www.hksupplies.com

[birddog114]

MJ,
Have you got the SB-800 from Mr Poon yet? haven't heard from you!!!Keep the forum posted.

[snafu]

I received a shipping confirmation email from Poon for my SB-800 this afternoon. I am hoping it gets here before the weekend!

[birddog114]

Then you'll have a very nice week-end with all your new toys surrounded.
Have fun!
By now Mr Poon, he may be known of the existing of our forum as mentioned before and we're keeping an eye on him.

[Mj]

Apologies for a late update here... other issues taking my focus away !!!
mmm... let me see...

Friday... still no word from Mr Poon but decided not to wait, so went ahead and ordered... total cost 199GBP.

Monday received word from Mr. Poon that 472AU would be fine... mmm... already paid though.

Monday evening received email from ebay that the package was dispatched. Fedex tracking indeed showed that it was on its way.

Tuesday... no change... estimated arrival according to Fedex Wed 17:00.

Wednesday... Fedex tracking indicates package has reached Sydney... Wednesday afternoon... package arrives 13:30... an early arrival !!!

Thursday morning... insert batteries... skim manual... attach flash... drive wife mad with constant testing... on board... wireless... etc etc... see recommendations for multiflash setups... mmm... now how to justify another 3 SB-800???

Final word...

Checked financials... seems the total cost came to just over 500AU... so... no problem with the delivery service but nailing down a final price and knowing what you are going to pay seems less than perfect. I might ask Mr Poon about it but with more likely just put it down to experience and focus on learning all about the new toy.

[Greg B]

Useful report, thanks Mj

Enjoy the SB800

cheers

[W00DY]

MJ,

Bring it along on Saturday so we can have an SB-800 lesson...

I have only used mine twice since I got it (thought I would use it more but have not had time) and both times results were varied...

I really should read the manual but how much easier is it having Birddog and the boys show you

W00DY

[Greg B]

MJ,

Bring it along on Saturday so we can have an SB-800 lesson...

I have only used mine twice since I got it (thought I would use it more but have not had time) and both times results were varied...

I really should read the manual but how much easier is it having Birddog and the boys show you

W00DY

Woody, the manual is your friend......

[W00DY]

MJ,

Bring it along on Saturday so we can have an SB-800 lesson...

I have only used mine twice since I got it (thought I would use it more but have not had time) and both times results were varied...

I really should read the manual but how much easier is it having Birddog and the boys show you

W00DY

Woody, the manual is your friend......

I know, I know....

[Onyx]

Woody - very short summary of SB800 use:

TTL BL mode, -1 EV for sunlight fill flash.
A mode, 0EV for night time when flash is the main light.
RPT mode, 20Hzx10, hold down the red flash fire button to cause epilepsy.

[Mj]

I shall certainly be bringing my SB-800... as I hope will everyone else... should be fun to see them all fire in synch (hope Birddog has good fire insurance).

So far I've read the manual a few times and tried various options... can't say I've found any award winning settings yet and can't seem to reproduce the quality of the sample shoots in the manuals ... but I'll certainly try the Onyx cheatsheet... especially epilepsy mode !!!

[birddog114]

I shall certainly be bringing my SB-800... as I hope will everyone else... should be fun to see them all fire in synch (hope Birddog has good fire insurance).

So far I've read the manual a few times and tried various options... can't say I've found any award winning settings yet and can't seem to reproduce the quality of the sample shoots in the manuals ... but I'll certainly try the Onyx cheatsheet... especially epilepsy mode !!!

Don't worry guy, we have two Fire Stations nearby and can ask my mates to bring in one on standby.

[Kristine]

My SB-800 arrived this morning from HK Supplies. While I won't have a chance to play with it until atleast Friday evening, I can confirm that I am happy with the delivery of the item and recommend HK Supplies.

Cheers
Kristine

[christiand]

FYI,

I just received the shipping confirmation from Mr Poon (etefore @ ebay)
for the Nikon Speedlight SB-800.

Regards
CTD

[birddog114]

Perhaps Mr Poon will be very famous with our community now, have anyone mentioned that you're from D70Users.com? Just curious thought. The D70Users.com and myself have nothing to do with Mr Poon.

