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Thread: buying from an overseas website

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    retirement
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    331

    buying from an overseas website

    Anyone care to comment about the 'bargains' available via web sites like:
    http://www.digitalrev.com/shop
    or
    http://www.onestop-digital.com/
    which are Hong Kong based , when I'm in the UK.

    Ken

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Ariege, France
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    Real Name
    Paul

    Re: buying from an overseas website

    I've bought a couple of things from digitalrev in the past with no problems at all. Watch out for customs though on a couple of occasions I've had a bill from the courier for import charges - still works out cheaper but be warned. I'd heard that some of the Hong Kong 'shops' now had outlets in the UK (?) which would avoid the need for these 'surprise' payments.
    In all fairness I believe that the possibility of being charged for importing items is mentioned on these suppliers pages.
    I think you can buy with confidence from these guys though.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    UK, South West
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    Real Name
    Ian

    Re: buying from an overseas website

    I agree - I bought a Markins (tripod) ballhead through a Korean supplier a few months ago. Saved ~ £100 on the Markins Europe price. I was slightly apprehensive, but needn't have been as there was really no hassle involved. I'd have no hesitation doing that again, though Paul is right about the import tax.
    Ian

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    South Devon, UK
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    14,401

    Re: buying from an overseas website

    One other potential problem with overseas purchases is whether any guarantee will be valid.

    I have purchased from a Gibraltar company http://www.bignorman.com/

    And when I had a problem with a camera, not the suppliers fault, I sent it to an official UK repairer where it was sorted under guarantee with no problems.

    Being an EU 'country' there shouldn't be any problems with import duty etc from Gibraltar.

  5. #5
    Moderator Manfred M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    Ottawa, Canada
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    21,925
    Real Name
    Manfred Mueller

    Re: buying from an overseas website

    Over and above duty, the big courier companies like UPS and Fedex often charge a brokerage fee. There have been instances when I bought from out of country where the fee exceeded the value of the goods. This was often related as to how the seller chose to ship the goods.

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