IkarusJohn Posted February 19, 2011 Share #21 Posted February 19, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) You need to be aware of a number of distinctions: - duty - tax - discounts Duty is imposed on specific goods, like alcohol, cigarettes, and some imported goods where governments want to protect local production (used to be electronics and cameras, but less so in the WTO environment). Tax is usually VAT/GST, applied to all domestic consumption. Typically, if you export goods, no tax or duty should be levied at all. You need to look carefully at Andy's link with the distinction between duty and tax in mind. When you buy tax/duty free, you should pay the net retail price. At airports, you don't; particularly on products within personal allowances. It's still cheap, but the duty free retailer pockets some of the savings by increasing the margin. When you buy in Europe, or the UK, and reclaim the tax, the company that handles the refund (Tax Free Shopping?) takes a sizeable cut for "administration". If you buy directly from a reputable retailer over the Internet and they handle the exporting, you get closer to a genuinely tax/duty free price. Wherever you buy, you then need to deal with your own country's taxes and duties when you return with the goods. The exceptions to this are if you are backpacking around the world, going from visiting country to visiting country - by the time you return home, the goods have little value; or if you live in a tax free coutnry, like Hong Kong; or you take a risk and just use the goods while you are out of your home country, and bring them in as personal goods on your return. When I lived in the UK the personal allowance was something tragic like GBP 50.00. No surprises few people made declarations on their holiday purchases. The OP's UK tax free price seems high. I paid around 4,500 Euro for my M9 from a European dealer. Try SH Photo - they publish their duty/tax free prices. Cheers John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 19, 2011 Posted February 19, 2011 Hi IkarusJohn, Take a look here Buying Duty Free. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted February 20, 2011 Share #22 Posted February 20, 2011 It is very simple on Schiphol all prices within the taxfree zone are 20% under list price (except some things like books and postcards etc...where they appear to be 20% over ) regardless of destination. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Åmund Posted February 20, 2011 Share #23 Posted February 20, 2011 I live in Norway and bought my Leica stuff in UK. Partly because of the warranty on UK-bought Leica stuff, but also because of the price. Leicas are prized ridiculously high in Norway and when you buy it in UK you get it ex VAT. But you do have to pay the Norwegian VAT when you receive it. Even then it is cheaper to buy from the UK. This principle also applies when you buy other things abroad. There is specific rules for alcohol and tobacco, and books are not subject to VAT, but generally you can buy goods abroad with accumulated cost within certain limit (I don´t remember exactly how much) and take it into Norway without paying VAT. If you try to exceed the limit, it will be smuggling and the customs people are not so keen on that. I suppose every country have their own rules on this. Regards Åmund Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 20, 2011 Share #24 Posted February 20, 2011 For EU residents, a good way to 'collect' in all legality consists in buying in a EU country where the VAT rate is lower than yours. I bought a lot of things in Germany when they had a 15% VAT for instance. Right now, the lowest EU rates are in Luxembourg (15%), Cyprus (15%), Spain (18%) and Malta (18%). http://tinyurl.com/2sj4hc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackal Posted February 22, 2011 Share #25 Posted February 22, 2011 Passing thru Dixons here, m9's for 4125 gbp and a couple of 35 summicrons in the case for £1700 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gDallasK Posted February 22, 2011 Share #26 Posted February 22, 2011 I have been wondering for some time when these prices would be noticed on this forum. I bought an X1 in Dixons at Heathrow T5 a few weeks ago at a saving of around £300 over UK retail prices. I have been enjoying my M9 since 11th September 2009, but had I not already got one I would certainly have snapped one up at Dixons price. I found the sales staff there to be knowledgable and very helpful. And since the only border I was taking the X1 across was that between England and Scotland, I didn't need to concern myself about any form of duty. If you are flying through Heathrow (or any of the other airports where Dixons are selling Leica) and are in the market for an M9 or an X1 you would be crazy to ignore the saving. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 22, 2011 Share #27 Posted February 22, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have just been to the Dixon's website, as I am flying long-haul in June and this is of interest. It doesn't seem possible to find a product code for Leicas from the website, but I am sure that a phone call to them would sort something out. They do not quote prices on the web - you have to call them and agree a price for when you collect. Although I would much prefer to support my local dealer when buying expensive kit, the saving of nearly £1,000 on an M9 is just too much to dismiss on a whim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 22, 2011 Share #28 Posted February 22, 2011 And I don`t do not participate in any voluntary programs or collect anything from the government, federal or state. I am part of the silent majority who only get to pay, not collect. I have no problem contributing for roads and defense, it is the other 90 % of the budget I have trouble with. Heat for the poor, food for the poor, telephones for the poor. college money for the poor. The list is endless. Nobody gave me anything and I wish it was true of everyone. I even turned down unemployment comp and the bureaucrats thought I was in need of mental help. And yes I avoid the great recycle income transfer program whenever possible. Our president likes to call this redistribution of wealth and he got elected on the principle. See what happened? I suppose nobody understands sarcasm anymore. