ESU ECOS Buying Dilemma Aus or US

2449 Views 16 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Ian sa, Oct 8, 2007

Martin71

Discussion Starter · Oct 6, 2007

Hi all

I have a real problem here. I can buy a full ecos system for $449.00 US + postage. With the strength of the Aussie $ it works out to be a real bargain, with the only issues being warranty and 110 v power supply which I can fix with a different transformer. I only asked the question if the did it, as I wanted to buy another couple of Lenz decoders and a loksound.

My problem is I have recreantly found an extremely good DCC supplier here in Perth Australia who has a wealth of knowledge, good pricing and is one of the most helpful guys I have ever come across.

Now I don't want to offend him by buying this and then when I have problems asking him for help, I see it as down right rude. What do I do? I'm sure you will agree that's a good price for an Ecos:

$ 449 US Dollar (USD)=£ 219.8394 British Pound (GBP)

$ 449 US Dollar (USD)=$ 500.3343 Australia (AUD)

There we are, in many ways I think forming a good working relationship is more important, but how do you over look such a bargain.

What would you do?

Martin

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

rpjallan

· #2 · Oct 6, 2007

I sometimes think that us Aussies should try to take advantage of the high A$ (against US$ at least). It can take a long time, if ever, to flow through to shop prices here. Having said that, good advice is very hard to find. I am willing to sometimes pay a bit extra if the people I'm buying from know what they're talking about and are willing to spend extra time explaining things and helping you out.

Is the guy you are talking about able to source an ESU Ecos? If so, for what price? I haven't been able to find any retail outlets that have the Ecos. I have been considering getting one but for what I am doing I think it would be overkill.

BTW, where can you get it from for US$449.00?

ME 26-06

· #3 · Oct 6, 2007

Over here, I´d have to pay import duties if I bought from the US.

If you´d also have to pony up at the customs office, maybe the $449,-- deal isn´t as shiny as it seemed any more, and you might as well buy in AUS?

dwb

· #4 · Oct 6, 2007

It's your choice, but I am always prepared to pay a bit extra for a good service. In the longer term, the cost of a DCC command station is a small proportion of the cost of going DCC if you intend to take full advantage of what DCC offers. Some of the advanced features may need one on one advice to get started. So I guess the equation you have to balance is: "Is the additional cost of buying local worth it for the local support and advice I am likely to get?".

David

Richard Johnson

· #5 · Oct 6, 2007

Martin: You said...

My problem is I have recreantly found an extremely good DCC supplier here in Perth Australia who has a wealth of knowledge, good pricing and is one of the most helpful guys I have ever come across. Now I don't want to offend him by buying this and then when I have problems asking him for help, I see it as down right rude. What do I do? I'm sure you will agree that's a good price for an Ecos:

****Martin, you won't offend me by taking such a good deal at all. I'm a modeller too and appreciate the importance of such a saving. My advice and help isn't conditional on purchase - its as I state on my website, modeller to modeller.

If I am competitive then its nice to get the business, but that price is well below what I can offer (its actually below a sane price - I know the US wholesale prices too)

Do yourself a favour though and buy decoders other than the Lenz though - there are better decoders at a similar or lower price with far better warranty cover too - and those I can supply competitively!

Regards

Richard
DCCconcepts

PS: My customers mid term failure rate experience with Lenz decoders is several times higher than other brands, particularly bad with Lenz Gold and Gold Mini!!

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Ian sa

· #6 · Oct 7, 2007

Hi Martin, here in Australia you will pay 10% tax on any import if total cost of goods are $500 or over including postage, handling and any insurance which is also an added cost.
IMO you would possibly pay The cost of Ecos in Au dollars plus postage etc, plus 10% tax on total.
That landed price may still be under DCC Concepts(Perth) price but I would still purchase from him.
I have been dealing with Richard for aprox 5yrs and have found him always helpful, friendly and always very fair with prices,and,as Richard says, he speaks modeler to modeler.
Richard's knowledge on DCC would be second to none.
BTW I operate an Ecos(purchased from DCC Concepts Nov 06). It is an AWSOM system.

Happy DCCing
Ian sa

QUOTE (Martin71 @ 6 Oct 2007, 14:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi all

I have a real problem here. I can buy a full ecos system for $449.00 US + postage. With the strength of the Aussie $ it works out to be a real bargain, with the only issues being warranty and 110 v power supply which I can fix with a different transformer. I only asked the question if the did it, as I wanted to buy another couple of Lenz decoders and a loksound.

My problem is I have recreantly found an extremely good DCC supplier here in Perth Australia who has a wealth of knowledge, good pricing and is one of the most helpful guys I have ever come across.

Now I don't want to offend him by buying this and then when I have problems asking him for help, I see it as down right rude. What do I do? I'm sure you will agree that's a good price for an Ecos:

$ 449 US Dollar (USD)=£ 219.8394 British Pound (GBP)

$ 449 US Dollar (USD)=$ 500.3343 Australia (AUD)

There we are, in many ways I think forming a good working relationship is more important, but how do you over look such a bargain.

