Mail Order? Dont bother!

[castaway]

Continuing saga of my defunct VHF...Did the rounds at SIBs on tuesday and got a nice little SILVA S10 from Marine Electronics Services and a new antenna.

Specifically wanted the S10 as it was the cheapest with a fully functioned fist mike... Yes Sir that will be with you on friday..nothing arrives. so on Monday9 o'clock Im chasing it up 'cause Im on holiday now and want to be on me boat... finally get the man in charge at 17;00 ... Oh sorry bit of a cockup we dont have any S10 and in fact cant get one to you for some while and even if we sent and alternative off it wont get to you till wednesday

Anyway he sorts me out with another VHF ( costs me another tenner for the functions I want,, I must be daft) and so instead of being on the boat installing said new radio and antenna I sitting at home waiting for a van to arrive.

So rather than waste the time I thought I would start the job of installing the 4 new strip lights that Ive ordered from Screwfix to go in the garage and are supposed to arrive on tuesday....... Just got off the phone from them and the bl@@@@dy lights wont be with me 'till thursday now.

Ive had it with Mail order and on line purchases, Im going back to shopping in shops.

Nick


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[dralex]

Just out of interest, which company? I had a similar problem earlier in the year with a Silva S10. It turned out that some newish products are very popular and are offered at cheap prices, therefore everybody wants one- the companies will still take the money, but then not bother to tell you there'll be a delay. I always ask if items are in stock now and also pay a bit more for next day delivery- well worth it if you have a deadline.



<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[mikewilkes]

Always found Compass very good for direct deliveries to Spain. Only charge a flat one off 11.95 GBP per delivery.



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[castaway]

It was Marine Electronic Services MESltd. I think it was a genuine mistake, but not a good first experience with them. Thing was that I went with 'em as they appeared the best and most pro outfit for electronic gear only. Joke was that there were any amout of places that I could have bought the radio and antenna and carried 'em home but the promise of friday delivery and not having to carry 'em around swayed me

I usually just drop in at Aladins Cave for my chandlery or at Seateach when I used to keep my boats at Emsworth.

Im just not very good at hanging around for things to happen unless I'm being paid to so do...

Regds Nick

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[Ohdrat]

I've had v good service from them over the phone .. I live in the Highlands and they have been very prompt and reliable to date..

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[Guest]

Mail Order - I'm too impatient and often pay a little bit more ..... over counter price to have it in my mits right there and then ......

Nothing like the feeling of new kit IN THE HAND ....

I only buy Mail Order if its definitely NOT available anywhere else. And in fact you can often near enough similar price over counter nowadays - unless you like ordering across the atlantic etc.


<hr width=100% size=1>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[bigmart]

I negotiated a discount with Cactus on a Raytheon Tiller pilot. Extra discount if I waited for delivery until November.

It arrived today.

You can't rely on anyone to do as they say, can you!

Martin

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[castaway]

So what is the situ on ordering fron the States?

I noticed whilst checking prices on the web that things like VHF were priced on Dollars instead of £ basis ... ie from memory Navman 7200 £235 here or $235 in the US.

I guess there can be problems with frequencies etc. Im fairly sure that this has been covered before. But what about other stuff??

Nick

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[dralex]

There's nothing wrong with being impatient- once it's decided a new toy ( sorry- necessary piece of equipment) is needed, it should be indulged in immediately. Normal find next day delivery does the trick- just the right amount of anticipation.

Personally, I've always found Gael Force and Marine Superstore good.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[Inselaffe]

Just a thought - have you tried using the parent company of Compass in Germany?

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.compass-yachtzubehoer.de/>http://www.compass-yachtzubehoer.de/</A>

Prices are generally lower (sometimes euros for pounds) and it's almost exactly the same website as the English version.
Postage could well be cheaper than from the UK too.

Leigh

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[Spyro]

I've always found compass24 provide a first class service especially if you are on their mailing list and receive offers of free postage every so often. I like the sound of using the German site but would be a bit wary of ordering something in german in case I got the wrong thing.

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[Inselaffe]

I also had mostly a good service with Compass24, a couple of mix ups, but then these things happen.

But the main reasons I switched was I that I am based in Germany, so it made no sense to get things from the UK sent here if they were probably sent from germany to the UK in the first place, and also of course the prices were better (what do you expect in the UK - everythings overpriced)

Post was of course cheaper for me but I would guess that postal rates between European countries are cheaper than from UK to Europe.

If I have a problem with the German Language I just get the two websites up together and they are identical (except that a small number of products are missing) so you have instant translation.

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[mikewilkes]

Just had a look at some prices - guess where the next A/F coming from. Although the other stuff was ordered in UK I think it came from somewhere in Europe......But at UK prices of course!!!!!

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[kingfisher]

Aside from the fact that it might not have CE (don't start, you can't sell an EU unit in the US either without FCC approval); you will also have to fork up any VAT and import duties. For electronics, these can be so high as to negate any price gain.

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[AlexL]

I've previously bought some lewmar rope clutches from the states (west marine). Very prompt delivery on FedEx - with web tracking. Credit Card exchange rate is excellent. The down side is that there is Vat to pay and some mysterious customs slush fund tax - which usually brings it close to the cost of buying in the UK. However mine did end up cheaper and nobody seemed to sell what I wanted in the UK anyway.

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[dickh]

I've ordered software from the US, specifically a Garmin Altlantic Blue chart; had to pay VAT + Post Office charge for 'something or other - probably for collecting the VAT? and it made it about £30 cheaper than the UK price.
Some US sites on Ebay say that their customers never get charged VAT, but I don't know how they do it.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

Generally whats over there works over here ! I don't like their VHF's though - as they insist on Alpha channels which we dont ... plus the Accreditation and standards compliance on DSC is different.

But in the case of Chart plotters etc. - why not ?? Of course complimentary software such as Ports and roads etc. will be USA not EU etc. - unless you have a friendly US supplier willing to swap it over.

ME - I can't wait - so like over counter !


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/

 

[castaway]

Well the VHF has arrived.... Broken! Not badly but the little red cover over the emergency button is bust

The Guy at MESldt said "No prob sent it back" but it all such a pain in the arse!

1st and last for me... Bye Bye mail order!

Nick

PS the good news is that the stuff from Screwfix turned up .. a day late but a day earlier than the delayed date that they later gave me ..?.. just happened to be home.

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