Buying Nikkors from the States?

[kalkadan]

Hi

I just saw in the for sale forum the exchanges where Adam said he purchased his 10.5 from Adorama. I was wondering how it got through Customs or whatever without them holding it up for duty? GST or anything else. I sometimes import parts for a classic vehicle and if (especially if) it goes over $1000 declared then I get held up at gunpoint and have to pay!

Also noticed that 'Birdy' has some bargains - been trying to find them. Can someone direct me to that place? and I saw him mentioned in the 17-35mm f2.8 discussion (the non-DX lens). I am after one of those. I know. Join the queue.

thanks

Dan

[NikonUser]

Birdy's bargins have been taken down from these forums while some issues are sorted out...

As for the duty... I've always had to pay it when importing things from the major US shops. Usually people in Hong Kong are kinder though and will put a lower value on the item and mark it as a gift to try and aviod duty.

Paul

[the foto fanatic]

Anything that comes in from overseas is liable for GST, including items purchased via Birdy.

[smac]

Hi Dan,

The Nikon 10.5mm fisheye is around US$590 which will be about AUD$820 or so (including freight) landed in Australia. As this is under the "arbitrary" AUD$1,000 customs cut-off level, customs should waive any GST. There is no longer any duty on Photographic items (only GST if over $1,000).

If you go over $1,000 customs may charge GST and if they do it will be based on the the total amount (you don't get the first thousand for free).

This is the same policy if you are bringing the item back with you from overseas and declare it.

Stuart

[gstark]

Hi, and welcome.

I sometimes import parts for a classic vehicle and if (especially if) it goes over $1000 declared then I get held up at gunpoint and have to pay!

What sort of vehicle?

And how do you import the goods?

If you use someone like UPS, they will make you use their customs agent - at your expense - and impose customs levvies - regradless of whether they're due to be paid or not - before your goods even land in the country.

Go figure that one out - they're hitting you for the customs charges before customs even decides whether or not you have charges to pay.

The best bet these days is to use the higher grade postal services; minimal extra charges, and generally speaking, no slower than express courier. I've had a lens brought in from HK in this manner; ordered on a Sunday evening, in my hands on the following Wednesday!

Also noticed that 'Birdy' has some bargains - been trying to find them. Can someone direct me to that place?

Not that fast, my friend. The bargains through this forum were only available to what we call qualified members. Please review the FAQ and you'll get the full picture in that regard.

But at the moment we're experiencing issues in this area, and in the interests of our members, I've had to remove it from public view. I'm hoping that the issue will be resolved in the short term.

In the meantime, please remember that this forum is not about the bargains, but about photography, and I'm confident that there's plenty here that will keep you occupied.

[kalkadan]

Thanks Stuart.
Gary, note what you say about the FAQ. Will do.

The car is a 1960 Porsche 356B coupe which is, sort of, the love of my life Have used both UPS and Fedex.

I agree with you that life is about photography. Bargains come in useful along the way.

Dan

[gstark]

Dan,

Nice.

No doubt Glen will be along shortly to exchange Porsche notes with you. I sold my 72 Alfa 2000 GT Veloce about a year ago 'cos I'm getting too arthritic to enjoy playtime in it. Playtime now is enjoyed in an SLK though

And the arthritis makes playing the upright a real, rather than a virtual, pain too.

Getting old-ish sucks.

[smac]

Playtime now is enjoyed in an SLK though

Gary, If I was driving a Mercedes I would try to hide it as well!!

Stuart

[gstark]

Playtime now is enjoyed in an SLK though

Gary, If I was driving a Mercedes I would try to hide it as well!!

Yep. Beamer drivers do seem to want to show off, don't they?

[kalkadan]

Ok guys! the mention of arthritis made me do it - I sympathise so much!

http://homepage.mac.com/danryan48/New%20Album/

she is going to Melbourne next week for a new tranny, refurbished engine, seats, wipers, and seatbelts! - all the things that will let her still be living when I shoot thru'

Dan
P.S. these shots with a Canon Ixus 400 - that's a max. of 4 megapixels! why did I buy the D200?![/img]

[gstark]

Ok guys! the mention of arthritis made me do it - I sympathise so much!

You'll fit in well around here.

she is going to Melbourne next week for a new tranny, refurbished engine, seats, wipers, and seatbelts! - all the things that will let her still be living when I shoot thru'

Chris will let you borrow his zimmer while she's getting her transplants.

P.S. these shots with a Canon Ixus 400 - that's a max. of 4 megapixels! why did I buy the D200?!

