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Thread: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

  1. #1
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
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    A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    I am looking at vintage and antique lenses on e-Bay. Several have caught my attention but they are in the UK. What complications will come up in importing one of them into the USA?

    Total purchase will be under $300 including shipping.
    Drew Bedo
    www.quietlightphoto.com
    http://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo




    There are only three types of mounting flanges; too big, too small and wrong thread!

  2. #2
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    I have never had an import problem with any used lens from any country.
    Tin Can

  3. #3
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    Thanks TC: No problems. . .good to hear. What about import duty and so on? Are there any additional expenses to be expected?
    Drew Bedo
    www.quietlightphoto.com
    http://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo




    There are only three types of mounting flanges; too big, too small and wrong thread!

  4. #4

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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    If the item is mailed, none. If the item is sent by a courier service such as FedEx or UPS, the service may charge you a customs brokerage fee -- usually large -- for seeing the item through US customs. Have it sent by Royal Mail.

  5. #5

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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    Most of the items I've bought overseas come through the various mail services and I've never paid any additional fees. Don't know if film and paper is any different import-wise, but bought these supplies from fotoimpex several times and they ship DHL. Again, no additional charges ever.

  6. #6
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    I consider those problems

    none

    Quote Originally Posted by Drew Bedo View Post
    Thanks TC: No problems. . .good to hear. What about import duty and so on? Are there any additional expenses to be expected?
    Tin Can

  7. #7
    Photographer
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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    Some credit cards charge a currency translation fee. Use a card that does not, or pay from your bank account.
    Keith Pitman

  8. #8

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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    Hmm. PayPal charges a currency translation fee too. It is endurable.

    I've made several international bank transfers. The first two were to purchase a used car and have it serviced. No problem, the payee was in the UK and the bank sent sterling. The third was to buy a bellows from a dealer in France. The dealer set US dollars, the seller's bank charged him a large currency translation fee. If you pay by bank transfer, make sure that the bank sends the funds in the recipients currency.

    About DHL. They've performed well on some deliveries to me, horribly on others. The worst experience convinced me to avoid DHL at nearly all costs. I once bought a lens from a seller in Germany. He shipped by DHL. It disappeared for several months, eventually turned up on his doorstep. DHL insisted that I had refused delivery. The seller and I forced an investigation. Turns out the lens never left Germany. DHL accepted it, put the parcel in a corner and lied about what they'd done.

  9. #9

    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    Things arrive pretty quickly with Royal Mail. No problems ever, no additional expenses other than currency fees which are to be expected
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  10. #10

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    Re: A question on Buying an Item in UK via e-Bay

    I haven't had a problem with Ebay per se but I bought a Plaubel Veriwide 100 from a store in Vienna Austria and was hit with an import fee for it.

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