Question Re: Importing from B&H New York

Nanfeishen

Nanfeishen

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For those who have done so, which mail service is the most secure of the 4 that seem on offer ?
Security of the items on this side is my main concern.
There is a fair price difference between some ,but I also assume that is the delivery time coming into the equation.

1)UPS Worldwide Saver
2)Priority Mail International
3)Priority Mail Express International
4)FedEx Priority

TIA :)
 
Nanfeishen said:
For those who have done so, which mail service is the most secure of the 4 that seem on offer ?
Security of the items on this side is my main concern.
There is a fair price difference between some ,but I also assume that is the delivery time coming into the equation.

1)UPS Worldwide Saver
2)Priority Mail International
3)Priority Mail Express International
4)FedEx Priority

TIA :)
Click to expand...

Check their website. UPS, FedEx and EMS (PMEI) should be insured. However, in all likelihood the 4th one is also insured. UPS and FedEx cost more and there are additional fees you'll have to pay locally. I've mainly used EMS with B&H and have had no problems. On one occasion I used UPS.

USPS Airmail (Priority Mail Int'l): 2-3 weeks.
EMS is about 5-6 working days.
FedEx and UPS about 3-5 working days.

EMS is paid at delivery or at the post office.
FedEx and UPS, the customs fees and processing fees must be paid by EFT ahead of time.

To be honest I've never had a problem with EMS from any source. I've received items worth up to $2K each. I've saved tens of thousands of Rands over the years in choosing EMS over FedEx/UPS.
 
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The other alternative, as B&H are also a-holes sometimes, is to buy products from Japan (Canon, Nikon, etc) using third party services.

How to find the lowest price:
http://pricejapan.com/front/e_how_to_find_lowest.php

Yahoo Japan auctions also have good stuff:
Noppin.com has a search engine in English.

You can purchase using PriceJapan, Noppin.com, Buyee.jp (a division of Tenso) and Tenso.com.
I've used Noppin and Buyee before with good results. Buyee/Tenso let you fill in the customs declaration and do additional packaging. Tenso is especially good at that, their packaging is better than B&H's and only for 500 yen extra.

Payment is via Paypal and Paypal guarantees your purchases.
 
Nanfeishen said:
For those who have done so, which mail service is the most secure of the 4 that seem on offer ?
Security of the items on this side is my main concern.
There is a fair price difference between some ,but I also assume that is the delivery time coming into the equation.

1)UPS Worldwide Saver
2)Priority Mail International
3)Priority Mail Express International
4)FedEx Priority

TIA :)
Click to expand...

I've personally purchased many items from B&H New York via their website - My experience is:

UPS Worldwide Saver / FedEx Priority = Basically the same - delivery times make the difference - Safest Options but nothing wrong with either of these two (If memory serves UPS Worldwide saver was cheaper than FedEx).

PMEI (Should be delivered to your door via Post Office) and PMI will be delivered in most cases to your local Post Office - both can be a mission since sometimes things get delayed by the International Mail Centre and general SAPO bull**** - I would recommend that you don't use these services for anything fragile or where time is a major concern. I have had issues with PMEI and PMI where things disappear or get opened and things go missing.
 
I found B&H very expensive, even with their shipping. And if you go there, they have innumerable reasons why they will not discount anything. An amazing shop to visit, and there is a special place where women can have rest and read a magazine while the men are looking over the goodies
 
chrisc4290 said:
I found B&H very expensive, even with their shipping. And if you go there, they have innumerable reasons why they will not discount anything. An amazing shop to visit, and there is a special place where women can have rest and read a magazine while the men are looking over the goodies
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Adorama is a good alternative. You will have to wire them the money though. Expandore in Singapore is also a good place to buy from, but they only sell video gear.

More and more Ebay sellers are also shipping to SA via Ebay Global Shipping programme. The customs duties are prepaid. Items are shipped to Kentucky, there forwarded by PBI to FedEx to get to SA.
 
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FWIW. I ordered a laptop from B&H on a Sunday evening, chose UPS International Saver, on the Wednesday UPS phoned me and asked me to pay the import VAT (more or less rand_value*1.1*0.14) and disbursement fee (around R100), I made the EFT and sent proof of payment, the next morning (Thursday) they delivered it. Couldn't be happier.
 
