Well after a browse through Ebay there's definitely a few bargains to be had with lenses typically 30% cheaper than UK prices. However before taking the plunge are there any pitfalls I should be aware of? The obvious ones include:
are the lenses genuine or copies?
if there's a serious problem eg. non delivery or damaged delivery will the item be replaced or a refund issued?
If anybody has got any advice or experience of buying lenses or even cameras from China or Hong Kong through Ebay it'd be good to know before I decide whether or not to give somebody on the other side of the world a lot of hard earned money
Many thanks
I have bought a Kenko Pro converter, a Canon lens hood and a few other odds and ends from URGALAY with no problems at all. Delivery has varied between 4 and 10 days.
Make sure you are guaranteed no UK tax/vat on the item you are buying - sometimes some items are guaranteed no tax and some are not, even from the same provider.
This is a regular question, which isn't surprising given the huge savings that can be made.
It seems, if you stick to the well known HK outlets (DigitalRev/UrGalaxy) the service will be swift and reliable. The items are 100% genuine.
As Roy says, make absolutely sure you purchase from an auction that states No tax/vat. Often the item will be delivered within 3 days via UPS (large items) or DHL (smaller items)... Apparantly, delivery can be quicker than from a U.K. retailer, but then again you are paying a hefty premium for delivery.
Both delivery companies pay the Vat/Duty on the item, UPS will need paying on the doorstep and DHL will deliver and send you a bill a week or two later. With DigitalRev, you e-mail them a photo of the duty/VAT paid paperwork, and they will put the amount back into your paypal account within 24hrs or so.
If the item goes missing (every stage of delivery is tracked online) the HK company will send another item. Same as with goods damaged upon arrival, they will simply send another item out (smaller companies may have difficulty in doing this, which is why you should stick to the big companies)
You need to be aware of certain factors, such as the fact that these items will rarely have their official warranty but have a third-party warranty from a specialised company like 'Mack'. In theory there are no practical differences from an official manufacturers warranty, and the item will be repaired in this country at an official manufacturer's repair centre.
cheers
Andy