Is Amsterdam a good place to buy a camera?
Replies: 13 - Last Post: Mar 20, 2011 6:35 AM Last Post By: Aribo
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Is Amsterdam a good place to buy a camera?
I'm going to europe for 30 days and I need to buy a new camera. Amsterdam is my first stop, so I'm thinking on buying it there.Canon T2i (with 18-55mm IS lens), for example, costs around 1600 us dollars here in Brazil, and something around 900 in the UK. Anything around this is already economy for me.
Can I expect prices similar to the UK when buying cameras and electronics?
Thanks!
Edited by: carolxs
1
Have you tried ordering it from amazon.co.uk to find out what the shipping to Brazil charges would be?2
Amsterdam Schiphol airport always has a couple of cameras on sale. Look here for the current offers.There are several shops in the city center of Amsterdam, like on Spui. Or take a metro to Bijlmer Arena for Mediamarkt
3
The Netherlands and Germany are probably the best countries in Europe to buy consumer electronics.A Canon T2i is called an Eos 550D in The Netherlands. The Dutch online shop bol.com sells it for 619 EUR:
http://www.bol.com/nl/p/elektronica/canon-eos-550-d-kit-ef-s-18-55-mm-is/9000000008171691/index.html
Mediamarkt does not publish their prices online, but there shouldn't be a big difference; check out their offers in the store.
5
Looking for the best price is one thing but to really save money from country to country you, as a foreigner, should probably be looking into if you can get the VAT back or not also where you purchase and how hard that is.I know it's really easy in Germany and Austria as long as you mention it to the store and get the proper paperwork.........but I'm not sure about the Netherlands. I assume the rest of your trip will be in the UK? yeah, the Netherlands would be better than there UNLESS they have a different VAT tax refund policy that would change that.
7
€665 on amazon.co.uk8
If you're planning to buy it online, it would be even cheaper at Wehkamp, €562,05: http://www.wehkamp.nl/elektronica/foto-film/spiegelreflex-camera/canon-eos-550d-+-ef-s-18-55-is-digitale-spiegelreflex-camera/C26_6F3_F3B_732819/?cm_mmc_o=sbwlLwAybTCjC7wEwybwLCjC7wEwybwLCjC7wEwybwL.If you prefer to purchase it in a "real" shop, the cheapest option I could find is €619 at Foka Rotterdam: http://www.foka.nl/site/canon-eos-550d-efs-1855-mm-f3556-is-p-18722.html.
9
In most european countries prices for camaras are pretty much the same. It would be much cheaper in the USA but if you order a camara from Amazon or any other online store in USA you will get charged taxes and most probably it will get expensier than in Europe. BH Photo Video, a wellknown store from USA has an brazilian branch but no idea about the prices. Check www.bhphotovideo.com and look for the brazilian option.You have to be aware about the warranty issue. May people think that wellknown brands, like Sony or Canon cover warranties all over the globe but they do not. Often they only cover warranty issues in the country where you bought the camara and this applies especially for southamerican countries where consumer rights are still pretty unknown.
Good luck
10
Oh, that's why I couldn't find T2i prices online =P It's called EOS 550D...@Fwoggie - Importing taxes are prohibitive here in Brazil, as well as all other taxes.=/
It is on sale at Schiphol. Good price too, €599. Thanks for the tip, +YorickM+!
The rest of the trip will be in the nordic countries, mostly Norway and Iceland, but I'm staying a couple days in Amsterdam.
Yes, warranty is a concearn... I would rather pay a bit more from a trustworthy shop than take the risk of getting a second-hand product. I suppose I can trust the goods sold at Schiphol airport, right?
In case I don't buy the camera there, 'll look into VAT tax refund. Thanks!
11
Holland also has a VAT return system for tourists outside of EU. Most shops display a ' tax free' sticker. There's also a service at Schiphol, details here.VAT is called BTW (belasting toegevoegde waarde) in Dutch.
12
Great! I think I'll look into buying Timberland boots there too, since I'm planning few hiking trips and the price is unbelievably lower in Europe.One more quick question: Are tax free shops accessible upon arrival at Schiphol? Or can I only buy on them when departing from the airport? Thank you!
13
Are tax free shops accessible upon arrival at Schiphol?No, you need to show the boarding card for your next flight (not the flight you just arrived on).
can I only buy on them when departing from the airport?
Yes, but you have to pay VAT if your next destination is in the EU (and claim the VAT back when you leave the EU).
