Hi

I have been looking at digital cameras for several months and am close to making a purchase. I have spent many hours online reading product and price comparisons. It would seem that the online stores are often at least 20% cheaper than buying at more traditional store.

I have one question:

1) Being that I am a Canadian and live in Canada is there any reason why I shouldn't buy a camera from outside of the country? Is the warrenty still valid, will I get soaked at the border when the camera clears customs?

-- Jim Kilby (jkilby@netidea.com), March 18, 2000

Answers

I have bought equipment from the US. I bought a camera for my daughter from B&H. I had it sent parcel post. Canada Post charges you $5.00 for the transaction. You pay the GST as calculated on the exchange on shipping costs and the cost of the equipment. Depending on the arrangement with the province and the canada post, you may end up paying provincial sales tax as well. (This is the case in BC. Warrenty can be a bit of a problem as you will probably have to send your equipment to a US warranty repair center as Canadian distributors probably won't touch it. Sometimes you come out ahead. Other times you don't.

-- jonathan ratzlaff (jonathanr@clrtech.bc.ca), March 19, 2000.

Nikon Canada will refuse to service any digital products that are not purchased from a Canadian Authorized Dealer. (Sad, but true...) :(

- Courtney.

-- Courtney Gibson (gibson@ecf.utoronto.ca), March 23, 2000.