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Postby dodecahedron on Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:47 am

you gotta hear this story.

i called up the distributer.
yes, the do sell the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker set.
because of price it appears that the don't import them on a regular basis.

when i asked for the price, i couldn't believe my ears. 4,500 shekels (= $1000) the man says !!!!!!! i was flabbergasted.

then they gave me another guy to talk with (apparently the first one wasn't from the right department or something).
so he says that this is the "official" price, but if i do actually buy it the price will be lower.
"how much lower" i asks, "somewhat more than 2000 shekels (= $450)" they says.
then the man goes on to give me a whole crapload of explanations.
Klipsch have to make the speakers "especialy" with 220 Volts. yeah, right as if the only country outside of the US with 220V that sell Klipsch products is Israel, ha!
then, apprently these speakers are'nt recognized by Israeli customs as computer equipment (= 0% customs fees) but as Hi-Fi equipment (= %45 customs fees). and then there's %18 VAT (= sales tax).

still, for a speakers set that costs in the US $180 in newegg, i'm guessing around $200-$250 (?) retail, +%45 + %18 + international shipping, $450 seems steep...

much as i would like them, it appears that Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 are not in my future :cry:
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Postby dodecahedron on Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:52 am

apart of the headache of international shipping, customs issues/charges etc. and the discomfort of warrantee/service/RMA, another consideration about importing stuff directly from the US is the voltage issue.

i can always use a transformer 220v -> 110v.
but i don't know if the difference in frequency of the AC current (60Hz -> 50 Hz) makes any difference, if it influences the workings/performance of the electronics.
supposedly there's an AC to DC converter in there, but still i don't know...
also, apparently the amplifiers of these systems take up quite a bit of current, which really heats up the transformers.

what's the AC voltage in Korea, Kennyshin?
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Postby Inertia on Tue Jul 01, 2003 4:07 am

dodecahedron,

If you download the manual for the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker set, you will see that there is a 220V hookup shown in the speaker connection illustration. Based on this observation, I would think that a 220V hookup is a standard option, switchable as are many other exportable audio products. Usually these products operate on switchable 120/220V with either 50/60 Hz. The voltage song and dance by your local distributor is probably more bullshit to justify the exorbitant pricing. I would suggest that you send Klipsch an email to verify the dual voltage compatibility.

Also note from the manual that the non-U.S./Canada warranty is provided by the import distributor. So if you shipped a set from the U.S., it would have no warranty in Israel.

US Postal Service parcel post rates from the US to Israel for a package up to 44 lbs. (less for lighter package):

Global Airmail: 4-6 days delivery - $143.50
Global Economy: 4-6 weeks delivery - $76.00

See http://www.usps.com/global/sendpackages.htm

and http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immicl/immiclhk_011.html

Newegg has the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 for $170.00 including shipping (but not in stock right now). An email to Newegg could probaby get you the shipping weight and dimensions.

If someone were to send you a set as a gift, there probably wouldn't be any duty or taxes. :wink:
Last edited by Inertia on Tue Jul 01, 2003 7:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby dodecahedron on Tue Jul 01, 2003 6:55 am

WOW!
thanks a lot for all the helpful info.
LOL, i wouldn't even know where to start looking for it...

yeah, i know about the warranty, that's the way it usually works.
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Postby tazdevl on Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:40 am

dodec,

www.outpost.com

They use Airborne Express for shipping... ABX serves as their own broker which means the costs are a lot less than other logistic companies and you might be able to get by some of the import duties if there are any.
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Postby dodecahedron on Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:37 pm

thanks, tazdevl.
too bad they don't have the speakers i want - Klipsch ProMedia 2.1
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Postby TheWizard on Tue Jul 01, 2003 6:05 pm

dodecahedron: Do you have any friends in the States?

Going along with what Inertia pointed out regarding postage rates (I love the United States Postal Service's rates, BTW, very low even for international shipments), if you get a friend to buy the Klipsch speakers in the US and have him/her ship them to you via USPS, your friend can mark on the customs form that the item in the package is a gift. I'm not sure how strict the Israeli Postal Service is, but I've sent several international packages to Europe and Asia, marking each of them as "gift" and they breezed through customs...no additional charges or anything. If you do choose this option, I recommend keeping the package insurance cost low...just enough to cover the speakers in US$. The reason I say this is because once I sent a package to Singapore and I insured it for US$300 (which translates into ~S$525). Immediately the Singapore Postal Service flagged the package for inspection because the insurance rate was above a certain mark (S$500).

Before you start salivating too much about my plan, check with your local postal service to see how they handle incoming international packages. They may be strict up to a certain point, or they may not be. If you can get a friend to buy the speakers and ship them to you without paying customs, obviously do it! The final cost, with shipping, will be under US$300, which clearly beats what your local distributor charges!
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Postby dodecahedron on Wed Oct 01, 2003 3:28 pm

hi guys.

ended up buying the Altec Lansing ATP3 speakers. :D
550 Israeli Shekels = $120 roughly (incl. tax).

thanks for everyone that helped out.
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Postby VEFF on Fri Oct 10, 2003 11:48 pm

Wizard,

I think you may have misread Kenny's post?

I think he was saying the same thing you are:
That ordering online and paying the high shipping charges
is still cheaper than buying locally in Singapore...
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Postby TheWizard on Sat Oct 11, 2003 3:08 am

I wasn't disagreeing with Inertia, I was backing up what he said and elaborating on it. That's why I started by saying, "Going along with what Inertia pointed out..." :wink:
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Postby VEFF on Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:27 am

TheWizard wrote:I wasn't disagreeing with Inertia, I was backing up what he said and elaborating on it. That's why I started by saying, "Going along with what Inertia pointed out..." :wink:


I was talking about Kenny's post that you replied to, not Inertia's.
:)

In my post I probably should have quoted your reply to Kenny's post, since that one was a while ago, and you probably naturally assumed I was referencing your most recent post.
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Plextor PX-716A TLA0304
Plextor PX-716A same TLA
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Postby TheWizard on Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:55 am

Yes, and I assumed incorrectly. Why raise this thread from the dead anyway? :)
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Postby dodecahedron on Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:49 pm

TheWizard wrote:Yes, and I assumed incorrectly. Why raise this thread from the dead anyway? :)

ha! it was ME who raised it from the dead! :wink:
well i guess i have the right to since i started it! :lol:
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Postby cfitz on Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:52 pm

dodecahedron wrote:ha! it was ME who raised it from the dead! :wink:
well i guess i have the right to since i started it! :lol:

Dodecahedron: Exalted Polyhedral Overlord and Master of Necromancy... :o

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Postby dodecahedron on Mon Oct 13, 2003 2:12 pm

cfitz wrote:Dodecahedron: Exalted Polyhedral Overlord and Master of Necromancy... :o

yep.
my bubbling cauldron runneth over...
<sinister...>
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Postby TheWizard on Mon Oct 13, 2003 5:27 pm

Just as long as we don't resort to necrophilia, I'm cool. :)
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Postby dodecahedron on Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:30 pm

TheWizard wrote:Just as long as we don't resort to necrophilia, I'm cool. :)

:lol: :lol: :lol: ... :o
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Postby Kennyshin on Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:57 pm

Speakers, amplifiers, and projectors are indeed too expensive in South Korea. Too much tax and complicated import procedure, not to mention that it's a closed market.

There are always people in Japan and US to buy products locally and bring them through Inchon international airport either for their own use or someone else's.

@TheWizard

You know exactly what is needed. :D
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