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Post by checkmax on Aug 20, 2014 0:49:11 GMT -5
I've been watching some of the auctions on eBay Germany and there are a couple of sellers listing new (230V) tools/combination tool packages at attractive prices and at least stated low shipping costs.
Anyone have experience shipping out of Germany or to North America?
Anything to consider - pros and cons?
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Post by ohan on Aug 20, 2014 2:53:13 GMT -5
Sorry if this is obvious, but would the plugs be compatible?
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Post by checkmax on Aug 20, 2014 3:04:00 GMT -5
I'm assuming one would need to purchase a step-up transformer with the appropriate adaptors.
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Post by checkmax on Aug 22, 2014 13:54:28 GMT -5
I guess I'll ask the question a different way - has anyone had negative experiences operating the 230V tools with a step-up transformer? I imagine for on-site work, carrying a transformer is another unnecessary requirement. So check against portability. Other than that? Any thoughts? I'm surprised to see how common the 110/120V tools are becoming in the UK.
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Post by jimbouk on Aug 22, 2014 16:15:35 GMT -5
Re the Uk. Its a health and safety ? requirement on building sites to use 110v tools and transformers, its not because we want to use em'
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Post by alvychippy on Dec 1, 2018 12:18:03 GMT -5
I guess I'll ask the question a different way - has anyone had negative experiences operating the 230V tools with a step-up transformer? I imagine for on-site work, carrying a transformer is another unnecessary requirement. So check against portability. Other than that? Any thoughts? I'm surprised to see how common the 110/120V tools are becoming in the UK. H&S Execs are not restricting to use 230v tools, but insurances etc do. Also, using any 230v tool, doesn't permit extension leads of any kind and connection is supposed to be via RCD trip switch...
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Post by huntsgemein on Dec 1, 2018 15:44:15 GMT -5
The "advertised postage price" isn't necessarily always the case. Sometimes the vendor gets it wrong, sometimes they provide an estimate only, and get a nasty shock when actual dimensional calculations are made. Don't be a prick about it. If it's only a little extra pay up. If it's a surprise, then offer maybe to split the difference. If it's a lot, then suggest the sale should be cancelled.
Don't be surprised to be asked to pay significantly more than the cheap price initially proffered. I've recently bought a bulk lot (10kg) of surplus abrasives from Germany. This was initially listed as "EU only", but I talked my way into the sale. The calculated postage cost was actually very cheap (30 Euro?), but I'm expecting it to be sent via "surface mail" on a slow boat.
Air mail can be expensive, but also remarkably fast & efficient. In the past I've received a packaged battery lawnmower & SDS hammer from Scotland in 4 days!! A pair of sanders from Germany in 5! But it can be almost unbelievably slow at times too. It once took 6 months for a digital level to arrive from Germany. It'd just about be quicker to walk overland from West Europe to Tasmania!
I've also found that E-bay's "global postage system" or whatever it's called is ridiculously expensive. I know little comes for free these days, but this service to vendors inevitably costs the buyer a 50-100% premium!
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Post by kraftt on Dec 1, 2018 23:05:05 GMT -5
I've been watching some of the auctions on eBay Germany and there are a couple of sellers listing new (230V) tools/combination tool packages at attractive prices and at least stated low shipping costs. Anyone have experience shipping out of Germany or to North America? Anything to consider - pros and cons? I've come to view it as not much different from ordering in my own country, the occasional mistake or botched order has the same odds regardless. I was very unsure about my first purchase, but after it arrived in 1-½ days in perfect condition I was hooked and now don't give a second thought to ordering from amazon/ebay.co.uk or amazon/ebay.de or large tool stores, in fact they're all my first choice over local. You also have ebay/credit-card/paypal all offering 'some' recourse, but 99% of the time the seller goes the extra mile to make things right because they're in the good review/repeat customer business. btw- so many of those ebay listings have 220 - 110v side by side, what models were you looking at?
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Post by matchesder on Dec 26, 2018 6:30:09 GMT -5
One thing to note: The original post is from 2014. With the change to 2017 Mafell changed to commision (if this is the right word, I'm german so pls don't count me on that). So Mafell says the tool costs x, the seller has to sell it for x. He does it for Mafell. The tool is Mafells property until sold. They introduced this for several countries, Germany being one of them.
What I want to say is: If there is a bargain for a new Mafell tool on eBay from Germany, it may be to god to be true. Mafell does have some offers but it's like 5 % off or so. You can look it up on the Homepage or in the App.
A side note: Festool tried to push its vendors into selling for prices they want. They got a fine of over 8 M€ (6 zeros) for that in 2012. What Mafell does is obviously OK.
Regards
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Post by Fixter on Oct 13, 2019 4:35:37 GMT -5
If one of the opponents makes a bid higher, of course, you lose. But there will be no reason to grieve, you were not going to buy it at that price, and the opponent will now pay for it an amount greater than your bid. Of course, this strategy can be implemented manually using a browser and a stopwatch, but a sniper isnipe.io/en/ can help save a lot of nerves and time - do you want to sit at four a.m in the morning, counting the seconds until the end of the auction?
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Post by naildrivingman on Oct 24, 2019 5:22:14 GMT -5
I was just recently informed by a German retailer that as of January 2017, there is a trade agreement that prohibits him from exporting Mafell to the US. This retailer did not detail what the consequences were, but it sounds like he could be penalized. I don’t know where the OP lives, so this point may be moot. Suffice to say if the buyer lives in the US, the only source for new Mafell is a domestic retailer unless it is a private party used sale.
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Post by lshah72414 on Oct 26, 2019 8:36:49 GMT -5
U.S. buyers can still get some Mafell from E-bay. The combination packages are still cheaper than Timberwolf, even after timberwolf lowered the price.
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