Need info on purchase of NEW lens

[jim_chinn1]

I have a couple of questions regarding the purchase of a new lens to replace one destroyed in a fire. I have always bought used, but have decided to go the new route since it was the lens I most frequently use. Badger Graphics is the lowest domestic source i have found- $810 for a 90mm F9 Super Angulon. However, Robert White in the UK has the same lens for $660 U.S. dollars less the VAT tax. My first question is how much is the value added tax? Is it a straight percentage, is it based on the commodity, and how much is it. I have been to the UK several times and never paid that much attention to it.

Second question- are there warranty concerns when purchasing overseas, or any warranty issues concerning Robert White specifically.

As always, thanks for any replies in advance.

[neil_poulsen1]

Why buy new when you can get excellent optics used?

 

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I think the only new camera that I've owned was a 35mm that my folks

got me for my college graduation, and that was a LONG time ago. I've

always had great luck with used equipment, as long as I purchase well

known brands that appear to have been treated well.

[d_g]

Why this particular lens ?

image circle is just 216 mm

if you need a small lens, then the nikon f8/90 is just 306g, with an image circle of 235mm

but f9 is quite dark for a 90mm, what about a 5.6 (super angulon = nikon = grandagon N = Fuji = 235mm) in second hand ?

if you need a light lens and very sharp you can choose the super symmar 80/4.5 (ic=212 / 271g) or 100xl/5.6 (ic=288 / 425g)

or even the rodenstock compromise : 90/6.8

[michael_feldman1]

The Schneider 90mm f/9 Super Angulon is actually an f/8. I am

assuming this was a typo. If you purchase from Robert White and you

are located in the USA (or anywhere outside of the EU), you do not

have to pay the VAT tax. You do have to pay any import duties and

shipping fees. I do not know how much these would be, but I am sure

that an email to Robert White would answer the question. The warranty

would be the responsibility of Robert White and not Schneider Optics

USA. You should ask them about the warranty if you have any questions.

[pete_andrews]

VAT is currently 17.5% in the UK, but if you buy the item specifically

for personal export, you can claim the tax back by filling in a

declaration form.<br>Of course, you should then declare it as an

import at the other end, and pay any local import and excise duties.

[jim_chinn1]

Thanks for the quick responses. I am very interested in the XL5.6

Scneider. The post by dg has made me realize I need to take some

time, research what is available and test a couple of lenses before I

make a purchase. Money is an issue but if after determining final

costs the savings from Robert White is only 30 or 40 dollars, I would

perfer to support a US company such as Badger and have a little

closer support.

Thanks again.

[paul_owen]

James, Robert White is a VERY reputable dealer. His mail order

service is second to none (items are packed beautifully!!). ALL

his staff are courteous and very knowledgable (especially LF

matters). Buy from him with confidence!! Regards Paul

[dmin-99]

The prices on Robert White's site do not include VAT - the current

US$ price of that lens is $642. Any lens purchased from Robert White

will have to be sent back to Robert White for warranty work. Any lens

purchased fron Badger will have to be sent back to Badger for

warranty work - they will send it back to Germany where their

supplier is (assuming you don't buy a Nikon or Fuji). You MAY be able

to get warranty work performed in the U.S. on a lens bought from

Robert White since you purchased directly from them it is not "GRAY

MARKET" - you will have the bill to prove it (but don't hold your

breath). Lenses bought from Badger are Gray Market (except Fuji which

doesn't have a large format importer), and no U.S. service center

will touch them.

[tedharris]

I totally agree with all the positive information you have received

from others regarding Robert White and Badger; I dealwith both

of tehm but Badger MUCH more frequently. Generally, Robert

White charges ~ £ 30 - 50 to ship to the US,when you add that to

the prices your savings are small.

 

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Secondly, as others ahve mentioned, why that particulra lens?

While I tend to favor Schneider I don't thhink that would be my

first choice for a 90 mm. If price is a consideration I would look

hard at the Grandagon 90 mm f6.8 in its Caltar II N version wich

was recently on sale at Calumet....so recentlythat if you call them

and get a sympathetic sales person you should still be abel to

get the sale price.�

[michael_klayman]

If the lens is bought from Robert White, or any other foreign dealer,

we won't touch the lens. As far as service goes any item bought grey

market or direct import is not covered under warranty. Badger Graphics

does buy our lenses grey market, so we would not do any work on any

lenses bought through them either.

[dan_montgomery1]

To Michael Klayman,

 

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Just curious, why would you "not touch" a grey-market or foreign-

purchased lens?

 

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Dan

[gwrhino]

I believe he is saying that they (SchneiderOptics)will not perform

warranty work on gray market lenses.....

 

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http://georgestocking.com

[david_bradley1]

I don't know the formula for Customs charges, but here's a data

point: In July, 2001 I made a $1200 purchase from Robert White. The

Customs tax was $72 (both values in round numbers). So for this

particular transaction the Customs tax was about 6%. The Fed Ex

courier collected the tax when he delivered the package.

[dan_smith]

Why won't you service Schneider lenses bought out of the USA?

 

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I have run into this one before & can't understand it. When out of

the USA I ran into a problem & had to replace some gear. Bought brand

new stuff where I was. Then, after returning home and holding

a "worldwide warranty" on a new product found one lens needed service.

Couldn't get it here. Took it to a private camera store, had it fixed

& never have purchased a new lens of the brand again, nor will I. If

this is how customers are treated I don't need to support the company.

 

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As for what the Added tax from Robert White is, why not ask them?

[jerry_gardner]

Here's my take on the gray market warranty issue:

 

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Even though the official U.S. importer "won't touch" a gray market

lens, it still makes sense to buy gray market because the price

difference is quite substantial. You can buy a lot of repair work on

a lens for the price difference between gray and officially imported

lenses. Depending on the lens, the difference can be $500 or more.

