petetherock Posted September 11, 2007 Posted September 11, 2007 You may consider me a wet shirt, a dampener, but every few days / weeks someone sees a good deal on the internet from USA, UK or Oz and comes up with the same bright idea: "Why not ship from XXX country?" Well, firstly I Defintely want you to succeed, because if you do, it gives me hope. So, I started this thread so I can refer to it each time somone get the same brainwave. I have seen prices in Oz that are close to 2k cheaper than Singapore. Even panels that don't exist here. Big ones, with digital tuners, optical output, etc and other things the local sellers take out and yet charge more. Have I seen anyone succeed? Yes, once. A bro here was bringing home a whole container and brought home a panel with considerable savings from USA. That panel was wrapped extremely well and our brother was happy. I think someone else got one from Thailand. AFAIK, thats it, no one else, but I am v v happy to be corrected. Please do and I will pop the champagne. So Why Not? Here comes the caveat: From anywhere: - no warranty - if the large piece of glass gets damaged on the way home, (I assume it is coming by boat since air shipping is prohibitively expensive) you are on your own. - that precious digital tuner may not work in Singapore The shipper must be able to give you insurance. In addition, those from USA: A - its NTSC B - transformer issues, unless it explicitly says 110-220v, you can render that expensive panel a useless work of glass art if you plug it directly into our local sockets. Oh and speakering of sockets, those considering imports from UK will need to know how to use SCART sockets, again google or wiki for them and if you don't know what they are, its best not to import unless there are enough of the other sockets for you. If all this does not deter you, I will really root for you to succeed.
petetherock Posted September 11, 2007 Author Posted September 11, 2007 A google search or wiki will tell you what they are and if you have no clue, then shipping from greener pastures is not for you. If someone can show that a DVR / VCR tuner can output to these panels, you have a possible plan B. Bear in mind, panels from USA DO NOT accept anything other than a NTSC signal. So if your PAL tuner cannot convert that signal to NTSC, then its no good. Of course some brothers merely wish to use the panel for their DVD collection. But if you have vast PAL collection from UK or Aus, then make sure the player can convert the signal from PAL to NTSC if your TV is from stateside. Please, someone make this work :D
petetherock Posted September 11, 2007 Author Posted September 11, 2007 If you are still reading this, you are a brave and inteprid soul and deserve to be rewarded with a big bright panel from yonder. If you are going stateside: Amazon is a decent place to start. Local places like Best Buys, Circuit city, or mum and pop seconds shops with open boxes are another. In OZ, wait for the month end, then ask the manager to cut you a deal. www.dtv.com.au gives you good prices others have got their TVs for. If you are in Sydney, look for Mr Hong at Clive Peters in Auburn, and let him know I sent you. Best prices in NSW and Oz. In UK, well, someone else can advise. But here is a good UK site for info: http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=82 Good luck and all the best mates!
petetherock Posted September 11, 2007 Author Posted September 11, 2007 Here lies stories of other peoples attempts: NATO http://www.xtremeplace.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=46563.15
Doggie Howser Posted September 11, 2007 Posted September 11, 2007 Why does pete always need to post continuously in different posts? :P
petetherock Posted September 11, 2007 Author Posted September 11, 2007 Simple really, thoughts don't come immediately, and to facilitate a search by new bros who actually search before they ask the same question. Plus there is an aesthetic factor, which makes it easier for following. Besides I don't do it all the time bro ;) Why does pete always need to post continuously in different posts? :P Edit: combining my posts now, hope that is better? Or.... I am a egoistic bigot who simply loves to inflate my post count..... Actually I tried to keep quiet for a couple of days recently simply to avoid someone, to prevent being criticised for posting too much and annoying the sensibilities of others. After all even an avid writer like myself rues to face criticisms. I just confided in another brother about my fear that someone would say something and viola, my fears came true... :(
dmateo Posted September 11, 2007 Posted September 11, 2007 well I find your writing in pieces easier to digest. I will rather that you write it in pieces so I can scan through your thought in each phase rather than having it being posted as a 3 page essay.. :D I was tempted with panel from japan the other day, but I think as I might be relocating to either Hong Kong / Tokyo within the next 3-4 months, I might not have to do it at all... :D I think TV is definately not a fast turn over items (well generally), and being singapore population being small, the consumer is at disadvantage. They usually import by container so that's really how they drive the price down (bulk ordering), which in case of singapore is challenging. Anyway this is probably nothing but my babbling my thought as usual.. ;D ;D
imbest Posted September 11, 2007 Posted September 11, 2007 lai lai lai, someone please do it and make pete more envy lol! *just kidding* seriously, I want to see some sad stories leh.....