[Kristine]

Perhaps Mr Poon will be very famous with our community now, have anyone mentioned that you're from D70Users.com? Just curious thought. The D70Users.com and myself have nothing to do with Mr Poon.

Mr Poon is aware that I am a member here. I have spoke with him on several occassions via email. He gave me a discount on my SB-800 (at my request - it was my second order with him in a week).

Cheers
Kristine

[birddog114]

Thanks Kristine,
Hope he'll look after everyone when we do biz with him.
At least we have a "trustworthy" source to lust our gears do we?

[christiand]

Thanks Mr Poon,

I got my sb-800 today.
I guess another learning curve is ahead of me.
So far I've only "played" with the flash and I am impressed how it communicates with the camera.
Also the first fotos are quite satisfying in regards to illumination and color balance.
Is there any good reading materiel for the sb-800 with the D70 ?

Cheers
Christian

[Bruno]

Hey guys!
I too just put an order through with Poon for an sb800. Sure beats paying retail over here. Paid through paypal, have recieved confirmation from poon and now i'm waiting for a tracking number. Hopefully it will make it to my doorstep before the weekend. Will keep you posted on how it goes.
Thanks for all of your recommendations of poon, it has saved me some of cash and given me some confidence in purchasing goods from overseas.

Ciao
Bruno

[birddog114]

I have a few exchanged emails with Mr Poon yesterday and he's going to establish his physically present in Australia to support our members same as local Australian market.

That means members or buyers will make payment and receive stock/ orders from his Australia base same as warranty, his agent will take care of posting/ sending back to him, leave the worry to him, and price will be the same as you paid and bought direct from his store.

How do ya think about this ideas?

[Raydar]

Sounds good to me mate!!!!

Cheers
Ray

[MHD]

Absobloodylootly!

Awesome!

[birddog114]

Here what I have in my mind:
I'm going to talk to him, perhaps he will have to support couple spare units of flashes locally on standby for loan if some of his original sold flashes failed/ fault during 12 month warranty and we have to return for warranty.

[Mj]

This sounds like a great idea... one of the things that didn't appeal to me dealing with Mr Poon was paying through ebay and paypal... and in the end the price I paid wasn't quite what I had expected, as noted in an early post, a local payment system would certainly sort any issues like that out.

[Greg B]

Hooray for Birddog.

Hooray for Mr Poon.



(That means, yes, I think it's a great idea)

[birddog114]

one of the things that didn't appeal to me dealing with Mr Poon was paying through ebay and paypal... and in the end the price I paid wasn't quite what I had expected, as noted in an early post, a local payment system would certainly sort any issues like that out.

MJ,
To pay via Paypal or eBay, I don't see anything difference as with local payment, cos they trade on US dollar and it's depend on the fluctuation of exchange rate at the time of purchase as well.
Pls. clarify more

[fozzie]

Birddog,

This is excellent news about Mr Poon intended Australian operation.

You never cease to amaze me.


Cheers,

[Mj]

Sure Birddog... and please keep in mind that in the end I was quite happy with my purchase and the price paid... delivery and all went well... however there was a lack of clarity regarding delivery costs etc... so the total price I ended up paying was more than I belatedly agreed with Mr Poon via email. The problem was as much due to my impatience to receive the sb-800 as anything else. so I ended up paying about $30 more than perhaps I had to... and yes... I am allowing for exchange rate fluctuations.

I think that if Mr Poon has a local payment scheme and can quote an AU price inclusive of delivery then any confusion like this disappears.

I don't want any of this feedback taken as some form of complaint... just like to share my experiences here.

Michael.

[Mundi]

Sounds great again birddog. Looking forward to a few purchases.

[sirhc55]

As of today Mr Poon (HKSupplies) has the Nikon D70 body for $1270 including FEDex delivery.

Anyone needs a second body this is an excellent price

Cheers

Chris

[MHD]

Thats better than good!

Thats about 400 clear of retail here!

[birddog114]

As of today Mr Poon (HKSupplies) has the Nikon D70 body for $1270 including FEDex delivery.

Anyone needs a second body this is an excellent price

Cheers

Chris

Yes, I have known it too, he emailed me last night but Grey Import is not attractive anyone around, I guessed.

He'll provide local backup hardware and warranty as I mentioned in another thread via me at the moment, until he setting up his base in Australia. This is an exclusively deal for our community only.

