[klinger (spa clean)]

HI EVERYONE,MY FIRST POSTING BEING A NEWBEE AND ALL THAT.SO MY QUESTION IS HAS ANYONE GONE INTO THE PROS AND CONS OF SHIPPING A HWE MACHINE FROM OVER THE POND.HAVING CHECKED OUT SOME OF THE US SITES CANT HELP BUT NOTICE HOW CHEAP THEY ARE IN COMPARISON.I REALISE THERES GOING TO BE SHIPPING COSTS AND MORE BUT DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FIGURES REGARDS KLINGER 

[Daveyboy]

Stop 'SHOUTING' take it off caps lock.

[klinger (spa clean)]

Yeah you,ve guessed it, I,m a newbie to computers as well!

[John Kelly]

Don't forget they have to be converted to run at 240 volts which usually means upgrading the wiring as well as the vacs and pump etc. Then with carriage, import duty, vat etc its usually not the bargain you were expecting not to mention if it breaks down.
Best off finding a dcent dealer over here, pay the extra for peace of mind and customer service.

[klinger (spa clean)]

Cheers for your input,noticed some of them offer 230v option but makes you wonder why ours are double the price the yanks pay.

[John Kelly]

Lots of reasons, first of all the US market is a lot bigger and you can expect a higher volume of sales. When importing from America everything has to be paid up front so its dead money until you can sell it. You then have to add a mark up which is capable of running your business, ie cover overheads, marketing, wages etc etc. And then you have to have a little bit left to pay your mortgage.
You will also find that the US cleaning rates are way below what we charge.

[klinger (spa clean)]

thanks, but I wasnt thinking of selling it on.I presume you,re talking about companies who import them,convert and flog on.I was refering to setting up a carpet cleaning business.The americans have more customers but probably more manufactorers to boot so isnt it all relative,I dont know just thought it was worth asking the question cheers klinger.

[Joe H]

Hi Klinger
Even if you import and manage to save some money - what happens if it breraks down - where is the backup and spares - a few thousand miles away.
Thats what John was referring to - a dealer, who has to put the money up front to stock the machines, also, hopefully, will put money up fron for spares. This means that when your machine breaks down, you can phone the dealer and they can send out that dy or call you in straight away for repair. Your business interuption is kept to a minimum.
Having said all that - I agree with you - everything in the UK is a lot more then the US, but apart from emigrating there is not much we can do but grin and bear it.

[klinger (spa clean)]

yeah point taken Joe, just have to get me mate to send me one over for a birthday pressy and perhaps some spare parts for xmas cheers
             klinger

[vangaurd]

jessuss this guy is loud! i thought i was  BADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[Ken Wainwright]

In recent weeks I have been speaking to a colleague in Scotland. He imported a known brand from the US which had UK spec motors. He saved, after duty, taxes, shipping about £300. (This machine doesn't have a great reputation for reliability in the UK)

Within a few weeks, it broke down. Parts were eventually sent from the US, they were installed and it worked fine again.

A few weeks later, another breakdown. He is now trying to get a refund and it looks like he'll have to pay the shipping to return the machine to the supplier.

In all, this "cheap machine" will have cost more than the UK list price. He is not looking outside a UK supplier for the replacement.

If you are a gambling man/woman, then by all means try a personal import. You know the risks. A few hundred pounds saved today may not look as attractive in the next month or two. I personally don't feel that the savings on a relatively low cost piece of equipment justify the risks. A high spec T/M perhaps.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[John Kelly]

Ken, a high spec truckmount, even more things to be worried about, 4k for a heat excahnger to start with. £200 to send it back.

[klinger (spa clean)]

Thanks for that vangaurDDDDDDDDDDDDD but I,ve taken my caps lock off now I have found me specs.Anyway cheers for all the input I really enjoyed it, will definately be back to pick yer brains agaiin(he whispered!) good luck Klinger.