petetherock Posted September 11, 2007 Author Posted September 11, 2007 www.pricejapan.com is another possible source, with super prices compared to Singapore. Don't forget to factor in GST, and the cost of shipping. For example, I considered shipping a Pioneer 507 I bought in Oz back to SG, and it would cost >1.5k Aus. It didn't make too much sense given the cost and danger to the panel. As the journey is long and tough, make sure you avoid going cheap on the shipper and end up with a useless panel. Crown for example is a super pro shipper, but they charge premo for shipping. Good ones will build a wooden crate for your panel. Oh if you are thinking of using vpost, think again, anything with speakers is a no no and their service has not exactly been sterling. Even so, I still hope someone comes back with a success story. Thank you for reading, dmateo and not being annoyed by my many posts. edit: Oh, don't forget, paying for it, credit card fraud is something we must watch for, if you buy it off ebay, do make sure that chap has a good reputation, otherwise, if we are miles away from him, any claims or disputes are a big issue. (trying to compress my thoughts into a single post now) cheers P
FookLai Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 Actually I tried to keep quiet for a couple of days recently simply to avoid someone, to prevent being criticised for posting too much and annoying the sensibilities of others. After all even an avid writer like myself rues to face criticisms. I just confided in another brother about my fear that someone would say something and viola, my fears came true... :( Pete, do not worry much, forum is an open space for all to contribute. Unless someone can find what you say is inappropriate for the forum(like posting some x-rated links or comments :P or posting in the wrong board), then Mod will step in to help. Other than that, speaking an opinion should not have any issues... Fook Lai
Doggie Howser Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 Don't worry Pete :P am not angered by yr separate posts. Call it a force of habit inculcated by years of GP and English lessons to write even long essays in a coherent manner, so it is initially disturbing to read many posts from the same person in a single burst. But I understand that sometimes, the odd random thought requires a separate article. In terms of readability, I do agree. Breaking a long article into smaller posts does improve it. The forum font size seems a bit small and makes it less legible for me. Of course I could increase the font size in my browser but that makes all my other frequently visited sites too large :) Don't worry, I do agree with what you are saying. Ordering big panel TVs from overseas is not feasible. My company has an "employee purchase" program with Sharp USA and the prices are even more fantastic. But the issues with compatibility (tuner/power), warranty etc kinda takes the shine off the method.
louco73 Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 Of course I could increase the font size in my browser but that makes all my other frequently visited sites too large :) If using Firefox, just hold the ctrl-key and use the mouse wheel to increase/decrease font size. Don't ask me about IE, as I don't use it :).
Doggie Howser Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 If using Firefox, just hold the ctrl-key and use the mouse wheel to increase/decrease font size. Don't ask me about IE, as I don't use it :). IE is the same. But it affects all subsequent browser tabs.
velocity1624705768 Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 just to add my personal experiece. I ordered a Sony 32" plasma about 5 years ago from PriceJapan. Luckily, it arrived in great shape : Pros : 1. Much cheaper (at that time a 32" was horrendously expensive in SG) 2. Its still working well 3. Quality and build Cons 1. Menus and remote control are all in Japanese 2. You need a 110v transformer with pretty high wattage (needed 500 watts) as these TV suck up quite a fair bit of power 3. no warranty 4. TV tuner will NOT work in SG All in all, the cheaper price more than made up for the cons as I used it as a display monitor rather than a TV. However, the story could have been very different if it had been damaged during transit. So for the brave souls, do not despair.. Cheers
MuttonFlanks Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 Well it looks like I let my impulses get the best of me. I just ordered this one: http://www.sharpusa.com/products/QuickPrint/0,1242,1821,00.html Keep your fingers crossed for me, I sure hope this works...
