File :-(, x, )
Buying from US phesarnion
I'm located in the sunny (and very expensive UK). And i'm looking to buy the Nikon 18-200 ED-IF AF-S VR DX (Bit of a mouthful), but over here it costs around £525 ($1070). I've heard that kit can be cheaper in the US, and was just wondering if anyone knows of any camera stores which will ship direct to the UK, and are cheaper than UK prices after shipping is included.

(pic not related, but pretty nonetheless)
EXIF data available. Clickhereto show/hide.
Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 WindowsPhotographerUnspecifiedMaximum Lens Aperturef/4.4Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern930Focal Length (35mm Equiv)105 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image Width2592Image Height3872Number of Bits Per Component16, 16, 16Compression SchemeUncompressedPixel CompositionRGBImage OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Data ArrangementChunky FormatImage Created2007:08:29 16:52:11Exposure Time1/80 secF-Numberf/4.5Exposure ProgramShutter PriorityISO Speed Rating800Lens Aperturef/4.5Exposure Bias-1/3 EVMetering ModeSpotLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length70.00 mmCommentBy PhesarnionColor Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width1624Image Height2104RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlLow Gain UpContrastNormalSaturationHighSharpnessHardSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> phesarnion
gah! uploaded wrong image... meant to upload the tighter cropped one... ho hum.
>> Teus !QbSstcPD6U
I heard there are wait lists of months for the 18-200. could be wrong too, but that's what I heard from an american a few weeks ago.
>> Anonymous
ritz camera says they have it in stock. $749 US. Check http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/541530721.htm
>> Anonymous
they're pretty rare and hard to get here in the US. Most of the big retailers can't keep them in stock, and are on backorder for months at a time.

Check Adorama and Ritz frequently, however. They should ship overseas, but I have no idea about how much it would cost.
>> ????? !wAHA/GeRU.
There are usually long waiting lists to get that lens. Some stores, like B&H Photo, sell them on a first come first served basis as they get their shipments. I got mine from RitzCamera.com about 6 1/2 weeks after I placed my order. B&H Photo has the grey market version in stock. They ship overseas, so you can check to see if they'll ship to you.
>> phesarnion
I'm willing to wait, lol. especially if i can save £150 on it :-D
>> Anonymous
Try digitalrev on ebay. They have some "No VAT & customs duties" auctions. I'm currently saving for a D200+18-200VR/DX package from them.
>> phesarnion
op here, looking at digitalrev's website, apparently they are based in hong king, and so import duties etc still need to be paid.
Has anyone ordered from them before?
>> Anonymous
>>73315
I'm in no way affiliated with digitalrev nor have I ever purchased anything from them but keep an eye out for the auctions where they'll reimburse your customs fee if you're hit with one.

eg.
>"*This is a special 'We pay the import fee if there is any' auction. £379.99 plus P&P is all you ever need to spend in order to own this item."

>"Any import tax/duty/fee charged will be reimbursed by us in full, upon producing a customs receipt. The import tax is normally collected by the delivery driver at the door. Please keep the receipt and the customs fee sticker for reimbursement. Just post/fax/scan and email your customs receipt to us, and will we pay you the total amount on the receipt within 24 hours!"
>> phesarnion
>>73356
sounds good. but they only do that on ebay?
>> Annoyingmouse
>>73356
I have to say that this sounds like a SCAM.
I wouldn't get anywhere near it, so be warned!
If you really insist on buying from them, then at least check them first (user ratings etc. and make sure that they have a thousand user ratings).
Anyways more to the point, buying from the US is a good idea if you can avoid customs, because it IS much cheaper, in most European countries you will roughly pay in Euroes what it costs in Dollars in the US.
When buying from Rits-camera online (and probably other shops as well), you can ask them to mark the package "gift" and delete any price-indications, so it helps in customs (but if they open the package in customs you are fucked).
thats my 2 cents, after researching the same problem.