I almost lost $1800 on a Fujifilm X100VI and here is what I learned for my fellow German photographers

The Fujifilm X100VI stock nightmare in 2026

I thought the hype would have died down by now, but here we are in April 2026 and the Fujifilm X100VI is still the hardest camera to find at a fair price. While I was browsing local listings in Berlin, I saw people asking for nearly €3,000. It is even worse in China, where scalpers have driven prices to double the original MSRP. We all know the camera is amazing, but paying that much is just asking to lose money on a depreciating asset.

Start Your Buy For Me Request for Fujifilm X100VI (US Retail Stock)

Merchant B&H Photo Adorama Best Buy

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I decided to look toward the US market. Retailers there like B&H and Adorama actually have stock popping up at the official $1,599 price point. I spent a few days watching us trends to see which stores were restocking most frequently. It turns out that buying from the US is the only way to get this camera without fueling the scalper market, but it comes with a few traps that I almost fell into.

My experience with US retailers vs German availability

In Germany, most shops still have "pre-order only" status or waitlists that are months long. I realized that if I wanted my camera for my summer trip, I had to shop us store sites instead. The price difference is massive. Even with shipping and import VAT, I found that I could save hundreds of Euros compared to buying from a third-party seller on eBay Kleinanzeigen.

However, I had to be careful. If you just try to order a high-demand item like this and have it sent to a random address, you might get flagged. I needed a reliable freight forwarder to handle the logistics once the retailer shipped the item within the States.

The risk of getting your order cancelled by US stores

This is where my journey almost ended. I tried to use my German credit card at a major US electronics retailer, and my order was cancelled within minutes. Many of these big stores—including Apple, Sephora, and most camera specialists—have strict fraud prevention systems. They often block international credit cards or refuse to ship to addresses they associate with international forwarding. I was terrified that I would lose my spot in the stock queue or, worse, have my funds held in limbo for weeks.

If you ignore this warning, you are likely to spend hours on the phone with US customer service agents who probably won't help you. My first two attempts were rejected because my billing address didn't match the US shipping destination. It felt like a brick wall was standing between me and my Fujifilm.

Why I used the BuyForMe service to bypass payment blocks

I eventually found a workaround that actually worked. I decided to use the BuyForMe service provided by comGateway. This is essentially a proxy shopping solution where they act as the buyer. We tell them what we want, and they use a US-based domestic credit card to make the purchase on our behalf.

This assisted purchase was the only way I could get my order accepted at a store that usually hates international buyers. It removed the stress of my payment being declined and ensured that my X100VI was secured the moment it came into stock. If you are trying to buy from stores that are notorious for blocking non-US customers, I highly recommend this route to avoid the frustration of constant cancellations.

Shipping my camera to Germany with a tax-free US address

One of the best parts of using comGateway was the tax-free us address in Oregon. In the US, most states add a sales tax of 7% to 10% at checkout. By shipping to a tax-free state, I saved about $160 immediately. That basically covered my international shipping costs to Germany.

I was able to track my package as it moved from the retailer to the warehouse. Seeing my popular products safely arrive at the facility gave me a lot of peace of mind. From there, I just had to decide which shipping method to use for the final leg to Berlin.

What I paid for international shipping and German import fees

I was worried that international shipping rates would be astronomical for a high-value item, but I used the shipping calculator beforehand to get a clear picture. I wanted the fastest shipping possible because I didn't want a $1,600 camera sitting in a hub for too long. My shipping fees were very reasonable considering the insurance and speed provided.

When the camera arrived in Germany, I had to pay the Einfuhrumsatzsteuer (import VAT), which is 19%. Even after adding the international shipping cost and the German taxes, I still paid significantly less than the 2026 market price in Europe. We just have to be prepared for those customs fees so there are no surprises when the courier rings the doorbell.

Checking for prohibited items before you buy

Before I started this whole process, I made sure to check the list of prohibited items. Since the Fujifilm X100VI contains a lithium-ion battery, there are specific shipping rules that apply. Some couriers have limits on how many batteries can be in one box, or they might require special labeling.

I have heard horror stories of people having their restricted goods seized or returned because they didn't follow the packaging guidelines. I made sure my shipment complied with all regulations to ensure it wouldn't get stuck at the airport. It took a bit of extra reading, but it was worth it to see that beautiful silver camera finally in my hands.

Check our guide on prohibited items if you are planning to buy extra accessories like third-party batteries or cleaning fluids, as those can be trickier to ship than the camera itself!