R-D1s from Matsuiyastore?

[kevin sykes]

I see a few people have been pleased with deals done with Matsuiyastore.
I'm in the UK and would like to avoid import duty and VAt by taking advantage of their offer to mark the item as a gift.
Has anyone in the UK done this successfully? Or if not what sort of charges could I expect on say £1200?
Thanks
Kevin

 

[migtex]

I don't know about UK. But here (in Portugal) even mark with GIFT you will pay taxes and VAT.
In fact if you don't show up a prove valid value of the item (so they can base the taxes)... they will made one from their head. And that is final!
Do you wanna take the chance?

 

[Terao]

I've got stuff from them tax-free - Biogon 25. Came very quickly as well, about 4 days. I doubt you're guaranteed to avoid tax, but they're good people to deal with

 

[Terao]

As to charges you're looking at 2.5% then 17.5% on top of that plus a handling charge (£10 if its Royal Mail)

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

This is usually why people in the classifieds don't want to ship outside the U.S., a request like that could sound like a scam to the inexperienced, and is extra hassle, either way.

My 35mm Biogon came from this seller, and it was extremely fast. If I remember correctly, the true value was declared in the shipping form.

 

[ERV]

I just bought a Zeiss Ikon from Matsuiya and it arrived in NYC in four days.
The shipping label said Used Camera, value $19.00.

 

[Terao]

Also, bear in mind that what the package is declared at is what its insured at - if it goes missing you lose your money if its underdeclared. Japan EMS are very efficient and reliable though.

 

[Never Satisfied]

As above, if it gets lost or damaged is it worth the risk of no insurance? Andrew.

 

[speanut]

I've got my r-d1s from Matsuiya and delvery was so fast. no problem at all
except little pricy.

 

[Tuolumne]

I have bought a number of items from them, including a new R-D1. Shipping was super fast and I find the company very reliable. In shipping to the US improt fees and taxes have never been an issue. It just gets delivered straight to my door.

/T

 

[89rzweig]

I second the opinion about the matsuiyastore. The guy -- Noriaki -- is extremely polite and very communicative. It is definitely worth to ask him about the conditions. In my case he promised to basically take care about delivering me a functional camera; in the case something was wrong, he would send a replacement. He sent the RD-1s via EMS and declared the parcel as gift and value about GBP 50. I had to pay about GBP 15 of import duty and VAT.

-P.

 

[Tsai]

I recently made the plunge and just bought a R D1s from them last night.

hopefully it'll be here soon. Everyone says good things about they speed and service.
🙂

 

[cjago]

UK tax

UK tax

I see a few people have been pleased with deals done with Matsuiyastore.
I'm in the UK and would like to avoid import duty and VAt by taking advantage of their offer to mark the item as a gift.
Has anyone in the UK done this successfully? Or if not what sort of charges could I expect on say £1200?
Thanks
Kevin

In UK law it is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that the package is correctly declared and that tax is paid. When I last went there, this was the top message on the Customs and Revenue website.

Customs staff have very wide powers.

 

[Jim Watts]

If its about £1,200 is it worth the risk with no UK guarantee? I have purchased equipment abroad in the past only to find that I needed a repair that would have been free under guarantee, but ended up costing me more than the saving.

Robert White still has new R-D1s at approx £1,460 including vat: http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=284&PT_ID=197

And Ffordes (a very reputable dealer) have two secondhand R-D1's at £749 & £899: https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm

 

[Photog9001]

i've never imported anything to the uk, but where i come from custom authorities would charge you import duties for the dirty socks and underwear you forgot at the beach hotel last summer vacation... ! and make up the value, if you didn't have a proof of purchase handy. and i'm almost not kidding either...

i thought understating value of a parcel was in most if not all cases illegal. most sellers seem to be willing to do so nevertheless, and some do it even after they've been specifically asked to declare actual price... ,-)

understandable and such, maybe they feel they're doing the customer a valuable favor, enhancing a pleasant shopping experience and whatnot...

what would be questionable though - imo, is ordering an "expensive" item, and trust the post or whatever carrier not to loose it or damage. sellers normally don't guarantee parcels unless insured and declared...

 

[Solinar]

As a seller, wouldn't you want the shipment to travel as expeditiously as possible and to be fully insured?

Also, if it is from a commercial seller, your gear will be arriving in all its original boxes. I doubt that those working in your local customs office just fell off a turnip truck with regards to camera gear. They are bound to notice an all new unit immediately.

 

[Tsai]

As a seller, wouldn't you want the shipment to travel as expeditiously as possible and to be fully insured?

Also, if it is from a commercial seller, your gear will be arriving in all its original boxes. I doubt that those working in your local customs office just fell off a turnip truck with regards to camera gear. They are bound to notice an all new unit immediately.

I think that most places do declare the full price, however if by special request of the buyer (and discretion of the buyer) the seller can declare it as lower value. This is just good business, the buyer should understand the full consequences before making such an request.

 

[Marin3r]

If you choose to

If you choose to

live in a country with a VAT and import duty, aren't you ethically bound to follow your country's rules? After all, those taxes presumably buy you services that you appreciate... Is it right to ask a Japanese businessman to lie on your behalf?

Think of the developing costs you'll save using your new digital camera--the VAT will be paid by what you save on those in a few weeks or months.

Sanjay