G'day.
Has anyone purchased an LV LA Smoother recently from Lee Valley in Canada? What was the total cost in Aussie dollars, inc shipping? How long did it take to come through?
I'm just weighing up my options at the moment.
Cheers,
GW
Printable View
G'day.
Has anyone purchased an LV LA Smoother recently from Lee Valley in Canada? What was the total cost in Aussie dollars, inc shipping? How long did it take to come through?
I'm just weighing up my options at the moment.
Cheers,
GW
the Lee Valley site says a BU smoother weighs "just under 5 lbs". If you allow another 2 lbs for packaging then the shipping costs (using the US Postal Service) will be about:
USD$42 for Global Express Mail about 1 week
USD$40 for Airmail Parcel Post about 2 weeks
USD$24 for surface up to 10 weeks (usually 6 weeks on the water, plus at least 1 on land each end)
(I copied these rates off the US Postal Service's web site several months ago so you might want to check that they haven't changed in the last month or so)
I'd have to be really really desperate before I contemplated UPS.
Of course the easiest way is to email Lee Valley and ask for a quote
ian
Global Express takes about 7-8 actual days at the moment, last time I used Airmail it took about 14 actual days.
Lee Valley call it 'Xpresspost' not Global Express, same thing - different country, automaticaly gives $1,000 insurance too. I always buy a few items so I can't give you an accurate price for just the plane...
When the dollar was about US.76 I got a LA smoother (Not the BU smoother) plus a high angle blade delivered for A$280.00.
Much as I love dealing with Lee Valley and bought mine direct, check the current Carbatec prices, you may find they are very close to the import costs.
Don't forget to add the cost of fuel to get there though. ;)
Cheers,
P
Hey guys.
I emailled LV this morning -- within half an hour they replied. Great service, but as for the price of freight ... yike!
Yes, I can definitely do better buying in Aus.
Thanks!
GW
GW
What you should really be asking yourself is what can I add to the order to make the freight worthwhile perhaps the LV LA Jack?? or the high angle blades??
Gawd! Can you believe i forgot to do my last shop at LV before leaving Canada?!?!? Meant to pick up the Veritas spokeshaves and complete my japanese chisel set. (D'OH!)
Mate!!!:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Canadian Beaver
Severe application of boot to posterior!:D
Hi all,
Have you checked out the bargains at Timbecon's current sale? These include Low Angle Smoothing Plane - 05-P-2501 <s>$277.90</s> inc GST
$249.00 inc GST and Low-Angle Jack Plane - 05-P-3401 <s>$299.00</s> inc GST
$269.00 inc GST Until April 16.
Happy shopping
Timbecon is the site I've been watching, and finally this afternoon I took the plunge. I was over at Carbatec the other day, and when I showed the guy the ad, he was almost in disbelief. He kept checking to make sure it was the same model.
In the end he basically said to me, 'Look, don't waste your time here. Go and spend your bucks with Timbecon and you'll still be in front even with postage.' I think Carbatec's price was around $310. He was prepared to go to $275 and no lower.
I got an email back from Lee Valley, and ordering from Timbecon puts me a long way in front.
Cheers,
GW
Yeah, I did the price & postage from LV direct versus the Aussie retailers thing and you are better off buying here, IF its in stock.
Apparently whatever made it attractive to order direct has changed.
Still can't find the BU Jointer on a shelf in Aus yet though :(
The Timbecon 'deal' is for a limited number of planes - in most cases 3 or 4, and they don't have them at the moment, they will arrive sometime next month (maybe).
I have been burnt by Timbecon before, when I ordered stuff they were out of stock of, they marked the order as completed & the undelivered stuff as cancelled. A few months later I got a c.c. bill for the extra goods & a box of stuff I had already sourced elsewhere.
So if ordering from Timbecon, be VERY CAREFUL & CLEARLY mark on your order that you are not prepared to accept goods at a higher price than the advertised special & they should consider the order cancelled if they can't deliver AT THAT PRICE. Keep a copy of the note & show it to your c.c. company if you get stung - possibly also Consumer Affairs/Fair Trading, the Police or Current Affair if you feel really put out.
Hmmm ... well, I ordered from Timbecon yesterday before reading this last comment. I will ring them today to find out what the situation is.
Thanks for the heads-up. I do hope it all works out.
Regards,
GW
What has made Lee Valley my supplier of choice is :Quote:
Originally Posted by Green Woodchips
A) their service is unsurpassed.full stop.
B)Postage is a killer...on single items from canada,but it's beyond their control.
C) Get your wish list together,get a quote ..on the wishlist..noone in oz will be able to match it.LV will give you an E-mail quote within a day.
D) with the proviso that you must be able to wait(6-10 wks),you will save.
If I can wait 52 wks. for christmas,I can wait a few wks.for tools that I have managed to survive without for 51 yrs. so far.
:)I just love'em...