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Dilemma. New OM-1 or OM-1 Mark II same price?

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McSchotte

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I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
 
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
The "no warranty" on the Japan bought camera would stop me. Camera makers all seem to strictly stay with warranty only provided for cameras imported by the authorised agents in a country and not for any grey market cameras. There is no such thing as international warranties, it seems.

In my case I want local warranty available (even though very rarely needed in the last 20 years) but lenses are not an issue for me as never needed warranty for any lens in the last 20 years.
 
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I would take my chanses on the Mark 2 if you plan to keep it for some years. But if you want to resell in the near future, maybe not. Fairly new cameras without warranty is harder to offload.
 
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I traded up my EM1.2 shortly after launch for an OM1. If I hadn’t, I’d pay the premium to buy an OM1 mk ii. Whether you are happy to pay less and get a camera with no warranty is a separate question.

Andrew
 
I will further sweeten the deal by mentioning that many camera stores here in Japan will apparently cover import duty when shipped overseas. You can check prices by visiting Amazon Japan.
 
Tom Ames said:
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I would take my chanses on the Mark 2 if you plan to keep it for some years. But if you want to resell in the near future, maybe not. Fairly new cameras without warranty is harder to offload.
Click to expand...
Agreed! If OMS is offering 5 year warranties it's only because major issues are not expected considering it's basically an OM-1 which has proven to be fairly reliable. If something happens, you take the hit which comes out of your savings, no big deal.
 
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I think you actually have several questions.

(1) Will OM System honor a warranty in the US for a camera bought in Japan. This us usually a different situation than a "gray market" purchase, since the store is authorized to sell cameras in Japan, and the camera is being bought in Japan.

(2) Will OM System allow transfer of a warranty, or will they honor a warranty for a camera given as a gift.

In general, based upon OM System stated policy, the answer to both questions is "No". Although they don't answer the question of gifts, I expect that if you have a gift receipt they will honor the warranty.

Some camera companies offer "international" warranties. Some camera companies will honor a warranty if you purchase the camera and then move.

See this:

https://learnandsupport.getolympus.com/warranty-and-repair-procedures
 
Tom Ames said:
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I would take my chanses on the Mark 2 if you plan to keep it for some years. But if you want to resell in the near future, maybe not. Fairly new cameras without warranty is harder to offload.
Click to expand...
I‘ve had the E-M1 mark II for almost 5 years and expect to keep the OM-1 about as long. That‘s why the idea of getting the newest available version feels right. I had no issues with E-M1 whatsoever, so I‘m not sure if the warranty should be the deciding factor.
 
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
Honestly, If you have a problem with the OM-1 Mk2 three to four years down the track, do you really think you will say to yourself, "Bummer, I should have bought the OM-1"? I don't think so.
 
UrbaneHobbit said:
I will further sweeten the deal by mentioning that many camera stores here in Japan will apparently cover import duty when shipped overseas. You can check prices by visiting Amazon Japan.
Click to expand...
Amazon Japan does not show the OM-1 Mk11. Can you suggest another store? The best price for OM-1ii here in HK is US1740, (grey with shop warranty) but coming down week by week!

Tom
 
Guy Parsons said:
...... Camera makers all seem to strictly stay with warranty only provided for cameras imported by the authorised agents in a country and not for any grey market cameras. There is no such thing as international warranties, it seems...
Click to expand...
It depends. Two examples:

- Leica warranty is worldwide. The exact conditions depend where the lens was bought, as different countries have different laws. Even lenses/cameras not bought from an official dealer (grey market) are covered. However, in that case the warranty begins when the intermediate dealer bought the item from an official dealer, not when the customer bought it from an intermediate dealer.

- Sony Australia/NZ have a "Sony Tourist Limited Warranty" TLW. Limited to one year, only for cameras/lenses bought from an official AU/NZ dealer. Sony AU/NZ will reimburse Sony service centers in other countries to warranty repair your camera for free.

"The TLW can be issued by any participating retailer at the time you purchase your Sony product. Please note, you will not be issued a TLW automatically, you will have to request one at the time of purchase. The TLW is available at retail stores within Australia, offering Duty Free, (or GST free) purchasing of Sony products within the TLW program."

