Buying a 645Z from the Ricoh.eu website?

uintaangler · 06-11-2020, 10:08 PM

I just started the search for a Pentax 645Z camera and inadvertently ended up on the Ricoh EU website where a Brand new 645Z body is being offered for 3999 euros, a better price than I have found anywhere here in the US
Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)?

Sandy Hancock · 06-11-2020, 10:26 PM

I don't know the specifics for the USA, but in Australia we'd have to pay significant import taxes.
Also, warranty repair may require shipping back to Europe.

stevebrot · 06-11-2020, 11:18 PM

Originally posted by uintaangler

Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)?

There generally would not be duty if shipped from the EU and you would also be spared the VAT.

However...Ricoh N. America won't extend U..S. warranty protection to a camera purchased from other than a U.S. authorized dealer. Whether you could have a warranty repair done in Europe is hard to say. At very least, Ricoh Japan would probably help if you have a problem.

Steve

**barondla** · 06-12-2020, 12:15 AM

Originally posted by uintaangler

I just started the search for a Pentax 645Z camera and inadvertently ended up on the Ricoh EU website where a Brand new 645Z body is being offered for 3999 euros, a better price than I have found anywhere here in the US
Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)?

You may have to pay import duties. A few years ago duties were charged on items over about $215. I received earphones from a British company (about 250 pounds) and was surprised I had to pay extra ~$20. It would be a lot higher on 3999.

Then there's the shipping worries. Read the 645 calamity page in the medium format forum for details. Hope you get a Z, it is amazing.
Thanks,
barondla

Not a Number · 06-12-2020, 01:22 AM

Currently personal exemption is under $2500 USD. If for commercial purposes than the exemption is under $250.

Internet Purchases | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

stevebrot · 06-12-2020, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by barondla

You may have to pay import duties.

Originally posted by Not a Number

Currently personal exemption is under $2500 USD. If for commercial purposes than the exemption is under $250.

It depends on class of goods being imported and country of origin. Digital cameras from all but Cuba and N. Korea enter duty free. The same is true for film cameras and lenses.

Harmonized Tariff Schedule | Chapter 85 (pdf)

Harmonized Tariff Schedule | Chapter 90 (pdf)

I used to write software related to import/export and as a holdover from the experience, I retained some knowledge of the processes and rules.

Steve

**loveisageless** · 06-12-2020, 08:26 PM - **1 Like**

Have you considered the refurbished 645Zs on the Ricoh USA website?

**tmoses** · 06-14-2020, 11:39 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by uintaangler

I just started the search for a Pentax 645Z camera and inadvertently ended up on the Ricoh EU website where a Brand new 645Z body is being offered for 3999 euros, a better price than I have found anywhere here in the US
Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)?

I got a refurb unit direct from Ricoh webstore (with 900 shutter actuations), $2999
Free shipping, arrived in 2 days via FedEx
They got openbox special too
Good luck

**gaweidert** · 06-15-2020, 07:00 AM - **1 Like**

You can get a "open box" one from the Ricoh USA store for $4,199. That is about $300 USD less. Comes with full US warranty and all goodies included. As stated above, you can also get a refurbished one for $2999 USD.

FWIW, I got a refurbished DA 300mm f4.0 a few months ago and it has worked great. Only $599 too. Less than I could get the lens used.

uintaangler · 06-16-2020, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by tmoses

I got a refurb unit direct from Ricoh webstore (with 900 shutter actuations), $2999
Free shipping, arrived in 2 days via FedEx
They got openbox special too
Good luck

Does anybody have a handle on whether Refurbished or Open Box is the better way to go?
Open Box costs $1,200 more - is it worth it?
I had heard that with a Nikon refurbished body it's kind of a crap shoot re: how much use the camera has had. I heard you could get a camera with less than 20 clicks on the shutter or a camera with thousands of clicks?

**RICHARD L.** · 06-16-2020, 02:46 PM

I bought a "demo" 645Z from Camera Canada in London, Ontario. I saved 4000 CDN $ on the current price and the machine had only 136 actuations on the shutter count. The bargain of my life !

Camaro5 · 06-16-2020, 05:18 PM

I would think an open box would be better than refurbished since it's new and has the 1 yr. warranty. If you could get a refurbished with a low number of actuations that would be okay but there's no guarantee they would send you one like that. Those only have a 90 day warranty. It comes down to which one your wallet likes more.

Knowing what I know now, if I had to do it all over again I'd get an open box 645Z, a 28-45, D-FA 55, and an FA 75mm. Set you back about $7K, but it would be a heck of a set up.

