I'm looking for alternatives on getting the gear I want which is way, way overpriced at the local distributors.

Has anyone bought a camera at an online retailer who ships here in the Philippines? More specifically with B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/)?

What happens when in an off-chance you have a defective product? What's the protocol or cost when returning a product?

Any experience/feedbacks are welcome. Thanks!

If you're wondering what gear I'm speaking of... just look at my sig. :)

PS. I'm just asking for the ways and means of getting the gear. I already have my secondary choices from other brands lined-up if all else fails.

this is so timing.

just last night I logged in to B&H to order an item i really want to have: a Lowepro Transporter camera strap. There were 2 models and I ordered both since shipping of less than $30 is same whether i get one or two.

i typed my credit card details and then I saw a note that says I need to email or fax a copy of my credit card both sides. SOmehow I changed my mind and thought if the hassle is worth it. In your case Randall bigger risk?

Do we have to pay tax for shipped items like this? 14 days delivery. amount around $82 total. I have tried buying books and DVDs online before, no problem. I just don't know how reliable B&H is.

btw, do we have a local store that sells this item? Please update us if you have "experiences" on buying photographic stuff online. ty

the reason why they ask for a copy of your card is to prevent fraud. i've done this once (but not with photo stuff) and had what i ordered sent to johnny air cargo office in NY, they then sent it via air freight over here and i picked it up in one of their outlets. you can do the same with photo equipment.it will cost you a bit more of course...

as to if what you have shipped over is defective or something happens to it while under warranty, then it is your cost to send it back. in the end, you have to weigh the risks and the hassle...purchase internationally and if it breaks spend so much time sending it back and waiting for the replacement, or purchase locally, a little more expensive, but you get instant gratification, and hopefully less time involved for problem resolution...

If I'm not mistaken, there's no additional tax / cost if the shipping is through door-to-door UPS as the shipping cost already covers the basic taxes and customs duties.

A local distributor, Supereastasia (Camerahaus), will be getting their stocks not until the last week of December with a price of PhP65,000 (includes a bag and 1GB Kingston SD Card). B&H has it on-stock ready for delivery for $1,059.95 (+/-PhP54,000). Yes, it's a bigger risk but the price difference is insane.

I haven't bought anything photographic online. Just a pair of earphones from Amazon and a protective film for my Zen Vision:M from Invisibleshield. There were no additional taxes/fees after the final checkout cost. Delivered via UPS.

Thanks Dave for your reply!

as to if what you have shipped over is defective or something happens to it while under warranty, then it is your cost to send it back. in the end, you have to weigh the risks and the hassle...purchase internationally and if it breaks spend so much time sending it back and waiting for the replacement, or purchase locally, a little more expensive, but you get instant gratification, and hopefully less time involved for problem resolution...
Yes, this is another point to ponder upon. I'm not sure if B&H units have an International warranty, but Pentax (http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/support/repair_entry-asia.html) states there is one store accepting international warranty claims here. I will clarify this with B&H support.

Thanks!

maybe you could try some of the shops in hidalgo instead of going direct to the authorized distributor. the distributor's price is normally higher than that of the dealer's - to protect their dealer's...

Sorry... a bit off-topic

I already tried Henry's:

henry ong
to me

show details
3:52 pm (7 hours ago)

i dont have stock of this model..i only carry nikon
and canon DSLR

regards

Nicholson Ong
Assistant Manager

HENRY'S CAMERA & PHOTO SUPPLY
310 P. Gomez Street Quiapo, Manila Philippines 1001

tel: 632-7337723 / 7357989 / 7345099
fax: 632-7344018
mobile: + 63917 3200990
henryscamera@yahoo.com
I really don't think any store in Hidalgo is carrying Pentax DSLRs. Any email contact of other stores you may know of? It's hard trying to explain by phone especially when most who answer (Mayer, Watson, Henry's, Avenue, etc.) have no idea about Pentax DSLRs. :(

i think i saw a pentax store on the top floor of megamall...

Yup, right across the Canon store in Bldg. B (where the megatrade halls are).

