That “Great Deal” from Overseas?

That “Great Deal” from Overseas? It Might Not Be So Great Anymore!

Just like so many other U.S. based photographers, I’ve been there. Scrolling through an international online store and spotting a great price on a new piece of camera gear. It’s often a great deal cheaper than buying locally. But there is now a huge caveat.

Tariffs

Before actually buying you absolutely must do your homework to figure out what the final cost to you will be. Thanks to U.S. tariffs it’s definitely going to be more than the sticker price and low shipping that attracted you in the first place. In fact, it can easily turn into a pricing nightmare if you don’t exercise due diligence.

Here’s the lowdown on pricing that they don’t advertise on the product page. When your photographic equipment gets to the U.S. it goes through customs. For many photographic items, the U.S. government now imposes import tariffs – a tariff is essentially a tax on goods coming from other countries.

It Didn’t Use to Be That Way

Prior to the current tariffs a lot of goods were exempt due to being below a threshold value ($800) that was called “De minimis.” Lierally translated that means “of trifling consequence” or, in other words, it wasn’t worth the government trying to tax your import.

That’s not the case anymore. Even when an item did exceed that threshold the tariff charged was not huge. But now? The tariffs are punitive and aren’t small fees. They can add a significant percentage to your total cost and can easily wipe out any savings.

Brokerage Fees

Many photographers have found to their cost that that great price isn’t so great anymore. Photographers are getting an unexpected bill from the shipping carrier (like FedEx, UPS, or DHL etc.) for the tariff charges, plus their own hefty brokerage or processing fee to handle the customs paperwork.

Many people are not even aware of the existence of brokerage fees. The brokerage fee on its own can be surprisingly hefty! These unexpected charges will almost certainly price your bargain at a cost that will floor you. The chances are that the final cost will be higher than just buying from a U.S. seller.

It’s not simply a case of the money though, it’s also a major hassle. You’ll have to pay up before your imported gear is released, often seriously delaying the moment you finally get your hands on it.

What If There’s Something Wrong with Your Gear?

Life is not perfect and even buying from the most reputable of international dealers does not guarantee something will work flawlessly. And if it’s not as described? Or doesn’t function properly? Good luck with a warranty claim or a return from thousands of miles away.

So What About That “Great Deal” from Overseas?

So, while hunting for a deal is and always will be smart, your safest and often cheapest bet is to buy from U.S. dealers. Doing so means you will know the final price before you buy, get your gear more quickly, and have readily accessible customer support.

As someone who has bought internationally for years believe me when I say your wallet and your peace of mind will thank you.

P.S. Photographers in many other countries (if they are lucky!) can still get a great deal buying internationally. Not so for those of us in the U.S.A.