My Shipito/lawn mower experience

Forums › Off topic › My Shipito/lawn mower experience

enzedone

63 posts

Master Geek

#141196 4-Mar-2014 13:02

After searching and searching for a decent Reel lawn mower in New Zealand, not to mentioned being ignored by the Fiskars NZ rep Bruce.
I have decided to go offshore and buy online, like so many of us.

So I went online and bought a Reel mower off Amazon and have had it ship to California via Shipito'

Amazon are currently running some promo for their two day shipping so I took them up on it as it will only be active for one month. So hopefully it will reach the CAL warehouse in two days, buy which time I will receive a quote for shipping. This is all a big risk as I've paid for the mower, so once it's been sent by Amazon it would be too late to back out. Anyway I was quoted something like $250NZD for shipping off Amazon, so it will interesting to see how much it will cost via Shipito'.

Yes I know it all seems a bit crazy paying for a lawn mower to come from the US, I tell you the ones that are being sold in B'ings and M10 are crap, apart from the Fymo which is actually made in Sweden. All others come out of the same factory in China. Nothing wrong with things made in China, but we seem to import only the rubbish into New Zealand and then get charged top dollar for it.
I actually wanted to get a battery powered one, but as usual they were sold out and no stock left. So after panicking and running out and buying a Bosch (high 43mm cutting height) I realised that I actually didn't even need a battery mower and a good quality Reel mower would cut the grass better anyway. I will be cutting it twice a week at least as it is only about 85sqm. And yes I know that some mowing shops are selling the American' reel mowers, but again no stock. And I'm not paying over $300 for alloy blades.

So I'm killing two birds with one stone here, I'll keep you informed of the actual process of shipping to New Zealand, cost, size, weight and time. I don't even know what its all going to cost yet.................OMG!

I will also give you a run down on the Reel mower I have ordered and let you know how that turns out.
The mower I've ordered is a Fiskars Staysharp Plus' google it if your interested.

P.S Special thanks to the Fiskars NZ sales rep for ignoring my email. Obviously your only interested in selling scissors.

1 | 2 | 3

5816 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#998761 4-Mar-2014 13:08

How much did you pay for the mower? I imagine Shipito will be expensive - it won't be a small or light box. I would imagine the amazon price + shipping will be more than the $300+ for the alloy blade one you mentioned. Also, if purchase price + shipping is greater than $400, you are up for at least another $100 in customs fees and GST.

We bought a Flymo reel mower - worked great. (left it at our rental for the tenants - would be no good at our current house).

Edit: I see the mower is USD 199. I'd imagine you'll be pushing it close on the freight to not go over the NZD$400 threshold. (Check out www.whatsmyduty.org.nz)
Keep us informed - looks like a nice push mower.

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#998765 4-Mar-2014 13:13

Will you get it converted over to right hand drive to use it NZ?

Geektastic

17944 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#998777 4-Mar-2014 13:26

enzedone:

After searching and searching for a decent Reel lawn mower in New Zealand, not to mentioned being ignored by the Fiskars NZ rep Bruce.
I have decided to go offshore and buy online, like so many of us.

So I went online and bought a Reel mower off Amazon and have had it ship to California via Shipito'

Amazon are currently running some promo for their two day shipping so I took them up on it as it will only be active for one month. So hopefully it will reach the CAL warehouse in two days, buy which time I will receive a quote for shipping. This is all a big risk as I've paid for the mower, so once it's been sent by Amazon it would be too late to back out. Anyway I was quoted something like $250NZD for shipping off Amazon, so it will interesting to see how much it will cost via Shipito'.

