yungwei Posted June 3, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 3, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Currently, M9 body is listed in USA for $6,995. But some European online stores are listing M9 for Euro 4,580, which is about US$5,640, a 20% saving based on current exchange rate of 1.23 Did anyone in the US try to purchase M9 from Europe via mail order? And if you did, who is a reliable online dealer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 3, 2010 Posted June 3, 2010 Hi yungwei, Take a look here Shall we buy M9 from Europe?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
glenerrolrd Posted June 3, 2010 Share #2 Posted June 3, 2010 Currently, M9 body is listed in USA for $6,995. But some European online stores are listing M9 for Euro 4,580, which is about US$5,640, a 20% saving based on current exchange rate of 1.23Did anyone in the US try to purchase M9 from Europe via mail order? And if you did, who is a reliable online dealer? The issue is that no stores have the camera in stock to sell. But you can ,for now ,play the favorable $-euro exchange rate on lenses for example . Check the forum advertisers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotofanatiker Posted June 3, 2010 Share #3 Posted June 3, 2010 You can save the European VAT but have to pay customs... For me it worked, I saved some money, ordered from Leica Shop Vienna (delivery to Dubai) - I can really recommend these guys... (Although I didn't have any other option, the local dealer simply doesn't get any M9s...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nile Posted June 3, 2010 Share #4 Posted June 3, 2010 The UK Pound has also taken a hit against the USD so I bought my M9 in the UK and had it sent to Malaysia. No VAT nor duty in Malaysia for cameras so I only paid for the shipment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 3, 2010 Share #5 Posted June 3, 2010 You can save the European VAT but have to pay customs...Note that the price mentioned above is without VAT. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m8point2 Posted June 3, 2010 Share #6 Posted June 3, 2010 I'm from the USA and planning to visit Europe this summer. If I buy a camera in the UK or EU at the start of my trip, use it while I'm traveling for several weeks and then return to the US, will I have to pay VAT in Europe or customs when I return to the USA? Assuming the supply stream of M9 begins again, where would it be a good idea to preorder? What about buying an M9 at a duty-free airport store? Thanks, el Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F100R Posted June 3, 2010 Share #7 Posted June 3, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) If you'll be visiting Germany, make a call in the new Leica flagship store in Solms and ask them, to organize a M9. (2-3 weeks before arriving) And if you're there, make a visit in the factory ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted June 3, 2010 Share #8 Posted June 3, 2010 I'm from the USA and planning to visit Europe this summer. If I buy a camera in the UK or EU at the start of my trip, use it while I'm traveling for several weeks and then return to the US, will I have to pay VAT in Europe or customs when I return to the USA? Assuming the supply stream of M9 begins again, where would it be a good idea to preorder? What about buying an M9 at a duty-free airport store? Thanks, el You will have to pay the full VAT inclusive price, but should (provided the dealer is part of the scheme) be given a VAT reclaim form for use at the airport. It is best if the dealer will allow you to post the form back to him so that he can credit your card. That way you should get a refund of the full amount, rather than having to pay the hefty commission to get it back at the airport. Duty-free does not mean profit-free! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photolandscape Posted June 3, 2010 Share #9 Posted June 3, 2010 You will have to pay the full VAT inclusive price, but should (provided the dealer is part of the scheme) be given a VAT reclaim form for use at the airport. It is best if the dealer will allow you to post the form back to him so that he can credit your card. That way you should get a refund of the full amount, rather than having to pay the hefty commission to get it back at the airport. Duty-free does not mean profit-free! I bought an M8.2 that way via Richard Caplan, and it worked great. No VAT (I'm in the US), and I saved a ton of money, and that was before the exchange rate became even more favorable to the $. No customs, no problems. The way to go if you can find an M9. There is another Leica shop that had great prices--Hamilton's perhaps, up near Manchester, and of course Robert White is a stellar dealer. I am sure there are many others. