Disadvantage to buying from Hong Kong

[Snipe10]

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Ok, I want an M10-R and there are a few at Leica Boutiques here in the U.S. but they're $8995! Also available on Ebay from 100% feedback sellers in Hong Kong for about $2500/$3000 less. The sellers seem reputable via Ebay standards and I'm thinking of getting one. Do I lose the 2 year warranty buying from overseas? With a $3K savings, not sure it matters. Anyone here buy from Hong Kong? Don't want to make a $6K mistake.

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[frame-it]

not from HK via ebay, but direct from certain HK camera shops

 

 

[Snipe10]

Thanks, obviously should have searched first, appreciate it

[franco0434]

I actually lives in Hong Kong as a professional photographer, that goes without saying I get all my camera gears locally, I got myself a used M240-P (US$2,600) and M10-P(US$5,100) all without dramas, to my understand Hong Kong is one of the cheapest place to get camera gears worldwide probably because we have low-no tax policy, if you have any concerns getting one in Hong Kong feel free to let me know which shop you are eyeing maybe I can help to give you some advice.

- The sellers seem reputable via eBay standards
I usually don't get them thought their eBay shop, instead I go directly to their website to ask for it as same item in eBay cost more cos eBay markups.

- Do I lose the 2 year warranty buying from overseas

To my knowledge you should have Leica to back you up, whenever I need CLA I send it back to Germany, never any questions asked .

 

Edited December 7, 2023 by franco0434
typo

[Stuart Richardson]

Generally, Leica's warranty is worldwide, but if you buy it from another country you have to either send it to Germany directly or to that country. But some national reps might not care...I am not sure. I think if you brought a Hong Kong camera to Leica USA, they might not take it and tell you to send it to Germany yourself, but I am not sure. Certainly it will still be covered by Germany no matter where you buy it, as long as it is a new item sold via an authorized store.

I live in Iceland which until recently did not really have a Leica Store (and still kind of doesn't), and I have bought gear from wherever was cheapest or where I was traveling, so I have bought Leica products from the US, Germany, Denmark, France, the UK, and probably other places I am forgetting, and never have I had the slightest issue getting stuff repaired under warranty or outside of warranty. That has meant sending it to Germany though.

Edited December 7, 2023 by Stuart Richardson

[Eoin]

Why are you buying a Leica M10-R @ $6000 in HK?, they are available "New" with full factory 2 year warranty in Europe @ €4500 (export sale).

Choice may be limited to Silver though ... but still, best value M out there.

 

[bherman01545]

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I've personally had very good luck with one particular dealer in HK. I've probably spent over $30k with him over the last few years with 'zero' issues. Please DM me for more info.

-Brad

[Kreeshp]

I've had good experiences buying from both Hong Kong vendors:

Fotopia     https://www.fotopia.com.hk/

and

Alex at Rangefinder  https://www.rangefinder.com.hk/
 

If you're ok dealing with a private broker, not a bricks and mortar shop, I've also had positive buying and selling experiences with Tim Lei in London, Ontario, Canada.  You can find him on Facebook and on the Fred Miranda forum.

[High_n_Dry]

Rangefinder is excellent. The order arrives at your doorstep in 2 days.

The only issue is if you have a warranty problem. Alex at RF told me that you would have to send the camera/lens back to him or direct to Germany. Thankfully, I have not had any issues with my gear.

[69xchange]

On 12/20/2023 at 8:06 PM, High_n_Dry said:

Rangefinder is excellent. The order arrives at your doorstep in 2 days.

The only issue is if you have a warranty problem. Alex at RF told me that you would have to send the camera/lens back to him or direct to Germany. Thankfully, I have not had any issues with my gear.

Alex at rangefinder is superb. I spent over 20k and had a few warranty issues that he didn’t hesitate to send me a replacement for. 

[weatherproof]

Have any US buyers had issues with needing to pay customs duties when buying M bodies from abroad?

I took a glance at the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and it looks like digital M bodies should be under 8525.8x.xxxx, which should be duty free.

Lenses on the other hand I can't seem to nail down. 9002.11.xxxx?

Anyone have more exact numbers and duty percentages? Thanks

[69xchange]

17 hours ago, weatherproof said:

Have any US buyers had issues with needing to pay customs duties when buying M bodies from abroad?

I took a glance at the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and it looks like digital M bodies should be under 8525.8x.xxxx, which should be duty free.

Lenses on the other hand I can't seem to nail down. 9002.11.xxxx?

Anyone have more exact numbers and duty percentages? Thanks

Duty free, but not tax free? Anyways most HK sellers are willing to under declare if you ask them politely. 

[Warton]

On 1/4/2024 at 11:40 AM, weatherproof said:

Have any US buyers had issues with needing to pay customs duties when buying M bodies from abroad?

I took a glance at the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and it looks like digital M bodies should be under 8525.8x.xxxx, which should be duty free.

Lenses on the other hand I can't seem to nail down. 9002.11.xxxx?

Anyone have more exact numbers and duty percentages? Thanks

I have bought 1 m body and 3 m lenses from the same Hongkong seller. He always put $1000 for declaration. FedEx asked me to pay $98 when crossing the border.

I have no issues of paying this nominal fee 

[petereprice]

I think it depends on where you are getting service, and what region you register in/ Live.  For example, whenever I have either sent in my Leica gear or brought it in for repair at a Leica store here in the US, if I initially registered it when I purchased the product, I've never been asked for a proof of purchase.  Generally they look up whether your camera or lens has been registered, look at the warranty coverage on it online, through my registration and then intake the repair.

I've bought a couple of things at a Hong Kong-based reseller and have had no issues so far.  I haven't had to send in anything for repair. Still, when I have gone ahead and registered the products online, they have added to my account with no issues and shown as a US/EU/CN Serial number and model number along with an activated 2 year warranty.  So I can say for here in the States, its generally not a problem, especially since we have a repair hub near New York City, as well as a Leica Store that processes repairs and sends them to their service center in New Jersey.

However I have heard stories abroad, where some Leica regions will not process a non-locally purchased Leica however generally they just say that it needs to be sent directly to Germany and that's usually because that region may not have a local service center.  But I've never heard of refusal of service and generally Leica is very generous with their warranty coverage in my experience, unless it's a super old or dated Leica item.

In fact, I once bought a used Leica M10, sent it to the service center in New Jersey to be CLA'd, and I got it back at zero cost.  Maybe that's just how they roll in the US, but I'll take it!  

[o2mpx]

Purchased M10-R BP from M&K Camera from HK for price lower than average listings on eBay. Arrived within a week and in condition as described. 

The previous owner still had the camera registered with Leica so I emailed M&K to see if they can clean up the prior record but received no response. 

Fortunately Leica customer service in Germany will list you as current owner if sales receipt and photo of serial number from top plate was sent.