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Thread ID: 133397	2013-06-02 10:16:00	Parallel Imports - do they suck?	Zippity (58)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1344513	2013-06-02 10:16:00	I am looking at purchasing an additional lens for my digital camera. Harvey Norman have it listed at $1199 whilst a parallel importer has it at $651 - a difference of $548! Why and how can HN get away with selling it at such a ridiculous inflated cost? Are there any shortfalls with buying a parallel import? Yes, I know - caveat emptor and all that crap :)	Zippity (58)
1344514	2013-06-02 10:38:00	Check how long the warranty is for on the purchase? Also from experience with Parallel Imports- they dont provide a refund but only store credit. Something I wasnt too happy with when I bought a phone and it was faulty.	ronyville (10611)
1344515	2013-06-02 10:44:00	For my SLR I always buy overseas as imported or in person overseas. Too expensive here and I am willing to bet on a risk. The thing is NZ is just 1yr warranty but there is a CGA but overseas in the USA they do 5yr extended I think. But I just bet on a 1yr. Heck, many lenses I get are used. The NZ parrallel importers don't use the official service centres here, they might have their own repairers or send back overseas. Imports do not have the Nikon or Canon warranty cards. The thing is to get them to honour your warranty here you must have the warranty card and it must have the NZ import distributor stamped on the card.	Nomad (952)
1344516	2013-06-02 11:06:00	From Consumer. Pros and cons . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Phones are a popular parallel-import product Bigger range When Apple launched the original Apple iPhone US internationally, it wasn't available in New Zealand. But you could buy an Apple iPhone US from several parallel import specialists. But alongside the latest technology, there are also obsolete goods. Some parallel imports are discontinued models, going cheap because the manufacturer wants to get rid of them. You also need to be aware of national variations in electrical goods. Make sure you are comparing like with like and not buying something that looks identical to the local version but in reality is not. Lower prices Parallel imports often sell for less than the local wholesale price, and traditional retailers will be making a loss by price-matching on some items. Parallel imported digital cameras generally sell for about 70 percent of the standard price. We have found top-brand binoculars selling at half the standard price. What don't you get? Official local importers usually won't support goods bought from a parallel importer. Manufacturers may view parallel imported goods as second-hand and not entitled to the factory warranty. Local agents say paying the extra price of an official distributor buys backup support and a warranty. They can also negotiate a deal, and teach people how to use their new purchase. They say customers can't expect rock-bottom prices as well as excellent service Most second-hand Japanese cars are parallel imports. When a recall's announced, the local branch isn't responsible for repairing vehicles it didn't import. We've heard claims that parallel-imported items were supplied with Japanese manuals or plugs that were incompatible with Kiwi wall sockets. Parallel import specialists reply that they choose models that suit the local market. Faulty goods are repaired locally or sent overseas for repair. Some may offer a replacement if repairs are going to take some time or be expensive. Our advice . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are some genuine bargains available in parallel-imported goods. There is also the opportunity to buy goods that will not be released here for several months. But you need to be aware of what you are getting and be prepared to deal with any after-sales problems that might arise. Do your research first. Be sure of the model number of the item you want. Before leaving the shop, check that the goods are suitable for use in New Zealand, that all accessories are supplied and that you can understand the manual. Most goods are pretty reliable these days. And retailers often replace faulty goods anyway, so the lack of an official repair service is a small risk to take. If you expect expert advice and after-sales backup, then traditional retailers offer them at a price. If you're buying an electrical item, check the adaptor meets the New Zealand standards. See Unsafe electrical products and Unsafe power adaptors for more information. Your rights You have the same legal rights whether you are buying parallel imports or goods that have come through the official distributor. The Consumer Guarantees Act covers goods bought for personal use, but doesn't cover business equipment. It says that if goods have a substantial fault - they don't work, they are dangerous or they aren't the goods advertised - then you get a replacement, a repair or a refund. The Act also says repairs must be completed in a reasonable time. Business equipment is covered by the Sale of Goods Act. If the goods are faulty you may be entitled to a refund, compensation for loss, and damages for losses caused by the fault. Parallel imports may need to be sent overseas for repair. It's probably realistic to expect this to take longer than it would if the problem was solved by the local agent. Retailers can choose to do the repairs themselves, but the work must be done to a high standard. If faulty goods can't be repaired, either because the local agent won't touch them or the cost of repairs is greater than the value of the item, then you are entitled to a replacement or your money back - the choice is yours :)	Trev (427)
1344517	2013-06-02 12:45:00	As an aside, I had headed out to HN in Porirua late this morning to check out the new lens, only to be confronted by roads blocked with traffic and fire engines everywhere - www.stuff.co.nz HN were having a "Long Weekend Door Buster Deals" sale. I guess this will now become a "Door Buster Fire Sale" :)	Zippity (58)
1344518	2013-06-02 22:22:00	Harvey Norman "get away" with it as they are a large store (with huge rent to pay) and mums and dads shop there as they advertise all the time. Of course there are pitfalls - like warranty issues etc. But for that kind of saving I would take the risk. A lens is hardly going to fail like a phone or hard drive could. I bought my Nikon DSLR from Elive 3 years ago and saved $500 over HN's price - still going well If the difference was only $100 - would you do it ? Anyway I'd rather buy a camera from a camera store than a furniture store.	Digby (677)
1344519	2013-06-03 01:58:00	Tried looking at photo.co.nz they are in Chc with real NZ warranties. I bought a overseas what they call grey product SLR, but it still had the Japan warranty card, was bought from a store in HK so when I was in Japan with a cheap fare I got it checked out for free :D No problems found. One might know about USA NY B&H prices right, if you think that is cheap, you can go to HKG and knock off another up to 20%.	Nomad (952)
1344520	2013-06-03 05:17:00	You know how hardly normal and other toaster shops charge so much? BECAUSE GO HARVEY NORMAN MASS MARKET ADVERTISING, GO! NEVER TALK IN ANYTHING BUT CAPS AND MAKE THE CONSUMER THINK THAT WERE THE ONLY OPTION IF THEY WANT TO BUY ****. Seriously, the smaller shops have little to no advertising, so the average joe and jane has no clue that they can get a better deal.	8ftmetalhaed (14526)
1344521	2013-06-03 08:13:00	Check how long the warranty is for on the purchase? Also from experience with Parallel Imports- they dont provide a refund but only store credit. Something I wasnt too happy with when I bought a phone and it was faulty. Same applies to HN. I had a faulty camcorder a couple of years ago. I asked for a refund but they only gave out store credits..	paulw (1826)
1344522	2013-06-03 08:52:00	No	gary67 (56)
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