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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> eBay - from Ukraine or Russia?
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11/02/2014 12:03:08 AM · #1
Anyone have any experience purchasing on eBay from a Ukraine or Russian seller?

Very high feedback, etc ... my concern is with customs; eBay info says on International purchases that the buyer
"Be prepared to pay fees for customs and/or duties".

How's that work? Any gotcha's to look out for?

Thanks.
11/02/2014 12:34:39 AM · #2
It all depends on what you are buying, I did buy a few items came from there but that was not more then $10.00 and I didn't pay anything. That could be because when I received those items, it was sent as a gift to me.
11/02/2014 09:10:20 AM · #3
Nah. Not saying that it wouldn't be OK, but unless I was saving a boatload of money and the seller had feedback out the wazoo, all for similar items (make sure the account hasn't been hacked or built up on $5 items), I'd say the risks outweigh the potential reward.
11/02/2014 10:14:59 AM · #4
I bought a $1000 musical instrument from Australia on ebay once several years ago. A couple of weeks after it arrived, I got a bill from FedEx for $75 for duties. It was still a much better deal than I could have gotten from a seller in the US.

11/02/2014 10:30:07 AM · #5
Australia isn't known as the hacker capital of the world, and I suspect it might be a little easier getting a deal gone bad squared away there than it would be in either Russia or the Ukraine.
11/02/2014 12:23:47 PM · #6
I'm looking for a decent M42 85mm prime lens. The Jupiter 9 is on my short list and they're primarily available in Russia. Haven't found many in North America ...

Of the two sellers I'm considering they both have 500+ feedback ratings, in the 99%+ range, and the sales (assuming the eBay system is correct / honest) have been a wide range, from $15 to hundreds.

The price is going to be most likely in the $130 -> $180 range. Not low enough for "gifting". So there's the customs issue that I'm not familiar with at all. Am I going to get dinged with another ???$, will the lens get tied up in customs and delay delivery substantially?

11/02/2014 12:57:08 PM · #7
On ebay, I wouldn't buy unless the feedback is more like 99.7%+, but ebay will take the customer's side in disputes, so it's less risky than some other methods.

With any international transaction, there's a risk that your package will be held up in customs for anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks. My experience is that it tends to be more like a couple of days unless the item is both valuable and misrepresented in some way.

//www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-States/

No duties for items < $200, but your local state may try to charge sales tax.
11/02/2014 12:59:21 PM · #8
I've bought quite a few things from Eastern Europe/Russia and haven't had any problems yet. They have mostly been things like adaptors and interesting, cheap obscure lenses which are abundant over there but don't pop up much in UK/US. The area is fantastic for those sorts of finds - just like the Jupiter 9 you mention (that's actually one i'm also keeping an eye out for). For that sort of thing and price range i'd say go for it. For anything more expensive i'm not sure i'd trust it really.

As to the customs thing. It's obviously very different in the UK than the U.S so i can't really advise. It can be a bit of a gamble in the UK whether you get hit with it and it seems to be a bit hit or miss. I think that as i've mostly bought very cheap items i've never had to pay. Actually, the only time i have been stung with it was when i bought something from a U.S based DPC member which was for a bit more money.
11/04/2014 09:12:39 PM · #9
Okay, I wimped out. Picked up a Super Takumar 85/1.9 from a US seller instead. :-)
11/05/2014 08:27:41 AM · #10
Drat! It would have been fun saving the stamps.

Oh -- I guess people don't use stamps much anymore. At least not for packages.
11/05/2014 01:34:57 PM · #11
I bought my Peleng 8mm fisheye from the company in Belarus where they're made. It took its time getting here, but it was totally worth it.
11/05/2014 01:56:04 PM · #12
Originally posted by Spork99:

I bought my Peleng 8mm fisheye from the company in Belarus where they're made. It took its time getting here, but it was totally worth it.


Same here. I also bought a Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5 from a seller in Eastern Europe, I wanna say Czech Republic, and that went fine as well.
11/05/2014 02:45:15 PM · #13
Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Spork99:

I bought my Peleng 8mm fisheye from the company in Belarus where they're made. It took its time getting here, but it was totally worth it.

Same here. I also bought a Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5 from a seller in Eastern Europe, I wanna say Czech Republic, and that went fine as well.

Well, if this Takumar doesn't pan out I'll keep that in mind for next time. I won't be so "scared". :-D
11/05/2014 03:00:30 PM · #14
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Spork99:

I bought my Peleng 8mm fisheye from the company in Belarus where they're made. It took its time getting here, but it was totally worth it.

Same here. I also bought a Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5 from a seller in Eastern Europe, I wanna say Czech Republic, and that went fine as well.

Well, if this Takumar doesn't pan out I'll keep that in mind for next time. I won't be so "scared". :-D


There is a Market Place seller on Pentaxforums.com from Canada that has a Takumar 85m with hood for $200 and is open to reasonable offers. If you still need the lens, I can help broker the deal.

Link to lens

This lens has had fungus removed by the world's best retired Pentax technician. He has posted pictures of the fungus remnants further into the posting. The seller has a great reputation on the forum.

Tim

Message edited by author 2014-11-05 16:16:15.
11/05/2014 03:48:05 PM · #15
How much did the 85mm takumar run ya?

I like the takumar lenses I have, will likely get a couple more. Very cost effective.
11/05/2014 08:20:48 PM · #16
Originally posted by atupdate:


There is a Market Place seller on Pentaxforums.com from Canada that has a Takumar 85m with hood for $200 and is open to reasonable offers. If you still need the lens, I can help broker the deal.

Tim

Thanks Tim - I bought the one I was looking at yesterday. :-)
11/05/2014 08:22:47 PM · #17
Originally posted by MadMan2k:

How much did the 85mm takumar run ya?

I like the takumar lenses I have, will likely get a couple more. Very cost effective.

It was $240 plus $11 shipping.
11/08/2014 04:40:48 PM · #18
Yay! It arrived today. Now to go take it for a spin. See ya. :-)

01/21/2018 07:30:54 AM · #19
I have purchased and also sold many items over the years to and from Ukraine and Russia without any problems at all.
Most items I have sold have been in the region of £150.00 and my purchases have varied from £20.00 to £1400.00
It can take considerable time when posting out for the items to arrive. Often this is around 10 - 12 days. When purchasing it can often take up to 18 days for parcels to arrive.
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