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 23, 2011 Share #29 Posted February 23, 2011 I have just phoned Dixons at T3 No problem with UK nationals buying at these prices, taking the goods out of the country and bringing them back again. Customs will not bother you. Dixons will deliver the duty free goods to your home address if you wish. This has suddenly become a tempting prospect. Will need to sell some stuff to pay towards it, but that's OK. "Phone and reserve in plenty of time, stock is limited" was the guy's only advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted February 23, 2011 Share #30 Posted February 23, 2011 I have just phoned Dixons at T3 No problem with UK nationals buying at these prices, taking the goods out of the country and bringing them back again. Customs will not bother you. Dixons will deliver the duty free goods to your home address if you wish. This has suddenly become a tempting prospect. Will need to sell some stuff to pay towards it, but that's OK. "Phone and reserve in plenty of time, stock is limited" was the guy's only advice. ...Andy, I'm confused - are you saying Dixons have advised that they will deliver duty-free goods purchased at a UK airport (and amounting to well over GBP 4,500.00) to a UK address? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 23, 2011 Share #31 Posted February 23, 2011 There are no customs agents on the LUF hopefully. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 23, 2011 Share #32 Posted February 23, 2011 ...Andy, I'm confused - are you saying Dixons have advised that they will deliver duty-free goods purchased at a UK airport (and amounting to well over GBP 4,500.00) to a UK address? Yes. That's exactly what the man said. Ask him yourself! 0208-990-9974 But, you have to be there, in person, through security, to buy the goods. They don't take phone orders... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted February 23, 2011 Share #33 Posted February 23, 2011 Yes. That's exactly what the man said. Ask him yourself! 0208-990-9974 But, you have to be there, in person, through security, to buy the goods. They don't take phone orders... ...spoke to Dixons, Andy. As stated above, the M9 is available at Heathrow for GBP 4,125.00. Interestingly, this figure is not classed as "duty-free", even though it is pretty clear that the figure has been "discounted". It is almost as if a separate zone exists between the high street and the duty-free area. It is also very important to note that no further refunds (duty or tax) can be claimed off this figure. Sounds like a no-brainer for UK residents. However, if you are not UK-resident, it is not necessarily the best deal - for instance, Ivor at Red Dot currently lists the M9 at GBP 4,900.00. Any VAT refunds (@20%) would incur a nominal administration fee. This would bring it very close (if not equal) to Dixons figure. And let's not forget that Ivor and Elaine do "love" more than Dixons. All day, every day. Like our US folks would say, "do the math". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 23, 2011 Share #34 Posted February 23, 2011 LIke I said above, I would prefer to support one of our hard working retailers, but when the difference is so great, it's very difficult not to take advantage of the discount to be had. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexmann Posted February 23, 2011 Share #35 Posted February 23, 2011 Andy, it sounds like you're wavering. As a moderator you do actually need an M9. I'm surprised that Andreas hasn't made it obligatory. Go on, do it! Regards Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 23, 2011 Share #36 Posted February 23, 2011 Maybe Andreas would like to buy me one... We're not all made of money, I'm afraid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 23, 2011 Share #37 Posted February 23, 2011 ...the M9 is available at Heathrow for GBP 4,125.00. Interestingly, this figure is not classed as "duty-free"... Ask this man if there is still some VAT on his invoices. If not, it is duty free actually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexmann Posted February 23, 2011 Share #38 Posted February 23, 2011 Sad but true, Andy. So how about we set up the 'Old Put-Upon Moderators Benevolent Fund'? If we all chipped in a $, €, or £ I'm sure you'd soon have enough:D I'd be very happy to chip in my quid:) Regards Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 23, 2011 Share #39 Posted February 23, 2011 On another forum the participants presented a moderator with a ZI camera... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 23, 2011 Share #40 Posted February 23, 2011 DId they? Well, a couple of years ago, some members here were very kind to me... But, even their largess didn't stretch to a camera Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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