Cheaper lenses

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Tim Gray

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In the UK, there is a 15% rebate running. With the US dollar where it is in relation to the pound, plus the 15% rebate, you can get a 50mm Summilux ASPH brand new for a tad bit more than $1900. That's pretty cheap. Other lenses work out pretty nicely too. 28 Cron is around $2150, 28 Elmarit is $1100, etc. Even without the 15% deal, the prices are pretty good compared to the US prices.

I looked at Robert White and from another thread, it looked like they would work with US customers too on the rebates. I think the rebate period runs until the end of January.

Maybe you guys are aware of this already. I just did the math on this, and am kind of surprised out the savings for those of us in the US. It's a shame too because a couple months ago I decided, "I'm getting the two lenses I want, now, used, before prices sky rocket any more." Had I waited until now, I could have bought NEW an saved about $800 off the used prices. Oh well, live and learn :)
 
What's even worse is the difference in the price of drugs in different countries, even though they're made by the same company and there's no excise, value added, or sales tax on drugs. What we need is socializd lenses. (...or maybe a Senior Citizens' discount...)

From what I've read recently about drug prices they have little to do with production and marketing costs. It's mostly a matter of what the market can afford to pay. People in the U.S. pay the most both because supposedly we can afford it and and the number of people suing drug companies. I wouldn't doubt that the prices of lenses and cameras depends a lot on "what the market will bear".
 
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Yeah I'm just shocked that you can get a brand spanking new 50 Lux ASPH for <$2k, when in Sept/Oct, they were selling for $2200-2300 used.

I'd get the Elmarit if I didn't have a 28 already. I might regardless. haha.
 
What (if any) are the import duties like for customers in the States though?

I know when the pound was strong against the dollar, I tried buying items from the States and got hammered by customs for import duty.
 
I've never been charged import taxes on a private purchase. If I were importing for resale, it would be a different matter, I'm sure.
 
I looked into it a couple months ago and I think it was 3%. But I don't think things ever get charged for a lens.
 
I bought a ZM lens from Robert White back in November. I was charged a duty about two weeks after delivery, in the form of a bill from UPS, I believe. Tim's 3% sounds about right. Just a heads up and a cost to anticipate—and celebrate if missed.
 
Careful, it will always be (Value of the item + Shipping) + VAT + customs duties for items shipped into the EU from anywhere outside.

I'm not entirely sure if the customs duties are the same in all of the EU now (but they might, as we don't have any customs hassle within the EU anymore), but the last time I checked (being in Germany) it was something like 14% for lenses (only 5% or so for bodies) in addition to the VAT which is always added to imported goods!

Of course you might be lucky and not be charged anything at all. They don't have the resources to check each and every package entering the EU, so that might happen.

Regards,
Philipp

Edit: Sorry, I thought you were talking about shipping from the US to the UK, not the other way around...
 
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In most cases import duties can be avoided by shipping from an individual (not a business) in one country to an individual in another, with the package marked "GIFT". Of course the individual doing the original purchase gets stuck payng local sales type taxes on the purchase, which would be waved on a direct shipment to the second country. There are also some companies who just won't ship to certain countries.
 
Sounds interesting. Do we know for sure that Leica will honor the 15% U.K. rebate if the buyer is from (say) the U.S.? Put differently: Is there fine print in the rebate that prevents someone from outside the U.K. from collecting the rebate?
 
There was a comment in another thread that Robert White would take care of it. I wrote them an email a couple hours ago and am waiting a response...
 
That is correct, Robert White will reimburse your credit card 15% at the time of shipment. I was told this last week when I was placing an order. They do not have everything in the store, but they will honor the January promotion if you buy before the 31st. And as digitalintrigue said, you can choose to have the item sent via Royal Mail.
 
jja said:
That is correct, Robert White will reimburse your credit card 15% at the time of shipment. I was told this last week when I was placing an order. They do not have everything in the store, but they will honor the January promotion if you buy before the 31st. And as digitalintrigue said, you can choose to have the item sent via Royal Mail.
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Be still, my beating heart! :D
 
Tim,

The definitive answer obviously has to come from Robert White, but looking through the website (and this page in particular) http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/products.asp?PT_ID=304&P=Leica-M-Lenses my understanding is that the 15% rebate is only for UK VAT inclusive prices. As UK VAT is not charged on exports to the States, then I would guess that the rebate would not be applicable.
 
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John Lawrence said:
Tim,

The definitive answer obviously has to come from Robert White, but looking through the website (and this page in particular) http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/products.asp?PT_ID=304&P=Leica-M-Lenses my understanding is that the 15% rebate is only for UK VAT inclusive prices. As UK VAT is not charged on exports to the States, then I would guess that the rebate would not be applicable.
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I have emailed another UK seller, cashback is available to foreign buyers and no VAT will be charged. This seller will reduce the 15% from the credit card charge.
 
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