technobagus Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 Well it looks like I let my impulses get the best of me. I just ordered this one: http://www.sharpusa.com/products/QuickPrint/0,1242,1821,00.html Keep your fingers crossed for me, I sure hope this works... You are the MAN!
petetherock Posted September 12, 2007 Author Posted September 12, 2007 To paraphrase the SAS, "Who Dares Wins" All the best mate and keep us informed so we can learn from your adventures. Well it looks like I let my impulses get the best of me. I just ordered this one: http://www.sharpusa.com/products/QuickPrint/0,1242,1821,00.html Keep your fingers crossed for me, I sure hope this works...
MuttonFlanks Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 lol... hopefully i will get the TV, that's not a sure thing yet. if my order actually goes through and it ships then i am pretty confident it will work. i got shipping covered i already have a 500 watt transformer buying a receiver should not be too hard now i just have to worry about my order...
petetherock Posted September 12, 2007 Author Posted September 12, 2007 I am not too familar with this unit, but do check that it accepts 24 fps? And if you can get a 1000w transformer plus a power conditioner. Cheers P
imbest Posted September 12, 2007 Posted September 12, 2007 lol... hopefully i will get the TV, that's not a sure thing yet. if my order actually goes through and it ships then i am pretty confident it will work. i got shipping covered i already have a 500 watt transformer buying a receiver should not be too hard now i just have to worry about my order... wah, isn't it very heavy to run it?
Guest Assys1606 Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Hi all, just wonder how true is this starting biding price for a brand new Sharp 46" HD LCD TV - http://sg.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/i:SHARP%2046inch%20FULL%20HD%20LCD%20TV%20LC-46D62U%20108%200p:234683123 Understand if won the bid, need to wire the money to the seller (located in China) first b4 he ships the item. Anyone try it? Funny thing is no one is biding for it.
petetherock Posted September 13, 2007 Author Posted September 13, 2007 Basic principles, if the offer is too good, it prob is.... Don't be a bird and get conned Hi all, just wonder how true is this starting biding price for a brand new Sharp 46" HD LCD TV - http://sg.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/i:SHARP%2046inch%20FULL%20HD%20LCD%20TV%20LC-46D62U%20108%200p:234683123 Understand if won the bid, need to wire the money to the seller (located in China) first b4 he ships the item. Anyone try it? Funny thing is no one is biding for it.
ktee1624705873 Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 Hi all, just wonder how true is this starting biding price for a brand new Sharp 46" HD LCD TV - http://sg.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/i:SHARP%2046inch%20FULL%20HD%20LCD%20TV%20LC-46D62U%20108%200p:234683123 Understand if won the bid, need to wire the money to the seller (located in China) first b4 he ships the item. Anyone try it? Funny thing is no one is biding for it. from China? My fren, take care. In ebay, china=nigeria... prob i m wrong. Even if the price is reasonable (ie not ridiculously low), my doubt is there. I prefer to get from HN or BD, at least i got to touch the goods. ;)
imbest Posted September 13, 2007 Posted September 13, 2007 try to tell them you want a local pick up, straight away they will show you their wolf tails liao....lol
game_goondu Posted September 15, 2007 Posted September 15, 2007 Hi all, just wonder how true is this starting biding price for a brand new Sharp 46" HD LCD TV - http://sg.auctions.yahoo.com/sg/i:SHARP%2046inch%20FULL%20HD%20LCD%20TV%20LC-46D62U%20108%200p:234683123 Understand if won the bid, need to wire the money to the seller (located in China) first b4 he ships the item. Anyone try it? Funny thing is no one is biding for it. what so funny about it. ppl straight away can see its a con job. but no harm trying. u can ask him to shipped the tv to u and u will pay him double upon receiving the tv... :)
Recommended Posts