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M9-P fever - but where to buy?


stussy2k

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Hello Leica-lytes,

 

I have to admit - I have had this itch for a long time (replacement for my old beaten up Canon 20D and still pristine Epson R-D1). Originally I was considering the M6 - film photography in Japan is still very much alive, but it pretty much needs life support in tiny Denmark where I spend most of my time. Since most of my shoots are done in monochrome one could argue that the time and money to be invested in processing the film myself in my bathroom easily balances out the M6+film+chems vs M9-P cost, but then I'm faced with labour of scanning the negatives. After long deliberation, in conclusion I (think I have) decided on the M9-P.

Still after investigating prices in Japan (which seem to have been applied an extra commission rate perhaps due to the strong JPY) I'm inclined to buy the unit somewhere in Europe (Leica Mayfair? German/Austrian shops) or BH NYC (the trip to NYC would a bonus) instead. Due to "criticisable" experiences in the local photo shops those are out of the question.

Any ideas, suggestions, even just inspirations, +/- merits of the chosen shop/dealer of procurement would be held in high regard.

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If you buy in NYC at B&H you will have to pay local sales tax, which is probably around 8-9%. If they ship to an out of state location you will not be charged this tax.

 

Oh thanks - I didn't realise that till now - so effective price would in effect be : $7,995.00+9% = $8,716? How does that work if say I go visit a friend in LA instead and have it shipped there? Would I be subjected to CA taxes instead then?

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Fly to Australia. It's about the same price in AUD which is $7402 USD. And as you are exporting the camera you gat the GST (10%) back at the airport. So it would cost you USD6729.00. One of the cheapest places in the world, currently.

 

Gordon

Yep - the sales tax is a consideration. You will get 20% back at a European airport. Or buy directly at Schiphol Airport or Oslo. One of the cheapest places for stuff like this. You'll have to mail them to reserve the camera.

 

 

http://www.capi.com/about-capi.htm

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Oh thanks - I didn't realise that till now - so effective price would in effect be : $7,995.00+9% = $8,716? How does that work if say I go visit a friend in LA instead and have it shipped there? Would I be subjected to CA taxes instead then?

 

If B&H shipped the camera to your friend in California, or any address outside of the state of New York, they will not charge the sales tax. The price would be $7995, hopefully with free shipping. It's a very strange law, and many Americans choose to buy expensive items like Leica cameras and have them shipped to avoid the tax. Also the tax rate varies from state to state, and even city to city.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that a company like Calumet, that has stores in NYC and LA, WOULD charge sales tax if shipping from New York to California. In order to avoid the tax the company that you are buying from cannot have a physical store in that state.

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I bought mine from Dale Photo & Digital in Hollywood, Florida. They are perhaps the #4 Leica dealer in the US, and accept trades. And the Florida sales tax is a bit lower, 6% I believe. Or you could visit some other state and have Dale ship the equipment. But a caution -- if you make an out of state purchase to avoid sales tax, some states still claim you must pay local use tax. Florida is an example: FL Dept Rev - Use Tax on Out-of-State Purchases. This varies from state to state, so best to research your mode of purchase ahead of time.

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Fly to Australia. It's about the same price in AUD which is $7402 USD. And as you are exporting the camera you gat the GST (10%) back at the airport. So it would cost you USD6729.00. One of the cheapest places in the world, currently.

 

Gordon

 

Thats great news. At current exchange rate that makes the USD6729 around AUD6575 for an M9-P on export. A "plain vanilla" new M9 (non grey-market) is the best I can find around that price in Oz. Can you please elaborate on this as I am hoping to upgrade to FF from my M8 in the next few months.

Thanks.

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As a non US citizen or permanent resident this tax would not apply to the OP, but Americans need to consider this.

 

You may not have a choice. I live in Greece, but recently ordered some goods for delivery to my son in Florida. The goods were ordered from a California company and shipped from Mississippi to Florida. The company added the 6% Florida sales tax to the order.

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You may not have a choice. I live in Greece, but recently ordered some goods for delivery to my son in Florida. The goods were ordered from a California company and shipped from Mississippi to Florida. The company added the 6% Florida sales tax to the order.

 

If the company you are ordering from has a store in Florida, even if the goods shipped from Mississippi they are required to charge Florida sales tax.

 

If you are a non US citizen and have the item shipped to a state in which the company you are purchasing from does not have a store then you will not be charged sales tax and you will have no liability for use tax.

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