06-11-2020, 10:08 PM	#1
uintaangler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 232	Buying a 645Z from the Ricoh.eu website? I just started the search for a Pentax 645Z camera and inadvertently ended up on the Ricoh EU website where a Brand new 645Z body is being offered for 3999 euros, a better price than I have found anywhere here in the US Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)?

06-12-2020, 02:49 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by barondla You may have to pay import duties. Originally posted by Not a Number Currently personal exemption is under $2500 USD. If for commercial purposes than the exemption is under $250. It depends on class of goods being imported and country of origin. Digital cameras from all but Cuba and N. Korea enter duty free. The same is true for film cameras and lenses. Harmonized Tariff Schedule \| Chapter 85 (pdf) Harmonized Tariff Schedule \| Chapter 90 (pdf) I used to write software related to import/export and as a holdover from the experience, I retained some knowledge of the processes and rules. Steve

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06-11-2020, 10:26 PM	#2
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	I don't know the specifics for the USA, but in Australia we'd have to pay significant import taxes. Also, warranty repair may require shipping back to Europe.

06-11-2020, 11:18 PM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by uintaangler Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)? There generally would not be duty if shipped from the EU and you would also be spared the VAT. However...Ricoh N. America won't extend U..S. warranty protection to a camera purchased from other than a U.S. authorized dealer. Whether you could have a warranty repair done in Europe is hard to say. At very least, Ricoh Japan would probably help if you have a problem. Steve

06-12-2020, 12:15 AM	#4
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Originally posted by uintaangler I just started the search for a Pentax 645Z camera and inadvertently ended up on the Ricoh EU website where a Brand new 645Z body is being offered for 3999 euros, a better price than I have found anywhere here in the US Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)? You may have to pay import duties. A few years ago duties were charged on items over about $215. I received earphones from a British company (about 250 pounds) and was surprised I had to pay extra ~$20. It would be a lot higher on 3999. Then there's the shipping worries. Read the 645 calamity page in the medium format forum for details. Hope you get a Z, it is amazing. Thanks, barondla

06-12-2020, 01:22 AM	#5
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Currently personal exemption is under $2500 USD. If for commercial purposes than the exemption is under $250. Internet Purchases \| U.S. Customs and Border Protection

06-12-2020, 08:26 PM - 1 Like	#7
loveisageless Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oakland, California Photos: Albums Posts: 1,250	Have you considered the refurbished 645Zs on the Ricoh USA website?

06-14-2020, 11:39 PM - 1 Like	#8
tmoses Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Montgomery, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 66	Originally posted by uintaangler I just started the search for a Pentax 645Z camera and inadvertently ended up on the Ricoh EU website where a Brand new 645Z body is being offered for 3999 euros, a better price than I have found anywhere here in the US Is there any downside to purchasing a camera from the EU website (provided I can even get them to ship to the US)? I got a refurb unit direct from Ricoh webstore (with 900 shutter actuations), $2999 Free shipping, arrived in 2 days via FedEx They got openbox special too Good luck

06-15-2020, 07:00 AM - 1 Like	#9
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	You can get a "open box" one from the Ricoh USA store for $4,199. That is about $300 USD less. Comes with full US warranty and all goodies included. As stated above, you can also get a refurbished one for $2999 USD. FWIW, I got a refurbished DA 300mm f4.0 a few months ago and it has worked great. Only $599 too. Less than I could get the lens used.

06-16-2020, 02:03 PM	#10
uintaangler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 232 Original Poster	Originally posted by tmoses I got a refurb unit direct from Ricoh webstore (with 900 shutter actuations), $2999 Free shipping, arrived in 2 days via FedEx They got openbox special too Good luck Does anybody have a handle on whether Refurbished or Open Box is the better way to go? Open Box costs $1,200 more - is it worth it? I had heard that with a Nikon refurbished body it's kind of a crap shoot re: how much use the camera has had. I heard you could get a camera with less than 20 clicks on the shutter or a camera with thousands of clicks?

06-16-2020, 02:46 PM	#11
RICHARD L. Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,582	I bought a "demo" 645Z from Camera Canada in London, Ontario. I saved 4000 CDN $ on the current price and the machine had only 136 actuations on the shutter count. The bargain of my life !

06-16-2020, 05:18 PM	#12
Camaro5 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Southern Nevada Posts: 46	I would think an open box would be better than refurbished since it's new and has the 1 yr. warranty. If you could get a refurbished with a low number of actuations that would be okay but there's no guarantee they would send you one like that. Those only have a 90 day warranty. It comes down to which one your wallet likes more. Knowing what I know now, if I had to do it all over again I'd get an open box 645Z, a 28-45, D-FA 55, and an FA 75mm. Set you back about $7K, but it would be a heck of a set up.