[Onyx]

$1270 delivered - damn that's a real hot price! Who cares about Maxwell's $200 cash back, we've got a $800 cash back deal right here!!

[birddog114]

$1270 delivered - damn that's a real hot price! Who cares about Maxwell's $200 cash back, we've got a $800 cash back deal right here!!

I have three inquiries last night from our Aussie fellows and they're going to buy from him after I emailed them two prices: from Poon and Maxwell.

They got instant cash back of $800.00 as Onyx mentioned + 3 years Local (Aussie) warranty by CPU Warranty (Same as Mack's Warranty in the US).
They're happy campers and perhaps will join our forum soon.

People just do smart shopping nowaday and used their brains a lot.

[Mouse Trap]

I wait for my new D70 fedex tracking advise in Sydney awaiting clearance (Customs) Ordered via Ebay last Sunday paid to Poons account Monday arrived Sydney Thursday and the good thing is All up D70 with Nikon 18-70 $1640 with the the following assurance from Poon.

You will not pay any thing more.

In case if you pay GST when you get the goods, I will refund you.

You can send bank wire to my bank in HK.

We are well known in some discussion forum in Au.

Here is an example:

http://forum.d70users.com/index.php

HKsupplies are in the rank of 3rd popular topic.

My buyers told me about this.

Best regards

Poon

Looks like another success story for Poon and the nikon group.

Cheers

Will update on arrival and test.

[birddog114]

Thanks Mouse Trap,
You're the first brave guy on this forum bought a D70 and kit lens from Poon.
Poon sold about 7 D70 and kit lens last week to our Aussie fellows and I'm monitoring the tracking number from FedEx for them all, they're happy campers with the bargain which he offered on Monday and Tuesday.
I have few members, PM or emailed me about the deals in Bargain Section with Mr Poon, they have lot of questions which were posted on this forum and repeating asking me, cos they did not want to read the thread.
So there you're and you bring back to them lot of answers!

[birddog114]

Another interesting thing,
I'm on the phone with him this afternoon, he perhaps will be here with us at The Xmas Dinner Meet on the 10th December as my personally invitation.
At least, I'm happy now cos I created and built a link between his business and this small community and it's our benefits for buying overseas with reputable and trustworthy trader/ reseller without any worrying.

[Raydar]

That's awesome news Birdy thanks mate!!

One more small step for D70users.com

Cheers
Ray

[Onyx]

I have no doubt this newly forged relationship between D70users.com and HKSupplies will benefit us all.

This "not a cent more" promise is unheard of elsewhere - Mr Poon is so confident that he's willing to refund GST if applicable upon import... quite frankly I'm struggling to see a reason for even considering buying Maxwell stock!

May I make a suggestion to those reading that are considering buying from Birddog/Mr Poon - post your concerns and questions on this forum, I'm sure members here are happy to help you and may give better more useful answers to you. Birddog may be happy to answer your questions via PM and email, but he's doing so as a service to this community, and it's robbing time away from his paying job. Save him that time from addressing frequently asked questions and only contact him when you're ready to buy. Let's help him out - as he's helping us out!

[Glen]

Onyx,
excellent suggestion re Birddog's time. I was at his place last week and he had FOUR excel spreadsheets open, all concerned with various aspects of the D70 users group and while I was there an email came through. I didn't realise it was a full time job being a patron!! I think we should all realise that Birddog is providing items at his cost to us as a favour to the community, he is not making profit and can't really afford to answer fifty emails or debate with people who chisel him on price. He is not Teds (thank god) and may purchase for $10 more than them. Lets have some consideration for his primary business, he has a family, ask a price by all means and if not to your liking, so be it. I think he has already proven his competitiveness more than once. Birddog is also bankrolling things like t-shirts, straps, etc for our community. Thank you Birddog.

Sorry, Birddy to post this but I think most don't realise what you are doing behind the screen, importing straps, etc and think they are the only one calling or that you are some sort of trader. Lets not overuse this great resource (well not until my next lens organised through Birddog arrives )

[gstark]

Glen, Onyx,

Well said, and thanx.

