Buying the ASI120mm from china or UK dealer

[Guest]

Hi,

I know a lot of people use this camera, have people bought from there UK dealer 365astronomy, or direct from ZWoptical website? I ask because there is a £30 difference even with the postage from china, or is there an issue with customs, if so I guess it would work out more expensive.

Any thoughts

MM

[JB80]

Well you will be hit up VAT which is 20 or 21% of the value immediately and then customs will hit you again with their handling fees so that is something you need to consider.

[Oddsocks]

Also if DHL is the courier they add a handling fee for the VAT transaction paperwork but most importantly if you buy from 365 Astronomy then you have a UK/EU warranty, if you buy direct then there is no warranty.

[Kai]

Would it cost more than £30 to send it back to China if there is an issue with it ??

Im sorry but its a no brainer with something electronic and its supported by a Uk Dealer with backup / warranty. 

[ronin]

Someone has just bought one from ZWO and had £80 slapped on top for customs etc. Seems somewhat high as £45 was expected, they are contacting DHL concerning the amount added on.

Problem is you have paid for it and realistically and now have little alternative then the pay the required amount.

I see on the ZWO site you can choose the carrier, have no idea if FedEx are better but they cannot be worse the DHL. If you decided to buy direct then consider specifing FedEx as the courier. The third carrier I have no knowledge of.

[Keith Johnson]

Hi'

I feel I must make an important comment here:

I bought the ASI120MC directly from ZWO in China in late Decemeber 2013, about 2 weeks after ordering/selecting DHL as the carrier/paying for the camera -  I tracked it into Heathrow airport, "great I thought - the camera is in the UK " !!  a day or so later I recieved a phone call from customs at Heathrow stating and I quote:   "As the item is valued over £200 you will have to pay a customs fee charge to the sum of £72" - unquote.

If I could have got hold of the guy at the other end of the phone I'm afraid I

Thinking this was some sort of con - I then contacted DHL who confirmed that I would indeed be charged £72.

As someone has correctly stated in this thread  - as I had already bought the camera there was nothing else I could do but pay it, talk about rip off Britain!

I'm going to be buying the ASI120MM but NO WAY will I be buying directly from ZWO, and again - as correctly stated in this thread - I know of others who have bought direct from ZWO in China and who have not been slapped with a custom fee - so there it is, you have been warned.

I cannot comment if DHL is resonsible, customs or indeed both, it would however be interesting to find out if others who "have not" incurred a customs fee chose a different carrier?

[Pete Presland]

i would have bought mine from 365astronomy, but for the fact i got it direct from ZWoptical at astrofest.

[james_screech]

I got mine from 365Astronomy, they give a very good service and so I would recommend them. I ordered mine (with ZWO filters & filter wheel) Sunday afternoon and it arrived Tuesday morning.

James

[U Cyg]

I also bought mine from 365Astronomy and received excellent service. 

Angie

[AlistairHowie]

Just get the vendor to write "Item to be customs cleared by recipient" on the outside of the parcel and HMRC are obliged to contact you directly to request payment. It adds a few days to the process, but nothing much, and there is no handling charge payable.

[lensman57]

When I got my first one there were no appointed agents for UK, I bought my second one from 365 Astronomy and it worked out cheaper. There is also the point of if anything goes wrongu do do need a point of contact in the UK.

A.G