Buying chartplotter from importers
Submitted by wooden fish on Thu, 2011-01-20 08:57
Looking for a chartplotter/fishfinder. Lowrance Elite 5 best deal local $950 (background map only). Keoghs over east $$850 for same thing. Koala who I think are based in Sydney but ship from U.S. offer the same unit but with the navionics gold card for $801.78. Real leery about buying over internet! Rather give the locals my hard earned cash but want a good deal too.
Anyone dealt with Koala and would you recommend them or have any idea where I can get a better deal - second hand is ok and brand not that important. SIMPLE IS BEST- I AM AN OLD FART WHO STRUGGLES WITH TECHNOLOGY ! (My wife gave me an abacus and quill for xmas if that gives you an idea.)
Bruce
WOODnFISH
____________________________________________________________________________
WOOD 'n FISH
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Koala are not based in
Koala are not based in sydney, they just offer a sydney local number. I'm guessing its a voip-delivered one, and they terminate it in the USA.
They don't have an australian domain registration, they don't mention GST in their prices, and if you look up Koala GPS on the abn search, you get nothing.
A lot of people get fooled with that local number, but I can give you a local number in any city you want in just about any country now too!
wooden fish
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 17/01/11
Thanks Till,So you think it
Thanks Till,
So you think it would be risky? I don't trust it if I can't talk to them. No GST on purchases under $1000 is there? Would rather buy local but there is a huge difference - get the gold card free AND it is cheaper.
Anubody dealt with them? Or know of a local good deal?
WOOD 'n FISH
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
More talking apples v's
More talking apples v's apples, if you were to buy from a US seller, just by from any of them, not just one sneaky enough to target aussies.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
all good
bought my hummminbird 798 from Koala.
great price and service.
got the international model which they sell to Canada so it has all the metric units.
always been impressed by their prices and service
looks like a mate is going to get his VHF from them also.
go the humminbird side image over the lowrance (if you are considering)
don't be fooled by jamie's (till) sus attitude
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Well good to hear that they
Well good to hear that they deliver!
Not that I'm sus, just I dislike businesses that represent themselves as aussie ones when they're just some yanks that are a bit sneakier than most.
To be fair, if their prices are good then go for it, just remember that you should price them against other american businesses, not aussie ones.
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
go local
Woodnfish you have indicated that you are saving around $ 100.00 on the unit but you admit you struggle with technology like most of us over 21 . My prefernce is to stay local on electronics , one of our site sponsors who i have used regularly, have given me heaps of support on the equipment i have purchased through them, otherwise you may have issues trying to get support from the suppliers
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Price match
Another thing to consider...ask the local guys if they will match the price with the internet specials. I just did this and will be picking up my Garmin GPSMap 750 on the weekend from a local business.
Saving dollars isnt everything...even if they cant match the price, perhaps they will make the difference so small that it isnt worth going overseas.
Cheers
Brad
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Happy Hooker
Posts: 305
Date Joined: 12/11/08
Alot of people(including myself) have bought from these guys
http://www.bonzerimports.com
No problems at all with them and fast delivery .
Note :
Checked their website after posting and note that they no longer sell Lowrance as they are Geofencing (which in laymans terms means they lock US units to US areas).
So you might want to go local seller (check that the other overseas net sellers are telling you this !!)
And if you go Overseas seller, make sure you buy under the $1,000 mark or you will get slugged customs in Aus .
wooden fish
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 17/01/11
Thanks to all for the advice.
Thanks to all for the advice. I would prefer to stay local - Brad, can you let me know who your local man is - he seems user friendly. Big price difference $100 on the unit plus a free gold card.
If anyone has a used unit I would be happy to look at it.
Thanks again.
Windy today but I might stroll the 150 metres to the water & see if I can pick up a couple of tailor for mackerel bait for later in the year. Want them just legal to 32 cm but I keep catching big ones..........(Dammit I hate chucking them back because they are too big!)
WOOD 'n FISH
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Local guys - price match
All Boats in Kingsley (I think its Kingsley).