Yes I know it all seems a bit crazy paying for a lawn mower to come from the US, I tell you the ones that are being sold in B'ings and M10 are crap, apart from the Fymo which is actually made in Sweden. All others come out of the same factory in China. Nothing wrong with things made in China, but we seem to import only the rubbish into New Zealand and then get charged top dollar for it.
I actually wanted to get a battery powered one, but as usual they were sold out and no stock left. So after panicking and running out and buying a Bosch (high 43mm cutting height) I realised that I actually didn't even need a battery mower and a good quality Reel mower would cut the grass better anyway. I will be cutting it twice a week at least as it is only about 85sqm. And yes I know that some mowing shops are selling the American' reel mowers, but again no stock. And I'm not paying over $300 for alloy blades.

So I'm killing two birds with one stone here, I'll keep you informed of the actual process of shipping to New Zealand, cost, size, weight and time. I don't even know what its all going to cost yet.................OMG!

I will also give you a run down on the Reel mower I have ordered and let you know how that turns out.
The mower I've ordered is a Fiskars Staysharp Plus' google it if your interested.

P.S Special thanks to the Fiskars NZ sales rep for ignoring my email. Obviously your only interested in selling scissors.

Good customer service there.

what's a 'reel' mower?

enzedone

63 posts

Master Geek

#998795 4-Mar-2014 13:33

LTSA has given me the green light to push' on the left, or is that right?

Yes GST will be an issue. But at the end of the day I wanted a good mower. And I'm saving on fuel and servicing as the blades are non contact. Unlike other slashing/cutting Reel mowers.
And after paying out $$$$$$$$$$$$$ for good lawn I'm not going to skimp on a mower. No I'm not made of money which is why I want to look after this Investment well.

enzedone

63 posts

Master Geek

#998801 4-Mar-2014 13:37

A Reel mower is what your grandad used and what you probably hated using at the batch!

You know the ones you have to actually push? No motor! They cut the grass like scissors as opposed to slashing like current mowers. The quality of cut is just sooooooo vastly superior is not funny. Which is why golf courses and South Islanders use them so much. But they tend to one drawback, they usually only cut around the 30mm mark. Apart from the ones that are non powdered like Morrison and Flymo. These all sit around the 30-43mm mark. But I wanted to go higher than that as I don't have a putting green in the back yard. So needed to get something that would offer a higher cut like the Scott, American and Naturcut. Hence the purchase of the Fiskars.

BTR

1527 posts

Uber Geek

#998820 4-Mar-2014 14:07

enzedone: A Reel mower is what your grandad used and what you probably hated using at the batch!

You know the ones you have to actually push? No motor! They cut the grass like scissors as opposed to slashing like current mowers. The quality of cut is just sooooooo vastly superior is not funny. Which is why golf courses and South Islanders use them so much. But they tend to one drawback, they usually only cut around the 30mm mark. Apart from the ones that are non powdered like Morrison and Flymo. These all sit around the 30-43mm mark. But I wanted to go higher than that as I don't have a putting green in the back yard. So needed to get something that would offer a higher cut like the Scott, American and Naturcut. Hence the purchase of the Fiskars.

You are sort of right, the ones you push are simply a push mower, while they cut the same way as a reel mower they aren't as good as a reel mower is motorised and rolls the lawn as well as cutting it.

enzedone

63 posts

Master Geek

#998830 4-Mar-2014 14:12

Correct

Hand mowers are given the term Reel'
They are not as good as the motorised ones, but better than those horrid other' things

And they will cut higher than a motorised Reel which usually sits around the 30mm at best. And I didn't want anything with motors as I can now come home from work and cut my grass at 3am......

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I just looooooooooooooooove my new grass

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#998854 4-Mar-2014 14:49

I don't suppose you could pop over and give my lawn a quick going over could you ? Last guy who mowed it took 2 hours on a zero turn ride on ;-)

How good a finish would a ride on reel mower give do you think ?

Geektastic

17944 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#998880 4-Mar-2014 15:30

enzedone: A Reel mower is what your grandad used and what you probably hated using at the batch!

