Ebay

[Tracey]

Would you buy any of your equipment from eBay, or specifically an eBay store.

I have found a store that seems to have pretty good deals, but is based in China. Even though their feedback is good, I wondered if anyone has had any experience of buying electronics/photographic equipment from China.

[Hedgehog]

The only company out there that I've heard people using is digitalrev based in Hong Kong... they promise to refund VAT if you get charged it this end & I know of people who have used them without a problem (& got a refund)... be careful what you buy 'cos with Canon kit the lenses are covered by a global warranty but the camera warranties are country specific.

[Tracey]

Its not digitalrev, (I'll look who when I get home) but they do have a good ebay "score".

The lenses in particular seem a good deal, but I'm always worried that things can be "too good a deal" and when its near £500 I get very nervous. But ebay has some sort of payment protection doesnt it?

So the VAT is 17%? I need to be looking at something to be 20% cheaper than we can buy over here to be really beneficial...

I can see I'll be double checking my facts and figures tonight

[Hedgehog]

17.5% yep (unless they offer a VAT refund which some do... you may even find your package comes thru' labelled "reconditioned goods" or something in an attempt to bypass customs )... remember it's one hell of a lot easier to return stuff that's bought here... your credit card should give you all the cover you need... oh, & make sure you give it a try over here in one of the high street shops yto make sure it's the lens you want... you never know they might even cut a deal if they see you're walking away from a sale!

[Tracey]

Yeah, I'll try that Hedge... tho I'm no good at getting a deal, they'll probably end up talking me into it.

I know this is probably a really dumb question, but do you take your camera to try the lens on (mine is not in production anymore, so I wont get the true feel of it if it were added to the newer e series would I?)

[Hedgehog]

Yep... they should have no problem with it... take a load of test shots... if they start to pressure you to buy it just say you need to go home to check the files.

Alls said & done I do try to buy from the high street & give 'em every opportunity to offer me a deal... without them there I wouldn't be able to check a lens/tripod/bag out & taking stuff back is soooo much easier.

[Tracey]

I like the idea of buying from the high street but I'm such a newbie that I'm worried that I'll be sold something thats not what I really want, or talked into buying something thats either too good for me, or something thats good enough for now, but if I upgrade my camera, would be lacking.... leaving me to upgrade something else. (does that make sense?)