Any disvantage to buying chartplotter from USA?

[mjc85]

Hey i am about to buy a Garmin 172c with internal antenna, i can get it for about $500 from USA or about $800 in Australia. Is there any disadvantages of buying from USA ? I know with sounders you have the problem of only getting depths in feet and temperatures in fahrenheit. Is there anything like this with chartplotters? like miles instead of kms?

[cyclone]

I wouldn't think so as my 172 has the option of klms, miles or nautical miles depth problem in ft is only with some brands of sounder Lowrance springs to mind as the biggest offender. Another consideration is the Aus importer may not want to know about any warranty claim in which case it has to be returned to USA. Great little gps whereever you buy it. Andrew.

[slacky]

Yeh! what cyclone said

[marzoe]

I just got a quote from a company in the states for a fishfinder and the unit was much cheaper but freight was $122.00 making it all pretty expensive.
Can you PM me with the the company you're looking at just in case they have better freight rates.

[2iar]

Has anyone used the "###### Imports" guy? Any hassles?

Good luck,
Mike

[Fishin_Dan]

Do a search through this area... This has been covered quite a lot.

[whiteman]

$122 for freight? What the?

That is robbery. You should not pay more than $US30 for just about anything electrical.

[GAD]

Ive used ###### imports good value. and most units will give you the option of meters, feet or knots , save your self some cash buy you electronics from the states

[wayne_cook]

I brought from aus.Had probs that I think were my fault and unit was replaced on 2 occasions.very happy with aus suppliers.
would have been a pain dealing back to the states.

[Dr_Shane_Griffiths]

There is no disadvantage buying from the states, except a 1 week wait for postage. I've bought 3 lowrance sounders over the past few years and all transactions were cheap, fast and hassle free. Let me tell you they hold customer service in high regard over there, not like in Oz. I've bought 2 Lowrance chart plotters from the US too. No probs. They are exactly the same as here, wiring the same, same map cards etc.

Go for it mate, the prices here are rediculous and unjustifiably high...just like petrol!

Cheers

[wayneoro]

i agree with shane and you dont have to pay top u.s price either check out u.s ebay there are 3 postage grades cheapest is by sea i have bought two stators they are heavier then any sounder etc mail costs by air $30 to 40 ec time in my mail box 7-8 days tech support is amazing plus they have sites you can talk with other uses and them providing a tech i bought a new colour sounder in wide bay area top gear installed it went back for some info they couldnt be bothered with me he was also talking to a freind on the ph and i had to wait to get that the pamplet was all the info they had lucky i belong to fishing sites i found what i needed from fellow members

[whiteman]

Avoid UPS when ordering from the US. Plenty of horror stories about them charging for GST and taxes after they have landed in Australia, even though there is no GST on goods imported for less than $A1,000. UPS is the "standard" within the US so it is popular on sites.

If you have a choice, go for US Air Mail as this is usually cheapest. I Have just received a new camera lens from NY and it took 6 days from order to delivery.

[mirage]

I've used #############.com with no probs. Good service.

[gif]

Humminbird have x models that have metric. So Its easy for Aus agents to tell teh difference

Lowrance Australia record serial numbers - so they dont do backup of products they dont import ( I guess)

I believe Furuno try to keep pricing very close - so no need to import.

Electronic items have a high failure rate - so a local warantee is worth it for these items.

I import some items - but not electronics - as tempting as it is.

You will find some major online stores will not sell them overseas - the manufacturers have got to them. The excuse is that sounders and sonar come under a category of military capable equipment - for which they would need a special permit. getting a permit for one sale is not worth while for them.

cheers
Gary

[Dave]

I was told by a guy at the boat show that it is infact illegal to import these thing into Aus. He says that they are a radio transmitting device and require a "C" tick or something for Aus. I dont know how true this is as I thought that sounders and plotters were only recievers. Anyway somebody who knows a bit more about this type of thing might be able to help.

Dave