My buying a new M6 from the UK DHL shipping experience

[logan2z]

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3 hours ago, Huss said:

Currently showing as $4488.41.

In the US it is $5700.

Yup I'm seeing that exact price now. For some reason, the site flipped my cart back to Pounds instead of the dollars I had set for the site.  Still a good price.

[logan2z]

2 minutes ago, Huss said:

They automatically add a roll of Portra 400.

Hehe, we cross-posted.  I didn't notice that the cart had switched back to Pounds despite me having set the site to Dollars.  $4488 it is, a nice savings.

Edited December 2, 2022 by logan2z

[PFM]

I've had one bad experience with DHL over their charging of false import duties.  I contacted them and quoted them the exact US Code on this issue, and they still wouldn't budge.  So, it was either give up on the item, or pay up.  It wasn't as high a dollar item as a Leica M model (it was either my Nikon S2 or a lens I ordered for it later) so we were talking less than $100 extra, but I didn't want to lose the item and caved in to their demands.  After that I either won't buy an item if I know it will come DHL, or I'll ask the seller to use another carrier instead.

PF

[250swb]

Unless it was something that can't be broken I wouldn't trust DHL an inch. They are an appalling company, just wait until one day they decide to inspect your parcel, you'll have your camera rolling around loose inside the box on delivery.

[Huss]

On 11/30/2022 at 9:38 PM, trisberg said:

My only experience is with FedEx and a used M7 bought from a dealer in Japan. FedEx emailed me some importer forms I had to fill out and were helpful in getting everything settled. They did charge me a ~$30 fee for everything which seemed fair.

-Thomas

 

Think about it.  You already agreed to FedEx international shipping charges when you initially paid.  FedEx obviously knew where this package was going - it was an international shipment.  Those importer forms that you were emailed are part of that process and are or should be already priced into the shipping.  But all of a sudden you get hit with an extra $30 once they have your package hostage.

USPS and a few other shippers do not  hit you with that extra charge.  It definitely seems like a shake down made to look official.

FYI my DHL delivery was noted signature required - makes sense as a new Leica camera - but they just left it in the public lobby where anyone could have walked away with it.

[Mikep996]

"FYI my DHL delivery was noted signature required - makes sense as a new Leica camera - but they just left it in the public lobby where anyone could have walked away with it."

 

That seems to be common now - even though a signature is "required" the various delivery companies often just leave it.  I was expecting a sig-required package but it was delivered to the wrong address.  When I got a notification that it had been delivered, I went out to look...no package.  I contacted them - they "had proof" that it had been delivered.  I said 'I know it's been delivered, but not to me!"  Their response was that the GPS (in the truck) showed that it was delivered to the correct address.  I asked if the deliveryman actually LOOKED at the house number that was clearly visible on the curb and the house.  They basically ignored that question and restated that the GPS showed it had been delivered to the correct address.

While I was talking to the rep there was a knock on the door - the neighbor two doors down brought me my new Apple MacBook Pro...

 

[grahamc]

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1 hour ago, Mikep996 said:

"FYI my DHL delivery was noted signature required - makes sense as a new Leica camera - but they just left it in the public lobby where anyone could have walked away with it."

 

That seems to be common now - even though a signature is "required" the various delivery companies often just leave it.  I was expecting a sig-required package but it was delivered to the wrong address.  When I got a notification that it had been delivered, I went out to look...no package.  I contacted them - they "had proof" that it had been delivered.  I said 'I know it's been delivered, but not to me!"  Their response was that the GPS (in the truck) showed that it was delivered to the correct address.  I asked if the deliveryman actually LOOKED at the house number that was clearly visible on the curb and the house.  They basically ignored that question and restated that the GPS showed it had been delivered to the correct address.

While I was talking to the rep there was a knock on the door - the neighbor two doors down brought me my new Apple MacBook Pro...

 

That’s worrying !

[lmans]

So what do the import fees end up costing you. $4500 is great price but custom/import fees… ?

[Huss]

3 hours ago, lmans said:

So what do the import fees end up costing you. $4500 is great price but custom/import fees… ?

Post #1...

 

[logan2z]

7 hours ago, grahamc said:

That’s worrying !

I think it depends on the driver.  I recently had an incoming delivery from FedEx with signature required and - as I usually do - I left a signed note on the door asking them to leave the package on the porch since I knew I'd be on a work call when they showed up and wouldn't be able to go to the door.  Every time I've done this in the past the driver left the package and took the signed note as proof of signature. This time the driver wouldn't do it, he insisted I come out and provide a signature.  So it seems that the driver has some discretion in this.  

[LocalHero1953]

13 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Clearly importing anything seems totally different to USA from Europe than it is to Europe from USA (or from any non-EU country). The latter way one gets stung with at least 1/3rd of the cost in fees and duties.

I bought a Sigma fp at launch from B&H. I was charged 20% VAT on import to the UK, a reasonable shipping charge, but little more in other charges. Certainly not a third. They were barely available in the UK at the time, and only at higher price. 

FWIW, it had firmware problems at launch, but despite having bought it in another country, Sigma UK were very responsive, passed me on to Sigma Japan, who promised an upgraded firmware fix soon - which came within a month. 

[Huss]

I once sent my niece in England a longboard skateboard as a surprise gift.  The surprise was her mom had to go to a customs office and pay a big import fee before they would hand it over.  If I knew that any of that was going to happen, I would have just taken it with me on the plane next time I visited, and pretended it was mine. (I often travel w skateboards as it is a fun way to see places).

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, Al Brown said:

There is EU VAT (in EU ranging from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary), customs fees at 8-10% for anything camera gear related above 150€ or so, shipping fees PLUS processing fees from the DHL/FedEx etc. couriers. So yes, the regular (fully legal) way you get stung with about a third now. B&H and some other US stores offer pre-paid import duties on bought items which are almost always better than importing yourself (they pay the difference if discrepancies occur).

All I can pass on is that I imported the full legal way, and that 'getting stung' is not how I would describe the process, nor the documentation of costs - I saved money on the import and there were no surprises. I have had similar good experiences buying used lenses from Japan from ebay; in those cases the taxes/duties were not made clear to start with, but were not exorbitant in the event (and again, not a third). I am sure you are right that it depends on your country, the item, the dealer, the shipper and VAT/duty rates, but a blanket 'at least a third' on 'importing anything' is too simplistic for 'Europe', or all dealers.

[mshchem]

I received my new Black MP today, DHL, charged me the 46 USD extortion fee. I ran a 36 exp roll of Kentmere, no scratches. 

[Huss]

2 hours ago, mshchem said:

I received my new Black MP today, DHL, charged me the 46 USD extortion fee. I ran a 36 exp roll of Kentmere, no scratches. 

Congrats!  And it is an extortion fee as you already paid DHL their shipping fee.  They knew - obviously - where it was going so if it was legit, they would have just included it into the shipping cost at the beginning.  But they know if they did that, people would use a diff shipping company.  So add that sucker on the end when you are waiting for it, with it already in their possession.

Adding your scratch free camera to the count.