ScoobyJawa

Hi

I want to buy a digital camera and am trying to work out the best place to buy one from. I'm probably going with the Fuji Finepix S304 (or 3800 in the States). The full UK list price is £400, but no-one's ever going to pay that!! The options are:

From the High Street - Dixons have it at £350. (No, I'm not considering this - it's for reference!)
Dixons tax free; based on the above it's just under £300.
UK based website - £300
Try Jessops and their price-match the internet policy.
US camera shop - approx $400 so about £250
US based website - $335 so about £210

So....the questions.....

Would it be feasible to buy online and have it shipped to my hotel? Now, the hotel is a 4/5 star upmarket jobbie, not some ropey old shack, but that still 'feels' rather risky. If it gets nicked, would I have any comeback on the credit card?
What about the warranty? If I buy from the States and there is a problem, would I have to send it back to the US? Is it worth this risk?

ScoobyJawa

Posted on behalf of V5.

springbok

Re warranty. If you buy a US sourced camera (or anything) it will have a US warranty and have to be sent back to the US for repair at your cost.

sjah555

Presume you have checked out here : DP Review

-Sal-

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

If you get it in the States, will the plug for the battery charger fit our mains sockets?

Nick VR4

as above plus different voltage so you might blow the tranformer up
US 110v
UK 240v

Sith

The USA warranty will be honered by Fuji UK. You would have to take it to an Authorised Repair Center rather than sending it back to Fuji.

Most Fuji cameras do not come with power / chargers so voltage is not a problem.

Chrisgr31

I suspect the real problem with importing a camera from the States is the danger of Customs and Excise finding out what is in the package and charging you duty and VAT at 17.5%. If this happens your bargain is suddenly not such a bargain.

I am looking at the same thing at the moment. Then had a brainwave and sent my brother out to look in the shops. He lives in Dubai and it was their shopping festival so I felt it should have been cheaper. However it seemed I would save £20 on the UK price (based on Park Cameras)so I am back to thinking again!

Might try getting one in Malaysia when on my Honeymoon!

V5

Hello! Thanks Neil. It sucks not being able to post at work!

Sith - I've heard that too from one of the guys at work who'd bought an Olympus in the States and had to send it back to Olympus UK. Even with a receipt from the US there were no probs. So, feeling kinda reassured on that one.

Chris - that's a point worth mentioning! I guess I'll do as before and get rid of the packaging and make it look like it wasn't bought out there

Any opinions on ordering online for delivery to the hotel? Still undecided whether saving £40 is worth the risk

Sith

I have just bought a Fuji A204 from Amazon.co.uk for £158. This is over £20 cheaper than any price I could find on the net (Included free delivery) . Was cheaper than most on ebay.

I could have bought a 2600 or 2650 model from the States. But by the time I had added postage and the possibility of getting caught by customs, I went the UK route.

If someone is in the States, can haggle for you and then bring the camera back then that is a different matter.

I spent about a week researching this purchase.

V5, I don't know if you go near London Bridge, but Vic Oddens has got some very good price reductions on at the mo.

V5

I'm going to be in Boston at the end of the month, which is why buying from the States is an option. I've not "set my heart" on buying it in the States, but looking around I could save £50 - £90 on the High St price for a Fuji Finepix S304. And that seems worth it

(So if anyone knows a friendly camera shop owner in Boston ....)

springbok

Amazon.co.uk have the S304 at £287.99 here, I know where I'd go
Even better if you prefer as I did, when I bought my Fuji S602 I printed off the price on amazon and took it into Jessops and they price matched it, saving £30 at the time.
So you get a cheap internet price for a no worries (warranty) UK camera and also the back up of a national Chain in Jessops.
Hope this helps, Cheers, Grahame.


[Edited by springbok - 2/18/2003 10:51:47 PM]

V5

Thanks Grahame! Your mention of Amazon.co.uk (the best UK based price for the S304) made me check Amazon.com. They've got it at $335, which works out at about just over £210 I'm also buying a 128Mb xD card for less than $70.

So, drawn by the lure of saving nearly £80 on the camera alone I've decided to take the slightly risky route of having it shipped to my hotel and hoping it's there when I arrive I've spoken to the hotel, well, a member of staff , and they're happy to accept a package and hold it for my arrival. [Fingers crossed] If anyone actually gives a fig, or is indeed still reading this thread , I'll let you know if I'm a proud owner of a digital camera upon my return!

ScoobyJawa

Just make sure you leave the box etc behind (and hide the other bits well!!!) That way when you come back through customs its simply your own digi cam you took over there

V5

Wow Neil - I'd never have tought of that!!

carl

But as most people do, you'll keep the receipt. If HMC&E find it, then you're stuffed. Of course, without the receipt you have no warranty.

I reckon the best bet is to post the receipt and manuals to yourself. If you want to be even sneakier, post it to your work address or a friend's address.

ScoobyJawa

ah **** off - didn't read the whole thread and was only trying to be helpful

*goes off and sulks*

gregh

I've had a radar detector shipped to a hotel in the US and it was fine. Pay by credit card for extra cover. Nice idea on posting the receipt manuals to yourself

Greg

V5

Yup, that's a nice idea, Carl. I think I'll post my receipt and manuals to work!

LOL @ SJ

Edit to add - yup, it's on the credit card. Never having to have tried out the insurance side of a CC I wasn't sure this would be covered. I don't see why not, mind.

[Edited by V5 - 2/20/2003 4:24:30 PM]

Sith

Fuji have the manuals on the web as PDF's.