Private Import of US Hardware into Europe?

Hanno asks: "There are US companies selling Japanese gadgets not available in the US to local customers. But what about buying American hardware in Europe? I'm thinking about buying a US laptop that is not sold in Germany and the import, payment and warranty issues are giving me a headache. Has anyone else done this and what was your experience?"

"Here's the story: Fujitsu Germany does not want to sell the P2000 laptop over here in Germany - after some I research, I managed to contact one of their laptop product managers and he told me that Fujitsu-Siemens Computers Germany will absolutely never sell it, no matter what.

FSC also does not offer to import the laptop from the US sister company and obviously, they do not provide support or warranty for a US-only laptop in case it gets broken over here.

Well, frell you, FSC, thanks for your consideration of customer input. But the P2000 is still a pretty unique piece of hardware, even the price is ok, and there is no competing product on the European market (at least none that I know of).

Next problem: Most US mail-order shops do not ship outside the US anymore. (This includes Fujitsu's own webshop. Even the P2000 giveaway sweepstakes is US only...) And of those who do ship to Europe, most do not accept foreign credit cards anymore, at least not those who are known for good customer-support. What other payment option should I consider? Any shop you can recommend?

Finally, how about support and warranty with Fujitsu US and/or the store I bought it from? Do foreign customers get any such support at all? Has any of the readers who bought a US-only product and brought it to Europe tried to get support later and what was your experience?

(In case you wondered why I am not asking about it: Customs is not a problem. Buying US computers and having it sent to Germany is customs-free, I'll have to add the German sales-tax to the price, though...)"

Comments

TIME TRAVELLER WANTED

[Anonymous Coward]

WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 322, Oakview, CA 93022. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.

Re:TIME TRAVELLER WANTED

[Anonymous Coward]

What era of history are you looking at?

Re:TIME TRAVELLER WANTED

[Anonymous Coward]

I can help you.

Well... Heres my advise.

[SuperCal]

Well I'm an American, who loves to have the coolest toys. When I buy Japanese gadgets I usually assume that I won't be able to use the warenty or find someone who can speak english at the tech support line. I have been very lucky in that when I needed warrenty work the companies I delt with were very reseptive and only required that I pay the difference in shipping from Jappan. Also I have only bought very popular gadgets that had at least a small english language following so I was able to find my own tech support when I needed it. So while I have never had a problem that wasn't worth the gadget I still wouldn't spend any more then I was willing to lose.

Find/borrow/make a US friend

[Troodon]

Give the money to someone you know in the US, they purchase the item and send it privately as a gift onto you after testing that its not dead on arrival. The fun begins should a hardware fault later develop, if you want to use the warranty then you'll have to stump up the cash to send it back to your friend so they can initiate the support stuff.

Re:Find/borrow/make a US friend

[Hanno]

Sure. First problem is: Private transfer of money is quite expensive compared to just paying directly with a credit card - my US-based friends don't accept Mastercard. Second possible problem is: Once I purchase the laptop through a friend, his name will be on the bill, making this a private purchase and thus not tax-deductable in Germany.

And the support problems were in fact part of my original question. I'm aware that this could be a problem and that's why I'm asking others who did this what their experiences with overseas export were.

Re:Find/borrow/make a US friend

[Bishop]

Don't European banks issue cheques?

Re:Find/borrow/make a US friend

[Troodon]

Yes, in European currencies. Cashing a cheque for x euro's will add to the total cost of the exercise. I seem to recall an international money order (essentially a cheque in the currency of choice) costing in the region of 50 UK pounds sterling / ~ $75. Moving cash via a Western Union? i.e. 'wiring' it might be an option, but as he pointed out the issue is really about getting support honouring of the warranty etc. But as someone else pointed out, that may not be a problem in the eyes of the customer support division, given the nature of the use of laptops and the need for people to get support when on international business trips etc.

Re:Find/borrow/make a US friend

[luciuskwok]

When I sell to someone in Europe, if they can't pay by credit card, they have to send me a international bank draft in US dollars. Essentially this is a check that is made in Eurpoe which is payable to a US branch of the bank or a US bank. Any large bank in Europe should be able to do this. I don't know how much it costs to do that, but it should be less than the cost of an international money order.

As for support and warranties, all the notebooks I've seen come with worldwide warranties.

My advice

[noz]

I have bought a few computer-goods from eBay (2nd-hand) and shops (new) so to answer your questions:

• Import: They will either ship it to you or they won't. The seller will know their export-law requirements, as will the shipper (and they'll probably have a favourite so you won't get to choose the rates).
• Payment: Credit card. This streamlines a lot of things. Also your shipping company will contact you when your item is in your country and has been cleared by customs and they will charge you import taxes and pass that on to the gov't for you.
• Warranty: If you're buying from the manufacturer and they will ship it O/S, then they'll tell you about warranty. If you're buying from a shop then just ask their policy in your email asking if they will ship).

