Hello all,
I want to purchase a Famag IM-8. In America, they run for about $2,000... And Pleasant Hill is going to price hike soon. On European websites, they're only about $1,000... Are there any European companies that ship to the USA and also sell an IM-8 with a US plug?
Regards
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/estella-sm20-32-lb-21-qt-spiral-dough-mixer-110v-2-hp/348SM20.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campai…
Kooky, check different threads on the Pizza Making Forum.
https://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php?board=48.0
Some have bought from sources outside the country with success, others not. You will have to get an adapter on your own for the power source. Some have had warranty issues and then it's long distance.
Just my 2¢, I'd pay the extra for the proper electrical system and a US company to deal with in case of issues. But do go thru the Pizza Making links. Lots of options there beyond the Famag even.
Dave
I agree with Dave. The Euro models will be 240v units which will require either 240v service, or a voltage regulator. The power cords will require at least a plug change, and the regulator may affect the speed control electronics. Besides, the shipping will probably approach $1000. Just bite the bullet, and buy a US model from PHG. Jim
Hello Kooky,
I know this is late but in case it helps other poeple.
Good for you for posting and asking. You should totally do it, I did it, it works, it saves thousands of dollars, in my case I saved $2700 in one instance and $1300 in another.
I make my own bread because it's a lifestyle, it's a choice I make. There are easier choices that suck. You can easily buy bread at MoleWart or WifeSay ...
The US is considered to have the best business schools in the world and they would lecture you all day about how you should think outside the box bla bla and as soon as someone suggests something out of the norm everyone tries to discourage them...
The companies here are parasites, they end up making more money than the italian or french guy who designed and made the machine.
My machines ran for years, and if they break who cares? it's significant savings. The small size Famag is roughly $700 at the San Georgio factory in Italy. Why would I pay $2500 here? If it breaks I would just buy another one.
Regarding warranty, 3 things:
1. Warranties in the US are useless because once you need them, there is all kinds of fine print and exclusions to exclude you from using it. Warranties and insurance for electronic devices are a scam (healthcare too).
2. Most warranties if not all would require you to pay for shipping. Because these are heavy machines, the shipping cost would negate any benefit I may as well try to fix it yourself which leads me to point 3 below;
3. Here I go back to my initial point of making one's own bread. I think of someone who makes their own bread as someone who aims/hopes to be independent. Makes a difficult choice to avoid low quality products imposed on us.
I'll fix that machine if it breaks, there is all kinds of resources to do so youtube, forums, friends, ....you can just buy the parts. It’s unlikely to break but if it does, you only have to fix it once. Seeing other people’s experiences with warranty fixing, it really is no better than you taking a stab at it.
A spiral mixer is very basic technology: motor, chain, paddle/hook. It’s not rocket science, there is usually a couple of screws to open and you will see if something is broken or not.
Electric motors never die, never seen it happen. I use electric motors in other applications (bicycles, etc.) but if it does die, no big deal really. For the difference in price, you can just buy another motor or a new mixer.
Finally, for the US price, I travel to Europe, enjoy a week there at some bed & breakfast, enjoy the food, meet interesting people, buy the machine and bring it with me and still save about $500, your mileage may vary depending on whether you want to splurge. Don’t believe me? Go research it, I would post links here but I don’t want to break any forum policies.
You can google Aureli Food Equipment. Just to be clear, I’m not endorsing them or encouraging anyone to use them. I just want people to compare and see prices with their own eyes. (people here are so propagandized it’s hard for them to believe that good things exist. Example: tell Americans college is free in Europe no one would believe you because everyone here believes you have to suffer a life of debt to pay for college.)
Do it, if enough of us do it, the clowns here would review their pricing policies. A lot of people are hostage to fear. What’s the worse that can happen? It’s a bread machine not a Formula 1 car.
A bon entendeur salut! Bande de blaireaux
Forgot to address the electricity source part, two solutions:
You can buy an adapter, search for: 240 to 110 adapter. There is all kinds all over DomeHippo, S'Owel, GetTar (or is it Tagrate?!) ....
Otherwise if you have a washer/dryer, those operate on 240v
To address the taxes and duties
CBP (US Customs & Borders Protection) increased the De Minimis value to $800, so anything under that number comes in duty free ( source ==>
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/de-minimis-value-increases-800 )
European countries VAT (Value Added Tax) will not apply because you are not resident of their country. I can address the sales tax question in private, I don't want to elaborate on tax law here...
and for those with an IQ similar to a pizza dough hydration rate and who are not paying attention, European sellers price their unit right under the CBP threshold...imagine that
Please look at this price, and please take into consideration that this distributor is making some profit. Try to guess what that profit margin maybe...Then try to guess what profit margin the manufacturer is getting and then try to guess what the actual cost of manufacturing is. Now compare that with the prices in the US