Buying from Japan

JamieB · Jun 15, 2017

Hi guys

Anyone have experience of buying from Japan on Ebay? I see there are cameras in excellent condition for sale from some quite big sellers. My only doubt is perhaps import duty. I have never done this before, I don't know if a little rangefinder coming into Ireland will get some extra fees added to it and how much they would be.

Thanks

tim_walls · Jun 15, 2017

JamieB said:
Hi guys

Anyone have experience of buying from Japan on Ebay? I see there are cameras in excellent condition for sale from some quite big sellers. My only doubt is perhaps import duty. I have never done this before, I don't know if a little rangefinder coming into Ireland will get some extra fees added to it and how much they would be.

Thanks

You probably can expect import duty - I don't know about Ireland, but in general in the UK they were pretty good (or bad I suppose, if your intention was to avoid it) at collecting the duty - assuming the shipper filled out the paperwork correctly (and a good seller likely will.)

The import tariffs are set by the EU. Every product has a code, and these go down to very fine scale - a lens will be a different code to a camera, for example, and a lens for an enlarger may be a different code than a lens for a camera.

You can look all the codes up and work out the duty on an EU website: http://madb.europa.eu/madb/euTariffs.htm

Choose your exporting country (in this case, Japan) from the dropdown, and enter the product code.

To find the product code, use the "Find code" facility. For example, I searched for "camera SLR", and got product code 90 06 510000 (for a camera "With a through-the-lens viewfinder (single lens reflex (SLR)), for roll film of a width not exceeding 35 mm"). Punching that code in gives you: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_custom...te=20170615&Area=JP&Taric=900651&LangDescr=en

That suggests an import duty of 4.20% payable. You'll also have to pay VAT I think (you will know better than me what the VAT rate applicable in Ireland is.)

Typically, when I was importing in the UK, I'd get a phonecall from the courier when it reached their import depot to tell me how much duty was payable before they would release it for onward shipment. Usually could just pay over the phone with a card.

tim_walls · Jun 15, 2017

Oh, by the way, I realise you mentioned rangefinders specifically. I believe the code for this would be 90065380 (35mm roll film camera that isn't an SLR or disposable), same import duty - 4.20%.

(I bet you can't wait for the day you have to go through this palaver just to buy something from or sell something to the UK, eh? And I'm sure most people in the UK have not the faintest idea what they are getting themselves into...)

hashtagquack · Jun 15, 2017

I've ordered a few rangefinders from Japan and they have varied massively in quality. They all have great descriptions but I've received some with fungus riddled lenses and invisible rangefinder patches which were described as being perfect. On the other hand I have also received some stunning examples of cameras from there too. I believe 3 out of the last 4 cameras I've ordered from Japan were charged customs. In Dublin they will often ask for you to pay at the door. I dont have details to hand but I think it was about 20% of the camera value that was charged.

JamieB · Jun 15, 2017

Thanks for all the info. I think I might stick to a UK seller

Fin · Jun 15, 2017

Don't be put off, but ask for many photos and inspect them carefully! I bought my F2AS from a seller in Japan about 6 months ago without realising that fungus can be a problem with Asian exports. My camera was described as in good condition, and turned up better than that! The listing price was £130 inc shipping, and the import duty when it arrived was about £30 IIRC.

Sover Wong's website has a bit more info and a few pics of what to look for.

AgX · Jun 15, 2017

Customs duties in the EU are generally overated by potential buyers. The main issue would be VAT, which is collected on the shipping costs too. Of course the shipping cost itself and the hassle with customs authorities, or with seller and authorities in case the item has to be returned.

Huss · Jun 20, 2017

hashtagquack said:
I've ordered a few rangefinders from Japan and they have varied massively in quality. They all have great descriptions but I've received some with fungus riddled lenses and invisible rangefinder patches which were described as being perfect. On the other hand I have also received some stunning examples of cameras from there too. I believe 3 out of the last 4 cameras I've ordered from Japan were charged customs. In Dublin they will often ask for you to pay at the door. I dont have details to hand but I think it was about 20% of the camera value that was charged.

I've had similar experiences from Japan getting hazed/fungused cameras that were described as perfect by sellers with 100% records.

cooltouch · Jun 22, 2017

So far, I've bought two items from Japanese sellers on eBay. Both were for my Pentax 67 outfit. The items were exactly as described. They were well packaged and shipped promptly. The only thing I've found I have to watch out for is the shipping charges. There can be some variation between sellers in this regard. Considering how much it can be, it's worth paying attention to it.

I wouldn't hesitate from buying from a Japanese seller again off eBay, providing the price and shipping worked out to a total that I found acceptable.

Arbitrarium · Jun 22, 2017

I've bought from Japan before and had no problems, and always been great service if something went bad. Import duty has generally been £20-30 each time.

Two23 · Jun 22, 2017

I've bought about four items from Japan now. All were excellent. I'm thinking that for years Japanese collectors bought only the best stuff, and now that they are older they are selling off the collections but their domestic market is limited. I've had zero issues with items from Japan and now prefer them to items from California, LOL. Fortunately, for those of us in the U.S. there are no import duties/VAT to pay, and the savings are very good.

Kent in SD

narsuitus · Jun 22, 2017

I have purchased a number of items from Japan. I was very satisfied with all of them. Here is an image of the last rangefinders I purchased from Japan.

