Buying from B&H/Adorama

[kengoh]

1st time ordering from Adorama.
Ordered a Sigma 150-500mm for a fren yesterday. This morning received email from Adorama with tracking no. , pretty fast response. :thumbsup:
Can't wait for the lens to arrive to test it out. ;p

 

[machiavellian]

I am wondering if we can have a sticky to pool potential people buying from B&H to share the shipment. Cos the minimum shipment by UPS is $40. Sometimes all we want is just a small accessory that is not available locally.

good idea.

 

[poseur]

Cos the minimum shipment by UPS is $40. Sometimes all we want is just a small accessory that is not available locally.

u can use vpost can save half your shipping cost but i am not sure will they give the international warrenty as they will ship to a proxy "local" vpost US address.

 

[detritus]

u can use vpost can save half your shipping cost but i am not sure will they give the international warrenty as they will ship to a proxy "local" vpost US address.

not always. may end up paying more. direct shipping is cheaper most of time unless the merchant is trying his luck by marking-up the shipping by a lot.

unless you have free shipping to the vpost address, its usually more expensive.

intl warranty (for brands that offer it), is usually not a problem as long as the card is stamped and its not a grey set (i.e. sold with no warranty).

i've run extensive comparisons between direct shipping, vpost and borderlinx and my conclusion is it really depends on what u're buying and what you're expecting from the logistic provider.

u want cheap but can afford to wait, just ship USPS registered mail.

if shipping big items, check the volumetric weight formula. for bulky items, Vpost is cheaper last i checked.

if u want assurance, speed and tracking, use a speedpost (EMS) or air-express service (UPS DHL).

if shipper doesn't ship international, you want added speed and assurance and don't mind paying more, use borderlinx. better tracking, faster turnaround.

 

[PixelHero]

how abt buying from ebay? Saw a few overseas sellers offering their lenses quite cheaply with free shipping. abit worried abt the warranty thou. Anyone have experience buying from ebay?

 

[blackmatrix]

How about buying from ddelectronics. can anyone advise me please. I saw the 5DII at lower pricing.

 

[detritus]

how abt buying from ebay? Saw a few overseas sellers offering their lenses quite cheaply with free shipping. abit worried abt the warranty thou. Anyone have experience buying from ebay?

All the time. But i don't buy new lenses from ebay.

You might know something i don't cos I've not found many who offer free international shipping.

the new lenses are not always cheaper as far as i know.

 

[PixelHero]

All the time. But i don't buy new lenses from ebay.

You might know something i don't cos I've not found many who offer free international shipping.

the new lenses are not always cheaper as far as i know.

For example this lens:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Tamron-SP-AF...03063302?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3f01331006

Compared to B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550721-REG/Tamron_AF016P_700_17_50mm_f_2_8_XR_Di_II.html

The 1 over at ebay is cheaper and it offers free shipping.

 

[reyreina]

For example this lens:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Tamron-SP-AF...03063302?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3f01331006

Compared to B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550721-REG/Tamron_AF016P_700_17_50mm_f_2_8_XR_Di_II.html

The 1 over at ebay is cheaper and it offers free shipping.

if you live in US, the one from B&H is a no-brainer. 6 years warranty.

 

[ruiyuan]

does anyone knows if it is possible to obtain international warranty for pentax lenses bought through amazon/b&h?

 

[reyreina]

does anyone knows if it is possible to obtain international warranty for pentax lenses bought through amazon/b&h?

read the first page...

 

[reyreina]

not always. may end up paying more. direct shipping is cheaper most of time unless the merchant is trying his luck by marking-up the shipping by a lot.

unless you have free shipping to the vpost address, its usually more expensive.

intl warranty (for brands that offer it), is usually not a problem as long as the card is stamped and its not a grey set (i.e. sold with no warranty).

i've run extensive comparisons between direct shipping, vpost and borderlinx and my conclusion is it really depends on what u're buying and what you're expecting from the logistic provider.

u want cheap but can afford to wait, just ship USPS registered mail.

if shipping big items, check the volumetric weight formula. for bulky items, Vpost is cheaper last i checked.

if u want assurance, speed and tracking, use a speedpost (EMS) or air-express service (UPS DHL).

if shipper doesn't ship international, you want added speed and assurance and don't mind paying more, use borderlinx. better tracking, faster turnaround.

