Lens from foreign seller!!!

Mohican · 05-18-2014, 02:02 AM

Hi pentaxians. I need your help. Recently Ive seen some smoking deal for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on ebay. But the problem is the seller was from Taiwan and Japan. Though their feedback was 100% . My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? Is there anyone here who has experience of buying lens from foreign seller ?? Can you guys share your buying experience here , please. Thanks everyone

Adam · 05-18-2014, 02:21 AM - **1 Like**

If they ship by regular mail, chances are you won't have to pay anything, and that has been my experience with the handful of lenses I got from Japan. With couriers like UPS and DHL, on the other hand, there will be brokerage and processing fees.

Sorver · 05-18-2014, 04:01 AM

Originally posted by Mohican

Hi pentaxians. I need your help. Recently Ive seen some smoking deal for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on ebay. But the problem is the seller was from Taiwan and Japan. Though their feedback was 100% . My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? Is there anyone here who has experience of buying lens from foreign seller ?? Can you guys share your buying experience here , please. Thanks everyone

Hope this helps I am also assuming you reside in Australia

When buying over the internet

Mohican · 05-18-2014, 07:50 PM

Thanks Adam and sorver for your information. I'm not from Australia though .

Not a Number · 05-19-2014, 09:04 PM

There's an allowance per shipment for camera equipment for the USA. Multiple packages that arrive the same day are counted as one shipment. Around $700 I believe but probably wrong.

Use this only customs duty calculator:
New Import Duty & Taxes Calculation | DutyCalculator

Or you can wade through the US Customs and Border Patrol Website:
Customs Duty Information | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

hongzhibin1987 · 05-21-2014, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by Mohican

Hi pentaxians. I need your help. Recently Ive seen some smoking deal for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on ebay. But the problem is the seller was from Taiwan and Japan. Though their feedback was 100% . My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? Is there anyone here who has experience of buying lens from foreign seller ?? Can you guys share your buying experience here , please. Thanks everyone

Well I purchase lots from Taiwan and Japan seller. Have never paid any customs. They just arrive quietly like any other parcels shipped from US

stevebrot · 05-21-2014, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Mohican

My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay??

What are the laws in your country of residence? Customs duty is assessed at the border, is the responsibility of the importer (you), and often is zero for a particular class of goods depending on the trade agreements between the originating and importer's country. Such is the case with most photographic cameras and lenses imported into the USA from our "most-favored" trade partners. Of course, YMMV

As noted above, it is best to avoid using UPS and certain other shippers when importing. UPS adds a brokerage fee to the shipping to insure timely delivery of the goods. They pay the duty and then charge it back to you later. This is in addition to the initial fee.

Steve

05-18-2014, 02:02 AM	#1
Mohican New Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 5	Lens from foreign seller!!! Hi pentaxians. I need your help. Recently Ive seen some smoking deal for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on ebay. But the problem is the seller was from Taiwan and Japan. Though their feedback was 100% . My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? Is there anyone here who has experience of buying lens from foreign seller ?? Can you guys share your buying experience here , please. Thanks everyone

05-18-2014, 02:21 AM - 1 Like	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	If they ship by regular mail, chances are you won't have to pay anything, and that has been my experience with the handful of lenses I got from Japan. With couriers like UPS and DHL, on the other hand, there will be brokerage and processing fees. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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05-18-2014, 04:01 AM	#3
Sorver Veteran Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 440	Originally posted by Mohican Hi pentaxians. I need your help. Recently Ive seen some smoking deal for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on ebay. But the problem is the seller was from Taiwan and Japan. Though their feedback was 100% . My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? Is there anyone here who has experience of buying lens from foreign seller ?? Can you guys share your buying experience here , please. Thanks everyone Hope this helps I am also assuming you reside in Australia When buying over the internet

05-18-2014, 07:50 PM	#4
Mohican New Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 5 Original Poster	Thanks Adam and sorver for your information. I'm not from Australia though .

05-19-2014, 09:04 PM	#5
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	There's an allowance per shipment for camera equipment for the USA. Multiple packages that arrive the same day are counted as one shipment. Around $700 I believe but probably wrong. Use this only customs duty calculator: New Import Duty & Taxes Calculation \| DutyCalculator Or you can wade through the US Customs and Border Patrol Website: Customs Duty Information \| U.S. Customs and Border Protection

05-21-2014, 01:00 PM	#6
hongzhibin1987 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 464	Originally posted by Mohican Hi pentaxians. I need your help. Recently Ive seen some smoking deal for Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on ebay. But the problem is the seller was from Taiwan and Japan. Though their feedback was 100% . My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? Is there anyone here who has experience of buying lens from foreign seller ?? Can you guys share your buying experience here , please. Thanks everyone Well I purchase lots from Taiwan and Japan seller. Have never paid any customs. They just arrive quietly like any other parcels shipped from US

05-21-2014, 06:55 PM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Mohican My concern is if I buy from them how much custom duty I need to pay?? What are the laws in your country of residence? Customs duty is assessed at the border, is the responsibility of the importer (you), and often is zero for a particular class of goods depending on the trade agreements between the originating and importer's country. Such is the case with most photographic cameras and lenses imported into the USA from our "most-favored" trade partners. Of course, YMMV As noted above, it is best to avoid using UPS and certain other shippers when importing. UPS adds a brokerage fee to the shipping to insure timely delivery of the goods. They pay the duty and then charge it back to you later. This is in addition to the initial fee. Steve