Buying DSLR in Belgium [Archive] - Digital Camera Resource Page Forums

MatH

05-31-2005, 06:32 AM

Hi!
I'm going to Belgium some time this summer. I'll be visiting a friend in Brussels and in Luwen (sorry if I mistyped it). Can anyone here tell me an online shop based in those two cities so I could perhaps order from home and pick it up when I get there or at least examine the prices?

Thanx!

Rhys

05-31-2005, 10:38 AM

Hi!
I'm going to Belgium some time this summer. I'll be visiting a friend in Brussels and in Luwen (sorry if I mistyped it). Can anyone here tell me an online shop based in those two cities so I could perhaps order from home and pick it up when I get there or at least examine the prices?

Thanx!

The best shop I found in Brussels is a French chain called Fnac. They might have a dSLR. Check their website.

LoopBack

05-31-2005, 02:06 PM

There is a store called "Media Direkt" (that's right, with a 'k') and it's located in the top floor of the 'INNO' department store in the main shopping street of the old city. It's called 'New Street'. This store has ALL the cameras + lots of other stuff. It's like the European version of Circuit City and Best Buy.

MatH

05-31-2005, 03:10 PM

Thank you!
I looked at www.fnac.be and found only Eos 350D + 18-55 + 55-200, as for "media direkt" i couldn't find anything about it (been looking on google.be).
I also found a www.camerahuis.be where 350D body is 748€. But I wonder what Al onze prijzen zijn inclusief BTW menas. Are prices wit or without BTW tax?
A friend that I'll be visiting also says that cameras in Brussels aren't that much cheaper than in Slovenia where 350D body costs 830€. He suggested stopping in Germany... Is Germany really cheaper than Belgium when it comes to cameras?

LoopBack

05-31-2005, 03:31 PM

As far as I know Media Direkt does not have any online presence... But believe me, it's there and it's much bigger than the Fnac store that is about 2 blocks from there.

LoopBack

05-31-2005, 03:34 PM

Thank you!
But I wonder what Al onze prijzen zijn inclusief BTW menas. Are prices wit or without BTW tax?

All prices include VAT.

MatH

05-31-2005, 03:47 PM

Thanks for super fast answers!!! :D

Rhys

05-31-2005, 05:33 PM

But under EU rules, you can claim your VAT back if you don't live in the EU. You have to get a form from the shop and Customs will give you a certificate etc on your way out. The downside is you have to pay tax on the way home.

MatH

06-01-2005, 02:03 AM

I'm aware of that and I plan to exploit it. Since Slovenia is in EU a friend from Croatia that is travelling with me will actually buy the camera and I'll be paying for it since it is for me. I also hope I'll avoid paying tax, since I get certificate from Slovenian customs and Croatian customs collect the tax only if they know I got the certificate ;)
My friend smuggled a pair of shoes from Slovenia this way. I don't know if I'll be able to smuggle something as expensive as DSLR since customs might be obliged to inform each other about articles above certain price limit.
Have to investigate rules and possibilities.

Rhys

06-01-2005, 05:56 AM

I'm aware of that and I plan to exploit it. Since Slovenia is in EU a friend from Croatia that is travelling with me will actually buy the camera and I'll be paying for it since it is for me. I also hope I'll avoid paying tax, since I get certificate from Slovenian customs and Croatian customs collect the tax only if they know I got the certificate ;)
My friend smuggled a pair of shoes from Slovenia this way. I don't know if I'll be able to smuggle something as expensive as DSLR since customs might be obliged to inform each other about articles above certain price limit.
Have to investigate rules and possibilities.

Heh. Smuggling... One of my dad's workmates worked, smuggling bibles into Romania - more because it was fun to do than for any gain.

LoopBack

06-01-2005, 08:42 AM

A lot of countries have tax refund even if they are not members of the EU. I have no idea how to find out which countries though...
The refund is sometimes done at the airport at some custom office and may take some time so try to find out exactly what the procedure is when buying the camera.

MatH

06-02-2005, 04:17 AM

Have to find out how do I get the tax back. As far as I know you have to return to shop where you bought the article in order to collect the tax, but I don't know if yo have to do it personally.

Rhys

06-02-2005, 07:16 AM

Have to find out how do I get the tax back. As far as I know you have to return to shop where you bought the article in order to collect the tax, but I don't know if yo have to do it personally.

I believe the shop gives you a form and you present that with the receipt to customs.