Importing espresso machines

[robusto]

If we were getting ripped off, it would be a no-brainer to self-import.

The marketplace regulates prices.

Self import? Yes...if I wanted several dozen units wholesalers will sell to me as a minimum purchase.

[Dragunov21]

If your point is to inform, it's best to get it right.

And this subject is something lots of people like to shoot their mouth off about based on what they "think" or "have heard", rather than going and checking through it themselves, because that takes time and effort (not having a go at you, just making the general observation).

People also seem unwilling to avoid authoritative tones simply because they think they're right (rather than because they have the depth of knowledge required to make an authoritative statement) ie your post. Is it really such a bad thing to say "I'm not sure that's correct, because xyz" rather than talking in absolutes? It's not a competition for public opinion; it's in everyone's best interests to get to the truth of the matter and provide references.

[Evascroll]

I live in puerto rico even sow that we are part of U.S. before the internet hit the island we didnt have much choice and end up paying allmost doble the price. But since now we can buy any item at the cost of the U.S most of the time free shipping the local seller adjust the price from most of the item! But what i did to sve some money before all this happen, i buy and imported stuff that dont have warranti,used and cheap, sow if anything happen i didnt loss a lot of $,(become familiar With the product become a mechanic sow anything happen you coul fixed)

[simonko]

Please correct me as I'd like to learn:

Someone realises that dealing in bulk they can become a local authority on the machine and provide a service locals may find valuable.

How many locals find it valuable depends on the price set for the service provided.

If it's too high, people will just choose a different dealer or model, or self-import. Importer/dealer dies.

If I was an importer or dealer, I definitely would be protecting the expertise I've built up in the product and groundwork in offering it by pricing appropriately.

[Fresh_Coffee]

Unashamed Sales Pitch by a long time supportive CS SITE SPONSOR

Well, seeing as how this thing just goes round and round in circles, may as well make the most of it.....

My own little import biz here in Australia has been selling BFC / Diadema Junior range semi commercial machines for some time at atleast Euro parity pricing, if not less.

A new container of these great machines will be arriving in about 5 weeks and we have kept the low pricing happening especially as the current stock needs to be moved into your homes to make way for the new consignment.

Our BFC / Diadema range have been very quiet achievers in this market, selling excellent numbers to happy home baristas while for the most part, not enjoying the never ending very public recommendations that a small number of higher profile brands and models seem to enjoy in this forum every time someone lobs in with a "short list". There are a lot of happy BFC / Diadema Junior owners out there that quietly enjoy their equipment, and we dont see too many of them surfacing here with problems needing to be sorted.

That makes this site sponsor and equipment trader quietly chuffed.

As stated above we have stock to clear to make way for the current consignment.

There are a few Junior PUL and Splendor machines left....not many, we have timed it to run out of stock just as the new lot arrive (good planning). There are no PID dual boiler Junior EXTRA's left, and there may be a very small number of Junior PLUS machines.

I have a Splendor at home at the moment and couldnt be happier. This and the cheaper PUL are very much "bread and butter" semi commercial models that just do the job they are required to do, day in and day out for a VERY FAIR PRICE. They're not lumbered with the apparent never ending mumbo jumbo we see in this forum from people that think their coffee machine somehow needs to be an extension of their ego. They're just good quality good performing coffee machines that do the job required and expected.

Anyone that wants to consider an excellent performing coffee machine, very well designed and built (and set up to operate at their best for this market - by me) at similar to or better than o/s price, with local guarantee and service support, would be mad not to put one of these on their short list.

Hope that helps.
Attilio
very first CS site Sponsor

[simonko]

Also, considering the masses are happy with instant coffee or department store jobs, a $2000+ coffee machine is a luxury item.

People who buy luxury items typically would rather inevitable problems be someone else's problem.

So if someone needs to be blamed, it's those who actually pay the prices offered and keep prices where they are.

But if they didn't, it wouldn't be worth the importer's/dealer's time to offer the machine locally.

I don't see how offering a service that people take up can be being "ripped off".

[robusto]

Geez, so much waffle on this thread. I would suggest if you have a point to make, state it clearly and unequivocally.

[Dragunov21]

Please correct me as I'd like to learn:

Someone realises that dealing in bulk they can become a local authority on the machine and provide a service locals may find valuable.

How many locals find it valuable depends on the price set for the service provided.

If it's too high, people will just choose a different dealer or model, or self-import. Importer/dealer dies.

