• BUYING FROM USA

    Posted by valegraphics on 10 August 2005 at 01:10

    Hi again,
    Just been reading a thread with a link to an american site selling a us version of the rockhopper 38″. For a laughably good price when converted to sterling! Is it worth contemplating buying from the good old u s of a . Or am i just urinating in the wind or so to speak.
    Any advice ???????
    Thank’s in advance. On week’s break(finally)

    John Childs replied 20 years, 3 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • Peter Normington

    Member
    10 August 2005 at 07:11

    Its fine buying from the states,
    But.. you have to consider several thigs carefully, Most important warranty and support, UK dealers/distributors may not be interested in helping out. You will have shipping charges, vat, and possible duty to pay on top of the price you pay.
    Peter

  • David Rowland

    Member
    10 August 2005 at 07:39

    hm. well we first had a Mutoh Albatross and that was damn expensive machine, however it did turn up with a 240>110v converter box on it and it looked like it was shipped from the far east. We ended up with a replacement machine which came from Belgium (HQ) (still with 110v)

    Many years back as Solvent ink was starting, we did ring up Mutoh ink supplier in the US, they couldn’t sell us any ink but it was a fraction of the price. Your guess is as good as mine.

    We are now Mimaki JV3, it is practically the same price in USA and England. However the US are very competive from what I have seen and they are sold with Bulk Ink and 3rd Party inks, but here in the UK we don’t see much of the bulk ink and distributor doesn’t allow the use of 3rd party ink.

    My advice to you is this and mainly to reflect on Peter’s comments. Our Mimaki hasn’t played up badly in the first year but has in the second year. I don’t know if the Rockhopper is solvent but the solvent ink is air drying and can be a bit of a beast to control if things start failing. Another thing, Mimaki heads are about £800, Warranty would be very handy indeed.

    The final thing, I have seen a Mutoh broken (ink everywhere) in a back of a truck, printers don’t like being transported well if they are not packed good.

  • John Childs

    Member
    10 August 2005 at 07:45

    Peter’s right.

    Once you have added up all the costs you may well find the saving is not worth the potential downside.

    I have just imported a container full of bikes, but that is a different matter as there are plenty of independent dealers here who have the knowledge, access to the parts and will happily maintain them.

    Think carefully and be prepared to write off your investment if it all goes wrong.

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