DWI International? Map Camera?

[Walt Palmer]

Good people to deal with? Will the Australian warranty have any value in the U.S.?

Map Camera in Tokyo, good to deal with? This is a used camera so warranty not a question.

 

[Messier Object]

Good people to deal with? Will the Australian warranty have any value in the U.S.?

Map Camera in Tokyo, good to deal with? This is a used camera so warranty not a question.

Walt,

DWI (Digital World International) is/was a 'grey' importer to Australia and offered their own warranties.

Looks like they have ceased trading anyway:

"Dear customers, We regret to inform you that after 17 years in business, DWI has closed its doors on December 31st, 2018"

Peter

 

[Barty L]

Good people to deal with? Will the Australian warranty have any value in the U.S.?

I've purchased a couple of lenses from them. Transaction was straightforward. Goods arrived in good time and in good order.

I've never had to make a warranty claim from them so I can't comment on that. I will note that they have been around for over a decade so if the internet isn't awash with claims of fraud and bad dealing about DWI then they are probably OK. They are essentially a front for Chinese warehouses - in my experience everything comes from Hong Kong.

Australia has its own consumer rights laws, there will be some overlap with U.S. but the jurisdictions are different so it really comes down to a question of whether or not you can expect DWI to act ' in good faith' - I've no reason to suspect that DWI would treat a U.S. customer any differently than an Australian customer.

[EDIT: Just saw Messier Object's advice about them closing down, so it's moot]

Map Camera in Tokyo, good to deal with? This is a used camera so warranty not a question.

Not able to comment.

--
BartyL
www.facebook.com/barty.lobethal/photos_albums

 

[Walt Palmer]

Good people to deal with? Will the Australian warranty have any value in the U.S.?

Map Camera in Tokyo, good to deal with? This is a used camera so warranty not a question.

Walt,

DWI (Digital World International) is/was a 'grey' importer to Australia and offered their own warranties.

Looks like they have ceased trading anyway:

"Dear customers, We regret to inform you that after 17 years in business, DWI has closed its doors on December 31st, 2018"

Peter

Thanks Peter, for the warning. They still have stuff listed on eBay. Do they have a bad name as a 'grey market' dealer?

 

[windsprite]

Map has a pretty good reputation in Japan. I don't know how they are to deal with from overseas.

Julie

 

[zach1234]

I just ordered a 9-18mm from DWI (or called DWI on eBay). Seems fine and was overnight delivery.

 

[apathyman]

I haven't bought anything from DWI on ebay but did buy from them directly a few years ago (a DSLR, a lens and some odds & ends) - all separate transactions. I had no problems but I never had any reason to test their warranty either.

As Peter said, it's grey market goods.

Cheers

Brian

 

[Walt Palmer]

Map has a pretty good reputation in Japan. I don't know how they are to deal with from overseas.

Julie

Thank You Julie.

 

[Walt Palmer]

I just ordered a 9-18mm from DWI (or called DWI on eBay). Seems fine and was overnight delivery.

Just meaning....... 2019? Last week? Last month? Within the past year?

 

[zach1234]

I just ordered a 9-18mm from DWI (or called DWI on eBay). Seems fine and was overnight delivery.

Just meaning....... 2019? Last week? Last month? Within the past year?

Sorry...good point.

"Just" as in last week. Ordered on a Tuesday, arrived on Wednesday.

 

[Lichtspiel]

I just ordered a 9-18mm from DWI (or called DWI on eBay). Seems fine and was overnight delivery.

Just meaning....... 2019? Last week? Last month? Within the past year?

I just bought a 17/1.2 from them. Was delivered 10 days ago. Good price, packaging, and super fast shipping. Bought from them before. Didn't know they are closing shop!

 

[cba_melbourne]

I just ordered a 9-18mm from DWI (or called DWI on eBay). Seems fine and was overnight delivery.

Just meaning....... 2019? Last week? Last month? Within the past year?

I just bought a 17/1.2 from them. Was delivered 10 days ago. Good price, packaging, and super fast shipping. Bought from them before. Didn't know they are closing shop!

Digital World International or DWI is a Hong Kong based company with shop in Kowloon.

They used to have a contact in Australia, and it is this that has been closed. The Australian Government wanted them to add GST tax to their products. Which made no sense for their grey import business model, cause everybody would simply buy direct from somewhere overseas to bypass this 10% tax. So they choose to close tent in Australia. I guess you can still buy from their Hong Kong shop, I guess they will be happy to declare goods as gifts or with a low value... but in case of a warranty claim you now have to send it to Hong Kong, there is no more physical DWI business presence in Australia to handle this. That is when I last looked at it last December.

 

[gustabod]

I bought a couple of lenses and I think a Canon SLR body from DWI, that was 3-4 years ago (and I'm in Australia). No problem at all, delivery, communication etc OK. Not sure how they go supplying the US. DWI are also in Hong Kong and for a while were the go to store for our photography club members (best prices until Canon, Nikon etc came to their senses in setting local prices that are internationally competitive).

I've visited MAP camera in Tokyo a couple of times, I think I bought an accessory grip and a lens for my Pen-F. they seemed knowledgeable and helpful, but I haven't ordered on-line from them. They are a well known store (refer the Japan Camera Hunter web page).

 

[Albert Valentino]

Another grey market company is https://www.e-infin.com/ww/

Many here have ordered from them, including myself. They list customs value very low to avoid duty charges. My EM1.2 had customs value of $100 on the shipping label.

DWI also has a good reputation but only sell through ebay now.