Just wanna rant here: Be very careful with calculating the price to make sure if doesn't go beyond $400, including shipment (of cos if you are buying big items which is definitely more than $400 then no choice lah). I made a bad calulation. In the end, paid USD$42 for shipment and another $38 (inclusive of $10 admin) for GST. That's near a whooping $100 overhead for my $300++ purchase! All just becos my item+shipment cost is $SGD404... -_-

I am wondering if we can have a sticky to pool potential people buying from B&H to share the shipment. Cos the minimum shipment by UPS is $40. Sometimes all we want is just a small accessory that is not available locally.

What items you guys bought? I use freight forwarders and it's ALWAYS cheaper than direct shipping. Although most of the time I don't buy camera stuff because if their return policy

 

[Supersimon27]

1st time ordering from Adorama.
Ordered a Sigma 150-500mm for a fren yesterday. This morning received email from Adorama with tracking no. , pretty fast response. :thumbsup:
Can't wait for the lens to arrive to test it out. ;p

Not buying 1 for yrself ?

 

[detritus]

For example this lens:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Tamron-SP-AF...03063302?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3f01331006

Compared to B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550721-REG/Tamron_AF016P_700_17_50mm_f_2_8_XR_Di_II.html

The 1 over at ebay is cheaper and it offers free shipping.

ah... i have heard that tamron and sigma are cheaper in HK... i thought u were referring to the first party pentax lenses.

there's no mention of warranty lor so i wouldn't know. to be sure, u should always send the ebayer a msg to ask.

 

[detritus]

What items you guys bought? I use freight forwarders and it's ALWAYS cheaper than direct shipping. Although most of the time I don't buy camera stuff because if their return policy

interesting. can share more on how its always cheaper?

my assessment based on my recent ebay purchases (old lenses, camera accessories, mainly US / UK sellers) leads me to a rather different conclusion.

would love to know if there's a way to save money.

 

[PixelHero]

ah... i have heard that tamron and sigma are cheaper in HK... i thought u were referring to the first party pentax lenses.

there's no mention of warranty lor so i wouldn't know. to be sure, u should always send the ebayer a msg to ask.

.. let me pm the ebayer and check. Very tempted to hit the BUY button

 

[flowerpot]

Most likely there will be no warranty...probably u can send back if there is a defect but shipment is at your cost...

 

[reyreina]

interesting. can share more on how its always cheaper?

my assessment based on my recent ebay purchases (old lenses, camera accessories, mainly US / UK sellers) leads me to a rather different conclusion.

would love to know if there's a way to save money.

i just ship to borderlinx address. for new items usually you can find free shipping within conus/uk by amazon, b&h, adorama, established ebay sellers like prodigital2000. for 2nd hand stuff, instead of getting rip off by keh international shipping, i find something from pentaxforum and look out for free or cheap shipping from the sellers. dont understand why some want to use expensive shipping compared to ups or usps though...

borderlinx will then charge you based on weight lor. if i buy only a few items, shipping average out to be S$20/ea. once, i bought books, clothes, bags, electronics, and they avg ~10/ea.

plus there is free shipment holding services, so i just break out the shipping into <400 if possible.

of course, i only go through these trouble if there is something i cannot find locally, or that the price is too expensive.

for example, you can save $200 getting a hadley pro bag from amazon uk compared to getting from directly from the sg distributor.

 

[reyreina]

.. let me pm the ebayer and check. Very tempted to hit the BUY button

definitely no warranty. that price is common for a grey set... some shops in sg/my/hk sell at that price if they have grey stocks.

and im referring to local warranty.

 

[Supersimon27]

.. let me pm the ebayer and check. Very tempted to hit the BUY button

I pm him b4 . He say got warranty .... with shop stamp ... but dun know how true also