I just thought I'd recount my recent experience with E-Infinity via their own online store. They are one of many Hong Kong based retailers offering genuine equipment for a lot less than RRP.
I am based in the U.K. and refuse to pay the inflated prices asked of us here, knowing that other countries are paying a good deal less.
However, I really wanted a 5D Mk III...
I had considered buying the whole package from them (5D3, BG E11, extra battery and SD card), but decided to play it relatively safe.
I chose, instead, to buy the body from ProCameraShop, who I've used many times as they are based in the U.K. and, on most items, are not much more expensive than their Hong Kong based competitors. The transaction, as always, couldn't have been better.
I then chose to buy the BG E11, battery, and SD card from E-Infinity.
I chose correctly...
First things first, the company is legit and the service is very good. From email communication to delivery times, I really can't complain.
The items arrived as described and in good condition.
Unfortunately they didn't arrive, as I had been led to believe, from Royal Mail via E-Infinity's U.K. warehouse, and therefore without any import tax duties.
Nope, FedEx brought it all the way to my door.
Royal Mail, not to be left out, delivered the invoice from FedEx...
So, now I've got an invoice to take care of which, had I gone all in and bought all of the gear from E-Infinity, would have been considerably more than it is.
So that's that...
The bottom line is not so clear, however... Yes, I got stung (very mildly), but I still made a big saving over U.K. prices.
My advice, if you are going to go this route, is make sure that the saving is considerable, so that if an invoice does appear, then you can pay it off in the knowledge that you've still come out of it a winner. Otherwise, spend the little extra someone like ProCameraShop charges in the knowledge that there won't be any little surprises a couple of weeks down the line.
In case you were wondering, at the time I bought it, the 5D3 was £1,855 through E-Infinity, and £1,880 through ProCamerShop. Something tells me the import duties would have been a good bit more than the £25 difference in price...
On the other hand, the Canon BG E11 was £250 on ProCameraShop, and £177 through E-Infinity. Worth the risk.
The invoice was £17, so I'm not complaining. Just wary of buying anything big from overseas in the future.
That's it. That's my experience of this subject.
I hope it helps someone thinking of buying from abroad.
Harry.
I am based in the U.K. and refuse to pay the inflated prices asked of us here, knowing that other countries are paying a good deal less.
However, I really wanted a 5D Mk III...
I had considered buying the whole package from them (5D3, BG E11, extra battery and SD card), but decided to play it relatively safe.
I chose, instead, to buy the body from ProCameraShop, who I've used many times as they are based in the U.K. and, on most items, are not much more expensive than their Hong Kong based competitors. The transaction, as always, couldn't have been better.
I then chose to buy the BG E11, battery, and SD card from E-Infinity.
I chose correctly...
First things first, the company is legit and the service is very good. From email communication to delivery times, I really can't complain.
The items arrived as described and in good condition.
Unfortunately they didn't arrive, as I had been led to believe, from Royal Mail via E-Infinity's U.K. warehouse, and therefore without any import tax duties.
Nope, FedEx brought it all the way to my door.
Royal Mail, not to be left out, delivered the invoice from FedEx...
So, now I've got an invoice to take care of which, had I gone all in and bought all of the gear from E-Infinity, would have been considerably more than it is.
So that's that...
The bottom line is not so clear, however... Yes, I got stung (very mildly), but I still made a big saving over U.K. prices.
My advice, if you are going to go this route, is make sure that the saving is considerable, so that if an invoice does appear, then you can pay it off in the knowledge that you've still come out of it a winner. Otherwise, spend the little extra someone like ProCameraShop charges in the knowledge that there won't be any little surprises a couple of weeks down the line.
In case you were wondering, at the time I bought it, the 5D3 was £1,855 through E-Infinity, and £1,880 through ProCamerShop. Something tells me the import duties would have been a good bit more than the £25 difference in price...
On the other hand, the Canon BG E11 was £250 on ProCameraShop, and £177 through E-Infinity. Worth the risk.
The invoice was £17, so I'm not complaining. Just wary of buying anything big from overseas in the future.
That's it. That's my experience of this subject.
I hope it helps someone thinking of buying from abroad.
Harry.