Imported electronics "Grey Import Warranty"

[Sabbatical II]

Originally Posted by cat man do

Just wondering if anyone has come across issues with importing electronics or pretty much anything and then having the service agent here say that they will not service or warranty the item?

A while back I looked at Anchorlift windlasses, I could buy from the US for $1000 while the Oz supplier wanted 3x for the same product.
When I showed them US prices they squealed and claimed they will not service or warranty the item in Australia.

I notice JN Taylor, one of the Furuno agents here makes the same claims
Taylor Marine - Specialist Suppliers of Marine Equipment and Furuno - Grey Markets

I also see BIAA has a PDF about importing boats from overseas saying that products onboard will either not comply with aus. regs or they wont be covered by warranty.
Marine Qld say the same
Grey Imports - Buyer Beware - Marine Queensland

How different is it to a cruising yachtie sailing into Oz from another country and then having problems with a piece of gear he bought in his home country?

Are they trying to say that cruising yachties will not be covered by warranty?

To me it all sounds like protectionism and vested interest squealing

So, has anyone come across any problems?

As I will soon be purchasing a full suite of electronics through my boatbuilder in Australia, I have researched this myself. My preferred brand is Furuno as it was for the owner of the previous boat completed by the same builder last year. When he squealed about the Australian dealers pricing compared to the "grey" imports he was given the same story about lack of support. However when it seemed to the Australian agent that this guy was actually going to purchase the stuff overseas anyway the Australian distibutor changed their tune and chose to be much more competitive and his price was close enough so that all things considered the guy bought through the Australian distributor. In my opinion, J.N. Taylor thinks we are all stupid and will price gouge everyone who doesn't challenge them. Anyway, maybe I'll just buy Simrad, Furuno's attitude seems a tad arrogant.

[Morrissey]

Originally Posted by Eleebana

However when it seemed to the Australian agent that this guy was actually going to purchase the stuff overseas anyway the Australian distibutor changed their tune and chose to be much more competitive and his price was close enough so that all things considered the guy bought through the Australian distributor. In my opinion, J.N. Taylor thinks we are all stupid and will price gouge everyone who doesn't challenge them. Anyway, maybe I'll just buy Simrad, Furuno's attitude seems a tad arrogant.

This is really important - the predatory pricing policies, whether by local distributors alone or mandated by head office, will change when enough pressure of this type is brought to bear. So, be willing to buy overseas but give the local distributors the chance to compete, or lose sales. They have to know how many sales are lost before changes will be forced.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Eleebana

As I will soon be purchasing a full suite of electronics through my boatbuilder in Australia, I have researched this myself. My preferred brand is Furuno as it was for the owner of the previous boat completed by the same builder last year. When he squealed about the Australian dealers pricing compared to the "grey" imports he was given the same story about lack of support. However when it seemed to the Australian agent that this guy was actually going to purchase the stuff overseas anyway the Australian distibutor changed their tune and chose to be much more competitive and his price was close enough so that all things considered the guy bought through the Australian distributor. In my opinion, J.N. Taylor thinks we are all stupid and will price gouge everyone who doesn't challenge them. Anyway, maybe I'll just buy Simrad, Furuno's attitude seems a tad arrogant.

While the following may or may not be important to you personally, please be aware that there is a legal requirement that any transmitting device used in Australia (except in aircraft) has to comply with the Radio Communications Act 1992 AND carry the Australian "C tick" of approval. Most (if not all) grey imported transmitting devices do NOT have this "C tick" permanently marked on the device. Typically we are talking VHF & HF radios, radars & AIS etc.

[Wotname]

I am curious about what your definition of "price gouging"is as this subject has come a few times recently.

Just when is a seller "gouging", is it say over a certain percent mark up or selling over a manufacturers' list price or just more that Joe Blow down the road is selling the same product for.

We seem to bandy the term around but exactly how is it defined and who makes the definition?

