Dyflin
Well-Known Member
Just looking at some sums for buying gear for the boat. Things like a (simple) fixed GPS, tillerpilot and wind instrument. Is there any disadvantage for buying in from US with the massive price saving?
Buying electronics from USA
- Thread starter Dyflin
- Start date
bobupanddown
Well-Known Member
Disadvantages are
1/ Possible warranty problems
2/Beware of customs duty and VAT that may be charged on importation
3/High Delivery costs from some suppliers
However having said that some great savings can be made!
1/ Possible warranty problems
2/Beware of customs duty and VAT that may be charged on importation
3/High Delivery costs from some suppliers
However having said that some great savings can be made!
Poignard
Well-Known Member
I recently bought a Monitor windvane from the USA. I had to pay vat on it. The whole shipping process was handled very efficiently by FedEx. My only complaints were:
1. I wish I had waited a month and got a better exchange rate /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. But if I could forecast exchange rate movements I wouldn't be buying windvanes; I'd have a paid crew to do the steering!
2. My credit card company applied an exchange rate of 1.90 but the official rate [per XE's currency converter] was 1.96 on that day.
3. At that time I had a credit card offering 4% cashback but that did not apply to overseas purchase, for which the cashback rate was only 1.5%. [If you take out an American express card, they are currently giving a 5% cashback rate, for 3 months]
1. I wish I had waited a month and got a better exchange rate /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. But if I could forecast exchange rate movements I wouldn't be buying windvanes; I'd have a paid crew to do the steering!
2. My credit card company applied an exchange rate of 1.90 but the official rate [per XE's currency converter] was 1.96 on that day.
3. At that time I had a credit card offering 4% cashback but that did not apply to overseas purchase, for which the cashback rate was only 1.5%. [If you take out an American express card, they are currently giving a 5% cashback rate, for 3 months]
Dyflin
Well-Known Member
Many thanks for the replies. Which companies have you guys used?
pvb
Well-Known Member
Just think of your carbon footprint! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
pvb
Well-Known Member
I've used West Marine several times - fast, efficient service. However, they tend to use FedEx who pay duty & VAT and then charge it to you. I've had arguments with FedEx because they estimated a carriage charge for duty/VAT which was much higher than the carriage charge I actually paid West Marine.
Sinbad2222
Well-Known Member
Use a Nationwide credit card - they use near wholesale currency rates and there is no transaction charge.
Be aware any charger supplied may be only 110 volts 60 Hz US pins
Customs may get you for VAT and duty.
Gps, plotters etc usually have only US charts installed and European charts only supplied at high prices.
Delivery charges usually make purchases hardly worthwhile unless you can get the supplier to use USPS - most won't.
Be aware any charger supplied may be only 110 volts 60 Hz US pins
Customs may get you for VAT and duty.
Gps, plotters etc usually have only US charts installed and European charts only supplied at high prices.
Delivery charges usually make purchases hardly worthwhile unless you can get the supplier to use USPS - most won't.
phme1051
New Member
I used boatfix.com to buy a chartplotter last year. They sent it via the US Postal Services's "Express Mail" and it was delivered via ParcelForce who added the inport duty then VAT and a clearance fee of £13.50. It was still cheaper than the UK prices.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Which companies have you guys used?
[/ QUOTE ]
In my case I wanted a Monitor windvane and I had no alternative but to buy direct from the manufacturer [Scanmar Corp] because they do not sell through distributors. I left it to them to appoint their usual carrier, i.e. Fed Ex.
My only complaint is with the credit card sharks, who would not disclose what the relationship between their exchange rate and the official one is.
I'm not happy about the government creaming off 17.5% either, having taxed the money I earned to buy the goods, they then taxed what I bought with it.
Which companies have you guys used?
[/ QUOTE ]
In my case I wanted a Monitor windvane and I had no alternative but to buy direct from the manufacturer [Scanmar Corp] because they do not sell through distributors. I left it to them to appoint their usual carrier, i.e. Fed Ex.
My only complaint is with the credit card sharks, who would not disclose what the relationship between their exchange rate and the official one is.
I'm not happy about the government creaming off 17.5% either, having taxed the money I earned to buy the goods, they then taxed what I bought with it.
noswellplease
Well-Known Member
Liike yourself I reside in the Emerald Isle and recently I purchased some electronic gear from the USA. The price was very good the gear also but the postman was not! He wanted a big cheque 23 percent Vat on the price displayed on the outside of the parcel as its total value. Now if you could get the shipper to mark down the price displayed maybe that would help but it might not be so easy to arrange. But its all cat and mouse anyway, gimme something for nothing sums it up I think.
emnick
Well-Known Member
Just a note on exchange rates; When we bought our boat in Sweden I was also checking sites like XE.COM, however what you see on the day is a 'mid-market' price. This is neither a buying price or a selling price but about mid way between the two. So I guess it should not be used as a figure to bash your CC company. Everything else is fair game!!
pmcdermott
Active Member
Ditto the bad experience with FedEx's 'estimates'. If you get one, you need to check carefully, and be prepared to argue.
Good experience ordering from Defender in the US.
Be careful if buying Tacktick wireless equipment: they use different frequencies in the US
Good experience ordering from Defender in the US.
Be careful if buying Tacktick wireless equipment: they use different frequencies in the US
pmyatt
Well-Known Member
If you plan to buy quite a lot from the US use a mail forwarding company such as Access USA. You generally get free delivery within the USA and then Access USA send the delivery on by DHL. The big bonus is that they only put the wholesale price on the delivery note, not the retail price. I recently bought 5 pairs trousers and two pairs of shoes from L.L.Bean for $90.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
My experience is that if the US prices are less than 65% of prices over here, it's worth doing.
The additional cost of:-
Transport
Customs duty
V A T
represent about 35% of purchase price.
However if you can use personal import, ie get them over there and bring them back here, it's well worth it.
The additional cost of:-
Transport
Customs duty
V A T
represent about 35% of purchase price.
However if you can use personal import, ie get them over there and bring them back here, it's well worth it.
jimduncan1
Well-Known Member
Dyflin,
Have done the same thing myself and fully agree on the savings. Another point in addition to the others mentioned is to check out the 'units of measure' on your desired purchase. On my US Humminbird GPS the temperature is given in degress F instead of Centigrade while the depth is denoted in feet rather than metres. These could not be changed in the set up mode but didn't affect my purchase decision.
regards Dave
Have done the same thing myself and fully agree on the savings. Another point in addition to the others mentioned is to check out the 'units of measure' on your desired purchase. On my US Humminbird GPS the temperature is given in degress F instead of Centigrade while the depth is denoted in feet rather than metres. These could not be changed in the set up mode but didn't affect my purchase decision.
regards Dave
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