[Daniel Park]

Hi guys,

Flying Feb 15 (yay!), so before we load up a container we need a bit of help from the likes of Moorf (ace blog, btw) and other techie gurus on:

Computers
Is it cheaper to buy in the UK and ship out, or cheaper to buy in NZ? I take it there are no compatibility problems - it's just plug & play, right?

White goods - fridge, washing machine, dryer
Do UK machines work ok in NZ? And again, if you don't own a fridge, for instance is it cheaper to buy here and ship out, or not?

Phone
Again, does a UK phone work in NZ? A cordless one? Cheap to buy there or better to buy here?

Not bothered about TV or DVD or VCR since we possess none of these (!) - which means we aren't affected by others' anguish over how rubbish Shortland Street really is. But WOULD like to know best way of listening to Radio 4 via the internet, if anyone's found a solution.

Already seen the thread about furniture and sense a trip to IKEA coming on.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I was informed by one of the shipping companies that if you buy new goods here for your own use abroad and ship them straight to the shipper, you can avoid paying VAT. John Lewis and similar sensible stores know about this little loophole and are amenable to the idea, though your average high street Dixons assistant will likely have a problem comprehending.

Thanks!

Dan

[Nicola]

You can listen to Radio 4 via the BBC web site using Real One player.

Which reminds me I better go and listen to last nights Archers.

Nic

[Nicola]

The problem with not paying VAT on goods to be shipped is that you will pay import duty in NZ. If the goods are a couple of months old when shipped you will not pay import duty in NZ. Sorry I do not know what the different rates are for comparison.

Nic

[veronica]

all the electrical appliances work except things like TV's because of the different band (or something)

[sarahw]

Hi Dan

We're on the same electric so everything works - you just need to change the plugs.

With regards to computers compare www.dell.co.uk vs www.dell.co.nz prices and you'll soon see that it is more expensive in NZ - I've just bought a laptop yesterday to take with me - but lots of people buy them in Singapore.

With regards to white goods - I'm only taking our fridge as its the only stand-alone item we have. White goods are slightly more expensive in NZ but not so much to worry about - we went round a few shops when we were there and certain items were cheaper than in the UK and certain items more expensive. They seem to be similar to the US in that they favour top-loading washing machines (which I refuse to buy) but they do sell a few front-loaders too - they weren't as cheap as UK - if you've got a washer bring it!

With regards to telephones, we use the same phone connectors so your home phone will work in NZ.

TV - they're on a PAL system same as us but a different version which means you get the picture but the audio is a mess. So if you're planning on tuning in to NZ TV - its a no-go. However, if you're signing up to Sky or Fox, then UK TV's do work there.

Best bet for a DVD player is a multi-region one as they're on a different region to us - best deal I saw was on Amazon £29.99!

Don't know about the VAT thing - I thought things had to look a year old or at least used to get through without paying VAT...

Good luck!

[real_sunfire]

In terms of Radio 4 - Radio New Zealand seems to be aimed for the same type
of auudience. Certainly their morning show called "Morning Report" sounds suspiciously
like Radio 4's Today programme.

Rgds.,
Nick.

[StevieD]

Re-tell the tip I got, if taking electrical goods with you, but a few cheap extension cables. Then you are only using one NZ type plug on the end of the cable instead of 6!

TV.'s are fine for playing your games, videos and DVD's on with your existing kit.

[eric_amanda]

Plugs - It is worth bring Uk extension cables with you, and it is useful to begin with, however you soon get fed up with so many wires or eventually run out of extension cables or they are in wrong place etc etc. Budget for plugs, it has cost us a fortune, I think the cheapest we found eventually was around $5-6. Multiply by electrical items (you will be amazed at how many you have. I think we have probably spent near on $150 on plugs and we still have some kitchen gadgets to do, lamps and diy tools!!

One thing i will also mention here is that kiwi's seem addicted to 100w bulbs!! Again since being here we have probable spent about $100 on low energy bulbs. All these costs add up when you have just arrived and have so many other things to buy and do.

Good job Eric is so handy :nice1

White goods are more expensive here. If you have it and it works and is not really old ie less than 5yrs IMO then bring it. Be careful though. If you are wanting to take advantage, as we did of buying whiteware on 0% interest pay in 1 yr etc you must be a resident to take advantage of these deals. We had the cash but prefered it to be making interest, and were a bit miffed that we couldn't do this until we were resident!!

Phone - Our digital, cordless phones work fine here, the only thing I have noticed is that it doesn't pick up the caller ID from the phonebook as it did in the UK. Instead of telling me Joe Bloggs is calling it just gives me the number???

Some UK TV's, particularly newer ones do have the right PAL thing, one of ours which we had only had 6mths when we moved here was OK and works fine. Look in your instructions it will tell you which frequencies it does and someone else here (not me!!) will tell you which PAL it will have to be to work!!

Hope this helps

Amanda

PS don't buy a top loader, they use TONS of water and don't wash your clothes as well. We found a really good front loader here they do have quite a few. I was a little puzzled as to why they don't do all in one washer dryers though?