None of us want to pay more than we "have to" but exactly what is a fair profit for the seller as I assure you, no seller is selling at a loss just for the fun of it!

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Wotname

While the following may or may not be important to you personally, please be aware that there is a legal requirement that any transmitting device used in Australia (except in aircraft) has to comply with the Radio Communications Act 1992 AND carry the Australian "C tick" of approval. Most (if not all) grey imported transmitting devices do NOT have this "C tick" permanently marked on the device. Typically we are talking VHF & HF radios, radars & AIS etc.

So if you are purchasing a boat built in the Americas to spend some time sailing there prior to import into Aus with supplied eq you detailed there is a problem ?

Are you saying it should be purchased in Australia and freighted to the builder??

[Kettlewell]

For something like electronics I wouldn't worry about it--send it back to the country you purchased it from--they will have to honor the warranty, won't they?

[justwaiting]

Australian law provides for 2 types of warranty, manufacture warranty and importers warranty. Where the manufacture fail to honor warranty then the importers has to cover. It is one of those costs of business that oversea suppliers to Australian customers don't have to cover. (a small part of higher costs in Australia).

Some times the agency agreement between manufactures and importers require that the importer will cover the international warranty of the manufacture. To illustrate i had a friend who purchased a cannon printer in Singapore and it malfunctioned after his return to Aus. Local dealers said the would have nothing to do with it. My friend (who had worked in Japan) phoned cannon in japan and got to talk with the SE Asia? Australia sales manager. He said that the local company was dragging cannons name down and was pi$$ed. Within 1 hour my friend had a new printer arrive on his door step along with 3 phone call of apology. Then he got a call from Japan to ensure that the company's "face" had been restored.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by justwaiting

Australian law provides for 2 types of warranty, manufacture warranty and importers warranty. Where the manufacture fail to honor warranty then the importers has to cover. It is one of those costs of business that oversea suppliers to Australian customers don't have to cover. (a small part of higher costs in Australia).

Some times the agency agreement between manufactures and importers require that the importer will cover the international warranty of the manufacture. To illustrate i had a friend who purchased a cannon printer in Singapore and it malfunctioned after his return to Aus. Local dealers said the would have nothing to do with it. My friend (who had worked in Japan) phoned cannon in japan and got to talk with the SE Asia? Australia sales manager. He said that the local company was dragging cannons name down and was pi$$ed. Within 1 hour my friend had a new printer arrive on his door step along with 3 phone call of apology. Then he got a call from Japan to ensure that the company's "face" had been restored.

+1 can't sail a boat back to Aus without the gear.

[leftbrainstuff]

The scope of warranties and guarantees is a contentious issue.

I chose a Nikon camera over other brands because they provide a global warranty. I purchased in the US and live in Australia.

Unfortunately manufacturers enter into exclusivity agreements in individual countries which doesn't align with end use of products which will cross national borders. Consumer protection legislation like the Trade Practices Act in Oz doesn't help.

I only purchase products I expect to be supported globally. I ask for an international borderless warranty.

[goboatingnow]

Its has been mentioned that Raymarine Australia or its dealers are also avoiding warranty on Raymarine grey inports. Stuff like this should be challenged with Ray directly in the UK. Raymarine has a world warranty. Rays dealers in Australia should honour that.

Dave

[Boracay]

I've brought one or two minor items for Boracay out of the States, Singapore and Hong Kong.

For each of them I've weighed up the risks of the item failing or not being suitable for it's intended tasks.

So far the score is - Failures 0%, not being suitable about 2%.

My general rule is that if the local price is more than 50% on top of the price of the same item available for shipping to Oz I'll buy overseas.

In some cases it's not just about price. Some pieces of kit are unavailable in Australia at any price. Sometimes the local quality is just not there. If it fits my needs better than the local item and is available overseas then I buy overseas.

For what it's worth the stuff out of Hong Kong is much cheaper then the same stuff from the States.