Sanly Corporation (Main Showroom & Head Office)
237 - 239 P. Tuazon Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City 1109
(63)-2-9120640 to 43

— Sanly Corporation (PENTAX Showroom & Service Center) —
Fifth Level, Bldg. B SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
(63)-2-6344144

— Sanly Corporation (PENTAX Showroom & Service Center) —
128 Cyberzone Mall, SM North Edsa PAG-ASA 1, Quezon City
(63)-2-4530670

— Sanly Corporation —
CPP128 SM - Carpark Plaza North Avenue cor. Edsa, Quezon City
(63)-2-455-8329

I haven't followed-up my inquiry with Sanly's yet but their current units are generally more expensive than Camerahaus. :(

Thanks anyway! :)

B&H is a very reputable store. returns and exchanges are not a problem with them.

the question is, is it worth your time. are you willing to wait?

Well that was a reason for me as well on looking at B&H.

If I order now, I'd get the unit at exactly the same time or earlier than Camerahaus will have them and in time for the Christmas parties. :)

Thanks Glenn! What did you buy from B&H if you don't mind me asking?

Well that was a reason for me as well on looking at B&H.

If I order now, I'd get the unit at exactly the same time or earlier than Camerahaus will have them and in time for the Christmas parties. :)

Thanks Glenn! What did you buy from B&H if you don't mind me asking?

sir randall, bought my canon 24-70f2.8 L =)

but im in canada...so i really don't know how long the shipping would be going to the philippines .

but if store reputation is the question, you can never go wrong with b&h...number one store here in america. we buy there because it's muuuuuccchhh cheaper than our local stores (henry's...vistek...) even with shipping and taxes.

never purchased anything from b&h so i can't comment on them. as to returns, all internet based sellers have a return policy listed on their site.
i have purchased lens through amazon but they do not ship to the philippines for items such as lens as it may get damaged, so i have it sent to an address in the US instead and pick it up or have someone bring it home for me instead

Thanks Glenn!

A very nice lens... excellent to be exact.

I think the Philippines is a little bit left behind on the online retailing front.

Anyway, basing from my other purchases and that UPS delivery in domestic US is 3-5 days, I would assume it's no more than 14 days at the most.

Even my request of resource materials from Knoll, Steelcase, and Hermann Miller (Systems furniture) from the US never exceeded 10 days with standard UPS and Fedex shipping.

Thanks again!

Thanks din Hochi! :D

keep us posted sir!

I get most of my stuff from B&H.. no problems at all =) so far at least =b they are a reputable store and their customer service will answer any of your questions..

last thing i ordered from them was my brother's Zuiko Digital 35mm macro, Cokin Z-pro filters and a bunch of ND grads.. the adapter ring came later since it was on back order. i would suggest you use UPS or FedEx since they deliver door to door.

With regards to warranties, you have to check with your local camera manufacturers, i know servimax doesn't honor international warranties, though they will repair the unit for you at a cost.. with other brands.. just not sure whether they will honor it or not =)

I haven't really had any experience with returning any of the stuff i bought from them though...

If your apprehensive to post send them your credit card number, ask them about sending money through the bank instead, i think Adorama does that but it can be quite a hassle sometimes.. As for me.. i pay through this thing called an E-card which is specifically for internet transactions. i heard that Visa debit is good as well

Taxes can be steep though, so just watch out for that.. though i don't think they tax anything under $100.00 if i remember correctly.. (please correct me if i'm wrong)

you can also try Cameta. it's an ebay seller and i hear good things from them as well =)

Hope that helps =)

did anyone used "http://www.e-2-door.com/" services already?

just like ordering from the online stores...

some of my friends already used it no worries...

haven't tried it though...

A local distributor, Supereastasia (Camerahaus), will be getting their stocks not until the last week of December with a price of PhP65,000 (includes a bag and 1GB Kingston SD Card). B&H has it on-stock ready for delivery for $1,059.95 (+/-PhP54,000). Yes, it's a bigger risk but the price difference is insane.

Taxes can be insane as well! =b if you add them all up, it's gonna cost you more or less the local price.. =) 12%VAT alone can be will cost you! =b

as much as possible, try getting your camera equipment here. it's much more convenient especially if something goes wrong with the unit.. but if you can't wait or there's absolutely no possible way of acquiring it locally, then that's the only time you buy from the net =)

randall, be sure about taxes/duties (even through UPS) - it varies from area to area here in the PI

For rare items that you may find in B&H, Samy's, K&S Bay area, go to Jun Lim of Infomax, he marks up reasonably. Specially if you do not want to use your credit card. I shop in the net, then order it with Infomax. If you get a group buy, the accessories my be less expensive. PLEASE note, accessories only so far are the items I tried.