We won't hold that against you/

[Andyt]

But at the moment we're experiencing issues in this area, and in the interests of our members, I've had to remove it from public view. I'm hoping that the issue will be resolved in the short term.

Ah! So thats where it went, I have been away, was going to order a new tripod

[beetleboy]

You're (almost) driving my dream car!

I restored/customised a 1969 VW beetle about 6 years ago but would have much preferred a 356 speedster.



(apologies for the crappy photo, it's a photo of a print taken with an old 2MP Vivitar!)

[kalkadan]

beetleboy

not a crappy photo at all - love the Veedub - have you seen the book 'The Original VW' published by Bay Books? lots of lovely photos

amazing bloke Porsche - VW, Tanks, 356 and 911 - must have stayed awake nights

Dan

[kalkadan]

hey - can anyone tell me (in really simple steps) how to put an image in a message?

thanks

Dan

[fozzie]

Dan - follow this thread

http://dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php?t=2789

hey - can anyone tell me (in really simple steps) how to put an image in a message?

thanks

Dan

[radar]

Dan,

hey - can anyone tell me (in really simple steps) how to put an image in a message?

have a look in the Image section of the forum, you will find this thread:
http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php?t=2789

cheers,

André

[gstark]

(apologies for the crappy photo, it's a photo of a print taken with an old 2MP Vivitar!)

And the print was fogged too.

Nice rocks, Liam.

[beetleboy]

Dan, can't say I've seen that book. I did most of the work on my bug by following the wise words of John Muir - "How to keep your Volkswagen alive; A manual of step by step procedures for the compleat (sic) idiot"!!!

Waiting now until my business is established so I can start another project car - would love to do a speedster but fear I'll only be able to afford a replica!

[Glen]

Dan, nice car! Please post more pics. Is that Signal Red? You have a ready built model for your D200 once it gets back from the refurb.





Stuart, one day try counting how many BMW emblems are on your car (hint you will need more than all your finger and toes). You wonder why the makers feel the need to reassure one so much?

[Matt. K]

Gary
Fogged?

That's not how you spell it!
Seriously though, fogging is not a problem I have with an inkjet printer. The print is also faded. Most folk don't know that KODAK only guaranteed their colour materials against fading for 12 years. Not a comfort if you just paid $5000 for your wedding album. Just one more reason to burn the darkroom.

[beetleboy]

Actually (here I go being pedantic again!) the print isn't fogged. The dark edge is simply from the photo being propped against the wall in my dark and dingy (sp?) share house bedroom in London about 5 years ago..and the rest of the quailty of the image can be put down to the Vivitar's ability to create ART and nothing close to a true representation!!

[gstark]

Liam,

The dark edge is simply from the photo being propped against the wall in my dark and dingy (sp?) share house bedroom in London

Ok, I'll let you have this one, [/u]

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[kalkadan]

Fozzie and Radar - thanks for the link.

Glen: yes it is Signal Red. If you knew that then maybe you know about them. It is a T5, Feb. 1960 build, 1600 Normal with matching engine/chassis numbers and dates on fittings (dates on the wheels and even on the fuel sender seal and seats!). Very happy car to drive. Sorry I can't seem to navigate to the other pics of it in the Aperture library when using pBase (which I picked up from that link). Agree, they make great models with no fussing. Also have pics of a lovely Bali Blue 1963 C which has been sold back to its original owner in Melbourne. I'll try to set them up in the next few days somehow.

Adam - thanks for the advice. Seems like you got a great deal. I have dealt with PC since they were in the Gabba premises. But for savings of hundreds of dollars I may just take the risk on the warranty issue.

Dan

[Glen]

Dan, very nice car. Sounds a perfect keeper with the perfect motor to run as a daily driver. I am envious, double envious if the Bali Blue one was yours as well. Never been lucky enough to have a signal red car, everything I have had is guards red so not in the same league

[kalkadan]

Yeah the Bali Blue was mine Glen. But my wife blew her stack last summer when I said we could not go out in it because it was too hot! She pointed out that I had two of these useless things in the garage and what was I thinking of! The bloke in Melbourne had let me know that he wanted his car back if ever I was minded to sell it - so back it went to a cooler climate

Guards red? 911?

Dan

[Glen]

Hi Dan, have had a guards red 911, boxster and 951. At the moment I have two 951 (one guards one garnet red), like you, my wife sees some duplication in that

Have always hankered after a 356, the prices these days make that less likely, probably cheaper to buy a Boxster S and wait for it to become a classic (Don't even get me started about the quality of the 356 versus the new machines with rear main seal problems)