domino Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 I know the pros and cons of buying electronics from the US has been touched on in another topic, so I thought I would share with you my recent experience... Having made do with a Lowrance X25B Fishfinder since buying my boat 6 years ago, I decided it was time for an upgrade. I started searching on the internet about two weeks ago and finally decided on an Eagle FishMark 480. It is a new model and not many people are currently stocking it in the UK, although it is available at JG Technologies in Weymouth, at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 I had the same problem working out the import duty. I found it eventually on some EU web site which also lists all the taric numbers Duty Rates Anyhow, like you I found out they are 3.7 % There is currently increased imort duty on certain items from the states ( Nuclear reactors, honey, friges, roller skates - but not GPS or fishfinders yet, thank god ! ) US "trade war" I currently have my GPS/plotter unit awaiting collection by a friend ( saves me the shipping costs ) who will then pay the duty at Heathrow. I have a friend in the states who is willing to accept deliveries for me. We could order in bulk for the club and then I could go to New York and collect the items . There are savings to be had here. BTW: You may find you receive a bill for the import duty at a later date ( but this usually comes at the same time as the bill for the VAT and is collected by Royal Mail/ParcelForce ) regards Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 Great stuff Whippet. Nice to hear the whole story from start to finish, with the pros and cons. It'll be interesting to compare it with Paul's story when his new toy arrives. Certainly seems worth the effort in certain situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 1 week and 6 days to go ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 not sure if there is a difference in shipping from the East coast versus west cost ( it's a long way) I recently got a reel sent from New york and it cost $15.oo Paul J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 Hmmmm.... got me thinking? As the Standard Horizon units are American, maybe they will be cheaper?? Lets have a look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 Boatfix Site - Standard Horizon plotters $748.68 + VAT + Duty + shipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 I know just been looking. Stramge, the other items of gear we have beenn thinking of have been way cheaper....The SH product is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 To promote the range in the UK, I guess. Once people start buying more it will go up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 Wonder away! You will find that we can get Penn here cheaper than the US but Lowrance are the opposite despite being apparantly similar in brand values! Both companies have both high value (Lowrance & Penn) brands and good value (Eagle & Jarvis Walker). Penn seem to have taken the view that low prices secure distribution whilst Lowrance have select high margins to maintain theirs. Whilst you can't blame them for the failure of Simpson Lawrance (?) it realy does look as if Penn got it right over the last 10 years. Can I suggest you look at the opportunities the Lowrance pricing gives you - I flew all the way to Miami to buy my LCX - 15mt and my equation looked like this: 2 flights to Miami with BA (a deal) 400 1 Lowrance lcx15mt 400 5 star hotel on water(4 nights) 0 (marriott points - they actually take them over there) food etc - as at home total 800 uk price (fixed) 860 net profit = millions of brownie points (she spent the 60 but what the hell!) how's that for win win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 Sounds good to me!!! darnt tell her in door though!!! we'd be on the plane tomorrow!!! Anyone know much about Standard Horizon?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daviduk Posted March 2, 2004 Report Share Posted March 2, 2004 Hi Just an idea ,but what about buying from the Channel Islands .no VAT i think and if viable could always make a day trip of it. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 Or buy it on May when we go to alderney??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 don't think there are an awful lot of electronics outlets on Alderney...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted March 3, 2004 Report Share Posted March 3, 2004 I have spent a lot of time working around the Channel Islands with the Navy over a 5 year period. I thought it would be a source of cheap "Vat Free" tackle but because of the limited demand and the shipping cost it generally is not the case. Alderney as one of the smaller islands and thus has very limited shopping. and as you will not be there during the day the opertunitys to shop would be limited. I have not been for a few years now but do not think it will have changed much. Peter would know I am sure. I would advise buying what you want if you can before you go from a large mail order outlet here or from US. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 4, 2004 Report Share Posted March 4, 2004 Alderney Angling can be a useful site/shop to know. http://freespace.virgin.net/darren.braby/ Darren has a small online shop and sends his packages to the UK marked as "gift" which usually avoids paying duty. I've exchanged a few emails with him in the past, and he has always been very cooperative and polite. Definitely a good contact for updates on the local fishing. Worth talking to if you intend to do any fishing from the shore in the evening. Bob F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted March 5, 2004 Report Share Posted March 5, 2004 Hi All I bought a Navman tracker 5100 from the states recently the cost are as follows Tracker unit $325 2 x C-Map NT charts Standard+ $139 each Frieght charges $91.23 Total $694.23 Exchange rate @ $1.84703 - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 I now have the GPS / Fishfinder Total cost :- Initial Cost : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Hi Paul Well worth the wait to save that amount, nice one! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Who's a happy man then? Paul J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 12, 2004 Report Share Posted March 12, 2004 Moi ( provided it all works OK ) . Good news re: warranty as well, according to user manual if needed you can take it to the Garmin centre here ( in Romsey ). I shall defnitely get other stuff this way. Only glitch was the customs at Heathrow were apparently not very efficient. My work colleague was kept waiting there for 15 mins and they had trouble operating the till !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 13, 2004 Report Share Posted March 13, 2004 GPS/Sounder now installed, The transponder is somewhat larger than the one I replaced. .I had gone for the internal antenna model, but wish I had got an external antenna ( especially as my cuddy has already been drilled where a GPS aerial was previously mounted ). Anyhow, the satellites are detected from my driveway ( which is quite obscured ), although the WAAS/EGNOS signal cant be seen from the driveway - I assume this is up and running ( according to the web site it is "Live" in April ) Christchurch Harbour and River Avon are on the map provided ( along with the A31 ) !! - A Bluechart is definitely going to be my next purchase though. Well pleased, especially as I actually had the total cost in the post earlier wrong. The VAT and Duty was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted March 14, 2004 Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 Nice one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted March 14, 2004 Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 Paul, if you find yourself on the A31 you went to far North! Paul J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted March 14, 2004 Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 That will be it then, I knew I was going wrong somewhere !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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