I've shopped from B&H, Adorama and Amazon the following items:

1. Canon a85 (BH)
2. 3 or 4 Canon a510's (for relatives) (Amazon)
3. Oly C7070 (Amazon)
4. Nikon D50 (Adorama)

I became the defacto online purchaser of the family for a time. My wife is a credit card points hog, so she didnt mind making the purchases. After the first try, you dont get so paranoid anymore.

BH and Adorama ask for scanned copies of the credit card for verification purposes. It is nakaka praning (parnoidable), but since thier reputations are top notch, I took a risk with that. So far, my credit card has not yet been compromised.

I have not tried international shipping... I always time my purchases with a "pack mule" ... a relative or friend who is coincidentally flying back home.

I have not tried returning anything, but I once cancelled a BH order and shifted to amazon (I forgot the reason) and got screwed by the credit card company for "foreign exchange charges" for a transaction that was cancelled. It was a 400 dollar purchase that was cancelled, and they charged me something like 1000+ pesos, or more than 2 pesos per dollar, for charges in handling funds for a transaction where no items changed hands. Watch out for this when and if you cancel.

I have had warranty problems (D50 pop up flash), but was lucky to have a reverse pack mule and I sent it to Nikon melville for service. One of the A510's I got for my prother also had a warranty problem and he also sent it back to Canon US.

This was before I joined local photography forums and found out the price differences in MOST cases arent that significant to justify taking the risk of buying internationally and thus voiding local warranty support. In my case, I justified almost all my buys because the savings would have covered the costs of local repair or shipping the items back.

If I had known about hidalgo then, maybe my online shopping habits would have been different.

Hope this helps.

Hayyy, I wish it were that easy with Pentax. Anyway, thanks all for your replies! I'm only buying online as a last resort. I'm still hoping for a local purchase.

I got a reply from Avenue today (Thanks John for the contact email!) and they can get the unit but not the 18-55kit, but rather the superior 16-45kit. After computing the cost equivalent from US/EU SRP, the difference is only P2,500! I hope they can get an 18-55kit since I might want to save up on the upcoming supersonic weather-sealed lenses next year. /me crossing my fingers :)

Thanks again for all the replies Tok, Aris, Glenn, Derick, Carlo!

@KiX
e2door has an exponential cost. The higher the product's price the higher their additional cost. I ordered some spare parts for our office plotter through e2door, since the price was low, the total cost was alot cheaper than buying the parts locally. But ordering something expensive such as the K10D 18-55kit from B&H via e2door will cost you P89,000+. Thanks.

Good luck with your acquisition! =)

by the way, who's the local distributor for Pentax here in Phils? don't they have a plant in Cebu or something?

It says here (http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/support/repair_entry-asia.html) it's Sanly corporation.

As far as what I've read, all current Pentax DSLR's are assembled in a plant in Cebu (OH THE IRONY!). The Cavite lens plant has been recently liquidated and lens production has moved to Vietnam.

Thanks! :D

randall, be sure about taxes/duties (even through UPS) - it varies from area to area here in the PI

Yes, there is tax/duties when you ship any items here from abroad. I purchased from our company a Core 2 Duo (intel proc) which cost php8k, and I was taxed php1.6k. The tax is based on a table so imagine how much for a $1k+ item :( . I think it's still better to buy here.

It says here (http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/support/repair_entry-asia.html) it's Sanly corporation.

As far as what I've read, all current Pentax DSLR's are assembled in a plant in Cebu (OH THE IRONY!). The Cavite lens plant has been recently liquidated and lens production has moved to Vietnam.

Thanks! :D

HAHAHAHAHAHA! =D Ironic indeed! it's like buying clothes in the US only to find out that it's made in Phils! i think Lexmark is also made in Cebu. i saw their logo plastered on a building while the airplane was taxing towards the terminal...

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! HAHAHAHAHA! =D

hi...

is it cheaper to buy lenses in the US? if you know some shops (even online), can you please post...


Thanks!!! :Grin:

mac. do a search first before posting anything in the forum.

sorry about that... I was searching but guess used a different search string.... :Oops:

so from the thread... B&H is the cheapest in the US?

so from the thread... B&H is the cheapest in the US?
No. But they are the most reputable. You can use promo codes to get the best price on selected items. (enter "psnov" in the search window)

Pricing depends on the item. Buydig is generally the cheapest though Onecall, Roberts, & KEH also have good prices on certain items.

