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Has anybody purchased from B&H since the fire? Wanted to know how prompt they are with supplying stock. Or is it better to go with Adorama?

I've bought some lenses from them before. Really good and reliable service.
Make sure you select USPS for postage though.. less chance of being charged custom fees.

Interesting, the BR-2A, BR-3 and BR-5 are all $24US. Total cost for all 3 items $93AU. Compared to Vanbars price of about $160-70AU.

For a BR-2A, BR-3 and the ML-L3 ($30-40) it was going to cost $220AU.

kipper wrote:Interesting, the BR-2A, BR-3 and BR-5 are all $24US. Total cost for all 3 items $93AU. Compared to Vanbars price of about $160-70.

kipper,
Listen: You're wasting your hard earned cash! Save up for the house! That's enough, I heard your mum's voice from here

Dude, I was trying out my 50mm 1.4 reversed (hand held in front of the camera) lastnight. It comes out really well! If I can get what I need for $120AU inclusive of shipping I will do so! It will be sort of an interim macro fix until I save up for a 105mm. Which I'm going to do at the rate of like $50pw for the next like 3-4months.

everything seem ok. but they did sent out a replacement focus cope which didn't come thru the mail after 45 days.

Which reminds me.....need to order another DK-16. Mine is somewhere in the house.

kipper wrote:Which reminds me.....need to order another DK-16. Mine is somewhere in the house.

Also don't forget order a Pringle lids for doing preset WB

Ordered Sigma 2x teleconverter on 18th March (Friday) in Sydney 11.29am on 20th (Sunday) delivered 10am 21st (Monday).

I used UPS Express and I was caught by customs. It proves my theory that the so called postal import limit ($500) is a load of rubbish. Customs pick at random and it does not matter what it cost, you will be charged.

I spoke to UPS re the charge and was told that it was because it was listed as a commercial item. This again is a load of rubbish as I have had items from B&H before with exactly the same invoicing and was not charged.

With anything you purchase from overseas there is the possibility of being charged but the odds are against it - luck of the draw

It all depends on the previous night, what he/ she got otherwise it'll slip thru

UPS are a rip off. They charge you to cash in duty. No way they would let it through without declaring. I may be wrong, but they charged me more fee than duty and I am still waiting for the invoice... Expensive service! Use the Post.
Cheers,
Gerard

glamy wrote:UPS are a rip off. They charge you to cash in duty. No way they would let it through without declaring. I may be wrong, but they charged me more fee than duty and I am still waiting for the invoice... Expensive service! Use the Post.
Cheers,
Gerard

Gerard,
I'm with you. Don't and never ever use UPS
They're sucked! especially UPS Australia! I have proofs which I can prove!
They are slower than snail mail from the USPS. No friendly and a big liar

sirhc55 wrote:I used UPS Express and I was caught by customs. It proves my theory that the so called postal import limit ($500) is a load of rubbish. Customs pick at random and it does not matter what it cost, you will be charged.

Customs own website says they won't charge you if the GST + Duty add to <$50, so if you have been charged, you probably have some right to redress.

It's confusing though - I misread this myself the first time around - if you work it out on an item costing around $290AUD, with $45AUD postage, you end up pretty much at the free limit (rather than the $500 which I previously understood it to be).

Here's a calculation from their page about buying over the internet http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4376

"Example 2 (postal importation) - no formal Customs entry is required
AUD$
Customs value (CVAL) 200.00
Customs duty @ 5 per cent x CVAL 10.00
Postage 50.00
Value of Taxable Importation (VoTI) 260.00
GST @ 10 per cent x $260.00 26.00
Total payable (customs duty + GST) 36.00

In example 2, the value of the postal goods does not exceed $1000 Australian and the duty/GST collectable ($36) does not exceed the $50 concession. Therefore Customs would not collect the $36. No formal Customs entry is required for this type of importation because the value of the goods does not exceed $1000."

If you calculate on a $290 purchase, you'll see that you get very close to the $50 limit.

Customs value (CVAL) 290.00
Customs duty @ 5 per cent x CVAL 14.50
Postage 45.00
Value of Taxable Importation (VoTI) 349.50
GST @ 10 per cent x $349.50 34.95
Total payable (customs duty + GST) 49.45

The other charge not shown is (in my case) the UPS charge for handling this. So you end up paying customs, gst and broker fee, and of course, the broker fee tends to be the highest amount.

It has to be to the advantage of UPS (in Australia) to tell customs of incoming mail so that they can make their fat fee and so maintain their business - makes sense.

That's interesting, because their website http://www.ups.com/content/au/en/resources/find/cost/additional.html says

"Imports

UPS provides brokerage service at no additional charge for routine customs clearance, including formal entries for shipments of up to five tariff lines. Additional charges may apply for complex customs clearance procedures. "

...misleading advertising?

Last time I got something from B&H I used USPS Global Express and they didn't charge a brokerage fee - based on your experience with UPS (who would have cost more as well) this was a lucky choice.

Found the invoice from UPS -

Total Duty $0.00
Total GST $31.00
Other Charges $52.25
Security Fee $10.95

So who gets the $63.20 UPS

Me too, I have been hit three times by UPS, even with the item cost is just $252.85 (Customs + UPS Exchange rate calculation)

Total Duty $0.00
Total GST $26.00
Other Charges $52.25
Security Fee $10.95

And the goods were delayed at LAX more than 10 days with their non sense excuses.

It seems to me both UPS + Customs are in the same bed, that why UPS can make monies in all small transactions come into the country.

are we talking about UPS Express or USPS Global Express Mail ??

From what I understand, UPS Express is considered a courier and therefore has slightly different rules/pricing structures.

USPS Global Express Mail is considered "via post"....

Does this make any sense in relation to above posts ??

Aussie Dave wrote:are we talking about UPS Express or USPS Global Express Mail ??

From what I understand, UPS Express is considered a courier and therefore has slightly different rules/pricing structures.

USPS Global Express Mail is considered "via post"....

Does this make any sense in relation to above posts ??

I'm talking about the UPS the delivery van painted in OD drab not USPS in connection with Australia Post in EMS

They are talking about UPS and how they rip customers off. Their service is also not as good as USPS either.

thanks guys - understood

UPS does the exact same thing here in Canada. They charge anywhere from $50-$70 for brokerage. Talk about getting bent over!