International shops to buy from

Status
Not open for further replies.
rakabos

rakabos

Joined
12 Jul 2010
Posts
5,148
Reaction score
149
Location
Wilgeheuwel, JHB
Hi guys

Where do you buy stuff from when you buy overseas?

Ive been trying to find a place that ships to SA but its turning out to be harder than I thought. Im looking for a few things such as a MP40 ES upgrade kit, a few impellers etc. Its just a lot cheaper.

Thx
Martin
 
Hi Martin I bought my MP10 from overseas and after searching around a lot and looking at the prices I thought it would be cheaper, but to be honest in the end I really didn't save much and I don't think its worth the hassle and effort. It took 2 months to get here and I only saved a few hundered.

I order a lot of stuff from overseas specially ebay and it is great, but some things just aren't worth it.
 
I have ordered plenty from Ebay sellers, its generally at least half price shipping included.

The upgrade kits are much cheaper to buy overseas if i can just find a place that ships here.
 
rakabos said:
I have ordered plenty from Ebay sellers, its generally at least half price shipping included.

The upgrade kits are much cheaper to buy overseas if i can just find a place that ships here.
Click to expand...

I also buy regularly from eBay
Genaraly any thing I can get cheaper there than in SA ( a member from 2006 )

I is best to buy stuf in the manufactured country save you lots !
But look out for USA's 110v 60Hz we in SA use 220v 50Hz
 
I agree I also get a lot of stuff for half the price.
Look around at the vortech stuff, it is a bit cheaper but not after shipping.
I found the prices almost seem fixed, also comes from the USA so shipping is never cheap.
The only reason I thought I got a good price is it was sold to me as the wireless version, so much for that.:p
 
Yuri said:
I also buy regularly from eBay
Genaraly any thing I can get cheaper there than in SA ( a member from 2006 )

I is best to buy stuf in the manufactured country save you lots !
But look out for USA's 110v 60Hz we in SA use 220v 50Hz
Click to expand...

I have bought 4 MP40ES Vortechs from Fosters & Smith Aquatics in USA. Vortech pumps runs on 12V DC. It comes with a power supply that works from 100 to 240V AC (the same as a computer laptop).

So no problems with different voltage their :thumbup:
 
Helga said:
I have bought 4 MP40ES Vortechs from Fosters & Smith Aquatics in USA. Vortech pumps runs on 12V DC. It comes with a power supply that works from 100 to 240V AC (the same as a computer laptop).

So no problems with different voltage their :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I sent them a mail this morning, their site wouldnt let me log out. Thanks, at least I have them as an option then
 
Try them and you can also check Aquacave in the US. I have bought from both of them in the past. If their website dont allow you to do an electronic order (do not allow for Foreign addresses), you can place the order by telephone. I have done that twice now and never had problems.
 
You guys are taking a big chance buying things like pumps and lights from overseas. What do you do if there is a problem or failure on something, where do you get support from, do you have to send everything back overseas?
 
same place we get support from locally, you really think there's someone in south africa that can fix pumps?
 
Last edited:
I forot to mention
Yahoo Japan auction then use a place like Rinkya to bid there
 
well its not always about fixing the pump, if there is a product fault or batch problem you may have to actually spend cash to get your pump to them to be assessed and another shipped, its painful and expensive in some instances but local is my prefferred option...

although i must say my last warranty replacement issue i dealt with abroad came quite quickly after we got to a point where we understood one another (language and all :))

to each his or her own.. :)
 
i know there is a setup called MY US (MIGHT BE ANOTHER NAME) ,but it works like a forwarding address .
they send it to a place in the states , and then they forward it to you here in SA

i bought stuff in EU and US , probes from US , Tunze 6105 from the EU , had no probs (touch wood), but a mate brought the pumps back.
probes i got forwarded here
 
Wes said:
same place we get support from locally, you really think there's someone in south africa that can fix pumps?
Click to expand...
What I mean is, if whatever you buy breaks during the 1 year warranty period, then you have to send it back overseas to get repaired, that could be very costly, plus extended downtime on your tank, so if you send back a heavy LED light unit then it's going to cost big bucks in postage, plus you now need to find an alternative replacement while your unit has gone for 4 to 6 weeks, not worth it in my opinion. If you buy local you'll get it repaired or replaced within a couple of days in most cases I'm sure. I really don't think it's worth taking the chance. But the choice is urs, just consider the savings vs the inconveninence.:)
 
It’s a Risk vs Cost discussion. What risk are you willing to take for the cost differential. Personally I take the risk I always buy from the US and have made some good contacts in doing so.

Here are some tips:
1. Negotiate with the seller, even a big shop. They or for me at least drop the tax because I am not a US citizen. Tax in the US is high depending on state it could add 10 -14% onto your price.
2. If you have someone in the USA get it shipped to them and get them to bring it over.
3. Barter it works! I usually get the pricing from 5 different places then make them beat the price. You the customer they want to sell something to you and you want it for the best price possible – full stop.
4. Go check and ask for your items on the USA forums

Some snags:
1. Be careful of shipping, in the US overnight shipping can and will be (has caught me out before) delayed. The US has temporal weather (snow, rain etc) and it delays the planes.
a. Some places ship out of Canada – remember to include the Canadian customs time into the shipping
2. Our customs – what a F@#@# nightmare. If it is not labeled correctly your item will and can stay in customs for 1 to 2 months. Nothing worth the bloody item you want sitting in customs. We once had Hanna reagents sit in customs for three weeks because they never knew what it was.
3. Check on USA reefing forums for reputation, there are quite a few places going under due to the recession and they still “selling”

Sites:
http://www.marinedepot.com/
Vivid Aquariums | Tropical Fish Store in Los Angeles for Reef Aquariums
The Fish Store - See The Underwater Life - Fort Pierce, Florida
World Wide Corals | Buy live corals for your saltwater aquarium online or in Orlando- WYSIWYG, LPS, SPS, Jason Fox, Chalice, Tyree, and soft corals

WARNING:

You will be highly disappointed in the level of stock we get here compared to the USA ;)
 
In my opinion I think that it is sad that we have to even look over seas. Why are things so expensive in SA?
I also agree with Fatalerro on this though regarding the warranties.
Will always support local. If we all bought over seas there would be no LFS!
The more the importers sell, the more they import and the cheaper the items become.Theoretically anyway.
 
cclarity said:
In my opinion I think that it is sad that we have to even look over seas. Why are things so expensive in SA?
I also agree with Fatalerro on this though regarding the warranties.
Will always support local. If we all bought over seas there would be no LFS!
The more the importers sell, the more they import and the cheaper the items become.Theoretically anyway.
Click to expand...


Welcome to the world of a global economy ...... consumers have the right to buy where they feel like buy.

It's not for everything so the LFS are WELL supported its for the items people feel like they need to buy from a different source.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom