Buying a Nikon Duty free/USA???

[isuzurover]

Hi all,

I am heading to the US soon, and would like to pick up a camera along the way. (happy to buy on return journey).

Looking at a D300s body at this stage, and a lens or two.

My options are to buy:
(1) duty free in AU (think this would be the most expensive)
(2) duty free in LA (or elsewhere?)
(3) duty free in Singapore
(4) online/US and have it delivered to my hotel (then claim back duty???)

Can anyone recommend one of the above purchasing methods and/or a vendor???

I have never bought anything duty free apart from alcohol and a small laptop. I note that the duty free limit is AU$900, so I will need to pay duty on the camera either way (unless I get it delivered to my hotel, repackage into sub $1000 parcels and send home???)

[slug_burner]

Get a camera bag (preferably used with signs of wear) stick it all in and carry it like a tourist. What is to say you did not take it from Oz with you?

Without extensive research I'd go with the Singapore option and talk them down below what ever deal you have seen on the net, if on the way out and it doesn't work you still have the options to buy via any other of your options.

Warranty claims maybe an issue for all except purchase in Oz.

[abaddonxi]

Last time I looked the places that did duty free, or did it easily, were more than the discount above the competition.

Bought mail order from B&H, no problems.

Buying across state lines in US avoids state tax - why they have such a big mail order industry.

25464 Nikon D300S 12.3 Megapixels SLR Digital Camera Body with 3" LCD, CF and SD/SDHC Card Slot (http://www.adorama.com/INKD300S.html)

Nikon D300s SLR Digital Camera (Body Only) 25464 B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/635645-REG/Nikon_25464_D300s_SLR_Digital_Camera.html)

[slug_burner]

Last time I looked the places that did duty free, or did it easily, were more than the discount above the competition.

Bought mail order from B&H, no problems.

Buying across state lines in US avoids state tax - why they have such a big mail order industry.

25464 Nikon D300S 12.3 Megapixels SLR Digital Camera Body with 3" LCD, CF and SD/SDHC Card Slot (http://www.adorama.com/INKD300S.html)

Nikon D300s SLR Digital Camera (Body Only) 25464 B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/635645-REG/Nikon_25464_D300s_SLR_Digital_Camera.html)

Nikon D300S Digital SLR Camera Body - 12.3 Megapixel - 16:9 - 3" Color LCD (http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=NKD300S&id=NKD300S&l=DEALTIME&scpid=8&scid=scsho168661) is cheapest at US$1439

[Bigbjorn]

Hi all,

I am heading to the US soon, and would like to pick up a camera along the way. (happy to buy on return journey).



When and where are you going? I land in LAX June 6th. and return 13th. August. Going to the Miller-Offenhauser Historic Race Meeting at Milwaukee in July and lots of other places.

[rrturboD]

Good idea to take a weathered camera bag with you.
I've bought cameras OS and posted all the packaging to my parents, just to ensure no address matches etc, and walked the gear in as if I have always had it.

[incisor]

https://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=2330

AU $1287

[Chucaro]

Compare the asking price between B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/) and DWI and take it from there.
The gear from B&H do not hava warraty here in OZ the one from DWI yes.
In any case if you go to USA try to go the the B&H shop, it is among the best in the world.

[300+]

You can buy here, claim a GST refund as you leave and pool your allowance with traveling companions on they way back in so you don't pay back the GST.

I was in the same situation last time I bought and Aus was the cheapest & the GST refund was the icing on the cake.

Cheers, Steve

[LSD_AUTOMOTIVE]

Fancy buying me some rolls of seamless if you go Adorama or B&H? Not sure how you'll smuggle them through security to avoid the excess baggage charges though.....
If you're considering Adorama, make sure you compare to their amazon listings. I've found they're cheaper on post and product on amazon rather than their main site. Though I've only been comparing pricing, no purchases as yet.

An aus search gave me this
http://www.eglobaldigitalcameras.com.au/nikon-d300s-body-only-digital-slr-cameras.html?utm_source=getprice&utm_medium=cpc (http://www.eglobaldigitalcameras.com.au/nikon-d300s-body-only-digital-slr-cameras.html?utm_source=getprice&utm_medium=cpc)

Or there are options like this one

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/450970331-D300S-3-inch-SLR-Digital-Camera-12-3-million-pixels-New-Free-Ship-1-Years-Warranty-wholesalers.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/450970331-D300S-3-inch-SLR-Digital-Camera-12-3-million-pixels-New-Free-Ship-1-Years-Warranty-wholesalers.html)

[Russ]

Nikon D300S Digital SLR Camera Body - 12.3 Megapixel - 16:9 - 3" Color LCD (http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=NKD300S&id=NKD300S&l=DEALTIME&scpid=8&scid=scsho168661) is cheapest at US$1439

You can buy it in Oz for about the same price from DD Photography in North Sydney: http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Nikon-D300s-Body-.html (http://d-d-photographics.com.au/products/Nikon-D300s-Body-.html). Can also pickup in Sydney or Brisbane.

Rarely will you find anywhere cheaper in Australia for most items.

They are Grey Imports though, so you won't have an Australian warranty - but you wouldn't if you bought it O/S anyway.

[isuzurover]

https://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=2330

AU $1287

Thanks Inc! Looks like that is the best price by far. I am in HK at the moment and a D300s body is ~$1700 here.

[300+]

DWI ship from this guy in HK:
THE CAMERA SHOP CO.,
FLAT J,7/F 63 OAK ST
TAI KOK TSUI
KOWLOON,
HK

I don't know if there is a retail store you can visit - the address is flat J. If there is you may get it even cheaper the DWI as you can avoid the shipping.

Some internet research may turn up a phone number for them, but I don't have one.

Cheers, Steve

[isuzurover]

https://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=2330

AU $1287

Does anyone know what the "1 year warranty" offered on this camera is??? As I understand it, these cameras and imported (from HK?) - so is the warranty a Nikon warranty or something else???

EDIT - it seems I have answered my own question...
https://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/help/warranty-information.asp

Has anyone ever bought from dwi and claimed on this warranty???

[Chucaro]

Does anyone know what the "1 year warranty" offered on this camera is??? As I understand it, these cameras and imported (from HK?) - so is the warranty a Nikon warranty or something else???

EDIT - it seems I have answered my own question...
https://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/help/warranty-information.asp

Has anyone ever bought from dwi and claimed on this warranty???

Importers in Australia by law have to provide warranty for the products that they sell.
When my D200 have a problem about 2 years ego the importer sent the camera for repairs to the same independent work shop that Nikon sent the cameras imported by them.

[isuzurover]

Thanks everyone for the help. The D300s, lens and extra bits arrived early this morning. I ordered on Friday afternoon.

I already bought a kingchrome pelican-type case to put it in.

Now I just need to work out how to use it. Very different to the film SLR and Ixus we now own.

If anyone is after FD lenses or an AE-1 body (NR) - then let me know...

One (basic) question - can I use my old-school hot shoe flash units with the D300s???

[dmdigital]

In answer to the flash... depends on make, model etc.

Good learning tool is Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300 and D300s (http://www.bythom.com/nikond300guide.htm)

[isuzurover]

Just checked the itemised invoice on the package.

$975 (including postage and everything).

Camera body was listed as $550.

Wish I had paid that little :D :D :D

I wonder what the price on the invoice would be if I had bought a D1 body...