International Issues

Buying things from abroad can be a great way to save money however you need to be aware of the following issues that can make what seems like a good deal actually turn out to be a nasty surprise!

Customs Charges International purchases may be subject to customs charges and tax on import. These charges will be made to you on behalf of the government by the shipping company who is delivering your goods. If you do not pay the charges the goods will be returned to the sender.

Extra Delivery Costs Not all international shipments are "door to door" sometimes with larger items you will be required to collect them from the airport or depot, or to pay an extra fee for delivery to your door. When buying things from international sellers make sure you specify that you want the item delivered directly to your address.

Compatibility Issues Many electronic items are not worldwide compatible - video equipment is often either NTSC or PAL, electronic items often only operate at certain voltages. Make sure your properly research the item your buying before you end up with something that is useless to you. Usually the items required voltage will be written on the back of the unit. NTSC / PAL compatibility information should be in the user manual for the device.

Warranty and Support Issues If your buying new goods you'd expect them to come with a warranty, however many electronic items only come with a warranty if you buy them from an authorized dealer in your country of residence. You should weigh up the savings you might get from buying abroad against the possible repair costs if the item develops a fault. Often it works out better to pay a bit extra for the piece of mind you get from an local authorized dealer