Buying at BHphotovideo DIRECTLY - Anyone done before?

[di0nysus]

Dear CS'ers,

I'll be heading to the Big Apple next month. I"ll probably drop by the camera paradise at BHphotovideo. Anyone has any idea regarding the tax that needs to be paid?

Cos online, the prices looks decent, when one buys from overseas, one is tax exempt and one pays for the courier. But when one must direct from the store, does one need to pay the state/federal ?? etc tax? And if one can claim it back (eg. GST claims at changi for foreigners)??

Also what are the best buys at BH..hee... i'm a Canon User

 

[randytay]

Dear CS'ers,

I'll be heading to the Big Apple next month. I"ll probably drop by the camera paradise at BHphotovideo. Anyone has any idea regarding the tax that needs to be paid?

Cos online, the prices looks decent, when one buys from overseas, one is tax exempt and one pays for the courier. But when one must direct from the store, does one need to pay the state/federal ?? etc tax? And if one can claim it back (eg. GST claims at changi for foreigners)??

Also what are the best buys at BH..hee... i'm a Canon User

Here, contact me when you get here. I will bring you to B&H. But personally I do not like that place but for first timers, it is quite an experience. If you are really going buy somting, I will bring you to my regular dealer.

Tax here is 8.375% so make sure you factor that in. And unfirtunately if you buy directly, Uncle Sam is not going to refund your tax, even if you are a foreigner.

How long will you be here? Looking forward to meet some Singaporean CSers here. I miss shooting in Sg.

 

[peepeedog]

Here, contact me when you get here. I will bring you to B&H. But personally I do not like that place but for first timers, it is quite an experience. If you are really going buy somting, I will bring you to my regular dealer.

Tax here is 8.375% so make sure you factor that in. And unfirtunately if you buy directly, Uncle Sam is not going to refund your tax, even if you are a foreigner.

How long will you be here? Looking forward to meet some Singaporean CSers here. I miss shooting in Sg.

uhmm... it's a store. how complicated can a store get. If you can't find something, ask someone. they will very willingly help you.

I've been to the BH in new york and it's just a regular store, except for their business process. They use an automatic system of pulleys and baskets that travel overhead when they request for certain items. So that's quite cool to see. You can browse around their gadgets and stuff but when you want to see lenses or cams you queue up and you'll be shown to this uber long counter that has many "salesmen" to answer your queries.

Tax wise. Uncle Sam won't refund your tax, but Lee Kuan Yew will. Any purchase you make overseas - new york for this case, you have to pay two kinds of taxes. Federal and State tax. I can't remember which one but one is non refundable, while the other is. You come back to singapore and you fill out forms to claim the taxes.

yup. SO price wise, you compare shipping plus cost of the item buying online, to going there to buy directly discounting one of the above taxes and convert to sing dollars.

hope this helps. I'm quite familiar with US if you have any questions

 

[randytay]

uhmm... it's a store. how complicated can a store get. If you can't find something, ask someone. they will very willingly help you.

I've been to the BH in new york and it's just a regular store, except for their business process. They use an automatic system of pulleys and baskets that travel overhead when they request for certain items. So that's quite cool to see. You can browse around their gadgets and stuff but when you want to see lenses or cams you queue up and you'll be shown to this uber long counter that has many "salesmen" to answer your queries.

Tax wise. Uncle Sam won't refund your tax, but Lee Kuan Yew will. Any purchase you make overseas - new york for this case, you have to pay two kinds of taxes. Federal and State tax. I can't remember which one but one is non refundable, while the other is. You come back to singapore and you fill out forms to claim the taxes.

yup. SO price wise, you compare shipping plus cost of the item buying online, to going there to buy directly discounting one of the above taxes and convert to sing dollars.

hope this helps. I'm quite familiar with US if you have any questions

Well, I didnt say the store is complicated but it will be nice if someone can just take you there instead of finding your way there

Also, the sheer size of the store is the experience, but I am not crazy about their service.

Lastly, regarding tax, 8.375 is the state tax which is the one non refundable. There is no federal tax for sales in NYC. So if Uncle Lee feels generous, thats a good sign

Anyway, look me up. I am not just quite familiar with the US, I live in the US.

 

[di0nysus]

Thanks guys for the advice! 8.375% is really high leh! I'm looking at perhaps 5D/24-70L etc, but if prices are not much cheaper than SG after the tax..then not much point as well.

 

[randytay]

Hey,

I tried to send you a message by your private box quota is full, so I will answer here.

Hi!

You are most welcome. First a question: You are arriving on Newark and then to woodbury... for? Are you going to spend the night there? And you are going to Niagara Falls direct from woodbury from Newark? Man, that is not a good idea...

And how are you going to Boston from Niagara Falls? Do you intend to drive? If so, that will be about another 8 hours. That is a lot of driving. So your driving will be about:

Newark to Woodbury - 1 hour
Woodbury to Niagara Falls - 7 hours
Niagara Falls to Boston - 8 hours
Boston to NYC - 4 hours..

And trust me, you will not be driving straight... so you will be spending most of your trip on the road...LOL

Alternatively, if you can find accomodation in NYC, I can show you around the neighboring states (plenty of photograph opportunities). You might want to check newyork.craigslist.org for accomodation options, you will never know what you gonna find.

You can email me directly, randy@khaymanphotography.com. We will work out your program to make it fruitful. And dont worry, its not going to snow anytime soon.

Lastly, if you can make it 2-3 days earlier, you can attend the photoplus expo, the biggest photo show in NYC where you can play with all the new toys (1DsIII, D3 etc).

RT

 

[vince123123]

Wow Randy is sure a great kind helpful soul! I'll be sure to message you if I ever go to NYC cos B&H is one of the places I'd love to visit!

 

[peepeedog]

yeah i feel like going there one more time and ask randy to bring me around!

:thumbsup:

don't mind i OT abit...:bsmilie:

the last time i was there i worked in jersey for abit then drove from jersey to niagara. that took about 6 hours at 110m/hr. I take it you're going woodsbury for the factory outlets? Off niagara there are factory outlets as well if you want to go. Not quite as big as woodsbury but almost there. Alot of stuff that are cheap esp coach for your wife / girlfriend / female friends. I think you shld meet up with randy then. It'll prob save you alot of time travelling on your own and scouring maps and stuff to plan your itinerary.