You know the ones you have to actually push? No motor! They cut the grass like scissors as opposed to slashing like current mowers. The quality of cut is just sooooooo vastly superior is not funny. Which is why golf courses and South Islanders use them so much. But they tend to one drawback, they usually only cut around the 30mm mark. Apart from the ones that are non powdered like Morrison and Flymo. These all sit around the 30-43mm mark. But I wanted to go higher than that as I don't have a putting green in the back yard. So needed to get something that would offer a higher cut like the Scott, American and Naturcut. Hence the purchase of the Fiskars.

Oh ok, you mean a cylinder mower.

My father had a big Atco ride on one that trailed a roller you sat on like this when I was a kid. In fact he had an even older one that that first. I used to sit on his knee (or the gardener's knee) and go along for the ride!

robjg63

4100 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#999084 4-Mar-2014 21:12

Maybe its my south island upbringing - but I think you are describing a push mower.

As mentioned - a reel mower used to be a heavy thing with a roller on it - same sort of grass cutting mechanism though.
Used to love cutting the lawn with one when I was a kid. Lawn looked like a bowling green after.
Bloody brilliant!

You can still get them:

http://www.steelfort.co.nz/products/lawn-and-garden/rotary-and-reel-lawnmowers/product/56

Now thats a REAL reel mower!

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

enzedone

63 posts

Master Geek

#999111 4-Mar-2014 21:44

Yes

They are very nice.
My grandfather who used to do some work at a bowling green in ChCh years ago had one at home.
I remember being at his house for Christmas one year and getting a badminton set from Santa. So we set it up in the front yard on his' bowling green' he came home and nearly had a heart attack! Never seen him so angry at my mum!

Regs

4066 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Snowflake

#999164 4-Mar-2014 22:33

robjg63: Maybe its my south island upbringing - but I think you are describing a push mower.

As mentioned - a reel mower used to be a heavy thing with a roller on it - same sort of grass cutting mechanism though.
Used to love cutting the lawn with one when I was a kid. Lawn looked like a bowling green after.
Bloody brilliant!

You can still get them:

http://www.steelfort.co.nz/products/lawn-and-garden/rotary-and-reel-lawnmowers/product/56

Now thats a REAL reel mower!

And these are MADE IN NEW ZEALAND too, along with the rest of the lawnmaster brand! (not 'coming out of the same factory in china' as the OP suggested)

Geektastic

17944 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#999187 4-Mar-2014 23:11

Regs:
robjg63: Maybe its my south island upbringing - but I think you are describing a push mower.

As mentioned - a reel mower used to be a heavy thing with a roller on it - same sort of grass cutting mechanism though.
Used to love cutting the lawn with one when I was a kid. Lawn looked like a bowling green after.
Bloody brilliant!

You can still get them:

http://www.steelfort.co.nz/products/lawn-and-garden/rotary-and-reel-lawnmowers/product/56

Now thats a REAL reel mower!

And these are MADE IN NEW ZEALAND too, along with the rest of the lawnmaster brand! (not 'coming out of the same factory in china' as the OP suggested)

\

I hope it isn't made in the Wairarapa, otherwise it won't work weekends...!

enzedone

63 posts

Master Geek

#999211 5-Mar-2014 07:42

Two day shipping,

Checked emails this morning and Amazon have shipped it out. So that part has gone smoothly and they certainly have shipped within the two days. I would say they are trying to impress with this service as touting for new business is a priority.

Next stop, logistics center.

flynkiwi

152 posts

Master Geek

#999214 5-Mar-2014 08:09

I would be interesting to see how much it costs with Shipito. I currently have heading my way a Projector and Projector screen I ordered that is coming sea freight due to the size it was crazy price to get it here via air, especially UPS etc. I used Kiwishipping.co.nz and they have been awesome! They are part of mainfreight and I highly recommend them if you have heavy or unusual sized packages you want to import from the US. I also thought it would take ages to get here via sea freight, but its only about 3 weeks. They do all the custom clearance etc for you too.

1 | 2 | 3