okey guys, start again sans the politics...Well I just got some leftover amplifiers intended for a subwoofer plus stereo package. One version was just a subwoofer and pass through for powered mains.
The subwoofer section was a 741 feeding plastic 2955 and 3055. For the mains that version used a 5534. A few other small signal transistors. Power supply capacitors rated 1000/25!
Now I suspect the design is 20+ years old.
Freight was more than the units' cost.
The subwoofer section was a 741 feeding plastic 2955 and 3055. For the mains that version used a 5534. A few other small signal transistors. Power supply capacitors rated 1000/25!
Now I suspect the design is 20+ years old.
Freight was more than the units' cost.
So what if it's 20 years old? If it works well, what does it matter? My old Marantz 170DC power amp is now 41 years old and I still wouldn't part with it for any money.
Just make sure it has a good PSU with plenty of "oomph# and you're home and dry. While it will work with 1,000uF caps, it will work even better with say 10,000uF caps.
Last edited:
Freight is killing everyone, everywhere. The worst I had was a small box with a cheap microscope and a few school supplies in a one foot by one foot (what ever that is in cm) and it cost me $500 USD to get it to Nepal. For larger items like test equipment, it cost so much to ship that I can save money if I buy a ticket for myself, round trip, and bring the instrument with me. Seriously.
Its enough to make companies think again about building in another country..... after shipping costs are added.
:-(
-RNM
Its enough to make companies think again about building in another country..... after shipping costs are added.
:-(
-RNM
Last edited:
Richard, companies having overseas locations usually strive to have their own general railroad side loading station. Sometimes with a railroad clerk to resolve load manifests and customs paperwork.
Most shipping companies, like DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT, etc have shipping prices reaching well into the astronomical. In addition to that, very often they have extra local charges. Although I for one can only boast of my own local UPS people, they had a contract for me which made shipping actually bearable. I had a problem only once, when the New Zealand customs somehow managed to bend out any shape a filter of mine, which i can easily stand on (and I weight like 240 lbs), and UPS' handling of the situation was impeccable, they brought it back and sent a new one back free of charge, sending the replacement unit on the same day the old one was declared as damaged (it arrived a few days later).
Despite all that, shipping a 10 lbs packed filter even inside of Europe cost me €140 or so, and the value of the filter on its own was @490. Since it had to be imported at the destination, the cost is reasonable for a door-to-door delivery, including both my export paperwork and destination import customs costs.
Most shipping companies, like DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT, etc have shipping prices reaching well into the astronomical. In addition to that, very often they have extra local charges. Although I for one can only boast of my own local UPS people, they had a contract for me which made shipping actually bearable. I had a problem only once, when the New Zealand customs somehow managed to bend out any shape a filter of mine, which i can easily stand on (and I weight like 240 lbs), and UPS' handling of the situation was impeccable, they brought it back and sent a new one back free of charge, sending the replacement unit on the same day the old one was declared as damaged (it arrived a few days later).
Despite all that, shipping a 10 lbs packed filter even inside of Europe cost me €140 or so, and the value of the filter on its own was @490. Since it had to be imported at the destination, the cost is reasonable for a door-to-door delivery, including both my export paperwork and destination import customs costs.
One of the largest users of UPS in this country is McMaster Carr. I look at the rates they charge to know what the actual bottom line shipping charges are. They clearly pay the lowest rate. Amazon has set up their own distribution system teaming with the US postal service. Even lower costs.
Gerhard you are lucky, no such deal for any of my orders. I miss their quantity discounts.
DVV the issue was that there are folks who insist no one still uses such old design parts. These amplifiers were clearly made for a budget. And I got them for slightly more than $3.00 each!!! Only drawback the AC power input uses a no longer common connector. New cords will cost as much as the amplifiers!
RNM yes international freight is loony! Just had a friend borrow a road case to visit his daughter. As the case was well worn customs left it alone. No pulling everything out and the usual drill. A well worn case seemed to telegraph "been there done that, don't bother me."
Gerhard you are lucky, no such deal for any of my orders. I miss their quantity discounts.
DVV the issue was that there are folks who insist no one still uses such old design parts. These amplifiers were clearly made for a budget. And I got them for slightly more than $3.00 each!!! Only drawback the AC power input uses a no longer common connector. New cords will cost as much as the amplifiers!
RNM yes international freight is loony! Just had a friend borrow a road case to visit his daughter. As the case was well worn customs left it alone. No pulling everything out and the usual drill. A well worn case seemed to telegraph "been there done that, don't bother me."
I discovered recently that customs fee and bahavior can be so different from a country to an other, even inside Europa.
Richard (Oh, what a generous guy) had send-me as gift some measuring instruments.
3 Parcels. One arrived with no fees and no trouble. The 2 others, it was impossible to satisfy the demands of the crazy Portuguese customs, papers, forms etc. etc. and, after one month of mail exchanges with them, the parcels were returned to him.
The second try, i was charged for more than half of the declared value of the items. And this does not include the transportation fees !!!!
And it was gift of USED items.
How many time are-we supposed to pay VAT on the same product if it has to travel ?
Richard (Oh, what a generous guy) had send-me as gift some measuring instruments.
3 Parcels. One arrived with no fees and no trouble. The 2 others, it was impossible to satisfy the demands of the crazy Portuguese customs, papers, forms etc. etc. and, after one month of mail exchanges with them, the parcels were returned to him.
The second try, i was charged for more than half of the declared value of the items. And this does not include the transportation fees !!!!
And it was gift of USED items.
How many time are-we supposed to pay VAT on the same product if it has to travel ?
In France, they don't charge-you for anything if the value is less than 100 €.
And they don't bores-you with forms etc... They read the custom declaration made by the sender and evaluate the value by temselves if they think it is fraudulous.
In Portugal, they ask the reciever to fill a form for each and every object in the Parcel (even software drivers CD) that you cannot, while you don't even know what is exactly in the parcel. And they don't accept any 0€ value declaration. (How much is the value of an old driver on a used CD, or user manual ?)
And i think that is is absolutly a scandal to charge several time VAT while there is NO 'added value' on an used Item that had VAT previouly paid in his first country.
Anyway, it is strange that, inside Europa, it is easyer and less expensive to send an Item via France or England, and have-it re-chipped from there to Portugal, that to try direct import, no ?
An other remark, in the same time, some shops exists in England, that import expensive gears from Honk Kong (Like new photographic equipment), and they don't pay any TVA or Customs fees. Once in England, they reship to others European countries with no TVA or customs. It is illegal, everybody knows this practice, and it it endures since decades with the blessing of the authorities.
ex: http://www.purnimadigital.com/
Last edited:
That is what i will do in the future, for sure. It was just to express my surprise that, inside the same economical space with no customs inside, customs rules can be so different from a country to an other.
And the exceptions, like Hong Kong -> England -> Europa, or the ones enlighted by Simon.
Last edited:
Sadly for us Canada is difficult to deal with for warranties the customs people are most difficult and a free repair becomes expensive for the customer. thankfully this is pretty rare.
McMaster Carr won't even ship there. Anyplace else they are fantastic and an exceptional company. Aircraft Spruce just stuck a warehouse in Canada to make it easy.
The likes of Digikey and Mouser have special blanket contracts with Courier companies which is way below consumer price.
Just like large electricity consumers also get special rates much lower than you and I pay.
If I am not wrong, DK at least bulk ship all goods, pre-packed in the US, to the Netherlands (and clear Customs there).
From there on they distribute further within the EU.
But it is really impressive, 48hrs.
A DHL parcel from the US can take up to 3 weeks, hanging most of the time at Customs.
Patrick
- Status
- Not open for further replies.