Photobuff? Bargain of the century?

[Kris]

Canon 5D, body only. Canon Australia stock with Tax invoice for TRS purposes

$3400 inc gst including postage with AAE to Sydney. Thats based on 2 bodies (fellow member is interested)

thats some $195 cheaper than DD Photographics

Anyone used them before? Sound too good to be true?
Thoughts?

Cheers
Kris

[Kyle]

I bought my 17-40L through them.

Had no issues, paid day 1 via direct deposit, they shipped it same day for me, had it next day

Some of his prices are good, some are not so good.. i paid 1k for my 17-40... not a great price, but i needed pronto


You shouldnt be looking at the 5d anyways?

[Kris]

Kyle, yep some are good others are bad...

Well 1D MK III aint out so I have no choice

Thanks for the tip - we'll order through them

[photograham]

Kris, a friend has visited photobuff here in Melbourne (I think in the suburb of Endeavour Hills) and purchased new Canon gear. Said he was excellent to deal with.

[Ivanerrol]

I have also dealt directly with him at Endeavour Hills for Nikon gear. No problem and gives extra discount for cash money. His phone numbers are on the Ebay offerings. You can ring him direct and pay by direct deposit - no problems.
He is a Canon man.

[Kris]

Thanks Gents we purchased from them! Very satisfied so far

[Nathan Rodger]

Have to agree - Zoran is very helpful, they seem to know their stuff and aren't afraid to give you a deal. As soon as they had a connote they email it across. Helpful and good value... Will con

Now tracking my 5D with AAE..

[Nathan Rodger]

Hi All,
Received my 5D at 9am this morning! Haven't test run it - but opened the box and all looks to be good! Great service... Paid 11am Friday - received 9am today... Excellent..

Will keep you updated.

Cheers, Nathan.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[michael_]

got a link to his store?

[Ivanerrol]

Try this for his ebay store

http://stores.ebay.com.au/photo-buff_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

or ring him direct For enquiries, call (03)8682 8909 or 0439 027 466

sales@photobuf.com.au

[Nathan Rodger]

Yup best to call or email - they are really good and if they can give you a deal - they will. Ebay store is good - but try direct for poss. better pricing.

Also advise that you are friends with Kris and/or Nathan - and that might help get a better deal. The more this forum buys from them - the better for them - so no harm trying. I know HK Supplies is great in helping us - but some ppl need assurance of a local supplier. (I'd prolly buy from HK Supplies - and likely will when I can see the listing)

Cheers, Nathan.

[moz]

some ppl need assurance of a local supplier.

You are not helping. You know that. I am not going to buy a 5D, no matter how much you try to make it seem like a good idea.

Poon's prices are slightly better than PhotoBuf (assuming you escape GST, otherwise PhotoBuf is cheaper), but you have to add a couple of days for funds to transfer.

[Kris]

some ppl need assurance of a local supplier.

You are not helping. You know that. I am not going to buy a 5D, no matter how much you try to make it seem like a good idea.

Poon's prices are slightly better than PhotoBuf (assuming you escape GST, otherwise PhotoBuf is cheaper), but you have to add a couple of days for funds to transfer.

Thats because your trying to scam a 5D for $2500 Moz (I remember your offer for mine was some $900 less than what I sold it for)

Be realistic.

No one here is pressuring anyone to do anything. We are simply trying to tell you of a well priced product from a bunch of good guys. Your all adults, you can make the decision yourself.

The only reason I went Photobuff over Poon is because I need a tax invoice for GST purposes - coupled with this and the camera it works out that I get the camera some $150 odd cheaper than Poons price.

I will ALWAYS buy my lens from Poon, but sometimes its smarter and cheaper to buy gear locally.

I received my 2nd 5D today from AAE. Well done PhotoBuff

[gstark]

The more this forum buys from them - the better for them - so no harm trying. I know HK Supplies is great in helping us - but some ppl need assurance of a local supplier.

In fact, that is exactly how our relationship with HKS was established.

One person bought something there and reported a very satisfactory experience, then another, and another.

Soon they were telling Poon that they were being referred from here; Poon took that a step further and used this site as a reference, and the rest is history.

Poon is now not simply a supplier, but a friend, a member, and a sponsor.

I would love to to see strong relationships with other suppliers established for exactly the reasons mentioned.

[Kris]

The more this forum buys from them - the better for them - so no harm trying. I know HK Supplies is great in helping us - but some ppl need assurance of a local supplier.

In fact, that is exactly how our relationship with HKS was established.