Re:My advice

[Hanno]

Payment: Credit card.

As mentioned in the original question: I wish I could, but the US mail order web shops I checked with do not accept credit card payments for overseas shipping anymore. CC fraud from foreigners must have gone overboard, but somehow I really don't want to pay a four-digit figure through PayPal, as suggested by one webshop owner.

Re:My advice

[noz]

Understood. If you feel safe sending a cheque then do so. I measure my trust of the seller by speaking with them on the telephone (short international calls aren't that expensivce). The most important thing to remember with cheques is to write on them (front or back) "for deposit only" and initial this (most cheques say "non-negotiable" on them now-a-days but this also).

Good luck.

Seems obvious enough.

[FreeLinux]

I'm not sure why this is an Ask Slashdot.

Re:Seems obvious enough.

[Troodon]

Astroturf from Fujitsu US.

Re:Seems obvious enough.

[Hanno]

Nope. I (the guy who asked) am real and I am not associated with Fujitsu. In fact, I'm rather pissed at both Fujitsu US and Fujitsu-Siemens Germany for not exporting their machines to Europe / not importing their sister company*s machine from the US.

Re:Seems obvious enough.

[Troodon]

Ah, well good luck getting the hardware you're after then. And I can sympathise about how irritating it is to try to get a hold of hardware, when local divisions seem content to drip feed the market.

dynamism.com ?

[ihtagik]

"There are US companies selling Japanese gadgets not available in the US to local customers." Pardon my ignorance, but he says companies...I only know of one: dynamism.com (Incidentally, if I'm not mistaken they can send laptops etc from anywhere in the world to anywhere else, check their site for details.) Does anyone know any others?

Re:dynamism.com ?

[zulux]

Japan-Direct.com sells cool stuff as well.

JapanDirect.com is a squater.

wordwide warranty

[matts.nu]

Laptops usually comes with worldwide warranties. After all, its obvious that they will be used by travelers.

Try getting in touch with their european support center and ask about it. They should be more used to such questions than your local retailer is.

Europe, Middle East and Africa: Fujitsu Siemens Computers
Help Desk Phone: +44(0) 1344-475125
Help Desk Fax: +44(0) 1344-475554
Help Desk Email: hotline_europe@fujitsu-siemens.com
Business Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (GMT)

Re:wordwide warranty

[Hanno]

Laptops usually comes with worldwide warranties. Try getting in touch with their european support center and ask about it.

I did, as mentioned in my original question, contact FSC about this already. Fujitsu Siemens Computers Germany, I was told, only supports computers sold by Fujitsy Siemens Computers Germany. For support of a laptop bought overseas, I'd have to ship the laptop overseas.

So a minimal repair could mean having it airmailed back and forth.

Re:wordwide warranty

[matts.nu]

Did you contact Fujitsu in Germany, or did you contact their European support center in England, as I suggested? The German retailer is obviously more interested in selling their own stuff, so they might not tell you the truth (or even know the truth).

I have had my Bangkok bought Asian model Toshiba Libretto repaired by Toshiba in Sweden, free of charge. They didn't even ask why my receipt was from Thailand. Worldwide warranty means just that.

If you buy Asian laptops in Europe then you should probably do your shopping in Asia, not in America.

thailand

[matts.nu]

I bought my latest laptop in Bangkok. I can recommend the laptop shop Global Solutions in Pantip Plaza.

here goes--------

[Anonymous Coward]

First, where do you live? Close to any U.S. base or kaserne? Make some friends, and have a soldier order it for you. In the US APO (military mail sysytem)it will be there in less than 1 week.

Cheers,

Drink a Hefevizen for me!

(OT)Can I go to 802701 and kick some Morlock ass?

[Anonymous Coward]

WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me ... Must bring your own weapons.

Will we be going to the year 802701 and hunting Morlocks?

Outpost

[Noodlenose]

I have successfully ordered stuff from Outpost.com to both Germany and New Zealand (I move rather frequently). Never had any probs or warranty issues with them. The only stuff they refused to ship were Palm products.

Dirk

The P is awesome

[Shook]

I feel for your. I have a P-2046, and I love it. But I'm in the US, so I didn't have any problems getting it.

have friends

[realkiwi]

I have a friend in the US. When I need a product from say Amazon and they won't ship outside of the US (usually because the power adaptor in the box is 110V) I have it shipped to her (often free) and she ships to me.

Latest example Linksys WAN router/FW cost $70 port included. Cheapest equivalent in Europe $100...

Always have products shipped as "gifts" = no sales tax...

Having your DVDs gift wrapped by Amazon saves money believe me!

And what about Jpanese stuff in Europe?

[jotaeleemeese]

Are there any similar shops to the ones in the US in EU countries?

Asus Notebooks

[PROPortable]

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