Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

[hookshot Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookshot]

Has anyone here had experiences with shipping in coffee machines (specifically La Marzocco commercial machines) or even grinders from overseas?

How did you get around the voltage and hertz issues? Did you find machines that were already 220-240 volts, and 50 or 60 hertz and did you have any issues with that at all?

Thanks!

[Andy CoffeeSnobs Owner Find all posts View Profile Close Andy]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?


Random thoughts....

Do your homework re: power, warranty, service.
Dont trust the seller, find a neutral party to inspect / pack it.
Dont trust the shipper, buy PLENTY of insurance.

...or just buy local and save a pile of grief!

[Koffee_Kosmo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

La Marzocco commercial machines

I am led to believe that
Our sponsors Veneziano are the authorised dealers & importers for the La Marzocco commercial line ( I stand corrected if not)

So the problems stated regarding electricity has already been sorted out

As Andy has said

or just buy local and save a pile of grief!

KK

[A_M Guest Find all posts View Profile Close A_M]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

La Marzocco commercial machines

I am led to believe that
Our sponsors Veneziano are the authorised dealers & importers for the La Marzocco commercial line ( I stand corrected if if not)

So the problems stated regarding electricity has already been sorted out

As Andy has said

or just buy local and save a pile of grief!

KK

Regardless of who has imported previously... The responsibility is up to the importer directly involved... You can not hang of the back of the work and $$ that others have done.

They may have implemented changes, for many reasons that your not aware of..


One might ask WHY ?

A cheep special for personal use ??? Then there is lots of risk - While the local people might help, they are under no obligation to.

If you intending to be an Importer / Agent... ( Your post implied - NUMBERS) Then there are others that you need to be talking to..

[Martial_Monkey Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Martial_Monkey]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

Hey stop jumping down so hard on the guy. For all you know this guy could be importing a GS (or some such collectible) which is not readily available in aus. Then again prolly not but a guy can dream.

[hookshot Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookshot]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

Were looking at second hand machines from the United States in particular, not new right now. Just exploring options.

Our electrician says wed probably have a lot more trouble with hertz rather than voltage, and the models manuals can be misleading (saying 50-60 hertz and meaning models made for different markets) so looking for any insight anyone has about this!

Thanks!

[A_M Guest Find all posts View Profile Close A_M]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

Were looking at second hand machines from the United States in particular, not new right now. Just exploring options.

Our electrician says wed probably have a lot more trouble with hertz rather than voltage, and the models manuals can be misleading (saying 50-60 hertz and meaning models made for different markets) so looking for any insight anyone has about this!

Thanks!

You electrician is correct to some extent..

1: Htz will affect heating rates..
2: Hts will affect any frequency driven devices... Vibration pumps.
3: The power leads etc will not meat Au regs
4: The wiring may or may not meet Au regs
5: Depending on the front end components / cct config, providing Stepdown transformers to drop teh Voltage to 110v at the right Current will be fun and games..
6: Managing systems that require greater than 10A could also be interesting.
7: Plus any number of other things.. (Free advice is never complete)

Then you will need to have each one submitted to teh relevant Electrical Authority in one or more states, so that they can be approved for sale.. As an imported of electrical goods and them being second hand... Ther are additional regs that will impact on you.

When doing many item of one model, that is not so bad... If you looking at lots of different models.. Could be lots of $$$

Then the issue is management of spare parts.. After sales service...

All in all... Lots of work, so unless your getting them in bulk and dirt cheep... Lots of effort for what ?

If it is one or two for self.. You only have your self to be worried about...

If your on selling... Then you need legal and professional advice!!

Further More..

This site has Sponsors and they import and supply equipment to Members and Retail.. Both new and second hand.

[Javaphile Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Javaphile]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

If you need to change the voltage, phase(s), or frequency of your local power supply to use with a device thats not made for it the easiest thing Ive found is to buy the appropriate microdrive (commonly referred to as frequency inverters) as I did for my Gothot. Microdrives are solid state voltage/frequency converters and are available for pretty much any configuration you can think of at reasonable prices.

As an example heres one brand. Im not endorsing them, just showing them as an example of what Im talking about: http://actechdrives.com/cgi-bin/site.pl?inverters


Java "Its all about control!" phile

[DiBort Site Sponsor Find all posts View Profile Close DiBort]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

This is all good, but what happen when the machine break down, you will need to get the parts from here.

Will cost you and arm and a leg only in freight.

[A_M Guest Find all posts View Profile Close A_M]

Re: Shipping in a Machine from Overseas - Experiences?

voltage/frequency converters and are available

Yep there are plenty around, but at the cost / proportional to the Current required... A big input of $$ for a second hand machine.

what happen when the machine break down

Not a problem... I sold it .... What more do you expect :-)

There are any number of products that are imported and while working.. Not an issue. When they go belly up it is almost impossible. Just look at some of the cheep second hand imported cars..

Then there is the re sale value..... What re sale value ?