Seller recommendation DA 55-300 needed

HI, Hope this is in the right section, my apologies if it isn't. 
 
I've been looking around for a 300mm lens since I got my K-R as the 200mm kit lens doesn't really have the reach I need.  I found the Tamron on sale at Jessops for £120, but thanks to a few members I've been sort of swayed away from it and going towards a DA 55-300mm Pentax lens.  The prices for the DA variant are a bit high, but then I found out about the DAL version.  My Kit lenses are all DAL anyways so that's not an issue.  Apart from all of that I have scoured the internet looking for the best deals and found a few sellers in Taiwan selling the DAL version of the lens for about £150. 
 
Does anyone have any experience buying from Ebay overseas?  Been Looking at 2 companies in particular (Shueido in Taiwan, and Promaster 2000 in Canada Eh).
 
As I understand it VAT/Customs may be incurred, but I am more worried about the lens quality/warranty on these types of things.  Or even worse yet would be it not even arriving.  I've looked at the feedback which seems promising, but I know some sellers have ways to boost their rating. 
 
Any help would be great.
 
Thanks,

I've seen favourable comments relating to Promaster, byt haven't used either myself.

Google is your friend

On the other hand, there are a couple of people selling the Tamron on here for c£75. Save money towards more glass?

Looking at the Tamron if you register it they give you a 5 year warranty. Well worth the extra to buy new for me. I'd rather have the Pentax though, but just starting out really can't justify over £200 for a lens. Some of these EBay deals seem to good to be true. The ones from the sellers above are reasonable without looking too cheap to believe.

bide your time carry on saving ,either one will turn up or you will be able to afford the DA version it,s a win ,win situation. been there done that, bought a compromise only for what i really wanted to turn up a few weeks later then you kick yourself.

I've got an "L" version which I don't use - I've sent you a PM should you be interested.

As far as buying from ebay goes, I've bought (smallish) items from Promaster with no problems. Never bought a lens from them, but their customer service is good.

I have a DA version, with hood, case, box etc, looking at £180 delivered.

If you want to see pics of the lens, photos taken with it then let me know.

I also have a brand new copy of the DA lens which I bought from amazon recently but would want £210 delivered

Regards

George

Have got new da version toying with idea of selling would be asking 185 incl postage
pete

No wonder they all bit my arm off at £190

Sounds really good if you do end up selling it. I see Seaside also has the L version as well.

Please let me know if you do end up selling it.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Should be able to let you know tomorrow
Pete

If you do buy from abroad, you will incur VAT/Custom duties only if you are unlucky enough to have your particular parcel spot checked, apparently thats quite rare, and ebayers tend to send it as 'gifts' so they don't incur charges, but I'd rather not risk it.. especially if something goes wrong and you need to return it.
As you can see, it's quite a common lens and PU members tend to sell quite a lot of them; I bought one literally 2 days ago and it arrived yesterday, very pleased with it. So it's probably best to get one off PU tbh..

I have had parcels spot checked, luckily it was of low value so I did not incur charges but they made a right mess of the packaging and did not repack it very well. That was with some car parts I would imagine a lens may come off worse.

I may not have a need to import after today. But if a lens could look beautiful the 55-300mm definitely is. I've possibly got two options so I'll see what happens today. three if you count the Tamron I have on reserve at Jessops. I doubt I'll buy that one now though.

Really appreciate all of the help and feedback as well. Thanks

Right lens brand new just taken out of box to try on camera nice and sharp, colours seem more natural than sigma 120-400 that i tried it against, dont know why that would be. If you want it £185 delivered dont think you would find better deal
Pete

Maybe i should of put that in items for sale mods move if i have done it wrong
pete