[Strobe]

In my quest for a new UWA lens I have been considering a Sigma 10-20 F3.5. These lenses are considerably cheaper from Hong Kong (£400) as opposed to official UK dealers (£550 odd). Anyhow, to be on the safe side I thought I would check with Sigma to see where I would stand with them warranty-wise if purchasing a lens outside of the UK, from the horse's mouth as it were.

A quick phone-call to Sigma UK and their response is follows :-

All EX lenses purchased via an approved UK dealer have a standard 3 year warranty.
Lenses purchased from abroad must show proof that UK 15% VAT and 6.7% import duty have been paid. A 1 year only warranty would then apply from the date of purchase.

As an aside, a repair on the Sigma 10-20 outside of warranty would have a fee of £91.50.

Given Sigma's often dubious lens quality issues, makes you wonder if it's worth buying from abroad?

[Goody]

That's exactly the issue I had. I looked at Onestop for the f3.5 but decided to stick with a UK shop.

My only issue now is whether to get the standard f4-5.6 from Martins Cameras in Leeds at their current discounted price of £355 or from my local (Plymouth) LCE for £399.

The difference is that Martins cameras have told me that their UK suppliers can only get this lens from Japan and it will come with a 1 year warranty with Sigma UK. If I buy from LCE, I get a 3-year UK warranty. I'm still considering whether it is worth paying the extra £45 for the 3 year UK warranty and the service of a local shop or taking the chance that nothing will go wrong!

[shotokan101]

Possibly worth remembering that manufacturers warranties are in addition to your normal consumer rights under the sale of goods act so it seems that a perfectly valid argument would be that if the manufacturer will guarantee the good sfor three years elsewher then you have the same period of protection irrespective of where the lens is sourced.

Jim

[springtide]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Possibly worth remembering that manufacturers warranties are in addition to your normal consumer rights under the sale of goods act so it seems that a perfectly valid argument would be that if the manufacturer will guarantee the good sfor three years elsewher then you have the same period of protection irrespective of where the lens is sourced.

Jim

From what I remember, your consumer rights are with the supplier and not the manufacture.

As the supplier is outside of the country, then AFAIK your consumer rights will be dictated by the country you purchased the item from, rather that your local country. Legally, I think Sigma have the right not to honour any warrenty 'locally' on grey imports, but don't quote me on that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market

[shotokan101]

From what I remember, your consumer rights are with the supplier and not the manufacture.

Nearly correct - it's with the retailer (i.e. the person who sold you the goods) and in the case posted above I presumed that as it was a Leeds Company..... as it's not your responsibilty where they source their goods - that's for them to argue with Sigma

Jim

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by Strobe

In my quest for a new UWA lens I have been considering a Sigma 10-20 F3.5. These lenses are considerably cheaper from Hong Kong (£400) as opposed to official UK dealers (£550 odd). Anyhow, to be on the safe side I thought I would check with Sigma to see where I would stand with them warranty-wise if purchasing a lens outside of the UK, from the horse's mouth as it were.

A quick phone-call to Sigma UK and their response is follows :-

All EX lenses purchased via an approved UK dealer have a standard 3 year warranty.
Lenses purchased from abroad must show proof that UK 15% VAT and 6.7% import duty have been paid. A 1 year only warranty would then apply from the date of purchase.

As an aside, a repair on the Sigma 10-20 outside of warranty would have a fee of £91.50.

Given Sigma's often dubious lens quality issues, makes you wonder if it's worth buying from abroad?

Old news fella. Been there, done that, and got the tee-shirt. Posted this info yonks ago. It's a chance you take if buying Sigma from abroad.

So £150.00 product saving less potential £91.50 repair cost = £58.50 overall saving. What's the problem? You may even get a minter with no issues, thus after a year it makes no difference anyway, thus still a £150.00 saving. No different to buying used is it?

Try OneStop-Digital. If all else fails, you can still RTB to HK for repair. A pain, but still done for £0.00 (less postage). Either that, or knock it out on EvilBay for a profit.