[Mj]

Yep... couldn't agree more... we all have to remember that this is a members forum... not a shopfront or marketplace !!! BTW, Glen... I just have to ask... what lens are you introducing into your collection?

Michael.

[dimmo]

As of today Mr Poon (HKSupplies) has the Nikon D70 body for $1270 including FEDex delivery.

Anyone needs a second body this is an excellent price

Cheers

Chris

Not bad. I contacted http://www.cathayphoto.com.sg (a recommedation of someone from this forum) as to a price of a Nikon D70 + 18-70mm lens.

The response was SGD $1650.00.

That equates to AUD$1276.00 - for body + lens. (add another 10% which only takes it to $1400 for the 'kit' - IF you have to pay GST)

I actually know people in Singapore, so all they would have to do would be put 'SAMPLE' on the declaration and I wouldn't have to pay GST at all? Is that right?

[birddog114]

dimmo,
It's a good price if it comes with free shipping by FedEx and guaranteed you that no extra pay for GST.

[birddog114]

FedEx truck just pulled in and dropped off some supplies & gears from Mr Poon for me. Shipped Friday and delivered today as usual.

[dimmo]

dimmo,
It's a good price if it comes with free shipping by FedEx and guaranteed you that no extra pay for GST.

Heh. You reply very quickly birddog!

I am deliberating if I do or don't go this way... perhaps if you post another 'Interesting Grey import' deal I will go with u

In regards, to this particular deal (which involes me getting a friend to go out and do all the shopping etc) even with GST+FedEX it would come to $1460.00 - for D70+Lens.

Am I right in saying all the sender has to do is put 'SAMPLE' or Warranty Replacement instead of 'Gift' or whatever on the declaration to avoid GST? Has anyone had to pay GST under these circumstances?

[MHD]

Well I have a great Mr Poon story!

I ordered, through Birddog a Gitzo 1227 LVL (leveling tripod) at a "Very special price" of 510USD which included delivery (worked out to 680 AUD)

I recieved the wrong tripod last thursday. Mr Poon rectified the problem very quickly with the new unit being shipped the next day and I just recieved it at lunch.

I am Very happy with the level of service and honesty and above all Value!

I am very happy with my very special... Now just to wait on my L plate from Kirk and then its all go!

(I will in time review the 1227LVL tripod)

[MHD]

Oh and I should add no GST was charged on either shipment (even happier!)

[birddog114]

I am deliberating if I do or don't go this way... perhaps if you post another 'Interesting Grey import' deal I will go with u

dimmo, you have to believe in something, a good opportunity only comes once and it hardly comes as the second atm, I'm doing this for fun as many members have known since the forum started, and it's not my mainstream of biz nor doing that for my living, just want to provide supports to the community, you go with me or other does not make me difference and am always happy seeing other got their good deals and bargains somewhere

Am I right in saying all the sender has to do is put 'SAMPLE' or Warranty Replacement instead of 'Gift' or whatever on the declaration to avoid GST? Has anyone had to pay GST under these circumstances?[

I'm not quite sure dimmo, Hongker and Singaporean have all the difference ways to do their biz.

[Kristine]

Dimmo

Birddog does not make any money on the packages he advertises. You will see from previous threads that this is done as a service for our members. He spends an enormous amount of both his free time and work time when he could be earning money but he is doing stuff for us members.

I trust that the price Birddog offers is the best price he can offer our members. Why have your friend shop around and risk then having to pay GST when Birddog can supply you with your package at an excellent price? Please read through previous threads and see the story of our member kipper who spent a few days trying to chase a bargain kit.

Cheers
Kristine

[dimmo]

Dimmo

Birddog does not make any money on the packages he advertises. You will see from previous threads that this is done as a service for our members. He spends an enormous amount of both his free time and work time when he could be earning money but he is doing stuff for us members.

I trust that the price Birddog offers is the best price he can offer our members. Why have your friend shop around and risk then having to pay GST when Birddog can supply you with your package at an excellent price? Please read through previous threads and see the story of our member kipper who spent a few days trying to chase a bargain kit.

Cheers
Kristine

The offer to which I was referring to listed by birddog expired yesterday evening at 6pm - that was a good deal - but unfortunately, due to circumstances which aren't relevent to this forum I was unable to participate in that.

Which is why I said, if another offer comes along I might be perhaps able to.