Many of you might be familiar with this, but then many of you may not. So here's the situation; you're moving overseas for some reason (work, retirement, personal, etc.) and you're trying to get a place setup to live. You might be building a home, buying a home or renting a home and you're going to need to furnish it with electronics and appliances.
Unlike in the US, many places that are for rent or for sale do not come with major appliances. Sometimes they come without any appliances at all for that matter. You're likely going to have to purchase your own, and in a foreign environment it can be a real hassle. Below we will cover a few situations that can prove to be a real headache when trying to find appliances and electronics overseas and how you can avoid those headaches altogether.
Global Differences in Pricing
One thing that many people may not expect upon first thought is that electronics and appliances are not as inexpensive and readily available as they are in the United States. We have a massive system of trade with the world's major electronics manufacturing countries, and with that, we enjoy some of the world's lowest prices on a wide variety of quality personal and home electronics, as well as small and major appliances.
You might be quite surprised to visit an a major appliance store in a foreign country, and upon doing the math, discover that a low-end appliance costs the same as a high-end appliance in the United States, or that the cost is up to 60% more than it cost in the US. That's never a nice surprise. Consider things like a refrigerator, oven/range, microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer, television, etc. Instantly you feel overwhelmed by a vision of dollar-signs. And that doesn't even include a blender, coffee maker, stereo system, Blu-ray or DVD Player, and other misc. electronics.
But it doesn't have to happen that way. Believe it or not, it's much cheaper to purchase everything you need in the US and pay to have it shipped overseas. It's the truth. If you do it right (and with our help, advice, expertise and knowledge) you can save big time.
Wait, You Don't Carry That Brand?
So even if you're made of money and decide to purchase your appliances and electronics overseas, you're going to quickly find out that the selection is not as complete or vibrant as it is here in the United States.
When we trade to an appliance store in the US, we see dozens and dozens of brands and models of each appliance available to choose from. Various sizes and designs, multiple colors, economical and high quality models and everything in between. You have options - and sometimes so many options it's hard to make a choice. Overseas, you might not have that. Actually, you won't have that. And in most countries it's not as simple as going on a website and ordering your new appliances for delivery in 3 days. It just doesn't work that way, for many reasons, none of which are important to get into right now.
Just know that the selection will be small, and you might not be happy with it. You might have to settle for less than you expected, and under certain circumstance, that could mean more hassle in the long run. But it doesn't have to be that way. You can actually purchase your appliances before you leave and have them shipped to your new home country. Best of all, we know EVERYTHING there is to know about voltage in foreign countries, which means we sell 220-240 volt appliances so they're actually compatible overseas.
Inaccurate Resources, Foreign Language and the Tourist Aspect
Again, while moving to a foreign land can be one of the most exciting and rewarding things you ever do with your life, there are certain things to understand. For example, you can't always just go online and find out who is a reputable retailer of washing/machines and dryers in Thailand or Japan. You might not know where to look, or in all actuality, the businesses that sell those items will likely not have a website as much business in smaller foreign countries operate by word of mouth. This means that simply locating the place to find what you need can be a huge hassle all by itself.
With that said, you still might experience language issues once you do find a retailer. Even if you're fluent in the local language, you might suffer the "tourist tax", which is basically the full price or sometimes even an inflated price. There's not always a chance to make deals, and you won't realize it until it's too late. Many, many, many people have found out at a later date that they've been charged 50 or even 100% more for big dollar items while overseas, sometimes for products of inferior quality! And worst of all, unlike big-box stores in the US, the retune policy is not always for or even existent for that matter
So, What Should You Do?
It's a simple answer really. You call 220 Electronics. We have over 35 years worth of experience in international relocation - it is our specialty. We're able to access your situation and individual needs and present options that will make your move go very smooth and far simpler than trying to acquire multiple appliances and electronics in a foreign country.
We have knowledge of foreign countries and their elsctrical standards, as well as a vast knowledge of our own huge selection of top brand name appliances. We can save you a ton of money, a ton of hassle and a ton of regrets. We believe you should arrive in your new home relaxed, confident and ready to enjoy life - not stressing about how you're going to cook food or wash your laundry.
Give us a call today at 877-578-0587 or visit us online at
www.220-Electronics.com and get started. We have a massive history of happy, loyal and satisfied customers and we welcome you to join them! Let's make your international move a breeze.
Voltage converters are simple yet often overlooked products that can made a world of difference for those traveling abroad or relocating overseas. Using foreign electronics can go one of two ways - it can be easy or it can be a serious headache. The path you take is entirely up to you, but we're going to recommend that you take the easy route.