What would you do?
Martin

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neil_s_wood

· #7 · Oct 7, 2007

I bought mine from Modellbahn Kramm. At the time I bought it I wasn't aware that anyone in Australia sold or knew about them until 5 minutes ago when I read the above post. I never had to pay import duty when it arrived here, the only time I have had to pay import duty is when I am unlucky enough to have stuff shipped by UPS which I never do if I have a choice.

I haven't had a problem with mine so I haven't needed any assistance from a shop If I have a problem I use the ECoS forum and to a lesser extent the user yahoo group or just figure it out for myself. Being located in Aus you have to get used to a lack of support for anything other than Digitrax.

The US price is good, I paid 430 Euro for mine.

QUOTE Do yourself a favour though and buy decoders other than the Lenz though - there are better decoders at a similar or lower price with far better warranty cover too - and those I can supply competitively!

What are those Richard?

rpjallan

· #8 · Oct 7, 2007

QUOTE (Ian @ 7 Oct 2007, 10:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Martin, here in Australia you will pay 10% tax on any import if total cost of goods are $500 or over including postage, handling and any insurance which is also an added cost.
I think this is incorrect. I believe the amount is actually $1000. I have purchased quite a few things from overseas in the last few years (including recently) that were well over $500 but less than $1000 and I have never had to pay any tax.

neil_s_wood

· #9 · Oct 7, 2007

QUOTE (rpjallan @ 7 Oct 2007, 15:16) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think this is incorrect. I believe the amount is actually $1000. I have purchased quite a few things from overseas in the last few years (including recently) that were well over $500 but less than $1000 and I have never had to pay any tax.
I have been charged tax on things less than $1000. About $700 was the lowest. I find it's a bit erratic and the tax is usually more than 10%. I have given in and paid it as I want my items.

rpjallan

· #10 · Oct 7, 2007

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 7 Oct 2007, 14:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have been charged tax on things less than $1000. About $700 was the lowest.
Was that recently, or a while ago?

neil_s_wood

· #11 · Oct 7, 2007

QUOTE (rpjallan @ 7 Oct 2007, 17:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Was that recently, or a while ago?
About three years ago I think, parcel came from the States by UPS. I beleive that UPS ghave a policy of giving all parcels to customs and specifically asking them to charge tax.

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Ian sa

· #12 · Oct 8, 2007

QUOTE (rpjallan @ 7 Oct 2007, 14:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think this is incorrect. I believe the amount is actually $1000. I have purchased quite a few things from overseas in the last few years (including recently) that were well over $500 but less than $1000 and I have never had to pay any tax.

I must admit it has been sometime since I purchased from USA. The import tax here in OZ was 10% of total value and anything under $50 was not collected which made the taxable amount $500 plus.
We had a talk at our DCC club by a retired customs officer and his info was $500 plus. This was 2yrs ago so things have possibly changed.
I do know of a couple of guys that paid tax on goods valued just over $600 but,again, that was over 2yrs ago.
I did have a look at the Aust customs web site couple of days ago but could not make head nor tale of it.
If the value is now $1000 that makes thing a little rosier but ,I must admit I still think twice before buying from overseas.
The warranty thing is always a worry. Can cost an arm and leg to pay postage etc., over and back to country of origin especially on larger items like DCC systems.
Iansa

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Ian sa

· #13 · Oct 8, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

edit: double post

neil_s_wood

· #14 · Oct 8, 2007 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (Ian @ 8 Oct 2007, 12:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I
The warranty thing is always a worry. Can cost an arm and leg to pay postage etc., over and back to country of origin especially on larger items like DCC systems.
Iansa
That did worry me but I figured that ESU have a good reputation and I would pay twice as much if it was available here (which it turns out it was but I didn't know at the time). Sounds like people in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane have better options than Melbourne for DCC. All we have locally are Tragidix and probably Hornby DCC now too.

Ian sa

· #15 · Oct 8, 2007

QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 8 Oct 2007, 12:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Sounds like people in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane have better options than Melbourne for DCC. All we have locally are Tragidix and probably Hornby DCC now too.

Here in Adelaide Lenz, NCE, Zimo, Hornby, Bachman are available at a couple of different hobby shops.
As stated in previous posts, I purchased my Ecos from DCC Concepts in perth as I do most of my required ESU products.
Iansa

rpjallan

· #16 · Oct 8, 2007

QUOTE (Ian @ 8 Oct 2007, 12:50) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Here in Adelaide Lenz, NCE, Zimo, Hornby, Bachman are available at a couple of different hobby shops.
As stated in previous posts, I purchased my Ecos from DCC Concepts in perth as I do most of my required ESU products.
Iansa
I am in Adelaide too. Where do you usually shop?

Ian sa

· #17 · Oct 8, 2007

QUOTE (rpjallan @ 8 Oct 2007, 19:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am in Adelaide too. Where do you usually shop?

Mainly Junction models, sometimes Orient Express, rarely SA Hobbies
Iansa

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