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Thread ID: 107505 2010-02-18 22:29:00 Best way to organise shipping from Oz Billy T (70) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
859811 2010-02-18 22:29:00 Hi Team

I have to replace a leaking porcelain toilet cistern that is aesthetically unrepairable and no longer available in NZ. It is part of a colonial styled suite so must be replaced with the identical item or the rest goes out the window. The Australian manufacturer will sell me one and package it for shipping, but the rest is up to me.

Any recommendations on the best shipping agent to collect it from their plant in Sydney and get it despatched by air or sea to NZ? For example, could I contact the NZ branch of say DHL and get them to schedule it all from here, or will I need to contact an OZ branch to do Customs declarations etc. This is all new territory for me.

Damned thing is under an unexpired 5 year warranty too, but the selling company in NZ is long gone. I tapped the Aussies for a 'pay freight-only' deal but they won't play ball (something to do with the Bledisloe Cup probably) so it is no use arguing with them and I'll just have to wear it.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
859812 2010-02-18 23:08:00 Does the manufacturer have an NZ office?(Caroma??=yes) Whose warranty was it? Wouldn't they have been the original importer hence next up the chain from the retailer? PaulD (232)
859813 2010-02-18 23:32:00 A case of letting the fingers do the walking I would say. Cicero (40)
859814 2010-02-18 23:50:00 Crapper!!

That sounds like good $$$$$$ down the gurgler to me :D :D

How about Selleys?
Zippity (58)
859815 2010-02-19 00:43:00 The previous company I used to work for used this Company
www.jenners.co.nz/ For import to Australia.
Nice bunch of people.
wmoore (6009)
859816 2010-02-19 01:07:00 Any recommendations on the best shipping agent

Damned thing is under an unexpired 5 year warranty



Freight forwarders are the best to use. DHL, UPS etc would be way more expensive.
Either way it won't be cheap.

1)Can't you get one of the plumbing suppliers to get it in for you?

2)Won't the manufacturer honour the warranty?
pctek (84)
859817 2010-02-20 09:20:00 Speak to Pengellys, or Gilco ( I have dealt with both and they were good) or someone similar - Airfreight will not be cheap, but it is far cheaper than seafreight because of all the minima charges that one encounters in seafreight - like 1/3 M3 as the minimum freight charge.etc,etc.
They can arrange collection from the supplier in Australia, shipment and delivery.
Insist on a quotation ( you will need the weight and the packed dimensions) and get a couple of competing quotations. It won't be cheap, but you can only test the waters on cost before making a commitment.
KenESmith (6287)
859818 2010-02-21 09:30:00 1)Can't you get one of the plumbing suppliers to get it in for you?

2)Won't the manufacturer honour the warranty?

1) No, the manufacturer does not market in NZ. Unfortunately we did not know that when Mrs T bought it, and it seems it was one of a small number privately imported by a company specialising in colonial style furniture and they were a one-off deal probably purchased from an Oz retailer,

2) I'm an expert at extracting warranty replacements, but the Oz company refuses to honour the warranty in NZ because they didn't export it.

I hate to say it, but they have got a point, if not a good argument, and not selling here means that saying no to me will not harm their reputation in any way. I'd try a voodoo doll if I thought it would persuade them.

We are probably lucky enough that they'll do a single sale to us for a replacement.

I'll contact some of the recommended shipping options and see what I can do. The tip on sea freight costs is handy, I had no idea that it could be more expensive than air freight.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
859819 2010-02-21 18:21:00 1) No, the manufacturer does not market in NZ . Unfortunately we did not know that when Mrs T bought it, and it seems it was one of a small number privately imported by a company specialising in colonial style furniture and they were a one-off deal probably purchased from an Oz retailer,

2) I'm an expert at extracting warranty replacements, but the Oz company refuses to honour the warranty in NZ because they didn't export it .



The pain you must be in having to deal with Aussie Bushrangers :horrified

Will they honour the warranty if this one doesn't last any longer than the first one? Hope it's at least cheaper than something like this . caroma . com . au/product-ranges/cisterns/vintage/vintage-connector-cistern . " target="_blank">www . caroma . com . au
PaulD (232)
859820 2010-02-21 23:52:00 It is not dissimilar, but the problem is a production flaw that should really be repairable but all my attempts to fix from the inside have failed. Probably multiple voids in the moulding process and of course you can't fix from the outside. It is probably going to cost $500+ to buy the replacement and ship it.

Sometimes the sandwich lands jam side down in the sandpit and there is nothing you can do about it. I have to weigh this 'loss' against a hell of a lot of good wins I guess, like I had a complete custom-built computer replaced in its entirety just a few weeks before a three year warranty expired.

Cheers

Billy 8-{) :(
Billy T (70)
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