Buying photo gear in UK/EU?

[roamingyak]

I'm looking to buy about 5k of photo gear: Sony camera bodies, Tamron lenses and assorted bits etc etc over the next year.
Apart from Amazon, can anybody recommend trusted retailers with competitive prices and good service?
Has to be within the EU/UK - I won't import from the USA due to customs issues where I live etc

Any help appreciated

[backofbeyond]

When I was a pro snapper I used to buy stuff from a lot of the professional dealers in London but since about 2005 digital has done for most of them with a whole load of mergers, takeovers and closing down sales.

The last one I used to frequent was Calumet who have now merged with Wex Photo in Norwich to form, well, Wex Photo. I’ve bought a Nikon body, a couple of lenses and some other stuff from them over the last few years and found them to be good on price, better than I expected on service and easy to deal with. Other than that I’ve no connection with them.

The other big name in the UK is Jessops. They’ve had a risen from the grave relaunch recently and are back on a lot of High Streets but, personally, they’re not who I’d be looking at if I had your budget.

For secondhand stuff my first port of windows shopping call tends to be CeX (google computer exchange if you don’t know them). I’ve bought a load of stuff from them recently - 4 cameras, a couple of iPads, lenses and computer bits, and while it hasn’t all been fault free it has been over the counter, no argument exchange or money back (hardware comes with a 2yr warranty). If you’re not in the UK though that process might not be what you want to take on.

[roamingyak]

Thanks, WexPhoto and Jessops won't deliver to the EU which is ridiculous....

[eurasiaoverland]

I'm not sure on your attitude towards grey imports (which have no manufacturer warranty). Personally, I would not buy imported bodies, but for lenses I would consider it (little to go wrong on them). You can save a lot, and there are vendors who sell grey imports from within the EU, thus avoiding import duties.

I live in the Netherlands and used www.cameratools.nl when I bought a new Nikon D750 body. They are a reputable, high-street shop and I got an EU market Nikon body with warranty. The price was similar to Jessops / Wix / Calumet in the UK and they will ship within the EU. They also gave me a free 5 year vendor warranty on top of the 2 year manufacturer warranty. As they are in the Netherlands they will probably speak English (I don't speak Dutch) if you want to call them. They also do used gear.

EO

[roamingyak]

Thanks mate, they do ship internationally and their prices seem much better on the models I'm interested in, happy days

[AnTyx]

Tbh, for 5k worth of gear, it may be financially sound to spend 500 euros on a return flight to New York and just drop in to B&H.

[eurasiaoverland]

Originally Posted by AnTyx

Tbh, for 5k worth of gear, it may be financially sound to spend 500 euros on a return flight to New York and just drop in to B&H.

Only if you're sure you'll get a worldwide warranty I would say.

[Lovetheworld]

What do you expect out of the warranty? As eurasiaoverland mentioned, it could often be seen as grey import. Then you cannot always service the warranty issue with the maker in your own country, and you have to send it back to the shop where you got it from in another country.
If that is acceptable, then I guess it doesn't matter so much anymore where you buy it. Cheap but reliable customer service, so Amazon is already pretty good.

Brexit may have some effect of more companies not wanting to send to EU when buying or when handling warranty issues.

I do not agree that lenses have less risk, they may have even more risks. Friend of mine, professional photographer, buys expensive lenses and some of them need to go back. "Look at this picture I made with this expensive lens!" "What, it's a nice picture?" "No, the right half is all bad" "... ok, if you say so"
It is nice that he deals with local shops that understand his high demands and allow him to return a very expensive lens.

And always try to make a deal if you're buying all the stuff at once. I am sure most smaller shops in Netherlands will make you an offer if you ask for it.