USA Sounder vs Australian Sounder

[Mark-P]

I'll have another sounder that has temperature... that won't be a problem. and I learned to work in both feet and metres when i got edumacated... so thats not a problem

any feedback specifically on USA Lowrance warranty from the USA? I would imagine the freight costs would be mine, but would they fix it if necessary?

If you were talking furuno, yes there us warranty is valid here.
But the last time i checked lowrance was not, hence the choice
to go furuno... The shipping return would be yours & the repair
unknown.

Mark

[Heath]

I got a Lowrance from the states in 2003. A few months later I had a problem with the transducer. by mistake I ended up talking to Lowrance Australia.
Here's how it went -

Lowrance AUS was going to send me a pre payed satchel with the return form, so I could take the transducer out, send it to them to test, then they would have sent me a replacement in all likely hood.

Luckly we found out that because the unit wasn't purchased in Australia, they wouldn't cover the warranty, but if I wanted to buy a new transducer, it would be $250 AU thankyou very much.

So back onto Lowrance USA, the issue was cleared up in 2 emails. 1 me explaining how I proved it was the transducer that was the issue. The second one was them telling me one was on its way.

5 days later a new tranny on my door step from the USA..... declared price on the box for customs.....$69.00... go figure!!!

Have never balked at buying OS again.

Latest big purchase was my Furuno 585 with transducer $1530 AU on my door step... how can you compete with that!!!!

Something else to note is car parts. Had a major service on my Holden Jackaroo..( Isuzu Trooper) parts out here even with trade discount would have been about $1000.00.... got them all from the US for about $350AU delivered.

[trueblue]

we just get seriously ripped off don't we...............

[FishHunter]

we just get seriously ripped off don't we...............

Oh woe is me, you are indeed ripped off. Mainly with high wages, super and penalty rates.

How about we all take a 50% drop in income and the gumbeyment charges less tax, maybe we can enjoy USA prices then

[slickas]

What are some of the better sites OS to by electronics from?

Cheers Bubs

[Steeler]

J and H Products are a good reliable supplier.Fair prices,trackable delivery and paypal.

[Stido1]

J and H Products are a good reliable supplier.Fair prices,trackable delivery and paypal.

+1 for J&H.

[maimai]

we just get seriously ripped off don't we...............

My oath we do T/B, some of these guys here in QLD would even rip there own mother off, If you need any advice on a product and the local Furuno guys dont want to help just join a few US Forums and ask all the Q's you have and 99% of the time you will get all the answers you need, There days are numbered here in Australia and about time, I alone have sent at least 5 other boaters to Fishon marine, 4 working days and the product was landed to your door step, try that in Australia

[volitans]

Oh woe is me, you are indeed ripped off. Mainly with high wages, super and penalty rates.

How about we all take a 50% drop in income and the gumbeyment charges less tax, maybe we can enjoy USA prices then

If it was just this simple but tell me this - 12 months ago BLA were paying for their imports at 65c/$US and charging us (the buyer) $x for the product.
Now the $AU & $US are at parity meaning BLA are paying 30% LESS for their product. We (the buying public) aren't enjoying any drop in price and are still paying the same $x. So is the problem really high wages, super and penalty rates? I think not. ANd how much wages etc does it take to import and distribute a sounder?

Doubt me? Then ask yourself this, "when the $AU drops again (experts feel that 70-75c/$US is more accurate) do you really think BLA will maintain the current prices for their product"? I doubt it. The cry will be "woe is me . $US up so we have to charge customers more" unlike now when they could be reducing prices.

I desperately want an 898csi but the price here in Aust is around $2600. J&H have the same thing for $1295 US (remember parity means same in $AU). http://www.#############.com/_e/dept...inders-2-0.htm That's half price AND it comes with an international warranty.

My current 797C gives false gps readings (sometimes up to 800 mtrs out). BLA were very good in looking at it till they found it was an imported unit (I didn't know this - it was in the boat when I bought it). Then they 'shut down'. All they would say was "Yes, it's busted. No, we don't know why because we haven't looked at it. Yes a tech might be able to fix it but we don't touch imported units. We will sell you a NEW HEAD for $720 ".
Several non-H'bird techs I've spoken with feel the problem could be the aerial but BLA don't care unless I buy a $720 head unit which might not even be the problem part.

[Steeler]

Hi Volitans

You are right that the mind boggles sometimes with the AUS$ and what we pay for imported items.

As for wages to get a product onto the shelf of a retailer/dealer there are way to many variables. I understand BLA have reps on the road, i think but could be wrong 2 in NSW.

Just to have reps on the road is an expensive excercise with such costs as Retainer,Company Car or Car allowance,Fuel overnighters @ 150-170 a 24hr period for meals and accom, vehicle wear and tear.If you are selling at 50% GP you literally need 250k in sales just to cover that one reps costs let alone all the admin and warehousing staff it takes behind the scenes and all the associated costs of keeping stock and a facility to keep it in.They are very big numbers required indeed just to break even.

Hope that somehow helps explain the costs involved but i agree the strong dollar at the moment and has been for sometime now has not seen any savings passed on to the consumer.