US prices to your door

B&H Photo Video, the US camera retailer has just launched a new service to the European customers. They offer delivery to your door service for a price including not just the delivery cost but also the VAT and different duties. If you don’t need it, alternatively you can see the VAT and duty calculation of a certain lens/camera from US to your country. Though, checking these “full” prices, they are usually higher than the local prices e.g. in Hungary, but it's really interesting.
Quote from the marketing release:
“B&H Photo Video has a Christmas present for you! Guaranteed delivered-to-you prices including shipping, VAT and duties!
You can now enjoy the great selection, service and pricing that we in the United States have without the unknown VAT and duties costs.
Add the items you want to your B&H cart, select your country and preferred shipping method in the shopping cart and you should see the duties and VAT displayed along with the shipping cost. Complete the order and your gear arrives to your door with no hidden costs.
B&H has invested a huge amount of resources in this project and has big plans for the future - including significant expansion of the country list and real time currency conversion.
You are not required to use B&H's guaranteed VAT and duties prices - simply click on the "See Duties & VAT" link beside the rate and select the opt-out check box if you are exempt or would rather pay the duties/VAT yourself.”

Some of their prices look interesting -

DA* 50-135, $819.

DA 16-45, $599

I tried having a look at the K-x - since I know what I paid for mine in the USA

OK - so input my country - first surprise - it doesn't give UK so I found Scotland was listed .

It then asked about shipping - so I opted for 5 days [ cheapest just over $60 I believe ] so it gave me a total price of $612.55 [ £382.44]- oh - hang on - said that VAT and duties were unobtainable

VAT goes up to 17.5% on Jan 1 - so if you add that in you are paying about £449.36

England is listed, not UK.

K-x with 18-55 came up at $743.81 = £468

SRS is £495 with 2 year UK warranty and next day delivery (free to forum members), plus you get a full set of Eneloops and a charger. I know what I'd do!

so is Wales

Would be interesting to check the price for the same article in all the countries of the UK.

I'll admit I paid a good deal less for mine and had rather more in the way of 'extras' as well - Lowepro bag , 8 GB card , and extra set of batteries and a battery charger , and a lens cleaning kit !

Their legal team are probably good enough to tell them about the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly but not good enough to be aware that those institutions have sod all to do with the VAT/import tax rates

Presumably they have a way of paying the VAT up front? I'm always put off ordering from outside the EU as you never know how much you'll be stung for. Sub £18 is ok as obviously that doesn't attract VAT.

Agreed to both comments

I'd hate to be presented with the bill for VAT etc here AND also get a bill for the delivery company having to extract the money from me .

[edit] OH - just looked at what B&H say for England - they are quoting [ remember it's for K-x ] $743.81 including taxes etc

That's approximately £464.89 hhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmm[/edit]

what were SRS asking ?

for that wee difference I'd go to SRS too

A work colleague recently ordered a Bigma for his non Pentax camera from a shop in the US.

Shipping and 1.7 converter included it cost just over £600.

Then the customs men wanted VAT off him...

... he still paid a LOT less than the UK retail.

Why order from abroad and save only £30ish when you can save much more?

If you need a good warranty then buy in the UK, otherwise...

I live in New York, and wanted to comment for any Pentaxians not familiar with B & H that they are generally very well-regarded here. I have dealt with them many times and have always been satisfied with their service; in fact, I consider them my preferred vendor. (Of course, they are "local" for me and I usually pck up merchandise rather than having it shipped.) They generally have good, if not the absolutely lowest, prices, and a reasonable return policy.

Of course if I were in another country, I suppose I'd give preference to a local vendor there, but I can recommend B & H as a good, reliable source. Their website makes it easy to see if an item is actually in stock, which I know from experience is not the case with all vendors, and their sales help, both in-store and on the phone, are generally knowledgeable, and I have never experienced a "hard sell" or "bait and switch" with them.

Here in the States, B & H are stock as much or more of the Pentax line as any vendor I'm aware of.

I should note that my only connection with B & H is as a retail customer.

I think this is a great help to all UK camera/lens purchasers as it will sharpen up the attention of the UK sellers who are too comfortable with rip-off thinking. That kx is a 500 quid camera here is outrageous, bearing in mind it's poor reputation and vanilla spec, especially when the rest of the world considers it an 'entry level' item

The main advantage os B&H, Adorama and Tri State are the price advantages if you are in New York or better still in another state as you save 8.25% state tax! i.e. if in Houston, order from B&H, pay Fedex next day delivery as it's a lot cheaper than the state tax.

Other countries (most Gulf states) won't bother with import duty if the item is for personal use so you only pay shipping and that is still only $50-$75.

UK prices appear to be "Market" prices, a figure that reflects what we are daft enough to pay.

I have missed the UK sales logic since being away. I see leather suites on offer for 999 pounds, reduced from 1,999 pounds. Did the raw material or labour costs disappear and they advertise on TV, how much per second?
Same as cheap car insurance, they appear to give the lowest costs yet still employ staff and pay TV advertising costs? Strange old world we live in.

Happy New Year

I agree that the K-x is over priced here, but poor quality?

I think not.

Vanilla spec? What the heck do you mean by that?

As for entry level, that's what the press call it, not the user who own it!

No I don't own one and am not going to buy one. I just feel your statement, Viewfinder, is as usual provocative and miss informed. This thread is about ALL Pentax products and buying abroad.

My K-x came from Adorama - and they were very helpful when I had to phone because of a problem with Verified by Visa .

I've found them very reasonable re price - BUT they are in the USA and their small stuff is not as competitive .

So Sorry,...I got my words in the wrong order......

.....I intended to say 'poor spec and vanilla reputation'.

And, even pentax themselves class kx as an 'entry model' as do US buyers, not just 'the press'...whatever that is now....

Mind you, entry level users would be badly served with the kx as they would have to find their way around the various shortcomings such as battery problems, mirror vibration, poor implementation of various camera systems, difficult 'token' live view and 'marketing ploy' video which can't be used properly or even combined with stereo sound or external mic....etc etc