If I was an importer or dealer, I definitely would be protecting the expertise I've built up in the product and groundwork in offering it by pricing appropriately.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that brick and mortar stores stocking items that don't get high-volume sales (eg quality coffee machines) have significant overheads that online and/or international stores might not. They have to price in a significant margin not just for profit, but to cover the costs that come with providing the services that you don't think about like keeping stuff in stock for you to look at.

Motorbike gear is a good example - you can get very good deals online from the US, but fit is very important and often something you need to be able to try first before dropping hundreds on a helmet or jacket. Unfortunately there are those that try to take advantage of local retailers' services/overheads (by trying stuff on in store) then buy online to take advantage of the online stores' cheaper prices.

I don't know how applicable this is to coffee machines and I'm not saying that gouging doesn't exist, but at some point some retailers just won't find it profitable enough to operate physical stores and provide service. Then, reviews and the ability to successfully select items online may become a lot more important...

[Yelta]

I've bought from Amazon and it is still cheaper to have the item shipped from America than buy here.

We are getting soundly ripped off for whatever the reasons.

I disagree, no one is "getting ripped off" if you don't like the price don't spend your cash, no one has a gun to your head.

I used to buy from Amazon and a couple of other retailers regularly because of the price advantage, I seldom have to now.

Over the past couple of years prices have converged significantly, better to buy in OZ.

Having said that I still buy clothing from the US.

[Fresh_Coffee]

[QUOTE=Dragunov21;495819]Part of the problem lies in the fact that brick and mortar stores stocking items that don't get high-volume sales (eg quality coffee machines) have significant overheads that online and/or international stores might not. They have to price in a significant margin not just for profit, but to cover the costs that come with providing the services that you don't think about like keeping stuff in stock for you to look at.

.......I don't know how applicable this is to coffee machines..........

...........Motorbike gear is a good example - you can get very good deals online from the US, but fit is very important ...............QUOTE]


I happen to know that some high profile internet vendors hold NO or minimal stock. The screen is nothing more than a virtual showroom. When you hit the purchase button, they "order up" from the importer / stock holder.

For an incredibly small margin and no recognition for their own business, these stock holders do all the work of preparing, packaging and consigning said coffee machine to the client. Said internet front business with no overhead resulting from that product, makes the greatest margin for making the retail sale, has no responsibility for warranty or anything else.

So yes, applicable to coffee machines.

I also happen to know that some internet fronts that sell in this way, sometimes actually cant get much of the stock they list......but if they've listed at a bargain basement price, they've effectively lowered the price on that article for everyone else......even through they cant even get the item advertised.

But of course why should the "me generation" care about some of the legitimate probelms that genuine traders have......

[Fresh_Coffee]

..... Over the past couple of years prices have converged significantly, better to buy in OZ......

Having said that I still buy clothing from the US.

Indeed..... but does that mean you are wearing ill fitting shoes and shirts Jon? I only buy clothes that I can try on for fit !

[robusto]

I disagree, no one is "getting ripped off" if you don't like the price don't spend your cash, no one has a gun to your head.

I'm kinda lost here, Yelta...if I need to buy something, I have no option but to spend the cash somewhere--that IS a gun to my head. $990 in the USA for a Japanese generator....Just under $2000 for the same item in Australia.. someone in the supply chain is definitely ripping me off. Or trying to.

[Yelta]

Indeed..... but does that mean you are wearing ill fitting shoes and shirts Jon? I only buy clothes that I can try on for fit !

Not at all Atillio, have spent a lot of time in the US and in a past life was an importer/wholesaler of American made clothing (sadly many of the better brands are now Asian/Mexican made) I know my sizing in the brand names I prefer.

Not only are the US products much cheaper they have a vastly greater size range, Shirts and trousers/jeans are offered with longer/shorter sleeves and legs and longer/shorter bodies, shoes/boots in a variety of widths as well as length if you know exactly what you want and the size it's a no brainer, American sourced clothing does it for me every time.

[Yelta]

I'm kinda lost here, Yelta...if I need to buy something, I have no option but to spend the cash somewhere--that IS a gun to my head. $990 in the USA for a Japanese generator....Just under $2000 for the same item in Australia.. someone in the supply chain is definitely ripping me off. Or trying to.

There are much cheaper alternatives available on the Aussie market, the Yamaha your talking about is top of the range, if you must have a Yamaha your going to have to pay the price, but, as I said, no one is holding a gun to your head.

[robusto]

Yelta, the generator and brand is just an example for the sake of the arguement- not to provoke an arguement .

In any case, top or bottom of the range, I would argue, is immaterial to the, er, arguement.