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Stanno
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 15/11/09
Just bought a Lowrance elite
Just bought a Lowrance elite 5 dsi from Koala half an hour ago. $963 AU including post and Aus gold navionics.
The dsi is lowrances latest model. DSI = down scan imaging.
Have a look at their website.
I cant wait to try it out.
wooden fish
Posts: 47
Date Joined: 17/01/11
AAWWWW! Now you are making me
AAWWWW! Now you are making me want what I really don't need!
WOOD 'n FISH
dodgy
Posts: 4586
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I bought a cheap Eagle combo
I bought a cheap Eagle combo unit through Koala on ebay. No problems with the transaction at all.
Also bought through Bonzer with no problems.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
spook
Posts: 325
Date Joined: 15/02/10
New Lowrance DSI (down scan 3d thingo)
Just got the Elite 5x DSI from www.jandhproducts.com, there an american online boat/marine type store. Was $724 delivered without card, Awsome unit totally recomend the unit and the site
, they let me know exactly what was going on and even got me the unit that works worldwide, delivered here 6 working days after lowrance released it over there. If your looking for overseas sites to trust there good and use paypal.
Haunted by water
spook
Posts: 325
Date Joined: 15/02/10
http://www.jandhproducts.com/_e/Lowrance_Navico_Fishfinders/prod
Here is the link to the one i got.
Haunted by water
spook
Posts: 325
Date Joined: 15/02/10
I mean here
http://www.jandhproducts.com/_e/Lowrance_Navico_Fishfinders/product/Lowrance_Elite_5_DSI/Lowrance_Elite_5_DSI_Color_Combo_Fishfinder_Chartplotter_000_10236_001.htm
Haunted by water
spook
Posts: 325
Date Joined: 15/02/10
I mean here
http://www.jandhproducts.com/_e/Lowrance_Navico_Fishfinders/product/Lowrance_Elite_5_DSI/Lowrance_Elite_5_DSI_Color_Combo_Fishfinder_Chartplotter_000_10236_001.htm
Haunted by water
dagree
Posts: 660
Date Joined: 08/12/07
Be aware buying Lowrance from overseas
Wooden Fish,
Be aware buying Lowrance from overseas..... Have a look at the link below regarding what is called "geofencing". Might be OK with other brands.
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/buying-gps-ebay-internationally
Warranty wise you will have to pay postage at your cost. I believe Bonzerimports will pay postage for return tho.
I have bought overseas previously but fortunately have had no issues. OH and I did save alot of $'s back then but now buy local due to warranty and backup.
Cheers,
David (AKA Grumps)
Location: Heathridge. Toys: 120 Series Prado ... 5.3 Stacer Seamaster/Merc 90HP.
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
just spent 6500 on a new sounder and tranny
from marine deal in the US same unit here nearly 10,000 so a bit of a saving there , tax man still slugs ya but ,10% gst and 10% import duty bastards
mejutty
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 21/12/09
I nearly brought my HDS gear
I nearly brought my HDS gear (HDS and HDS 10m) from OS but the savings wasn't enough, in the end I went out today and my HDS 7 died on the way home, I have a blank screen and just won't turn on. So I'm glad I purchased it lacally as now I just drive back to where I purchased it and sort it out.
mejutty
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 21/12/09
Just went to drop of HDS 7
Just went to drop of HDS 7 unit for repairs or whatever and unit was just replaced straight out would get that with an OS purchase.
Toby Roe
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 01/02/10
mejutty
I am going to buy the HDS 7 locally. Where did you get yours from and was it a good price?
Toby Roe
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 01/02/10
mejutty
I am going to buy the HDS 7 locally. Where did you get yours from and was it a good price?
Toby Roe
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Why do I always double post?
Why do I always double post?
AllBoatsChandlery
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 17/07/10
Lowrance
I can do the HDS5m with australia wide gold chart and 2 year warranty for $1159.00, if that helps.
"There's no business like boat business"