Purchasing from the USA?

[Lyall]

Have any Australians purchased from the USA for props in particular. There are a few places that I've tried, but the shipping/freight is the killer; its usually more than the cost of the $60 or $70 dollar product. I don't mind waiting a few weeks before it arrives but all these companies want to charge the maximum to expedite the order, without any other choices available.

any feedback would be appreciated.

Lyall

 

[Tig]

Re: Purchasing from the USA?

I've had poor luck on boating related web orders and I'm right next door.
1) Final shipping cost higher than expected.
2) Wrong product pictured in online catalog.
3) Online inventory incorrect. Order just sat there until I called. Then they wanted to ship a used (return) prop.
Having to return a product destroys any chance of saving money. I do my best to shop locally now.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Purchasing from the USA?

Unfortunately its about the same going the other way. I shipped a digeridoo to the US from Katherine and the shipping was nearly the same as the didg.
I don't have any plans to travel to OZ soon, or I'd offer to throw a prop in my kit for you.

 

[Lyall]

Re: Purchasing from the USA?

Thanks to all, I appreciate the feedback and the offer.

To be fair, I did get my gear seal kit from the US and got it for around $70 AUD delivered ($15USD postage); local price - $265 (without freight), so a huge saving. Its funny the guy that I bought it from, his website is now 'under construction' so not sure if he's gone broke or just upgrading. Anyway, got in before he went bust. But now I can't see if he has any props for sale.

I was looking at going the Iboats.com but they use Ishop.com as their goods handler. They are charging $65 US to send it to Australia and the prop quoted by iboats.com is $57. And I've emailed a few companies and (including Ishop), and most haven't even been bothered to get back to me (Iboats did and even sent a link). And these unresponsive companies seem to be pretty big players on the net. I think they believe their sales all to be automated, and when someone does have a query its the attitude 'we'll sit back and wait for the automatic sales to come in'. Anyway, that's my rant for today. Thanks heaps. I'll keep looking, no big hurry at the moment.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Purchasing from the USA?

Lyall, it is the busy boating season here, summertime, so some of those places are likely very busy, but I have the same problem, lots of companies NEVER reply to their emails. I've even had companies that I worked for take a week or more for customer service to respond. I don't understand it, but I have talked to salespeople that say they NEVER respond to emails from customers, if you aren't sending them an order they won't waste their time on you, but then lots of them don't know anything about their product anyway and are just "order takers". I actually make it a habit to make an inquiry from companies that I haven't purchased from before and if they don't reply in a helpful timely way, I take my business to someone that wants it!