Buying a lens in the US?

Soldato
Joined
6 Nov 2002
Posts
3,097
Location
Reading
I'm off to New York next week and thinking about ordering a lens now for delivery to the hotel so it's there on my arrival.

What are the implications?
Warranties?
 
Well firstly you'll struggle to find someone who will deliver to somewhere other than your card's billing address, especially for a foreign card.

The warranty is certainly one to check though, for Canon I think lenses have an international warranty while bodies are country of purchase only.
 
I'm off to New York next week and thinking about ordering a lens now for delivery to the hotel so it's there on my arrival.

What are the implications?
Warranties?

Why not just nip to B&H when you get there? Then there'll be no faffing with the hotel.

Canon lens warranties are international I think.
 
Why not just nip to B&H when you get there?


B&H is a pretty awesome shop! was there 2 weeks ago and bought a sigma 10-20mm, its huge and well worth a visit, however due to the religious nature of the owners (jewish) its gonna be closed to a week soonish, dunno what time exactly :P
 
B&H is a pretty awesome shop! was there 2 weeks ago and bought a sigma 10-20mm, its huge and well worth a visit, however due to the religious nature of the owners (jewish) its gonna be closed to a week soonish, dunno what time exactly :P
Saturday 20th September to Monday 28th (a quick google tells me). Knowing the names of the two holidays involved does help....
 
We bought a body and lens whilst on holiday a few years ago. Both where covered by canon's international warranty, But this would have meant shipping the camera/lens back to the US for any repair. We where offered an additional cost cover that meant we could repair the stuff locally (not sure whether this was a canon product), we declined.

Other Issues are duty when you come back into the UK.
 
Can't you just attach it to your camera body and leave the boxes in the US? How could they prove you bought it in the US?

If you really need the boxes you could flatpack them and FedEx them over.
 
Well I ordered it :)
Due for delivery tomorrow to the hotel :D

A nice Canon 10-22 to go with my 450D, should work well for the New York skyline.
 
Go there, buy it in person and then claim the tax back at the airport?
Problem is that you're then supposed to pay import duty and VAT when you arrive with it here. Whilst you can ditch the packaging and claim you took it out there with you, if they're suspicious and decide to check with US customs, then if you claimed the tax back before leaving they'll be able to prove you bought it there.

A nice Canon 10-22 to go with my 450D, should work well for the New York skyline.
Should be an awesome walkabout lens for a city like New York. Wish I'd had mine when I last went.
 
Last edited:
Wish I had my DSLR when I went to NY in 2003. It was a few months later before I got my first DSLR.

Oh well, I guess it just means I will have to go back again sometime. ;)
 
Glad I got it :)

It arrived at hotel and was here when I got here.

Looks to be taking some good pics. Will post some when I get back on a decent net connection.
 
Back
Top Bottom