Do not send camera to Ukraine for repair

<p>I bought a russian camera from ebay, it turned out that it has shutter problem. I found a gentleman from Ukraine<br>

who can service this KMZ camera, at very reasonable price-- $35 USD<br>

So I send the parcel to Ukraine, it cost me postage $65 usd, on arrival, the Ukraine custom wanted to collect<br>

import tax of $78, even though it is clearly stated on the package "Camera for repair"<br>

Suppose I pay this "import tax" and the camera serviced, when he send back to me it will cost about $65 usd<br>

in postage, if I am not lucky, the Canadian Custom will again collect "import tax" about $78,</p>

<p>All this back and forth, adds up to $286 usd, not counting service charge.<br>

The service fee is very reasonanble, but the postage, the custom tax are killers. With that amount I can easily<br>

buy another one from ebay<br>

Never send camera to Ukraine or (Russia) for repair.</p>

<p>Ouch !!!!</p>

<p>You aren't supposed to have to pay import tax on something you exported, but in this case you are importing a working camera, and exported one that wasn't working. </p>

<p>I don't know Ukraine tax at all, but it should be based on the value, which you know is $35.</p>

<p>But yes, much better to keep buying them until you get one that works without repair.</p>

<p>Note that you could buy about eight $35 cameras for your $286. One of them might work!</p>

I thought Ukraine tax was based on the size of the officials' pockets.

<p>go to the zenit camera group on Yahoo. They can direct you to a US repair service specializing in Russian Cameras</p>

Whether for repair or to buy, I avoid the Ukraine and Netherlands like the plague....

<p>I know of a Russian repairman in Roanoke. I can find out who he is.</p>

There are import and export documents for repair, but you need to know what forms etc. There is a a

temporary import paper flow . This requires serial number correctness. I can't say anything particular for the

Ukraine, but I often imported on this type of bond in Germany. As long as the incoming SN was the

outgoing you did a temporary import that cost nothing other than the handler's fees to do the paperwork.

Not something for everybody .... so thanks for the warning ! BTW This had nothing to do with cameras.. it

was cellular radios test gear.

<p>why would you send the camera to ukraine - so many talented repairman in this side of Atlantic. A question in this forum would have saved you a ton of cash.</p>

<p>Greg,<br>

just out of curiosity... why do the Dutch suddenly turn up in a Eastern-European duscussion?</p>

<p>Allard Wunderink</p>

<p>I found this repairman in Ukraine through his youtube video<br>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTPW5Xd24Po<br>

Showing he was replaceing the shutter curtain.<br>

I believe that there are no Narciss camera parts available in US or Canada, there are more chance<br>

to get Narciss camera parts in Russia or Ukraine (part of former USSR)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I posted a question on flickr Zenit user group asking about Russian camera repairman in US,<br>

No answer.</p>

Send an email to Eddy Smolov at 123camerarepair@gmail.com. He retired but he'll be able to tell you who to send your

camera to.

<p>I have experience with both Ukraine and Russia and travelled in both countries and I would not hesitate to send something to Russia, but Ukraine is another case. I would say the best way in Ukraine to have services like this is to personally deliver to the repair person as both countries still seem to value people who do good repairwork or handcraft. Just that many of these capable people do not have internet or any way to connect to unless going straight to them.</p>

<p>Ukraine post office does things strictly by thebook. The first camera(KMZ black skin Narciss camera) for repair, the post office clerk did not fill in the proper custom form, only wrote "camera for repair" on the<br>

post office label. This did not coutnt, hence that camera was charged $78 import duty on arrival in Ukraine. I had to paid up to enable the receiver to pickup the package for repair.</p>

<p>The second Narciss I sent to Ukraine for repair, I fiiled up the proper canada post custom form and attached to the package. No custom duty paid.</p>