[Jinxybbc]

I am considering buying a Sony projector from the US, a company called BHAREA seem to be a fair option.

They have told me that it would be shipped from France so all warenty etc would be intact as in the EU.

Also delivery within 4 days by UPS.

Anybody have any views on this company or buying abroad?

Thks Todd

[Shockabuku]

They do indeed appear to be very cheap, but that e-gold payment malarky looks a bit fishy. Might be fine of course, but worth confirming that you can use your credit card so you get some kind of protection.

[tryingtimes]

We've done the 'buying aborad' thing a few times on here. Popular pjs for import recently have been the Mits HC5000 and the Panny AE1000, so maybe have a look in those threads as most of the same will be true.
Most people import from Japan and it might be that BHAREA do too.
Personally I'd be very suspicious of someone not taking payments in a way that I recognise. Too much of a minefield. PriceJapan and similar have been used a few times by people on here though - do a search.

[The Nightfly]

Paying US prices and having the unit shipped from France with an EU warranty sounds almost too good to be true. That e-gold payment method does sound a bit off-putting though, I've never heard of it.

Anyone know of any 'tried-and-trusted' American retailers that can be recommended?

[Jinxybbc]

I phoned them today and the guy on the phone told me the cost, where they shipped from, and the warrenty details & all units in EU spec..Only thing is he sounded a bit like the guy of 'fonejacker' good evening sir, how may I help you?'

[lenny]

Keep us informed Lenny

[Shockabuku]

Yup, with $ prices and £ warranty, if they are for real, then I suspect they're about to get a whole lot busier. Having said that, I'm not sure I'd be the forum guinea pig on this one .

[Import racer]

Hi i wonder if anyone knows anything about vat and import duty, will this be excempt because of shipping from france ? as i bought a couple of cheap pioneer cdrs off e-bay america and then customs charged me a fortune.
any ideas ?

[Shockabuku]

Originally Posted by stephen ball1

Hi i wonder if anyone knows anything about vat and import duty, will this be excempt because of shipping from france ? as i bought a couple of cheap pioneer cdrs off e-bay america and then customs charged me a fortune.
any ideas ?

Well this "appears" to be a big attraction with this company...low $ prices, and shipping from within the EU, so no VAT to pay here, and of course that european warranty. Projectors don't attract any import duty anyway, so that's not an issue.

[The Nightfly]

Well I'm definitely interested. Go on TEL02, you first

Domain Name: BHAREA.COM
Registrar: TUCOWS INC.
Whois Server: whois.tucows.com
Referral URL: http://domainhelp.opensrs.net
Name Server: NS1.HOSTCENTRIC.COM
Name Server: NS2.HOSTCENTRIC.COM
Status: ok
Updated Date: 29-aug-2007
Creation Date: 29-aug-2007
Expiration Date: 29-aug-2008

Not long in business then..........
If it looks too good to be true...........

[Jinxybbc]

Its very tempting indeed !
I am currently trying to locate other US companies who offer the same sort of deals, no way can they be the only one in America, there must be many. So far though no luck.

In fact I am to contact other dealers in the US and just check to see if I can buy for goods by debt/credit card.

Also I have emailed them asking for information on there supplier in France.
As it is within the EU the charge is $105 for shipping ( so BHAREA so )

[Shockabuku]

Guys, before you get your money out, read THIS!

[Jinxybbc]

Nice....An Asian coffee shop As my thread at the start says he sounded like the guy of fonejacker ( worth a watch if you havnt seen it)..

I think I might just leave this deal !!

lol

[AngelEyes]

I am not saying you should trust them but when you setup a new business it doesn't have to be a multi-million pound offices suite and warehouse. Seeing as this company is brand new it could be legit.

I designed a website for one of the UK's largest iPod accessories companies and they used to do everything from their front room. You don't have to have swanky premises to shift boxes.

They certainly don't have a bogus looking website... however I still won't be the forum crash test dummy

[Jinxybbc]

I quite agree with you, but as they only take payment via e-gold, who I have spoken to over the telephone regarding their operational setup/security, you have no come back on your money once they have it, and a lenghty precedure trying to claim any back through the American small claims court route.

Other electrical company's in the US will take a visa payment.

And there are no other US company's I could find offering similar deals.

Their website looks good though....so come on who is going to be first ?

[tryingtimes]

I saw a scam once on a mountain bike website. There was a whole e-shop which was basically taking the whole stock of a legitimate shop off their database somehow, applying a 30% discount and waiting for the money to pour in. Of course it was western union/bank transfer/etc only.
I saw the site when it was up and running and it looked perfect.

I wouldn't touch this Bharea place with a barge pole.

[celtic13]

I'm going to the good old USA in Nov to visit my little bruv...does anyone know if he was to buy a projector and give it to me as a gift could I legitimately avoid excise and tax when bringing it home?

Thinking of a sony vpl vw 60 to replace my ageing panny ae300.

Any thoughts?

Paul

[Shockabuku]

Originally Posted by celtic13

I'm going to the good old USA in Nov to visit my little bruv...does anyone know if he was to buy a projector and give it to me as a gift could I legitimately avoid excise and tax when bringing it home?

Thinking of a sony vpl vw 60 to replace my ageing panny ae300.

Any thoughts?

Paul

I was chatting to a c&e guy last week about the "gift" thing. He said you'd still be charged "reasonable" value of an expensive item like a projector. I got the impression it would be down to the particular c&e person dealing with the item. Having said that, there is 0% import duty on a projector. Worse case scenario is that you'll pay vat on the "reasonable" value of the projector plus shipping.

[celtic13]

Starts to become quite interesting doing it this way. I suppose I could get it completely checked over in the shop and if something goes wrong when home ship it back to them. I think the Yanks seem to get better warranties as well as prices. All you would be talking about would be the postage costs and it would have to go back a fair few times to equate with the UK price.

Paul

[Shockabuku]

Yup, although I suppose there's also the issue of being without a projector for x weeks. With the dollar being so weak these days though it is mighty tempting. I'm certainly going to be importing my main seating row from the USA as the prices are shocking in comparison over here.

[Cool-hand]

You can get mega-cheap bargain bucket flights to NY and other places in US now. Take a day out there pick up your pj fly back and save one hell of a heap of cash! Even with flight, petrol, parking etc.. you will save stacks of cash! And the more you spend the more you save (sounds perverse but its true)!!

CH

ps. I went to the BHAREA website, used their contact us and ordered a cappachino to go!
Don't think their gonna be impressed! ha!

[Jinxybbc]

lol