 

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Large format cameras and lenses are simple mechanical devices and are

not likely to need warranty work. In the years that I've been buying

and using LF cameras and lenses I have never had the need for any

warranty service.

 

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In my opinion, the U.S. importers for may camera and lens lines are

shamelessly gouging their U.S. customers. Much of this stuff is

available almost anywhere else in the world for substantially less.

Consumers are starting to realize that much more reasonable prices

are available via the Internet from dealers such as Robert White and

Badger Graphics.

[dan_montgomery2]

Thank you Dan Smith, for phrasing my question more expicitly. Why do

many camera/lens companies, in this case Schnieder/Michael Klayman,

refuse to service non-US purchased equipment? I'm not talking only

about "free" warranty work but paid repairs as well. If I buy a

Schneider lens from Badger and it arrives with some defect I'll send

it back to Badger for exchange or refund. If a year later I break

that lens and need to get it serviced, I would be willing to pay

Schnieder's U.S. representatives for the repair. Am I correct that

Schnieder would still not want my money in that situation? If I've

misinterpreted your comments Michael, please correct me. Thanks.

[charlie_strack]

I don't understand "warranty work" on a large format lens. Either the

lens is built right, or not. If it isn't, return for replacement. If

it is, there aren't many "latent defects" that can show up at a later

date. For shutters, however, I can see potential latent defects, but

I don't think any of the mfrs cover the shutter, since they don't

build them.

[rob_haury]

I agree with Jerry. The price difference more than makes up for the

lack of warranty. As an example I just purchased a Sinar F1 for 550

pounds sterling which equates to just under $900 plus shipping and

import. Check out B&h's price to see if this seems like a good deal.

[rob_haury]

My mistake, I meant just under $800

[jerry_gardner]

<I>My mistake, I meant just under $800 </I>

 

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For that price, you can buy two and keep one as a backup in case the

first one breaks, and still pay less than what B&H charges for one.

 

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IMO, charging more than 2x the international price is ridiculous and

the U.S. Sinar importer should be ashamed.

[michael_kadillak3]

I think that this "incremental" price for a US warranty prices boil

down to two fundamental issues. #1) The cost of insurance - the

manufacturer betting that it will not need service and foolish buyers

taking the hook that it could and #2) What the market is willing to

bear. And at the current time, there must be enough US buyers that

feel that they are willing to take the financial pain of the higher

cost or the practice would have already been terminated. Fact is, the

factory turns out both products and if US sales with the warranty lag

grey sales of the same product, surely this sales data will jell

someone into reality in the corporate office. What photographers want

are superb optics at the best possible price without getting jerked

around. Never bought a USA warranty lens and of the 8 lenses I own, I

have never had a problem with any.

[jorge_gasteazoro]

Dan Montgomery:

 

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The reason that Schnider USA will not "touch" your lens is because

they want to discourage the practice of buying grey market, you see

Schinder USA is only the official importer, in other words they buy

the lens from the factory and they "resell" them to us at a hefty

profit, this is how Mr. Klayman earns his paycheck.

 

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Personally I would never buy a USA warranty LF lens. For the 35 mm

autofocus with all the dohickeys etc, maybe it is a good choice to

get a US warranty, so you dont have to send the lens for repair

overseas, but for a LF lens the worst that can happen is a bad

shutter which many people can fix. Another point is that dealing with

Badger you are assured you have always an option and good service

from them.

 

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As to Mr. Klayman's statement they will not touch my lens, well I

don't mind, they are not touching my money either. And given the

attitude they display I can assure you they never will. I guess it

all comes down to voting with our pocket book, my vote is for

Schnider, not for the importer...

[jonathan brewer]

Sooner or later whatever you buy in whatever format, is going off

warranty. The 'markup' for U.S. equipment is 100% and their attitude

is 'if you don't pay it, we won't fix it', but so what.

 

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No matter what you've got, it's eventually going to go off

waranty, and the 'markup' for some U.S. stuff versus 'grey market'

works out to you paying $500.00 a year for three years on equipment

that's warrenteed for three years just for the privilege of having a

warrenty.

 

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The attitude of some of the folks here in the U.S. has made it

easy for me to decide against paying any more 'blackmail'.

 

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I've purchased from Mr Cad, Robert White, and they take the time

to Respond to EVERY e-mail you send them IMMEDIATELY, and with

courtesy and civility no matter how small or insignificant your

request. When they can't do something, they explain WHY.

 

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I think e-bay is going to help in the long run to grind down the

prices around here since the dealers themselves use e-bay to dump

their inventory at discount prices. There are too many other sources

for new equipment for these folks to keep acting like they're doing

you a favor by taking every penny you've got.

[christopher_campbell2]

I purchased an extensive Arca-Swiss system and a number of

Rodenstock lenses from Robert White this year. For shipping

extensive orders, we used International FedEx Express or UPS

Worldwide Express, both of which were very efficient, and

brokered the necessary the customs transactions, and Robert

White does not charge any additional mark-up on any shipping.

For smaller items not requiring tracking numbers, we used the

Royal Post's standard airmail service, which also worked just

fine. I too was curious about the import duties imposed by the U.

S. Customs service, and spoke with a representative in Detroit

who explained that there is no duty on cameras, but there is a

5% duty imposed on imported photographic "accessories,"

which in their primitive understanding comprises everything

photographic EXCEPT cameras. Still, even with the cost of

shipping and the imposition of duties (which is somewhat

uneven), I estimate that I saved more than a third of the cost of

virtually all my purchases.