Suggestions for Leica enthusiast stores in London

[jmr237]

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I'll be in London for about a week in November. I'd appreciate help with three questions:

 

Any suggestions on Leica-oriented camera shops (official company stores or otherwise) that are worth a visit?

 

If I buy something, should I expect to pay sales tax or VAT?

 

Here in the U.S., you typically do not get a good deal if you trade in existing camera gear for a credit on a purchase from a camera retailer. Should I expect that to be true in the London stores? I might be interested in trading in a 240 toward a lens or a film M.

 

 

 

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[earleygallery]

Hi,

 

Obvious stores are Red Dot, Leica Mayfair, Richard Caplan, Aperture. There’s also London Camera Exchange who often have used Leica items.

 

Yes you will pay VAT which is included in the prices they display. I think you can claim it back as a foreigner taking the gear out of the country but don’t know the details.

 

You won’t get the best price for your camera as a trade in, after all the dealers need to make a profit and pay tax and provide a warranty when they sell, but you will need to see what they offer and decide if it’s acceptable to you, bearing in mind the convenience factor.

 

Happy hunting!

[jaapv]

Normally you will have to go through an agent at the airport to reclaim VAT. Unfortunately those agents take a hefty commission. The shop will have to fill out a form to present at the airport.

Normally it is more convenient to buy at the tax-free stores at the airport, although you may have to order specific items in advance.

[Chuck Albertson]

You'll have to pay VAT on any purchases, and then go through a bit of a hassle at Heathrow or whatever airport you're departing from to recover it. Most of the shops will generate the paperwork you need for the refund, but you have to budget some extra time at the airport when you're leaving. First you have to go to a Customs window (airside) so they can verify the goods and stamp your paperwork. You then take the paperwork to Travelex, which has the franchise for VAT refunds. As Jaap says, they take a hefty commission (about 7.5%, as I recall) and if you want the refund in non-UK currency (like U$), you'll get the nasty end of their exchange rate for that. I tried to have it processed as a credit card refund, but they said that would take 5-6 weeks (!) so I dropped it.

 

Depending on what your purchases add up to, you may have to pay duty on them when you land in the US.

[masjah]

I forget the exact technical term, but so far as second-hand goods are concerned, I think most dealers use a specific government VAT scheme for easy administration which precludes redemption by non-EU visitors.

[NigelG]

For second hand goods there is a “VAT margin scheme” that can be used by dealers. The VAT is levied at 16.67% on the difference between the price paid by the dealer and resale price (ie the “margin”). I’m not sure if this can be claimed back if the goods are exported.

[MarkP]

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The UK VAT refund scheme is a nightmare: both the logistics of procession the refund and the outrageous charges by the private companies that handle the refunds.

[jmr237]

Thanks everyone for the information. Sounds like I am better off just buying things here in the U.S.

[farnz]

Since you'll be in London it will be worth your while visiting Croydon Photo Centre in (the London Borough of) Croydon.  The journey to the shop will take 30 to 40 minutes from Victoria railway station and the proprietor is 88-year old Reg Roach who always has a healthy stock of used Leica equipment.  You can lose very pleasant hours chatting away to Reg and if you're lucky he'll show you some of his private collection and regale you with their stories.

 

Pete.

[microview]

 

 

Here in the U.S., you typically do not get a good deal if you trade in existing camera gear for a credit on a purchase from a camera retailer. Should I expect that to be true in the London stores? I might be interested in trading in a 240 toward a lens or a film M.

 

I believe second-hand items do not attract UK purchase tax, only new. As noted above, trade-in gives you far less than selling on commission, for which Red Dot (and Classic Camera, near British Museum, accredited Leica dealer) take 15%, Aperture 20% or 17% on items over £2k. So you might sell your 240 here but buy new when back at home.

Edited October 7, 2018 by microview

[graphlex]

The UK VAT refund scheme is a nightmare: both the logistics of procession the refund and the outrageous charges by the private companies that handle the refunds.

Not necessarily so. At Richard Caplan, you get a pre-addressed form which you have stamped at the airport by HMCE, and drop into a mailbox there. When he gets the form, he credits your charge card for the VAT, less a small transaction fee of about £25. Pretty much hassle-free.

[howiebrou]

Tx refund in the UK is simple. Firstly there is no VAT on used goods, only new. Get the form from the dealer, queue up for about 30 mins BEFORE checking in in case the goods need to be seen and do it all on credit card refund. Yes it takes a few weeks but it works. Not difficult. If you are buying new from the UK it's better to get them to mail it to you which means you save 100% of the VAT, not a pifling 12-14 % after service charges are taken but you have to take into account whether your country will charge you import duties.