Buying Cameras From The US

Lee Mullen · January 9th, 2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sareesh Sudhakaran

If you're a professional getting paid for your work, buy it from Australia. If you're an amateur who's not getting paid enough to cover costs, then buy a cheaper camera from, you guessed it - Australia.

And where would you suggest here in oz we can buy electronics that are the same price as in the US eh? Have you ever been over here?? We are the most overtaxed nation on earth, plus as the Aussie $ is so strong it is common sense to take advantage of that. Sadly retailers here are so damn greedy!

Claude Mangold · January 11th, 2011, 01:23 AM

I've bought plenty of equipment in the US - no cameras, though - and have never had an issue with voltage or warranty. Only plugs need to be changed.
Price deltas are simply HUGE, up to 50%, even including sales tax.
I often buy the stuff on trips to the US so I avoid the shipping costs, but some vendors ship for free.
Only very high end equipment tends to cost the same here & there, but exchange rates can help.

John Wiley · January 11th, 2011, 08:31 AM

Haha I was actually talking about this in another thread before noticing this old dinosuar thread had been dug up.

It's fairly ridiculous to think that with the dollar where it is at the moment, we are still paying so much more for so many things. The example I cited in the other thread is the Panasonic micro 4/3rds lenses - the 14-42mm is $199 in the USA but retails for about $600-700 here in Aus.

Lee Mullen · January 11th, 2011, 09:26 PM

Yeah exactly John. This fits in with the current euphoria about retailers wanting the Fed government to lower the duty threshold for foreign purchases and how Gerry Harvey whinged about it.

Buba Kastorski · January 12th, 2011, 09:12 AM

Not all the time , but sometimes I buy camcorders not only from US, but also from Japan,
and never had any issues, but I agree if, God forbid, something happens - it'll cause you some additional hassle.

Rainer Listing · January 13th, 2011, 01:25 AM

A good compromise might be buying from a reputable drop shipper in Australia - you might have some comeback and they seem to have the contacts. I just bought a Sigma 30mm f1.4, cheaper than the US, cheaper than EBay, much, much cheaper than Australian retail and it arrived overnight from HK. I've bought equipment from the US and it never took less than two weeks to arrive.

January 12th, 2011, 09:12 AM	#20
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Not all the time , but sometimes I buy camcorders not only from US, but also from Japan, and never had any issues, but I agree if, God forbid, something happens - it'll cause you some additional hassle. __________________ I love this place!

January 11th, 2011, 01:23 AM	#17
Claude Mangold Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Berlin and Geneva Posts: 259	I've bought plenty of equipment in the US - no cameras, though - and have never had an issue with voltage or warranty. Only plugs need to be changed. Price deltas are simply HUGE, up to 50%, even including sales tax. I often buy the stuff on trips to the US so I avoid the shipping costs, but some vendors ship for free. Only very high end equipment tends to cost the same here & there, but exchange rates can help.

January 11th, 2011, 08:31 AM	#18
John Wiley Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Byron Bay, Australia Posts: 1,155	Haha I was actually talking about this in another thread before noticing this old dinosuar thread had been dug up. It's fairly ridiculous to think that with the dollar where it is at the moment, we are still paying so much more for so many things. The example I cited in the other thread is the Panasonic micro 4/3rds lenses - the 14-42mm is $199 in the USA but retails for about $600-700 here in Aus.

January 11th, 2011, 09:26 PM	#19
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Yeah exactly John. This fits in with the current euphoria about retailers wanting the Fed government to lower the duty threshold for foreign purchases and how Gerry Harvey whinged about it.

January 13th, 2011, 01:25 AM	#21
Rainer Listing Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowra, Australia Posts: 440	A good compromise might be buying from a reputable drop shipper in Australia - you might have some comeback and they seem to have the contacts. I just bought a Sigma 30mm f1.4, cheaper than the US, cheaper than EBay, much, much cheaper than Australian retail and it arrived overnight from HK. I've bought equipment from the US and it never took less than two weeks to arrive.