These are downtown stores where you buy your camera/lens, but only get it handed out to you at the airport after the passport check, before boarding your international flight.

https://www.sony.com.au/support/resources/en_AU/html/Warranty/Sony_Tourist_Limited_Warranty.html

There are specialized stores in Japan, that provide international warranty for some camera brands they sell. Likely a similar arrangement, like the Sony example above. I would assume though, these are not the stores with the very lowest prices.
 
Last edited:
john isaacs said:
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I think you actually have several questions.

(1) Will OM System honor a warranty in the US for a camera bought in Japan. This us usually a different situation than a "gray market" purchase, since the store is authorized to sell cameras in Japan, and the camera is being bought in Japan.

(2) Will OM System allow transfer of a warranty, or will they honor a warranty for a camera given as a gift.

In general, based upon OM System stated policy, the answer to both questions is "No". Although they don't answer the question of gifts, I expect that if you have a gift receipt they will honor the warranty.

Some camera companies offer "international" warranties. Some camera companies will honor a warranty if you purchase the camera and then move.

See this:

https://learnandsupport.getolympus.com/warranty-and-repair-procedures
Click to expand...
But what if the OP's son stays the owner of the camera? If it in future will be in need of repair it could be sent to said son that can have it repaired in Japan.
 
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I had 5 Panasonic and 1 Olympus bodies, 3 developed issues, one Panasonic body within warranty.

Of my 9 lenses, I had to send back 3; I kept one with a resistance in the zoom ring, because I hoped it would wear off, but it got worse.

You see what I would do.

Peter
 
I recently bought a OM-1 Mkii body with a 12-40 + 75-300 lens,

The Mkll body + 12-40 I bought from a well established, brick and mortar, my go-to dealer, with full 24 month warranty and paid full price.

The cheapie 75-300 lens I bought as a grey import with a dealer warranty, and saved £250.
 
Last edited:
tomhongkong said:
UrbaneHobbit said:
I will further sweeten the deal by mentioning that many camera stores here in Japan will apparently cover import duty when shipped overseas. You can check prices by visiting Amazon Japan.
Click to expand...
Amazon Japan does not show the OM-1 Mk11. Can you suggest another store? The best price for OM-1ii here in HK is US1740, (grey with shop warranty) but coming down week by week!

Tom
Click to expand...
Hi Tom, Map Camera in Shinjuku has it for 255.000 JPY + 10% Tax.

 
eques said:
McSchotte said:
I have decided to upgrade from my E-M1 Mark II to an OM-1. My local camera shop has offered me a new Mark I for €1500 + 19% VAT (sales tax). My son lives in Tokyo and could buy the Mark II for €1550 tax free and bring it back to Germany on his next visit. The import tax is the same 19%.
The store here is offering a 5 year warranty for free but OM System declined to answer my polite enquiry as to whether they would repair a camera bought in Japan.
I would love to hear your opinions on the best way to solve this dilema ;-)
Click to expand...
I had 5 Panasonic and 1 Olympus bodies, 3 developed issues, one Panasonic body within warranty.

Of my 9 lenses, I had to send back 3; I kept one with a resistance in the zoom ring, because I hoped it would wear off, but it got worse.

You see what I would do.
Click to expand...
I have only one OM body, an OM-1, but it has had to be repaired under warranty.

I have five lenses, and one (a 60 macro) has been repaired under warranty.

The repair process was quick and painless, but two out of six is worrying!

I bought my 150-400 used from a dealer, in 'like new' condition back when there was a very long waiting list for new - so no OM warranty. I'm dreading the cost if it ever develops a fault.
 
Tom, see if this link works for you: OM-1 Mark II Body https://amzn.asia/d/7LQcdN2

I see it priced at ¥278,000 new (Amazon Japan prices include tax), which is US $1,886 at today’s currency conversion rate.
 
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Is there really import tax on items of personal property brought into the country in luggage? I can't imagine. A tourist would be taxed on every camera, laptop and pair of socks they bring in?
 
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