Buying Sewing Machine from USA

officeguru

Hi, all you clever people,

I've seen a sewing machine in the USA and it is just what I am looking for. I can't buy the equivalent in the UK without paying about £1000 for it.. Even allowing for import tax, vat and shipping, I can get it for around £300.. It is a reputable company but they say that the warranty etc is null and void outside of USA & Canada..

The question is: Is there a chance that the electronics would get fried even if I get a voltage converter.. so therefore it wouldn't be worth getting ??? or is that a standard disclaimer ???

I realise that this might be the wrong part of the forum but this is the only one I could think of ..

Thanks in advance

Ectophile

I'm not surprised they offer no warranty outside their usual sales area - that's a price you pay for buying from overseas.

There's no reason you should fry the electronics if you use the correct voltage converter. Make sure you get one that can handle at least the wattage of the machine.

There is a small chance that the machine may be affected by the frequency of the mains - it's 60Hz in the USA, but 50Hz in Europe. It's very hard to tell if that would be a problem.

macman

The machine could be dual voltage-check the specs.
Freighting it back to the US (and then getting it back again) for a warranty repair will cost a fortune, so it's bound to be a gamble.

neilwoods

USA to UK converter could damage the sewing machine, can get 2 types, electronic or transformer, the latter is best, but can be more pricey.

As for the Hz, some devices will handle both, but if only 60hz, then as it is motor, it could cause the motor to run hotter and fail.

Best thing you could do is find out the voltage and HZ specs before buying. If it is 110/240 50/60 then you will be fine. Or 110v 50/60 Hz, then should be ok with converter. But if only 110v 60Hz, then good chance of wasting money

paddyrg

Maybe ask the manufacturer if they have/can convert a 240v50Hz version? Maybe they have a small batch of 240v50Hz motors in the same form-factor kicking around, and a small simple bodge to rectify the control panel voltage

officeguru

Ectophile wrote: »

I'm not surprised they offer no warranty outside their usual sales area - that's a price you pay for buying from overseas.

There's no reason you should fry the electronics if you use the correct voltage converter. Make sure you get one that can handle at least the wattage of the machine.

There is a small chance that the machine may be affected by the frequency of the mains - it's 60Hz in the USA, but 50Hz in Europe. It's very hard to tell if that would be a problem.

neilwoods wrote: »

USA to UK converter could damage the sewing machine, can get 2 types, electronic or transformer, the latter is best, but can be more pricey.

As for the Hz, some devices will handle both, but if only 60hz, then as it is motor, it could cause the motor to run hotter and fail.

Best thing you could do is find out the voltage and HZ specs before buying. If it is 110/240 50/60 then you will be fine. Or 110v 50/60 Hz, then should be ok with converter. But if only 110v 60Hz, then good chance of wasting money

paddyrg wrote: »

Maybe ask the manufacturer if they have/can convert a 240v50Hz version? Maybe they have a small batch of 240v50Hz motors in the same form-factor kicking around, and a small simple bodge to rectify the control panel voltage

Thanks very much for all your advice. Since posting this, I tried sending an email to the shop selling the machine but they didn't understand what I was asking them (Maybe English isn't their mother tongue)...

I then got a phone call from a company who specialises in the converters, but he advised me against it ... he referred to the 50/60 hz ...

So, I then got in touch with Brother International (USA) to ask about the electricity rating of the machine to see if there was any leaway.... but they couldn't tell me that and informed me that I should look at the metal label attached to the back of the machine for that info... I did respond that I hadn't bought the machine yet, but they couldn't give me that info... so I have fired an email off to an address that they gave me.. I have also got in touch with Brother in the UK to see what they advise...

So thanks very much, everyone... I also got a phone call from a shop down in England, who was trying to sell me virtually the same machine at £799 and I am sure he virtually choked on his biscuit when I told him how much they were in the great US of A... He put the phone down on me... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

(as usual, you didn't let me down... I'll just have to think of something else !!! )