[mst]

There it says guarantee 2 ans en France!

Yes, but with them, not with Tamron. 

 

But by all means buy it elsewhere for 700€ if it makes you feel better!

Actually: yes, I'd rather buy it elsewhere. Because I already have some experience with these kind of resellers and grey market items in general. Some manufacturers follow strict rules and don't even service grey market items.


The point is: these resellers can offer the low prices, because they are based in locations where they don't have to claim VAT if they ship to EU countries (which gives them a price advantage of roughly 20% (depending on country) compared to local resellers). I haven't found out, yet, if these companies actually have found a legal way to avoid VAT when shipping to EU countries (usually through Great Britain) of if they simply ship and declare the parcels as low value or "gifts", hoping the shipments will pass customs for free.

 

I'm not saying "don't buy there". But to anyone considering buying there the potential risks should be mentioned. Those HK-based companies are not bound to our local laws, so your EU-wide consumer rights (warranty, right to return, etc.) simply don't apply to such purchases. So, a potential bargain might turn into a far more expensive purchase than buying locally.

 

-- Markus