Buying TV in Australia

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perthkiwi

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#207446 25-Dec-2016 18:54

Hi all,

Hope you're all having a nice Christmas!!

I'am currently living in Australia but will be returning to NZ to live in a couple of months, and have been holding off purchasing a new TV until I return home. However I have been keeping an eye on the price differences between AUS and NZ and I'am surprised how expensive they are in NZ. In some cases they're pretty much double the price for the same exact models.

Anyway the TV i'm after is a OLED55B6T which is priced on special atm in Harvey norman for $2894 ( http://www.harveynorman.com.au/tv-blu-ray-home-theatre/tvs/tvs/lg-55-b6t-4k-ultra-hd-oled-smart-tv.html )where as best price in NZ I've seen is at Noel Lemming for $4999 ( https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/televisions/televisions/oled-television/lg-oled55b6t-55-b6-oled/prod146974.html )

Basically just want to see if anyone has purchased a TV in Aus and shipped to NZ or as checked baggage on a plane? Iv'e read this is very common in Asia and don't see a reason why it can't be checked as over-sized luggage? Have traveled with mountain bike in a larger box no problems. As far as I'm aware I wont have to pay any GST as I have resided outside of NZ for more than 21 months, is this correct?

The only big downside would be warranty, anyone have any ideas around this? I doubt it'll be transferable? even with Harvey Norman also being in NZ. Is there some sort of insurance policy that'll cover it if dies completely? I would own it for a couple months before bringing to NZ so should pick up any obvious defects beforehand.

The way I see it i'll be buying the TV either way but if I buy here in Aus i'll save myself close to $2k after paying for OS baggage, which will cover flights for the wife and kid home from Perth and some!! Open to any suggestions or whether it's worth the hassle?

Cheers

sbiddle

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#1694939 25-Dec-2016 19:24

Ignoring all of that the first issue you need to address is whether the TV supports New Zealand.

Australia is unique in that it used 7MHz DVB-T steps unlike the 8MHz in NZ and most DVB-T countries. If it doesn't do that it won't work for FTA TV. Secondly unless it also has support for our MHEG5 broadcasts and profile it won't offer any of the smarts that Freeview has to offer or support an EPG.

I'd pick that a TV like this will support both countries, but you need to check this unless you want an oversized monitor that needs external STB's to do anything.

As for shipping via plane that'll work fine. Except no airline will take this TV as checked luggage because it weights too much. A quick google search says the shipping weight is 34kg which exceeds your 23kg baggage allowance, and maximum 32kg per piece if you pay for excess baggage. This would need to be send as unaccompanied cargo and at a guess I'd probably pick (based on having shipped over big things from there) you're looking somewhere in the vicinity of maybe $300 - $500 for freight.

I also would not except a warranty to be valid.

Apart from all of this it's the best TV on the market for picture quality. Nothing else comes close.

richms

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#1694942 25-Dec-2016 19:43

I know that samsung TVs will work the other way, take a NZ one to aussie and just pic aussie in the menu when setting up, scans and finds the channels and the EPG stuff works. HD channels too which I think are on dvbt2 over there. They dont actually make seperate models for the countries, just put seperate model numbers on them at the factory.

Richard rich.ms

perthkiwi

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1694978 26-Dec-2016 00:39

As far as I'm aware they're the same exact model in both countries so should be fine in NZ. My current lg bought here has option to select NZ under settings also.

As for the weight, I'm pretty sure you may have found the weight for the 65" model as LG lists it 33.5 kg including packaging, where as the 55" model as being 25.1 kgs with packaging. http://www.lg.com/uk/tvs/lg-OLED55B6V 2/3rds the way down the page. So shouldn't be a problem assuming they don't have restrictions with it being a TV or anything like that, might pay to check with Air NZ beforehand.

Does anyone know through experience whether this will definitely be exempt of customs and GST charges having resided outside the country for more than 21 months?

cheers

sbiddle

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#1695000 26-Dec-2016 08:27

If you go through the proper process and paperwork of declaring goods as personal possessions you would be exempt from GST.

You're still going to have to pay excess baggage rates for a 25kg TV as it exceeds the normal 23kg allowance. If you have lots of personal goods it's probably cheaper to freight them.

mcraenz

1140 posts

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#1695021 26-Dec-2016 09:26

Probably worth checking with Hardly Normal re the warranty. Personally that would be my only concern, as I only use the TV as a display for external inputs. That's a big price difference.

Also need to consider insurance for damage during transit.

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Dunnersfella

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#1695163 26-Dec-2016 15:24

If you buy the extended warranty in Australia, then you will be covered by it in NZ.

This could be advisable due to the high failure rates with OLED's (relative to LED's) and the NZ CGA not covering goods bought in Aussie.

My biggest concern is in-flight damage. OLED's ship all around the world in containers, but they're packed fairly well when this is done.

Cargo holds... much less so!

The wrong object on a TV (no matter how many 'keep vertical' stickers you put on it) and it's all over.

It's your money, it's your risk I guess.

blakamin

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#1695169 26-Dec-2016 16:03

sbiddle:

You're still going to have to pay excess baggage rates for a 25kg TV as it exceeds the normal 23kg allowance.

Unless he flies Qantas.... 30kg allowance. (Plus not having to fly virgin in Oz for a connecting flight.)

Edit: Qantas also do "unaccompanied baggage" that is supposedly cheaper than excess baggage.