[springtide]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Nearly correct - it's with the retailer (i.e. the person who sold you the goods) and in the case posted above I presumed that as it was a Leeds Company..... as it's not your responsibilty where they source their goods - that's for them to argue with Sigma

Jim

My appoligies, I should have said 'retailer'

I believe the 'Leeds connection' the OP's refering too is the UK supplier, rather than the grey import from HK.

What you'll find with most of the HK companies, is that they ship from HK - even if they have offices in the UK (normally refered to as 'agents'). That way, the 'retailer' is 'out of country' so that the sale is not subject to UK Law.


edit... Pirate!! - that is a good point regarding whether it's as cheap to buy grey as secondhand. I guess it's all down to the saving you make to whether it's worth it or not. I do remember when you got the tee-shirt, you were not a happy bunny at the time though LOL
But the end result, you still saved money (but had to put up with a bit of hassle). I guess it's just like buying from Ikea

[shotokan101]

Originally Posted by springtide

My appoligies, I should have said 'retailer'.

I believe the 'Leeds connection' the OP's refering too is the UK supplier, rather than the grey import from HK.

What you'll find with most of the HK companies, is that they ship from HK - even if they have offices in the UK (normally refered to as 'agents'). That way, the 'retailer' is 'out of country' so that the sale is not subject to UK Law.

The difference is that Martins cameras have told me that their UK suppliers can only get this lens from Japan and it will come with a 1 year warranty with Sigma UK

Hi - whilst the above mentioned "UK Suppliers" may well fit your definition of a "UK Agent" (who may or may not be subject to the same SOG Act) in fact Martins Cameras would be the retailer and hence subject to the Sale of Goods Act.

Jim

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Hi - whilst the above mentioned "UK Suppliers" may well fit your definition of a "UK Agent" (who may or may not be subject to the same SOG Act) in fact Martins Cameras would be the retailer and hence subject to the Sale of Goods Act.

Jim

For the record, Sigma (UK) use an old A100 to 'calibrate' their A-mount lenses. Better to put camera in M mode if you have any BF or FF issues and save yourself a bundle.

[Strobe]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Try OneStop-Digital. If all else fails, you can still RTB to HK for repair. A pain, but still done for £0.00 (less postage). Either that, or knock it out on EvilBay for a profit.

Just found a Tokina 11-16 F2.8 on ebay, one month old, for £400 - worth a punt I thought but I'll check the guy's feedback first. Turns out he'd bought a Tokina 11-16 F2.8 from OSD for £376 at the end of August. Cheeky wotsit

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by Strobe

Just found a Tokina 11-16 F2.8 on ebay, one month old, for £400 - worth a punt I thought but I'll check the guy's feedback first. Turns out he'd bought a Tokina 11-16 F2.8 from OSD for £376 at the end of August. Cheeky wotsit

Tokina 11-16mm not available for A-mount via OSD . Only Canikon @ £401.79 aka Microsoft & Mac/Linux.

[springtide]

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Tokina 11-16mm not available for A-mount via OSD . Only Canikon @ £401.79.

Re: Tokina 11-16mm not available for A-mount
AFAIK, Tokina do not produce any lens in A-Mount anymore (they stopped a few years ago). And I also have a feeling 'Strobe' isn't an A-Mounter anymore


I have heard nothing but praise about OSD (unlike some of the other HK based companies), but I never seem to be able to find a lens I want in A-Mount at OSD.

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by springtide

Re: Tokina 11-16mm not available for A-mount
AFAIK, Tokina do not produce any lens in A-Mount anymore (they stopped a few years ago). And I also have a feeling 'Strobe' isn't an A-Mounter anymore

I have heard nothing but praise about OSD (unlike some of the other HK based companies), but I never seem to be able to find a lens I want in A-Mount at OSD.

AFAIK, Tokina have recently released an A-mount lens and are looking like they will be releasing more for the Sonolta system.

[Strobe]

Originally Posted by springtide

Re: Tokina 11-16mm not available for A-mount
AFAIK, Tokina do not produce any lens in A-Mount anymore (they stopped a few years ago). And I also have a feeling 'Strobe' isn't an A-Mounter anymore

Nope - Nikon now! Nothing against Sony though.