UK shipping to Hong Kong

If a UK dealer ships to Hong Kong then they have to support the kit.  Which is, of course, not so easy, particularly when you want them to pop over to check something out, or ensure that the installation is sounding as it should.  And if something goes wrong your warranty is through your UK dealer.  So some very expensive shipping involved and lots of opportunity for things to go wrong. 

As for Naim it's in their interests to have a good local distributor who can offer local supply and support.  And in everybody's interests (including yours, ironically enough) to avoid grey market importation.

PenangNaim posted:

 

Is there any way for NAIM to get around this? Just seems crazy that I can fly business class to London, buy the kit and ship it with tax receipt, and still be quids in over the HK price.

TYIA

Err sounds like that is the way around it. And that is exactly what I did. Flew from Japan to the UK; visited my dealer; ordered a system to ship to Japan.

Though the reason was different: Naim don't exist in Japan.

For your scenario, Naim and their dealers are not going to help you actively undercut a local dealer who is charging the agreed HK retail price. If a dealer did this, they'd find they had few friends among other dealers or Naim. Buying local or flying to the UK is your best option.

The only options might be i) buy secondhand and have it shipped, or ii) combine with a holiday to UK, buy and ship off yourself (or take back with you as hold baggage!), though that would only work if in stock.

A couple of years ago [@mention:35920103255542881] told the tale of his having PMC speakers shipped to the far East, worth checking out to learn from for anyone considering similar - though shipping electronics is probably a little less of a challenge. I have successfully bought an amp from Canada, shipped to UK, and no reason why it should’t work to HK.

Recently moved countries and added my 272 and 250dr as additional luggage on my plane tickets. Just remember to wrap the boxes in 3 bubble layers than another 10 cellophane layers. To be honest, my audio system (including bookshelfs and dedicated stands) made up 60% of the luggage, relocating with wife and daughter - mind you. Pics can be provided, on request 

If you do go ahead, do try your kit at the dealer, even new hifi can have the odd fault. It’s a long way back to old Blighty for returns.

Yeah the PMC speaker fiasco was interesting. The time I spent with the insurance claims was astronomical and more expensive than a brand new pair. Which I'm sure is the point for the insurance company.

Also worth noting, if you buy in the UK, there is a lot of customs forms involved for returning an item outside of the EU. And after 2 years old, any unit will hit customs duty every time it crosses the damn border. My 250.2 cost GBP900 in customs charges to go back to the UK for DRing. This is also documented at length on the forum. For what I spent on shipping and customs charges, it would have been cheaper to sell it and get a new 300 instead.

I doubt, all things considered, buying in HK is more expensive than from the UK over the lifetime of the units. TCO doesn't end at the initial dealer receipt.

What is the rule to ship to countries without a distributor?

Many thanks for the replies.

Looks like TomTom may be getting some orders soon.

I also live in HK and have purchased quite a bit from Radar. They have always been very good to me with their support and help. Have you asked for a discount from them. I always managed to get the cost down so it was not worth shipping in from the U.K.  the Mu-So I bought was replaced 3 times without question.  Worth a try.   

I didn't ask for a discount as the price was so high I didn't think it would be worth the time.

I then called another company on the NAIM site, and they quoted a more reasonable 36,800 for the 250DR.

i thought hk as tax free , electronic will be cheaper ?? i just see naim price in malaysia cheaper a lot than in indonesia..after discount a lot can match price in malaysia ....

You are totally correct in that HK is a tax free region, therefore the logical thinking would be that products would be 20% VAT,+shipping of around £150 a box, cheaper. Wrong.

That is why I found it hard to wrap my head around a NAP 250DR costing the equ. of £4,800 from Radar, when list in UK is £3,119 after VAT.I know rents are high in HK, but this seems like gouging. The best I was offered was £3,680 and the dealer said he had to get it delivered from Radar! Even this inc.shipping is 13% more expensive than retail.

I am moving to Malaysia soon and would buy there, but 16% import tax+mark up is not very doable. The path so far is a late 2017 250DR for £2,900 on it's way, and have dealers looking out for late model 282/NDX/Hicap.