This in the UK is a major problem for dealers who stock American high-end.
The price is usually the same in dollars as pounds-you don't need to be a genius to work out that is a major saving-imagine too if you import an ex-dem or second hand item-the saving is remarkable.
I bought an Ayre AX-7 amp here on Audiogon-ex-dem-even paying import duty (15-20%)I made a massive saving.
There is of course a downside-I need to use a transformer and the warranty is only valid in the USA-would I do it again?
Yes in a heartbeat because in UK terms I have made a leap in my system which would be near impossible to beat pound for pound with anything else.
However be clear the manufacturers do not want you to do this-I only got this amp because the dealer had parted company with Ayre-it will be very difficult I think now to buy direct from Europe with many manufacturers because they cannot afford to allow their European/UK dealers to be open to this.
Also as Mgattmch mentions Krell and others have hard-wired their products to make it very difficult to use abroad.
Although I am sure there are others which can be converted easily.
I have a major tale to tell regarding importing products-which I hope to least partly share on Audiogon one day.
What I think is unfair is to knowingly use a local dealer with the intention to import however the flipside of the coin is that dealers need to realise the world has shrunk,importing is nigh on impossible to stop simply because it is legal to do and with that in mind they need to make a judgement on the level of profit they can expect on a "big" item.
There needs to be a balance.
If you are going to import though too you need to realise there are risks involved and you need to weigh that up.
It worked out for me but I was pretty lucky.
The price is usually the same in dollars as pounds-you don't need to be a genius to work out that is a major saving-imagine too if you import an ex-dem or second hand item-the saving is remarkable.
I bought an Ayre AX-7 amp here on Audiogon-ex-dem-even paying import duty (15-20%)I made a massive saving.
There is of course a downside-I need to use a transformer and the warranty is only valid in the USA-would I do it again?
Yes in a heartbeat because in UK terms I have made a leap in my system which would be near impossible to beat pound for pound with anything else.
However be clear the manufacturers do not want you to do this-I only got this amp because the dealer had parted company with Ayre-it will be very difficult I think now to buy direct from Europe with many manufacturers because they cannot afford to allow their European/UK dealers to be open to this.
Also as Mgattmch mentions Krell and others have hard-wired their products to make it very difficult to use abroad.
Although I am sure there are others which can be converted easily.
I have a major tale to tell regarding importing products-which I hope to least partly share on Audiogon one day.
What I think is unfair is to knowingly use a local dealer with the intention to import however the flipside of the coin is that dealers need to realise the world has shrunk,importing is nigh on impossible to stop simply because it is legal to do and with that in mind they need to make a judgement on the level of profit they can expect on a "big" item.
There needs to be a balance.
If you are going to import though too you need to realise there are risks involved and you need to weigh that up.
It worked out for me but I was pretty lucky.