One person bought something there and reported a very satisfactory experience, then another, and another.

Soon they were telling Poon that they were being referred from here; Poon took that a step further and used this site as a reference, and the rest is history.

Poon is now not simply a supplier, but a friend, a member, and a sponsor.

I would love to to see strong relationships with other suppliers established for exactly the reasons mentioned.

Gary, once I've tested the new 5D I will be writing a thank you letter to Photobuff and mentioning the forum. With any luck over time something similar may happen with them as it did with Poon.

Can never have too many suppliers - its good competition

[Kris]

YAY~ THANKS POON & GARY

[Kyle]

Im so excited for you

[michael_]

nice, sell a 5D to buy a mark3 then buy a 5d again, odd.

[Kris]

I made money from my sale as I'm using the new invoice for TRS. $300 richer.

[Nathan Rodger]

Ok so quick status update... I had a play with my 5D last night - not anything in depth - but just to ensure it all worked... it does - its great I do not have as many toys to show off as Kris - but exceedingly happy none the less...

Now I've got a grip on the way from the US - so looking forward to that landing and then putting this to work!

My 5D is also a 1D Mk III lay-over... Although I'll be keeping the 5D as I have been meaning to get one for a while - but had intended to invest in the 1D3 first, and have this as my 2nd body as a FF option.

In short - highly recommend PhotoBuff for decent locally distributed gray-market goods.

Now - where did I put that spare $1800 for the 16-35 2.8L II?

Cheers, Nathan.

[gstark]

I made money from my sale as I'm using the new invoice for TRS. $300 richer.

Just a reminder that this will affect your duty free allowance on the way back in.

[Kris]

Duty free? I dont buy anything DF

[gstark]

What about purchases that you might make overseas?

When I travel to the US, there's a reasonable (some might say unreasonable) amount of that happening, Likewise for those travelling to Asia.

Just a point to bear in mind, and if you don't do any shopping OS, then you'll only be up for about $100 on your way back in.

[Kris]

What about purchases that you might make overseas?

When I travel to the US, there's a reasonable (some might say unreasonable) amount of that happening, Likewise for those travelling to Asia.

Just a point to bear in mind, and if you don't do any shopping OS, then you'll only be up for about $100 on your way back in.

I wont be shopping.

$100 back in? For what exactly?

[gstark]

$100 back in? For what exactly?

The balance of your over-allowance purchases.

The way the law is framed is that, yes, you can claim the TRS on the way out.

But it also gets counted in your DF on the way in. So ... presuming two people travelling, that's a (roughly) PP$2K duty and GST free allowance on the way back in.

You have a camera that has now been purchased for, say, PP3.5K GST free, which is therefore PP1.5K over your limit. Hence it's subject to GST (again) on the way back in, for the value that is over the limit.

What the government giveth, the government taketh away.

That's the law, and that's the theory of how it works.


In practice, they rarely ask or check, however, and I don't know of anybody who's been pinged on the way back in. That doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, and it also doesn't mean that it cannot happen.

But at least you're forewarned, so you know what might happen.

[Kris]

Oh. I've brought two cameras, D70 & 30D for which I claimed TRS and never had that issue.

[gstark]

If you brought them back into the country and didn't declare them, then you possibly may have broken the law.

Depends on the values, what else you bought on those trips, etc. Ostensibly, each of those, individually, would have been in excess of the single traveller allowance.

But as I noted, most don't actually understand this aspect of the law, and I don't believe it's actively enforced.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[photograham]

Visited photobuff this morning at his home and purchased the Nikon 50mm F1.8 at a price cheaper than he had it listed on Ebay. Was good and easy to deal with and we had a good chat on a variety of equipment, and he knew which products were the better ones with regard to sharpness (for lenses) and build quality. Would be prepared to visit him again to make further purchases.
Then again my 70 - 200 F2.8 VR from Poon was a bargain and is really really good.
I think we are lucky in having 2 good purchase sources available to help keep us poor.

[Nathan Rodger]

Glad to hear your purchase went well! I still haven't had an opp to play with my 5D for more than a few minutes... My grip should arrive next week and I'm currently hunting a 24-70.... Like I need more glass but hey...

Cheers, Nathan.

[who]

I do believe you can claim a certain percentage as depreciation in value for the use whilst overseas......

Not sure where I read this though, or its reliability.

Otherwise correct.

[11vie]

wonderful! thanks for the info..


assurance vie

[Glen]

Welcome to the site 11vie