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m8point2 Posted June 3, 2010 Share #10 Posted June 3, 2010 I'm thinking it might be a better idea to order an M9 from Europe and have it shipped to the USA before my trip, just so I can make sure everything is okay. I know M9 supplies are short, but what EU dealers would you recommend for best price and availability? Would I have to pay customs if the camera is shipped to the USA? Thanks, el Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 3, 2010 Share #11 Posted June 3, 2010 There are many good Leica dealers all over Europe. I could name at least six in my small country, many more on Germany, the UK etc. Names that spring to mind are Meister Camera in Berlin, Robert White, Red Dot and ffordes in the UK, Leica Store in Vienna, CameraExpress or Nivo Schweitzer in the Netherlands, Polyphoto in Milan, and many more. Yes- you would be liable for taxes and customs charges. But then, if you are coming to Europe, you would save a lot of money by ordering the camera at your point of entry and just using it. You can recover VAT when leaving for the US.There are very few problems with new M9s, and Leica is very quick at sorting them if needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSUSpartan Posted June 3, 2010 Share #12 Posted June 3, 2010 Problem is that the ones I've contacted in Europe also don't have the camera in stock... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted June 4, 2010 Share #13 Posted June 4, 2010 I am in the US, and have bought several items through the internet from the UK when rates work. Other years Brits get to take advantage. I currently have a 50 lux on order with Robert White, and since it is export, the VAT does not apply. It has been two months, and may be another 5 until I receive it (wishful thinking) , and I paid in full (but doing better than if I had put it in the US stock market). To date it has never been an issue with customs, and I don't expect it to be, although to save $1,100 on a $3,850 US purchase, I can afford a little hassle and additional expense if it comes up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdi Posted June 4, 2010 Share #14 Posted June 4, 2010 The price difference is the only reason I have an M9 today. I checked a few places and The Leica Shop in Vienna offered to put me on a waiting list for a black one and I would pay now to lock in the exchange rate. As I was speaking with the gentleman about the process and the wait he told me they could get me a grey one in a week. So I ordered Thursday, they shipped Monday and I had it yesterday in CT. Total was 4680€ for the very fast DHL delivery (that added 100€), and the rate I got made that about $5750. No customs duties or "brokerage" fees at all. This made the M9 seem pretty reasonable - even compared to my $4800 M8 purchase 3 years ago. I highly recommend The Leica Shop after my experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
m8point2 Posted June 4, 2010 Share #15 Posted June 4, 2010 What is the situation with the warranty if an M9 is purchased from Europe by someone in the USA? If it needed to be serviced, could I send it to New Jersey? Thanks, el Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianspector Posted June 4, 2010 Share #16 Posted June 4, 2010 The one difference between the European M9s and the ones intended for the US market is that in the EU the shutters are made out of hardened sheep's cheese called brebis. They actually operate exactly the same but have a distinctive smell on very hot days, or certainly if you leave your M9 in a hot car for a couple of hours. The US Leica repairers do not like to get involved in working on these shutters and will always send them back to Solms for this reason. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
etp095 Posted June 4, 2010 Share #17 Posted June 4, 2010 What is the situation with the warranty if an M9 is purchased from Europe by someone in the USA? If it needed to be serviced, could I send it to New Jersey? Thanks, el Leica carries an international warranty,Leica NJ will work on it,no worries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
diogenis Posted June 4, 2010 Share #18 Posted June 4, 2010 But I am sure, that when new M9s arrive in the US, the dealers will be willing to make better offers due to strong $. And don't ask for anything less. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yungwei Posted June 4, 2010 Author Share #19 Posted June 4, 2010 Thanks for sharing all your expreiences. I just came across a company called Rahn GmbH Foto & Fine Art in Frankfurt, Germany. I wonder if anyone has worked with them. Here is their website address: www.foto-hobby.de/fhr-e/index.html They have very good prices on Leica M bodies, M9,M7, MP.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunil Posted June 4, 2010 Share #20 Posted June 4, 2010 Thanks for sharing all your expreiences. I just came across a company called Rahn GmbH Foto & Fine Art in Frankfurt, Germany. I wonder if anyone has worked with them. Here is their website address:www.foto-hobby.de/fhr-e/index.html They have very good prices on Leica M bodies, M9,M7, MP.... My experience with most of these sites is that they lure you in with good prices but rarely have the camera in stock. Typically they will have you pay in advance and then make you wait a month or two before shipping. The reputable dealers do not have you pay anything in advance and will call you when your camera is there. I don't know about Rahn but hopefully they have the item in stock which they are selling without demanding a deposit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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