Is It A Good Idea To Order A Monitor From USA

Ambro · 21 Mar 2007 at 02:09

I just wanted to know if anyone had any experience or knew anything about ordering from the USA. The reason is that I have decided that I will buy the BenQ 24" monitor, but only if I can get it in black, and it seems this is only available from the USA.

The main things are how easy is it to return to the USA for dead pixels ect, do they have the same return rules as the UK, how easy would it be to get support, would it just be from BenQ UK or would they not deal with it cause it's the USA version.

If it is not a good idea then I suppose i'll have to wait for another monitor to be released, maybe the new LG although I don't like the stand much and I heard picture quality is poor, but there is not much choice. So if anyone could explain to me anything that I should know about ordering from the USA I would be grateful.

Craig321 · 21 Mar 2007 at 02:22

I don't think it's a good idea.

Postage will be a fortune and sending it back for repairs/RMA will cost a ton & be a big hassle.

Rather get one from UK.

cobxx · 21 Mar 2007 at 02:36

Yeah, and also theres a huge chance of getting getting customs charges (which is 17.5% for VAT plus other fees from the royal mail etc.)

I know it looks good, but in the end, if you have any issues, it'll be just as expensive/if not more and a lot more hassle.

dbmzk1 · 21 Mar 2007 at 07:31

You could always spray it black if it bothers you that much. Don't expect to send it back if it breaks though!

IT Insider · 21 Mar 2007 at 09:37

Not only will you have VAT and Duty to pay on Entry to the UK, you will also have to pay the DVi License which is chargeable on entry to the EU.

You will have no warrenty outside of the states either.

Basically, unless you get it really cheap while over there, and "smuggle" it back into the country, its a pointless exercise.

Most of the large Monitor manufacturers have assembly plants in Europe now to get around the EU taxes.

TheDean · 21 Mar 2007 at 09:39

Simply - Do NOT do it! The hassle and worry are not worth it imo

Gibbo · 21 Mar 2007 at 10:03

IT Insider said:
Not only will you have VAT and Duty to pay on Entry to the UK, you will also have to pay the DVi License which is chargeable on entry to the EU.

You will have no warrenty outside of the states either.

Basically, unless you get it really cheap while over there, and "smuggle" it back into the country, its a pointless exercise.

Most of the large Monitor manufacturers have assembly plants in Europe now to get around the EU taxes.

This man is spot on! Its a very bad idea to do so as the manufacturer will not honor the warranty. So you will have ZERO warranty and will no doubt end up costing you a fortune.

Ambro · 21 Mar 2007 at 15:30

I thought that it probably would probably be a bad idea, but after that advice I definitly won't be buying it from the USA.

I wouldn't have minded the delivery and VAT costs to much as it is a lot cheaper in the USA anyway, the FP241WZ is only £400.00! But it sounds like it's definitly not worth it in case there are any problems and it needs to be sent back.

Thanks very much for the advice.

Slogan · 21 Mar 2007 at 15:45

cobxx said:
Yeah, and also theres a huge chance of getting getting customs charges (which is 17.5% for VAT plus other fees from the royal mail etc.)

You will definitely get these.

I had a Raptor shipped in from the States and it had a nice £20 custom tax slapped on it.

Energize · 21 Mar 2007 at 17:28

Id have thought that regardless of warranty the retailer would have some sort of obligation to replace it if it goes wrong within a year, just like shops in the uk do?