairs/problems is a lot easier than getting back to WorldofCamerasRUs@CameraWorldAtMillenia or wherever in US and the staff are a lot less inclined to help you if you didn't buy from them in the first place.

2. I've bought and sold cameras as new innovations and upgrades have come out and my skill/interest has improved. Ebayers are a lot more forthcoming with bids and you get nearer the camera's true value, (and sometimes more), if it's been UK purchased.


Anyway, my wife tells me compulsive buying of cameras and walking kit is a disease. (8 days to Outdoor World !!!)

[Graeme]

So, just out of interest I thought I would check out camera shops in Orlando.


Where did you look online for camera shops?

[Andrew Bichard]

Customs do know from the serial number where you bought your camera, and you do have to pay VAT on gifts.

A fellow student when I was at college bought himself an expensive SLR when visting Hong Kong. Three years later when returning from a day trip to France, customs confiscated the camera. He had to pay customs duty, VAT and a fine to get it back.

My Father in Law lives in Florida. He had a stone carving that he had been using as a doorstop for 20 years or so. My wife asked if she could have it and he shipped it to England. To be safe, he declared a high value on the package for insurance purposes as it had sentimental value. When it arrived, we had to pay VAT on the full insurance value.

Andrew

[SimonY]

Came across this about buying cameras in Orlando. Now I know that anyone sensible enough to be involved here wouldn't get caught out but....

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=381

[Richard Bruvofetc]

Where did you look online for camera shops?
I just typed in Camera Shops Orlando in Google, and it came up with a number of them.

[disneycymru]

Customs do know from the serial number where you bought your camera, and you do have to pay VAT on gifts.

A fellow student when I was at college bought himself an expensive SLR when visting Hong Kong. Three years later when returning from a day trip to France, customs confiscated the camera. He had to pay customs duty, VAT and a fine to get it back.

My Father in Law lives in Florida. He had a stone carving that he had been using as a doorstop for 20 years or so. My wife asked if she could have it and he shipped it to England. To be safe, he declared a high value on the package for insurance purposes as it had sentimental value. When it arrived, we had to pay VAT on the full insurance value.

Andrew

I would suggest that your fellow student should have taken this matter a lot further you are allowed to import £145 worth of goods on every visit and this camera could have been legitimately bought on a previous visit. The Camera could have been purchased second hand, the retail value is dependant on what consumers are prepared to pay for a product. Furthermore this would suggest that every time you take a product bought abroad when travelling abroad you need to take the receipt! I would suggest this was an over exhuberent Customs Officer who didn't fully think through the potential implication of his actions. As stated earlier it is the Law even if the British Parliment are having it imposed on them from Brussels and you should not be surprised if you are asked to pay duty on items which are clearly brand new and expensive.

[Richard Bruvofetc]

So,going back to my original question; there are no real issues about buying the camera in the US. :thumbsup2 However, I need to ensure that if I buy one I add the "cost" of returning it to the UK. VAT is simple at 17% (but what happens if I paid US tax?). The other thing to look at is duty; does anybody know what rate this would be? :confused3

[patdavies]

I would suggest that your fellow student should have taken this matter a lot further you are allowed to import £145 worth of goods on every visit and this camera could have been legitimately bought on a previous visit. The Camera could have been purchased second hand, the retail value is dependant on what consumers are prepared to pay for a product. Furthermore this would suggest that every time you take a product bought abroad when travelling abroad you need to take the receipt! I would suggest this was an over exhuberent Customs Officer who didn't fully think through the potential implication of his actions. As stated earlier it is the Law even if the British Parliment are having it imposed on them from Brussels and you should not be surprised if you are asked to pay duty on items which are clearly brand new and expensive.


I bought a new digital camera in Florida on my last trip in May '05. I dutifuly declared it (along with another $700+ worth of goods). I only had to pay VAT on the camera. I was advised in no uncertain terms to carry the receipt on future journeys in order to prove that VAT had already been paid.

[AlanUK]

So,going back to my original question; there are no real issues about buying the camera in the US. :thumbsup2 However, I need to ensure that if I buy one I add the "cost" of returning it to the UK. VAT is simple at 17% (but what happens if I paid US tax?). The other thing to look at is duty; does anybody know what rate this would be? :confused3

Imprt duty is quite complicated as it depends on the item classification :rolleyes: you may find the following article interesting...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3571401.stm

It's a shame that it's an EU law and limit that is imposed upon us as the chancellor stated in his 2005 budget statement that he would like the limit raised to £1000 which would see most of us tourists through the green channel with a clear conscience. :)

[Arissa]

Does anyone know if the £145 goods restriction applies to each indivual in the family or per family? Also is there an age restriction?

Cheers

Arissa

[UKVermonter]

Back in 1996 I was in Ireland for 2 weeks visiting a friend and made a few purchases and when I flew back at the airport in Shannon I was able to get the VAT back on some of the items I had bought showing the sales slips but I did declare what I had purchased to customs and had to pay some duty but the VAT back did help. I guess what I was wondering is there a place at U.S. airport a place to get the tax back you pay in the states to help offset what you have to pay on the duty fees.



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[homerdog]

Hmmm, they can tell serial numbers on electrical items yet they can't stop mass illegal immigration ;)


Just seen this! Customs officers do not have any jurisdiction with regard to immigration, it's down to the UK Immigration Service.

[homerdog]

Furthermore this would suggest that every time you take a product bought abroad when travelling abroad you need to take the receipt!

You do, if you want to be able to prove that any item is not liable to duty and/or VAT. The onus is on the importer to prove to Customs that the item is not so liable. It is also true that Customs can trace the origin of an item from the serial number.

The other thing to look at is duty; does anybody know what rate this would be?

The duty rate for digital cameras is currently 0% (in other words, duty is chargeable, but at the moment the rate is set at zero).

Does anyone know if the £145 goods restriction applies to each individual in the family or per family? Also is there an age restriction?

It is a personal allowance, so applies to every traveller. The £145 is in addition to the value of any tobacco, alcohol and perfume purchased. Under 17s can't have tobacco or alcohol. You can't 'pool' your allowances together either, e.g. to cover the cost of an expensive item.

[Richard Bruvofetc]

Zoinks! This thread still going :teeth: .

I decided to buy in the UK afterall. I visited a few camera shops in Orlando and actually found that bar a couple (where the difference was only a couple of pounds) I could actually buy the Panasonic Lumix FZ7 cheaper over here. :thumbsup2