Space_Chief said:
Adorama is a good alternative. You will have to wire them the money though. Expandore in Singapore is also a good place to buy from, but they only sell video gear.
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In my experience Adorama's prices are often on par with B&H.
 
Space_Chief said:
Adorama is a good alternative.....
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bwana said:
In my experience Adorama's prices are often on par with B&H.
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Thanks so much for the feedback! BTW Adorama will always make every effort to price match to equally reputable retailers, and if you ever need any advice or after-sales support, you are most welcome to email me directly: [email protected]

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
 
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HelenOster said:
Thanks so much for the feedback! BTW Adorama will always make every effort to price match to equally reputable retailers, and if you ever need any advice or after-sales support, you are most welcome to email me directly: [email protected]

Helen Oster
Adorama Camera Customer Service Ambassador
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Helen might i humbly suggest that if you are filling international orders with items out of the USED Dept to perhaps double check the condition rating once again before shipping..
This is the LCD screen on an E+ rated item i recently got from Adorama.
E+ May have slight wear but only visible under close inspection.
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12186945834_d1d739ac8a_z.jpg

I've sorted out with customer service an agreement with this but i'm still pretty peeved about it.
Don't believe it happened in transit as the package was beautifully packed with expansion foam moulded around the item.
Anyway just a suggestion to re check those ratings where those of us from far away aren't just a $10 ship back fix.
 
Tun@ said:
Helen might i humbly suggest that if you are filling international orders with items out of the USED Dept to perhaps double check the condition rating once again before shipping..
This is the LCD screen on an E+ rated item i recently got from Adorama.


View attachment 96273

I've sorted out with customer service an agreement with this but i'm still pretty peeved about it.
Don't believe it happened in transit as the package was beautifully packed with expansion foam moulded around the item.
Anyway just a suggestion to re check those ratings where those of us from far away aren't just a $10 ship back fix.
Click to expand...

That is indeed unacceptable, and I will raise it with the used department manager.

Can I check - your return shipping costs were covered??
 
To confirm, you're looking to ship a purchase made from B&H New York, to South Africa? Have you considered PostBox Courier?
 
HelenOster said:
That is indeed unacceptable, and I will raise it with the used department manager.

Can I check - your return shipping costs were covered??
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I decided to keep it as is, mainly because shipping cost is too crazy to ship it back,get it fixed & then have it shipped back once repaired versus just buy new. + 2) Its already had 14% South Africa tax paid out on it.
The Flashtube was also broken, I've ordered replacement flashtube & as long as the unit works once i get that i'll make do.
If it doesn't work then yes it will be being sent back,If that is to happen,Customer service says i must get a quote on non expedited rate & if they accept that rate they will reimburse.
 
Tun@ said:
I decided to keep it as is, mainly because shipping cost is too crazy to ship it back,get it fixed & then have it shipped back once repaired versus just buy new. + 2) Its already had 14% South Africa tax paid out on it.
The Flashtube was also broken, I've ordered replacement flashtube & as long as the unit works once i get that i'll make do.
If it doesn't work then yes it will be being sent back,If that is to happen,Customer service says i must get a quote on non expedited rate & if they accept that rate they will reimburse.
Click to expand...

Can you email me with your order number and I'll see what I might be able to do, to help; [email protected]
 
Just to follow up:
Ordered 2 lenses from B&H , one order on the 26/01/14 through Priority Mail International the other on the 02/02/14 with UPS.
Initiated email updates on each order and recieved them every time the package moved.
Both orders arrived on Fri 7/2/14, one through the Post Office Depot and the other to the UPS depot in C.T.
Was contacted by both places and i took the "hold for collection" at both places.
Payed the required VAT on both at collection , and received both in nicely packaged boxes, bubble rapped and sealed.

Quick and painless, saved money and was impressed with both avenues of order.
 
Hi, I will buying pc parts from them ad somehow, its the cheapest i have found to date. But how much will the fees cost after it arrives in the country and will it be deliverd to the post office?
 
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