No. But they are the most reputable. You can use promo codes to get the best price on selected items. (enter "psnov" in the search window)

Pricing depends on the item. Buydig is generally the cheapest though Onecall, Roberts, & KEH also have good prices on certain items.

Does anybody have experience buying from KEH? I think their pre-owned stuff are reasonable priced.

Does anybody have experience buying from KEH? I think their pre-owned stuff are reasonable priced.

melvin, i personally don't have one. but I always read good feedbacks from them especially if you are buying used items :)

Hi,

Just last week InfoMax Parksquare had 1 unit of Pentax k10D with the 18-55mm lens kit. They were selling it at P64,500.

You might want to check it out if it s still available...

HTH.




I'm looking for alternatives on getting the gear I want which is way, way overpriced at the local distributors.

Has anyone bought a camera at an online retailer who ships here in the Philippines? More specifically with B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/)?

What happens when in an off-chance you have a defective product? What's the protocol or cost when returning a product?

Any experience/feedbacks are welcome. Thanks!

If you're wondering what gear I'm speaking of... just look at my sig. :)

PS. I'm just asking for the ways and means of getting the gear. I already have my secondary choices from other brands lined-up if all else fails.

Thanks Rodney! Yah, I saw that too a week ago when I was looking at their bags. I was surprised to see it on their shopfront display! :Shock: I called Sanly yesterday and they say they will get their K10D +18-55kit stocks by the end of December or January and it won't go past the P60K mark.

Anyway, I already asked my cousins in Singapore to buy it for me there. A few hours ago, they bought at Cathay Photo the K10D + 18-55mm/50-200mm dual lens kit with 1GB SD card, 1 UV filter, and a Tamrac bag all for around SG$1,950 gst (+/-PhP62,400). Yay! :) Another store (MS Photo) was out of stock but they sold the dual lens kit for only SG$1830 gst.

Wait, why was this thread moved to the Canon forum? :Thinking:

If I'm not mistaken, there's no additional tax / cost if the shipping is through door-to-door UPS as the shipping cost already covers the basic taxes and customs duties.

A local distributor, Supereastasia (Camerahaus), will be getting their stocks not until the last week of December with a price of PhP65,000 (includes a bag and 1GB Kingston SD Card). B&H has it on-stock ready for delivery for $1,059.95 (+/-PhP54,000). Yes, it's a bigger risk but the price difference is insane.

I haven't bought anything photographic online. Just a pair of earphones from Amazon and a protective film for my Zen Vision:M from Invisibleshield. There were no additional taxes/fees after the final checkout cost. Delivered via UPS.

Thanks Dave for your reply!
I'm in Afghanistan pero I have acquired almost all of my gears through B&H (body, lenses, flash, etc) and I'm very impressed with their services. Once, I bought a grey market lens from them and got a problem after few months of using the lens. Though it's a grey market lens, they have replaced it with a new one. Talagang ok ang B&H. Much better than Adorama.

congrats randall. review ha!

Does anybody have experience buying from KEH? I think their pre-owned stuff are reasonable priced.

I bought my Mamiya 645 Pro TL (used) from KEH, the camera really looks new with no single scratch on the body. The battery is still sealed though already expired. Though they have missed to ship the lens' rear cap, they sent it to me together with some of the stuff that I've ordered after my initial purchase. It comes with a box, strap, mechanical shutter release cable adopter, manual and accessories catalogue. I really can't believe that when they say LN (like new), it is really like new. The only problem I had is my shipping address doesn't match with the billing address. But it was settled through email. The customer service is great. A bit personalized and you deal with the same person whenever you have an inquiry.

I won't hesitate to deal with KEH again when it comes to used items.

--Dennis

Just browsing in, can anyone confirm how you will pay your tax if you order from B&H and ship to Manila?
Is there any guidelines?

Alfred,

Online stores usually ship either thru :

1. USPS (Priority Mail or Express Mail Service), or
2. by courier (FedEx, UPS or DHL).

If by USPS Priority Mail, you would have to get your item from your post office and pay your tax there. If by Express Mail, you have to get it from the Post Office near the domestic airport and pay your tax there

If it's by FedEx, UPS or DHL, you will receive a phone call on delivery date from the courier advising you of the amount of tax before item is delivered

Hope this helps

Thanks Felix. Just curious... where are you from?

My parents are both from Batangas but I grew up here in Manila