The Price of Paradise
As people often remind me, I live in a beautiful place, a Paradise to be sure. What could I possibly have to moan about?
Well, there are always downsides, and if you’re a photographer, they can be pretty big headaches at times. Take for example equipment – this week, my trusty and much loved Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens died. Gave up the ghost. Is no more.
Easy solution: Buy a replacement.
Easy in most countries, of course, ut not so much here. You see, living in a country with the total population close to that of a small town in the US, there’s not a whole lot of call for a large camera store. Or a small camera store. Or even, as it happens, a store that sells something else but has a few camera times handy, just in case.
We do have one store, primarily selling duty free watches and jewelry, located in Nassau that stocks a bit of camera gear.
But its all Nikon.
And its all 3-4 years out of date.
And it all costs 3-4 times what it should have costed 3-4 years ago when it was new.
So, my critical lens has to be purchased online, with all the risks that involves. Then I have to have it shipped to a forwarder in Florida. From there, it is shipped over to Nassau, where customs officers scratch their heads while looking at it and wonder just how much duty they can charge me.
They’ll do this for a week or so, before releasing it to the broker, who will then let me know I can come collect it…
… once I’ve paid them the customs duty on the lens, shipping to Florida and the shipping to Nassau (yes, they charge import duty on shipping costs).
Oh, and the broker’s fees.
And the broker shipping costs.
So, a few weeks after ordering my $350 lens, and about $600 later, I can hope I got a good copy and carry on as before.
I live in fear of the day I have to ship something back for a replacement/repair.
But that’s the price you pay for living in Paradise. And most days, yeah, its worth it.