DX super-wide zooms

B&H used prices for the Nikon 10-24 are a lot higher than what I ended up paying for the Tamron (even if I had paid full price).

Dieter, think you got a good deal on the Tamron lens then. :)

Third party ones on the order of $400-$650, Nikon's 10-24 at almost $900.

Prices do go up and down on eBay. I have seen them selling/sold for less than $400 (when we were discussing these lenses) of units in excellent condition by sellers who have great feedback; and some Tamron units were selling higher than Nikon. Now this one - Click on this Link ($488) - should be in great condition. There are units at lower prices as we speak.

Now this one

From Japan - how much duty on top of the price paid? And the issue that the lens never can get service at NikonUSA. I'm pretty much done purchasing lenses or cameras on ebay - and certainly done selling them that way. But you are correct, the Nikon 10-24 tends to sell for a lot less on ebay than the prices I saw for used copies from B&H.

think you got a good deal on the Tamron lens then

Indeed. $100 off the new price thanks to the one-day ebay deal.

how much duty on top of the price paid?

Duty? Nothing. and shipping is surprisingly fast. Never had a problem from Japan.

eBay is actually a [much maligned] safe place to buy and sell if one follows a few guidelines. There is not a problem even if one gets scammed, as eBay takes care of it immediately. So being an experienced eBayer, I am not afraid to buy from "imperfect" sellers. Last month I bought a Gitzo tripod at a good price from a seller with zero feedback (normal wisdom is "don't touch"). Tracking showed the tripod was being shipped from Frankfurt Germany instead of Oregon USA (as stated on the listing). That was strange. Then it went to a P.O. Box at my local post office instead of to my address. So I went to my local post office (where I live is a bit rural, the post office people know me personally - and I'm afraid probably know what goes in an out - no secret, haha.) So she said "Oh was that your package?" She showed me a note she jotted down, said she called the postmaster that the lady to whom the P.O. Box belonged to received a tiny bag from Germany with nothing inside. She took a picture of the package with the address on it. It seemed the scammer wanted to create a tracking trail alleging it was delivered. Very silly - as it was not delivered to where it was supposed to go; and tracking info is rather detailed. So I called eBay and they asked me to send a message to the seller that I did not receive the pkg and that it went to a PO Box that I don't have. Actually eBay wrote it on my behalf at my request. (I think they probably gave the seller the benefit of the doubt that there was an error?) Then the seller responded saying he already shipped the item and it was delivered. I then contacted eBay and got a full refund the next day, and the seller's account was suspended. This is the 2nd scamming event in many years of buying-selling at eBay. Both resolved perfectly.

Duty? Nothing. and shipping is surprisingly fast. Never had a problem from Japan.

Agree with your post - add one thing, unless I've done business there before always PayPal. Many transactions and not a bad one yet. (Knock, Knock)

I never purchased from Japan directly.

Every item I've bought from Japan has been better condition than described - there are US vendors who are the same, but not always the case.

as eBay takes care of it immediately.

Then things certainly have changed - when I got scammed (as a buyer) about a dozen years ago, ebay was of no help whatsoever. None, nada, zilch. I have done a lot of buying/selling privately on ebay but even more buying for a company I worked for some dozen years ago. Since then, buyer protection has come a long way on ebay; in those days, the seller was better protected than the buyer (nowadays it appears to be just the opposite). For the last few years, I've resorted to trading at my local camera store - much less hassle than dealing with ebay.

Never had a problem from Japan.

Good to know - I never purchased from Japan directly.

I'm pretty much done purchasing lenses or cameras on ebay

Addendum to my prior responses: Most people look at eBay for used items. Actually it is a good place to buy new lenses (and other new items) as well, especially when it offers a 10% eBucks discount (credit - $100 max). Personally I enjoy new camera equipment more, or at least mint or near-mint. Currently I have about $250 eBucks to spend and I am thinking hard on what to buy with it. :D Imagine if one can use the $250 credit plus a 10% discount on a $1K lens ($1000 - $100 -$250 = $650). It is a terrific deal.

Now I think eBay will send me a commission for advertising. :D

I've had good luck buying lenses from Japan, the latest being an absolutely beautiful late model non-AI Micro-Nikkor 105 f/4.0 lens that was factory converted to AI by Nikon.

The only thing that bugs me about the eBay Japanese listings in the relatively high number of sellers rating their cameras/lenses "Excellent+++", but whey you read the description, they add "some little fungus" or such to the description. Kills it for me.

I've had good luck buying lenses from Japan, the latest being an absolutely beautiful late model non-AI Micro-Nikkor 105 f/4.0 lens that was factory converted to AI by Nikon.

 

The only thing that bugs me about the eBay Japanese listings in the relatively high number of sellers rating their cameras/lenses "Excellent+++", but whey you read the description, they add "some little fungus" or such to the description. Kills it for me.

Glad you mentioned this.

This is eBay Tip #1 ;) : Always read the item description and look at the photos carefully. If it's an expensive item, always ask a question that is important to you and yet not addressed in the description. Check the Seller Feedback. If it's not 100%, look at the complaints to see if they are serious complaints.