Contax G1 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

alfu · Jun 25, 2017

Prepare to deal with usual maintenance issues like light seals, misaligned rangefinders, lenses that are not clean when looked at with a strong light.

and · Jun 27, 2017

I've bought from Japan; 2 items from seperate dealers at slightly different timings. Never allow ParcelForce to deliver anything for you; they are beyond useless and totally shameless in thier lies and obfuscations. If I were to order anythinng else from Japan I would make sure it came with some other courier service. I've used Roberts Cameras in the USA and found them really good.
The VAT will be added before you can collect the item from the deliverer. Good Luck!

voceumana · Jul 12, 2017

I just bought a Bronica SQ waist level finder from Japan, shipped to USA. It was $40 cheaper than a used one from the USA. No customs duty required. Took about a week in all to get it.

If you do an internet search on "Harmonized Tariff" you should get to a web site for your country that provides the appropriate code for different classes of products and duty rates for various countries.

MattKing · Jul 12, 2017

voceumana said:
If you do an internet search on "Harmonized Tariff" you should get to a web site for your country that provides the appropriate code for different classes of products and duty rates for various countries.

One important thing to understand about import tariffs is that they are generally based on the country of origin, rather than the country of acquisition.
So if you are buying a built in Sweden Hasselblad from Japan, it would be the tariff for Sweden that applies, not Japan.

jim10219 · Jul 12, 2017

I've bought a ton of camera stuff from Japan and always been thrilled with the experiences! I've never had to pay duties or anything, so the price on eBay is all it's ever cost me (hopefully the USA stays that way). Plus, the condition has always been better than described. They also tend to include paper cranes, chocolates, tea, a letter, or some other friendly gesture that I never see from any other country. With the strong dollar, the prices are always much cheaper there, and shipping times are very reasonable (usually a week or two). They really are my favorite country to do business with.

tim_walls · Jul 13, 2017

MattKing said:
One important thing to understand about import tariffs is that they are generally based on the country of origin, rather than the country of acquisition.
So if you are buying a built in Sweden Hasselblad from Japan, it would be the tariff for Sweden that applies, not Japan.

...provided that the exporter can provide a Certificate of Origin for that Hassie. I suspect that for the average eBay seller this is optimistic.

I don't think a COI will get you out of the VAT either, which is by far the bigger bill - as noted somewhere up there, import duty on the camera is going to be about 4% according to TARIC, whereas Google tells me Ireland's VAT rate is currently 23%.

(Damn that's high, and ~~must be close to the maximum allowed by the EU~~ - nope, I'm wrong, I didn't realise EU sets only a lower limit (15%) not an upper one. Hungary's is an eye-watering 27% at the moment.)

edited to correct mistake on VAT limits

tim_walls · Jul 13, 2017

tim_walls said:
I don't think a COI will get you out of the VAT either, which is by far the bigger bill - as noted somewhere up there, import duty on the camera is going to be about 4% according to TARIC, whereas Google tells me Ireland's VAT rate is currently 23%.

Actually, that would be one neat trick - you could get it sent to a friend in an EU country with a lower VAT rate (e.g. probably most conveniently UK @ 20%, or if you're lucky enough to know someone there Luxembourg @ 17%), and then have them send it to you (once it's inside the EU no further VAT or customs being payable.)

No idea if that's actually legal, but I can't see any reason it's not...

M. Axel Wikstrom · Sep 14, 2017

In my experience buying on eBay from Japan is hit or miss. I don't know if it's a language thing, but I feel that they often over-rate what they're selling. I've been disappointed a few times.

Helinophoto · Sep 15, 2017

To put it bluntly; How often have you seen Japanese people go "I'll just put it up on eBay and let som other schmuck worry about it" concerning non working / damaged / ruined / broken items?

I've stopped buying from the US sellers because of this.

From Japan, I've bought a Leica M6, a Voigtländer R3M, a Leica M3 and a Leica IIIf, regarding lenses, I've bought a Carl Zeiss 50mm F2 and a 50mm Collapsible Summicron.
The only issue I've had with these, was that the self-timer didn't engage properly on the IIIf, other than that, the items have been 100% correctly described, or in better condition than described.

Make sure you examine every photo carefully, as they normally document every issue they know of, and if in doubt, ask the seller for issues not described and that you may worry about. (they have translation-software and they are also thought written English in school).
Buying 50 or 60 year old gear can be a challenge, but in my view, Japan is normally a very good place to shop from on eBay.

Concerning import duties and VAT (normally around a 30% addition to the final price + shipping), I've paid that every time I've bought anything from abroad, welcome to the club

AgX · Sep 15, 2017

nusproizvodjac said:
The real hassle is bringing the invoice, proving that the camera is second-hand, that it is for personal use not for professional, that it was made 20 years ago...
They go by the logic that only camera stores can import professional gear, and ETRSi looks professional enough.

Yes, even if things seem plain by law, in practice customs authorities can drive one crazy. That was one reason for me to refrain to the EU, or even better to buy local, with cash.

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 15, 2017

I have fewer problems buying from overseas sellers than domestic USA sellers, though I am careful from which countries I buy. Japan, thus far and in MY experience, is one of the better countries regarding seller integrity. I've been doing this since eBay was a baby and this is only MY experience. To my own dismay, I think the differences in seller (and buyer) integrity, is a cultural thing.

Vw1302 · Sep 16, 2017

My experience is, that you can't rely on the description. You have to accept the possibility of improper functionality when you want to buy something rare or in perfect look.. (still the camera will be probably in better condition than in Europe) on the other hand Japanese sellers communicate well and are able to give more details.. here in Czech rep. we have to count with VAT (21%) and custom duty (approx 10%) from the buing price as well as shipping costs which makes the purchase qiute expensive..

AgX · Sep 16, 2017

In the EU custom tariffs are identical and so far I did not come across 10% for photographic stuff, but only much less.

Buying from Japan

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