topic Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees? in EF & RF Lenses

Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

FM3AAR — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 14:58:41 GMT

For those of you who have bought eBay lenses from Japan, did you incur any USA customs fees/duties/delays etc?

The ads typically say: "Expedited Shipping from outside US | See details
International items may be subject to customs processing and additional charges."

I've been reading all manor of responses on USA import duties etc. So I thought I would ask the folks here who have actually

bought an eBay lens from Japan if you were charged an import duty fee? Was the experience seamless?

For what it's worth, I was looking at a $600.00 Canon lens on eBay from Japan. Thanks.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 22:23:38 GMT

I have never bought an eBay lens from Japan, and I do not recommend that you do so, either. I assume that the lens is used, so I suggest looking into US vendors of used camera gear.

I think you are correct to assume that there may be custom fees, and duties, sa well as taxes and tariffs. By the the time you throw in shipping costs it may be less costly bo buy a new lens from a US dealer.

BTW, what is a "600.00 Canon lens", anyway?

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 14:30:17 GMT

I have not purchased a lens from another country but I have bought parts for various projects I am working on from Japan and China. Except for a very slow shipping time I could not tell the difference from buying the item from any other source.

Submit the order on eBay, use Paypal and in a few weeks the part shows up. No biggie.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Ray-uk — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 15:22:30 GMT

If the USA customs works similar to the UK then it depends on the value of the item.

The sender has to complete a customs declaration form which is attached to the package, this states the contents and value, if the value is above a certain limit then you get charged import duty. This additional fee may be collected by the carrier and is payable before delivery or collected separately by the customs directly from you.

I have had a few things from abroad where I expected to have to pay but wasn't charged and I have had other things of quite low value when I have been charged, so it all seems a bit flexible.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 22:44:39 GMT

"... if the value is above a certain limit then you get charged import duty."

I have no idea what that value would be or if it even exists in the US. I have never been charged anything extra on parts. Some of which were fairly expensive. Countries have trade agreements with other countries so I suppose it depends on that.

Europe is screwed up with all their tax structure, the US isn't ........yet.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 01:53:37 GMT

... one factor to consider, which is why I recommend sticking with a domestic dealer, is getting our gear repaired. Canon USA may not fix gear bought in Japan, or other foreign countries. Just saying.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

FM3AAR — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 04:05:03 GMT

Upon further reading looks like anything under 2K is pretty much is duty free.

These older used fast Canon lenses work out great in astrophotography.

Thanks for the replies.

Regards, C

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 15:06:47 GMT

"Canon USA may not fix gear bought in Japan, or other foreign countries."

It is highly unlikely anyone buying old used lenses form Japan is worried about Canon USA repairing it. "Just saying."

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 18:25:12 GMT

"Canon USA may not fix gear bought in Japan, or other foreign countries."

It is highly unlikely anyone buying old used lenses form Japan is worried about Canon USA repairing it. "Just saying." Smiley Happy

———————————

I think old gear was not mentioned until after I posted. Nice try.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 22:23:47 GMT

"I think old gear was not mentioned until after I posted."

Hmmm, I realized it right off. No problem but maybe I try harder!

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 01:37:48 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"I think old gear was not mentioned until after I posted."

Hmmm, I realized it right off. No problem but maybe I try harder!

You're more powerful than The Amazing Kreskin!

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:27:48 GMT

"You're more powerful than The Amazing Kreskin!"

Nah, I wouldn't go that far. It's more a lifetime of doing photography. Likely the difference between book learning and actual hands on work.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

RobertTheFat — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:58:05 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"You're more powerful than The Amazing Kreskin!"

Nah, I wouldn't go that far. It's more a lifetime of doing photography. Likely the difference between book learning and actual hands on work.

It's been my experience that nothing exposes the value of book learning more than actual hands-on work.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:30:40 GMT

"You're more powerful than The Amazing Kreskin!"

Nah, I wouldn't go that far. It's more a lifetime of doing photography. Likely the difference between book learning and actual hands on work.

————————-

I had suspected the same. That’s why I had asked what type of lens

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:40:52 GMT

Unless you are getting the deal of the century on an expensive lens, >$5000, I still do not advise buying a used lens, sight unseen, from the other side of the planet for $600.

PayPal guarantee or not, it is not worth the risk or hassle of a return.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 17:53:53 GMT

" I still do not advise buying a used lens,..."

Which is fine but that's just you. Some of these older lenses are where you find them. My experience, although not lenses, with the parts and some tools has been uneventful. I see no reason why a lens would be any different.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 17:58:18 GMT

"It's been my experience that nothing exposes the value of book learning more than actual hands-on work"

So true Robert. Experience is the best teacher. Books, Youtube, etc, and reviews can only take you so far. At some point you need practical experience. It is easy to spot.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

RobertTheFat — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 21:00:04 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"It's been my experience that nothing exposes the value of book learning more than actual hands-on work"

So true Robert. Experience is the best teacher. Books, Youtube, etc, and reviews can only take you so far. At some point you need practical experience. It is easy to spot.

I don't disagree, but that wasn't quite my point - which was that book learning can give you an important head start in the real world. And sometimes help you avoid expensive and embarrassing rookie mistakes.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

Waddizzle — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 23:23:33 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
" I still do not advise buying a used lens,..."

Which is fine but that's just you. Some of these older lenses are where you find them. My experience, although not lenses, with the parts and some tools has been uneventful. I see no reason why a lens would be any different.

Once again, you're taking words completely out of context, and applying your own meaning to them. You left out the "sight unseen" part. You also left out "from the other side of the planet" part, too.

In conclusion, it is apparent that you would buy a used lens, sight unseen from the other side of the planet.

Re: Buying lenses from eBay Japan - Did you have to pay any USA customs/import fees?

ebiggs1 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 01:16:47 GMT

"In conclusion, it is apparent that you would buy a used lens, sight unseen from the other side of the planet."

Well blow me over with a feather. Guilty as charged. If I wanted it, I would buy it.