[(GTV)Chris]

Hi Folks

I am seriously looking at upgrading my AE100 with a few hundred hours usage to an AE500.
I have had a chat with PRICE JAPAN and they now do a model that is compatible with this countries voltage.
I have worked out that it is (including the import VAT) about £1222.
This includes the 4% option on returning the unit for repair etc.
Now, I don't know about you but that sounds amazing - unless have mis calculated.
I have heard good things about this company and they answered all my emails extremely quickly - puts this country to shame.
Can any of you think of any real drawbacks in going ahead??
Does anyone know how much the UK model will be?
Cheers


Chris

[phillfyspoon]

Just to let you know the menu is in jap but apart from that all should be find I have heard suberb things about price japan not one complaint there shouldnt be any problems because projectors are not charged import duty because they are classed as computer equiptment, so delivery should be ok.

Looks like its already on its way here.
German sites are selling it now but I don't know if the vat will be payable as your buying in the EU.

http://www.hificomponents.de £1050

http://www.computeruniverse.net/default.asp £1200

Surely the UK price won't differ that much.

[Kane D Williams]

Can any of the Japanese units (HS20, AE500, Z2) be switched to an English menu?

[inzaman]

Can any of the Japanese units (HS20, AE500, Z2) be switched to an English menu?

I am pretty sure it is just the japanese AE500 that cannot be switched to an english menu, the other two units have multi-language menus.

[Comer]

Originally posted by Norr
Looks like its already on its way here.
German sites are selling it now but I don't know if the vat will be payable as your buying in the EU.

No VAT or duty payable on purchases within the EU

Conor

[Kane D Williams]

What sort of warranty do we get when we buy a PJ from Japan? Does anyone know if Price Japan do pixel/covergence checks? Are the prices quoted on their website the total we have to pay including any duty and shipping?

I know someone said that computer items do not have any duty (not sure if this is true), but some PJ's are now classed as Home Cinema projectors, so does this make a difference?

[Kane D Williams]

OK, just read the info on Price Japan's site. The warranty is 1 year on all PJ's only and one would have to return the unit to Japan for service/repair at one’s own cost. They have a ZERO dead or stuck pixel policy, but again we have to pay the shipping back to Japan if we find any!

I'm not sure if the prices include shipping (I think so), but the customs import duty is still unsure. You can call the customs office to find out?

I think I will forget buying from Japan as it COULD be a disaster. I know everyone seems to have been more than satisfied with Price Japan and I'm sure they are a trustworthy company, but for me, I think the extra £300 - £400 is worth it for peace of mind and generally less hassle and in some cases longer warranties. I think a dead pixel policy is important though.

BTW, I always buy my electronics with my Barclaycard, as this covers your items for a certain time period for damage etc. The best thing however, is that if you call them and give them the details of the item purchased (within 56 days I think), you can get an extra year free warranty!

[inzaman]

You should be okay for duty but you will have to pay vat. As for dead pixels if you see one within a month of owning it (i think its a month) you can return it and they will replace it, their service is supposed to be very good. I havent brought a pj from pricejapan but was going to buy an Epson TW100 but they sold out before i could get one, then i had problems with my paypal account so lost out on a preordered HS20, but i had no qualms about using them.

[Kane D Williams]

Well if I was hit with VAT, I'd only save between £80 and £125 on the HS20 and about £150 on the Z2! If I paid the additional 4% to Price Japan for shipping cover, this saving would be almost gone!

This is certainly not worth it in my book.

[(GTV)Chris]

the price at the german sites are very good indeed - I wonder what the UK price will be?
If I could speak German I would order it - but I would want to know of any hidden charges and shipping costs etc.

So we dont have to pay import duty and tax on EU products???

Interesting.

C

[Kane D Williams]

Chris

If you email the German companies with your queries, they tend to speak English.

What prices are you finding for the HS20 and Z2 in Germany? I assume the warranties may also be usable in the UK too?

[VirusKiller]

Originally posted by Norr

http://www.hificomponents.de £1050

That's a great price. Let the Z2 vs. AE500 battle commence!

Surely the UK price won't differ that much.

<cynic>I wouldn't bank on it...</cynic>

Hi everyone! New member on here...so go easy on me!
Was looking to get a AE300, was just about to order one..then i find out from you guys about the AE500! Close shave!

Have u all seen this? Some pics of the AE500
http://www.tokyoit.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=2506

It doesn't seem to have a scart input on the back though, like older versions? I thought it did list it as having one on the german site?

Anyone know when this hits our shores?

Cheers,
Dan.

[DVDcake]

The Japanese AE500 does not have scart because I think they use that socket labelled D4 instead. The European version will almost certainly have a scart socket as confirmed by the German sites. Oh and welcome to the AVforums dan_wade.

