Canadian Dealer???

[Max Power]

Evening all,
I've been seriously thinking of picking up an R3A and a 50 1.5 Nokton. I would really like to support Stephen Gandy, but the thought of the duties/taxes/brokerage fees on $900 CAD of new camera kit gives me the shivers.

Has anyone here purchased a new Bessa from a Canadian dealer or photo shop?

Thanks,
Kent

 

[peterc]

Has anyone here purchased a new Bessa from a Canadian dealer or photo shop?

Kent, I bought my Bessa R from Henrys but they are no longer a dealer. However, Downtown Camera is a Voigtlander dealer.
They have Voigtlander cameras and lenses listed on their website. Call salesman Marc Mulair (416.363.1749) and he will likely be able to give you a better deal than the prices listed online.

Peter

 

[back alley]

it's not worth shopping in canada.
you will pay more than buying from stephen.

stephen mails with usps and has a way with shipping that eases the pain.

email him and see what he can do for you.
i'm pretty sure shipping for rff members is free also.

joe

 

[sockeyed]

I believe that Leo's in Vancouver is also a dealer, but I would highly recommend going with Cameraquest. As Joe says, Stephen ships with US Postal, so you won't be paying brokerage fees or high shipping charges. In fact, I believe that you will only be paying sales tax on the camera since they are duty-exempt. At least, that has been my experience getting camera gear from the US.

Or make a short trip to the US. There are open services on the border that will receive US shipments for you for a minimal fee.

Good luck!
Ben

 

[Trius]

Max: If you get a good deal with Cameraquest and want to, I can bring it across the border and ship it to you from the St. Catharine's area. I'll be going up sometime between now and the second weekend in June to pick up some wine and maybe visit some folks. If you're interested, send me a PM.

 

[back alley]

i tell ya, email stephen and ask him about it.

joe

 

[Uncle Bill]

Max,

Camera gear is duty free so all you have to pay is the GST and Quebec sales tax and you will save some money even after all this shipping and currancy exchange. I hope it works out for you. If you want to shop this side of the border, there is Harry's Pro Shop in Toronto.

Bill

 

[Mazurka]

Here's a list of Canadian dealers: http://www.merrica.com/dealers.asp

If you buy local, it'd be a lot less hassle should you need to return it for any reason. You'd probably pay more but you can always check the price first.

Items shipped by USPS can easily get stuck in Canadian Customs for a month or so. UPS Expedited charges NO brokerage fees and is much faster for only a bit more money. The difference is even smaller when you factor in the $5 clearing charge from Canada Post.

 

[Max Power]

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice; I think that at the very least I will write an e-mail to Stephen Gandy and ask him how he tends to work these kinds of orders.

Thanks all,
Kent

 

[thirteen]

A great dealer in Toronto - he will ship across Canada is Harry's Pro Shop (www.harrysproshop.com) - recommended by Michael Reichmann on Luminous Landscape. He sells a Bessa 3a for $699 Cdn and a 50mm f1.5 Nokton for $569.

 

[Max Power]

So I followed the best advice and just shot off an order to Stephen Gandy. Now I just have to wait by the mail-box for the next week or so 😀

Now I've got to start looking at selling my other gear, after all, my better half agreed that I could get an R3A, but only if I sold off the other kit that I won't be using. I still figure that it's a good deal 🙂

Thanks again all,
Kent

 

[back alley]

kent,
i ordered my zm 50 from stephen late sunday night.

it arrived today.

i start shooting tomorrow.

not really much more to say.

joe