Anyone bought from these Guys (Ebay)??

Hi,

Was wondering if anyone had any experience buying from prodigital2000 on Ebay. They are Canadian and have really good feedback.
They have the Pentax 12-24mm Lens I want for about £330 Delivered!! Cheapest I can find in the UK is £499. That more or less makes my mind up for me between getting the Pentax or the Sigma 10-20.
But I'd like to hear from people who have dealt with them (especially in terms of Customs Charges, etc.)

Thanks,
Mark Morb

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K5 Ltd Silver, FA 31mm f1.8, FA 77mm f1.8, DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax (M) 50mm f1.7, Chinon (M) 50mm f1.7, Vivitar (M) 28mm f2.8
Egress UK - Record Company/Arts/Multimedia

Mark,
Customs fees and VAT have been discussed many times here
There's not much in it by the time you get knobbled with that!

e.g. https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6682&highlight=vat+customs

Some have said it's about 21% in total, plus the courier charge


I bought mine from Germany, and that worked out just fine.
However, SRS Microsystems have the 12-24 in stock for £485. And if you phone up and speak to Chris, he's very helpful to Pentax User forum members

Hope that helps!
Matt

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http://www.mattmatic.co.uk
(For gallery, tips and links)

Thanks for the reply and for the tips Matt, appreciate it

Still....even with 22% added on it only comes to about £400....the difference saved could get me a couple of nice Hoya Filters...Hmmm..Decisions, Decisions....

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K5 Ltd Silver, FA 31mm f1.8, FA 77mm f1.8, DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax (M) 50mm f1.7, Chinon (M) 50mm f1.7, Vivitar (M) 28mm f2.8
Egress UK - Record Company/Arts/Multimedia

There's quite a few good lenses from Canadian distributors on ebay and I've thought about it a few times - had a look through the GB customs site and calculated that with every single charge they and everybody else would levy it'd be around 30% extra and just wasn't worth it.

I know Chris does free postage to forum members and you might be able to get an even better price off him. (Though his prices are pretty keen to start off with)

I'm hoping to get to the States later on this year and was thinking of getting some gear over there but I'm also not sure if the warranty is good if bought abroad.

Pentax US will generally convert any US warranty into a worldwide one for you. They did when I bought an analogue SLR in Alberquerque a few years ago. Ask at the shop where you but your gear, or e-mail them.
I believe that lenses have a worldwide warranty anyway. I am off in May to New Mexico again, and am debating whether to make a visit to the same shop in ABQ while I'm there. I may smuggle any lenses back into the country as we are only allowed a pitiful €175 worth of goods duty free but I'll proabably be honest and pay the duty on them - worth it just to see the look of shock on the customs mans face

Cheers Gwyn, I didn't know that. As you suggest I'll prompt the shop before I go.

The allowance is pitiful, enough to make a guy dishonest, not that I ever would stray from the good and proper way of course.

Mark,

To answer your original question, yes they are very respectable, honest as the day is long and reasonable.

Heck, they're CANADIAN!

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Mac from Montreal

SP, SPII, SPF, PZ-10, P30, SFX, K110D, istDS, Optio 60, Z-10, H90, RZ10, I-10, f3.5 28mm, f1.8 55mm, f1.4 50mm, f3.5 135mm, f2.5 135mm, f4 50mm Macro, f4.5 80-200 F, f4 35-70, f3.5 28-80, f3.5 35-135, f3.5 18-55, f1.8 31mm Ltd., two Auto 110's, Auto 110 lenses and filters, tubes, bellows, Manfrottos and a sore back.

Thanks for all the replies and advice....I think I'm going to risk it (whether I can afford it or not is a different matter completely )

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K5 Ltd Silver, FA 31mm f1.8, FA 77mm f1.8, DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax (M) 50mm f1.7, Chinon (M) 50mm f1.7, Vivitar (M) 28mm f2.8
Egress UK - Record Company/Arts/Multimedia

I have never had experience with them but their prices are always tempting me. My personal opinion is that their record is what is holding me back from buying from them. I'd have another look at your conclusion if I was you. (of course if I was you...who'd be me?)

They have had 18 negatives just in the past month alone and over 400 negatives in total. Granted their percentage of positives is high but you should scroll down at least the past month (at 200 per page it goes quickly) and read all the negatives before you decide. Also read all the neutrals too where people are unhappy but just too afraid to leave negative feedback.

BTW, I'm Canadian just like Mac but beware...the Internet is just as much the wild west out here as it is anywhere else.

regards

Drew

And don't forget to include the ratings that were withdrawn which in a lot of cases are just blackmail, (withdraw the neg or you don't get your goods or your money back).

Here use this program it will allow you to only view thier negs and neutrals

http://www.toolhaus.org./

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Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|

That's a good link thanks....I'll dig a bit deeper.

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K5 Ltd Silver, FA 31mm f1.8, FA 77mm f1.8, DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax (M) 50mm f1.7, Chinon (M) 50mm f1.7, Vivitar (M) 28mm f2.8
Egress UK - Record Company/Arts/Multimedia

If you are intent on buying from NA ,it might be worth considering Henry's, they have a good reputation and are not that much more expensive

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SMC-PENTAX-DA-12-24-f4-ED-AL-IF-DSLR-LENS-K10D-K110D_W0QQi...

Steve

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have a look

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K5 Ltd Silver, FA 31mm f1.8, FA 77mm f1.8, DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax (M) 50mm f1.7, Chinon (M) 50mm f1.7, Vivitar (M) 28mm f2.8
Egress UK - Record Company/Arts/Multimedia

I've the Sigma 10-20 and I know you've sort of decided upon the Pentax 12-24 but looking through all my shots with this wideagle, most we're snapped at 10mm so I'd really think about that Pentax losing 2 to the Sigma. Granted its probably built better and has better colours but 2 lost at the wide end is much more noticable than the far. I'd want even wider but that'd probably be entering fish-eye territory which the Sigma isn't and I wouldn't want.

I just think the Sigma is one great piece of glass.

Off topic - another Mighty Boosh fan

Hi Robby,

the only thing holding me back from getting the Sigma was that it seems to be a bit hit and miss quality wise. There's some debate over how sharp it is as well. Although they do seem to be VERY popular lenses so they can't be all that bad (and people do tend to enjoy moaning about things on forums).

That's my trouble, I spend to much time researching things.......I will make a decision in the next few days (probably )

...as far as "The Boosh" are concerned, just love it. Trying to decide which venue to go see them later in the year. Saw them on the last tour and it was superb....at the moment Wembley Arena is favourite

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K5 Ltd Silver, FA 31mm f1.8, FA 77mm f1.8, DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm, Pentax (M) 50mm f1.7, Chinon (M) 50mm f1.7, Vivitar (M) 28mm f2.8
Egress UK - Record Company/Arts/Multimedia