The NZ model of the AE500 which has been out for a little while now does indeed have scart.
You can even download the brochure in PDF format from

www.panasonic.co.nz

Cheers
Murray

[Gazkicka54]

No brainer really the German AE500 @ £1050 + the Motsu V880 @ £100...

May just indulge, its Christmas after all...



Gaz

[inzaman]

Gaz definitely indulge, i am sure you wont look back. It is christmas so why not

Hi

Sent HifiComponents a series of relevant questions with regards to the Panasonic Ptae 500. As soon as they reply, I will happily post here for all to see.

The price is Fantastic

Ta Ta

BTW, I always buy my electronics with my Barclaycard, as this covers your items for a certain time period for damage etc. The best thing however, is that if you call them and give them the details of the item purchased (within 56 days I think), you can get an extra year free warranty! [/B]

Do you know if this covers projectors too? They are not listed on the site and the person on the phone said no, but didn;t sound too certain what they were talking about. I bought my PJ on Barclaycard so if theres a warrenty there for the having I will go for it.

[Kane D Williams]

Johnathan

I think if it is classed as a Home Cinema PJ (rather than business) then I can't see what argument they would have, as they are made for domestic use, just like a TV!

Try calling them again and explaining that this is made for domestic use only! As Home Cinema PJ's are pretty new technology (well not to us), they may not have them on their 'list' yet?

Let me know how you get on!

[Kane D Williams]

PS. Grey imports are probably exempt from the extra years cover?

[VirusKiller]

I can't believe a mail order purchase within the EU would be counted as "grey". That would be illegal, methinks...

[Gazkicka54]

E-mailed them yesterday, (AE500 not showing on their site anymore) got this reply:-



Under http://www.hificomponents.de/Versand_eng/preisliste.htm under the menu option “catalogues” you will find the hotline numbers of the most important manufacturers. There you can ask for technical details and catalogues.



For inquiries concerning our prices select each product you are interested in, with “discount price”. Then click on price inquiry. You will receive our prices within 10 minutes by E-Mail.



Delivery cannot take place until the amount appears on our account. This can take several days. A copy of the transfer is not valid. After receipt of payment, you will automatically receive an acknowledgment with your customer and order number and delivery time.



Please transfer to:



Postbank, Bayerstrasse 49, 81379 Munich



Account holder: Hifi Components, Bernhard Vehns

Account: 209286-804

Bank code: 700 100 80

Swift code: PBNKDEFF700

IBAN: DE65 7001 0080 0209 2868 04



Best regards



Tanja Dennerlein









-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Gareth Beer [mailto:garethbeer@ntlworld.com]
Bereitgestellt: Mittwoch, 3. Dezember 2003 16:18
Bereitgestellt in: Export
Unterhaltung: Panasonic AE500
Betreff: Panasonic AE500



Guten Tag,



I hope English is OK?



Is the Panasonic AE500 a European model?

With English available in the menu and manual?

Does have a euro-scart?

Does your company do COD (Cash-on-delivery) in the UK via UPS or such like?

How much is delivery to the UK?



Viele Danke

Gareth Beer

[(GTV)Chris]

Always feel a bit funny wiring money straight into someones account - you also have to pay for the privelage.
I once got ripped of to the tune of £12000!!!!! A company based abroad who went out of business.

C

[LISTER]

I bought three things over the last year from this company, and was very pleased with the service, my DVD player, amp and AE300. The only problem I had was that the amp took two months to arrive as the manufacturers kept putting back the release date. They have always replied to my emails within 1-2 days.
I was told that the AE500 has not been released yet and this would happen sometime next week. So before you order anything make sure it has been released otherwise you could be in for a long wait. I'll keep you updated.
Also every thing comes with a two year European warranty.........although there is never any mention of warrant on the paper work I receive with any of the products.

[clancol]

is anyone thinking of getting the 500 from that german site.
price seems very good

well...im seriously thinking about it. The way i see it, for the money, i will either get the AE500 or Z2. The Z2 is out in the UK right now...and has got really good reviews from this site and others.

Ive seen the specs for Ae500 and it looks pretty impressive. The scart input is cool. As for the z2, although this doesn't have a native scart input, it odes have fan access through the sides, which allows for shelf mounting without overheating. MMhhhh, hard choice.

Cheers
Dan.

Good price indeed but I dealt with a German company already mentioned in this thread.

Do a search under my username & company name for details.

[William123]

Thanks Kramer for pointing the way there.....I looked at the thread and apart from your very helpful opinions, I looked up another link provided on the posts re Go2camcorder....which I had seriously considered buying some Kef Eggs from a couple of months ago.

The price seemed too good to be true,I dont know if any forum members ever done business with this outfit.....but on trying to access their website just now , I was redirected to HIFI Components.de......looks like that's another one off my list......I'm indebted to you Mr. Kramer....cheers.