[Moorf]

PS don't buy a top loader, they use TONS of water and don't wash your clothes as well.

From our experience top loaders are just fine (especially considering the higher cost of the front loader). Ours has lots of different water input settings etc.

We were warned that they would ruin our clothes, not wash them correctly etc etc but I actually prefer it to our old front loading washer/dryer - and they are MILES quicker too!

Just my opinion... I know lots of others who steer clear of top loaders!

(Good band tho!) :laugh

Moorf

[Dave & Sandra]

I must admit that I prefer my top loader too. Like Moorf's you can have 3 different levels of water. It washes fine and hasn't ruined anything yet :hopeso and it is so much quicker. I think I prefer it 'cos of my bad back - no bending up and down all the time :yes

[eric_amanda]

We had a top loader in our rental, and I was finding it did not wash our clothes as well. It was quite a new model as well. Maybe I should have spoken to landlord maybe there was a problem I never overloaded it and experimented with water levels etc

When we came to buy, we thought about being on tanked water here etc and after dicussing water usage with guys in the shop decided on the front loader.

I know what you mean about the back Sandra, it is one of my complaints, however i am thinking of investing in on of those laundry trolleys they have a Mitre 10, save me carrying loads of washing around all the time!! :nice1

Amanda

[mechidna]

Maybe it's because I'm from the US, but I don't think I have ever seen anything but a top loading washing machine. What is the difference (besides the opening)?

[veronica]

The washing drum is on its side and flops the laundry through the water. Personally I prefer the front loaders having used both at different times.

[AliJax]

As for techie stuff, weve brought our uk
tv
dvd player
fridge freezer
chest freezer
pc stuf (inc printer, usb stuff etc)
washing (m/c front loader)
cd alarm clock
hair drying products
fan
lamp
paper shreader

of these items the only problems encountered were the TV (no sound) - this was fixed when SKY was installed (thanks bleach kiwi).

and

the PC :wah , this was fixed when the RAM was removed and then re-inserted, so if you get some beeps when you unpack your own PC, don't panic just this how you'd feel if you were wobbled for a period of 6 weeks on the open seas.

Nightmare though was cutting all the uk plugs off the leads and putting the "scary" looking NZ plugs tops on (cheapest place I've found for these was Buntings $3.49ea) bizarly they dont have fuses in the plugtops.

[Jo and Andy]

Have been pondering the idea of PC moving myself.

Problem of not buying a laptop to bring with you on the flight is that you have to wait 6-8 weeks for you PC to arrive and how would you survive that long without logging on to this site.

I get withdrawl symptons over the weekend.

Top loading washing machines, my mother had one when we grew up, always seemed to wash just the same as her new front loader (couldn't find a top loader when it needed replacing). Benefit of a top loader is if you put the washing on and then find the odd sock on the stair or the hanky put on the mantle piece, you can just open the lid and put it in, (well you could when I was a kid).

Got an LCD tv andy says he is bringing it even if he can only use it as a computer screen. (I am sure we will get sky so it not be waisted).

Someone told me most houses have dishwashers so don't worry about those.

[RoadRunner]

Problem of not buying a laptop to bring with you on the flight is that you have to wait 6-8 weeks for you PC to arrive and how would you survive that long without logging on to this site.

That's a great question!! Are there plenty of Internet cafes in the main cities (e.g., Wellington, Auckland) that you can bop into every day?

Does anyone know how much they charge? Do they have terminals or do you need your own laptop (would sort of defeat the purpose, eh?)?

RoadRunner

[AliJax]

I've used two up to now, Pakuranga $3/hr not bad mostly kids playing but very quiet and not to roudy, but the most recent on I went to was at Highland Park again $3/hr but the pcs we'rein booths although the 'Kids' got right up my nose playing games.

"......is anyone a ranger?, get all the rangers to attack the big monster by the gate....."

"SHUT UP....I'M TRYING TO WRITE A C.V."

Prints are 50c/sheet.

[captainxmas]

Further to the PC compatability is the telephone connections - is it worth bringing ADSL modems from the UK? Or wait and get one there, I am guessing that wireless network cards will be fine, it's just the hardwired side that could be a concern.

:?

[cloudboy99]

At least in the US, different DSL providers utilize different DSLAMs which require different DSL modems depending on the circuit provider (Vodafone, Telcom, etc.). Anything attached to your PC is acceptable, but I'd skip the DSL modem.

[markkellaway]

The wireless cards will definitely be OK. The DSL modem should be fine as well, most, if not all, are configurable for VC settings and encapsulation so it will just be a matter of changing the settings. There have been a few posts where people have taken DSL modems/routers over from the UK successfully.

Mark. :P

[SteveR]

telecom/xtra have an offer on at the moment (always seems to be extended) that you get free connection ($99 normally) and a free modem ($99) although you can pay extra and get a wirless modem although the modem they supply (D-Link DSL 302G) is usb or ethernet wired. if you have your own modem/router/wireless cards then bring them as they are not as cheap as you can get in the UK and no doubt much cheaper in the USA