Z3100 purchase in australia

[mvandenbos]

I've pretty much determined to buy a HP 24 inch Z3100 (only cost has kept canon's ipf 6100 in the running). I'm just trying to sort out pricing. What I have noticed is that the printer in the US is $4095 (AUS$4800) or so and $4800 with APS (AUS$5700). In Australia the printer is approximately  AUS$8400 not including the AUS$550 stand or the AUS$1500 APS solution. which comes out to a little over $10500 (in US dollars about 8,900).

Obviously this is amazingly crazy in terms of differences; Similarly I bought my nikon D2Xs at 'cost price' for the dealer of $6800 before we had a local price plunge (US $ 5750).

We pay a fair bit more here in Australia in general for many things - the almost double cost of the Z3100 is pretty much highway murder though!


Have any local Australians investigated the possibility of buying say from B and H in New York and shipping to Australia - even with the freight and import duty it will still be some $2500-3000 cheaper which is not insignificant.

Opinions? Work arounds?

[rwheat]

I notice you're from Perth.

If it helps, I have just bought a Z3100 44inch through Artref in Perth for just over AU$14000.  At the time they quoted me under AU$9000 for the 24inch with the stand.

Besides the price, the other issue I have with HP in Australia is the availability of the HP papers.  HP Pro Satin is not yet available though I have been promised that it is on its way.  HP Hahnemuhle Smooth Fine Art, a paper I particularly wanted to try, is a special order from Europe!

The printer is good though  

Richard.

[pobrien3]

You also have to bear in mind that the printers for the Aussie market have to have the components re-sited upside down, which adds quite a bit to the cost  

Seriously though, I have a few Aussie mates who have bought gear in Hong Kong and shipped it to Aus, and as you point out even after import levies still come out ahead.  No-one I know though has shipped something so large as this printer.

Cheers, Peter