Thread: tool imports

Dont, its not worth it nothing but hassles. Its ok to buy things like hand tools and hardware items, with powertools which do fail occasionally you have no guarantee plus the hassle of different voltages.
99% of brands will not honour a guarantee from another country even though its the same brand.

Thats Harry's opinion.
I have however had no problems buying dewalt .
Main principle is always check the postage with the seller-- its often not as bad as on that crap ebay calculator , if they dont answer forget them.
Buy new + dont buy rubbish brands.
Dont even think about buying 110volt get cordless.

I was looking to electronics from USA (a digital camcorder). I came across an Australian company called priceusa.com.au which appears to buy anything you want with a % charge. I am not affiliated nor have I used them.

In my calcs to work out whether I should buy from overseas I look at the typical cost of repair and if I add that on whether I will still be ahead.

Cheers,

Tom

Thanks for the priceusa.com.au heads up. I've checked out their site and there is a link to a lengthy whirlpool forum thread. Reading through this, it looks like a brilliant option - especially as some deals have mail in rebates on extra batteries etc. Oh no! Now, I'm off for US tool search!

Originally Posted by TomH

I was looking to electronics from USA (a digital camcorder). I came across an Australian company called priceusa.com.au which appears to buy anything you want with a % charge. I am not affiliated nor have I used them.

In my calcs to work out whether I should buy from overseas I look at the typical cost of repair and if I add that on whether I will still be ahead.

Cheers,

Tom

I'd be very wary of getting a digital camcorder from the States.
I'd want an iron garantee (including a refund of the shipping costs) that the output can be switched to PAL
My wife has a Panasonic digicam that is factory set to output PAL — there is no menu setting whch will allow you to switch to SECAM or NTSC
I believe in the US the same digicam is factor set to NTSC


ian

Hi Ian,

Too late, already done, but not from the USA, as I thought the same as you.

I ended up buying a Sony HD MiniDV from www.quikshop.com.au

Saved about $400, so very happy and identical to the Australian version. They had pretty good ratings on the various shopping channel websites, so I felt secure in the purchase.

Used it for 4 months now with no problems.

Only slight problem is that editing HD video requires a super computer, so that will have to be the next upgrade.

Cheers,

Tom

Originally Posted by ian

I'd be very wary of getting a digital camcorder from the States.
I'd want an iron garantee (including a refund of the shipping costs) that the output can be switched to PAL
My wife has a Panasonic digicam that is factory set to output PAL — there is no menu setting whch will allow you to switch to SECAM or NTSC
I believe in the US the same digicam is factor set to NTSC


ian

Originally Posted by rowdyflat

Dont even think about buying 110volt get cordless.

But the charger....?

Originally Posted by Rossluck

But the charger....?

You can get good new 240V to 110V 250VA stepdown transformers for $75 retail in Aus. These are adequate for 25 minute charging 18v 3AH batteries, and will work all day if needed.

Can also get cheaper units on ebay, Chinese or second hand from projection and comms gear originally.

Yes cordless needs a charger but the amps arent high so a transformer is cheap.
I met a guy who got a really good deal on a router 110v but any power tool needs a huge expensive transformer DOH!
DUMB

Fair enough, but it needs to be taken into consideration price-wise. I recenty went through this when I bought an 18v Hitachi circular saw from a second hand store for $220 (brand new). But someone had slipped a charger into the kit that wouldn't charge the 18v 3Ah battery that came with it. After searching around, and realising that a second hand Ebay charger would cost me around $100, I went back to the shop and did some negotiating.

They had an Hitachi 18v impact driver there for $300, in very good condition, and they knocked $100 off the saw because of the charger, so for $420 I got the saw and the driver and the right charger and 3 batteries.

I bought a Milwaukee V28 cordless drill off ebay from the states. Here they cost $800+, mine was $486 landed, that was the kit with two batteries and a 110v charger. This was from mwsco.com as stated on the tax invoice.
As the other posters say, make you you buy a good brand, as although the company who supplied my drill claim it has a worldwide warranty(there official Milwaukee dealers) who knows. I figured, whats going to go wrong anyway.
The inverter needs to be a decent one, my charger draws 2 amps, so the el cheapo $75 inverters won't do the trick. Jaycar sell one for about $120 that will handle the load. (I'd already got the inverter for a 1/2 inch cordless rattle gun) . So go for it.

Originally Posted by Gravy258

The inverter needs to be a decent one, my charger draws 2 amps, so the el cheapo $75 inverters won't do the trick. Jaycar sell one for about $120 that will handle the load.

It was me who suggested allowing $75 for a stepdown transformer to power the charger, and I will stand by that advice. Radio Parts retail price to anyone off the street for a 250VA (2+Amp output) fully cased transformer with input lead and output plug, and a continuous rating. This advice was based upon 30years of occasional dealing with them, and using this item for some time for that purpose, running a Mak charger that charges their 18V 3AH Li Ion batteries in 22min.

I also mentioned that cheaper units were available on ebay, either new or as older step down that were used to power projection equipment etc. Some of these are 1KVA monsters that weigh more than 20kg, but they are cheap, and they are continuous rated, and that is the issue.

mmm, lets see, probably no warranty, need to get another charger, give your hard earned to someone on the other side of the planet who may or may not value your custom.........shop locally better piece of mind, better relationships with your dealer, support local economy. If I can I will.

I have ordered a lot of things from OS and brought a lot back with me but 3 thing stick in my mind when I see good prices on electrical appliances for sale OS.

Case 1: What are you actually covered for by the warranty
Mate of mine bought a panasonic cordless drill on the web. He drove the battery charger with a 220-110V transformer. 3 months later battery wasn't charging so he took it to Panasonic. They said forget it, warranty says this device is not designed to run this way.

Case 2: Even after the warranty there are bloody headaches.
We bought a JVC Hi-Fi when we lived in the US. Dual Voltage no worries should be covered. Just after the warranty ended the CD drive failed - took it to JVC to get repaired. Sorry, this model only sold in the Americas - parts have to come from Japan, etc, etc. In the end we ditched it a bought a replacement drive for almost the same amount.

Case 3: Somethings just come out of left field!
We also bought a dual voltage PC monitor back from the US - turn it on screen went all funny colours, spent $50 getting it looked at - nothing. Finally we were told that monitors have to be made specifically for northern and southern hemispheres - nothing could be done. My son used it for a few years playing computer games in a colour negative world - I keep wondering if the funny colours contributed to why he turned out like he did!

Cheers