[paul arthur]

Can anybody advise if it is cheaper to purchase all household furniture and beds from say Ikea and have (whilst still flat packed) shipped to NZ.
OR, would we pay a lot more then UK prices to furnish a house with these things purchased in NZ??.
Are washing machines and large fridge freezers the same price ar the UK??
Thanks

[veronica]

If you bring new stuff there will be duty to pay on it. If you decide to not declare it as new and the customs decide to investigate you could be off to a bad start. 2nd had stuff here comands a good price though so if you bring it if its not falling apart it will at least have a resale value here as and when you replace it. It does cost a surprising amount to redo a household, even silly little things like paperclips, elastic bands and string that you always have some of somewhere cost quite a bit when replacing them all at the same time.

[veronica]

Oops forgot the appliance thing, apart from the tv I would bring all white goods as they do get quite dear here.

[Junnifer USA]

Veronica,
Did you find the overall price of furniture, linens, dishwaaare (Modest wwwwwquality) to be very high if one were to replace itin NZ?

If I did not use furniture that I brought, would it be easy to sell? How about things that we AMericans consider 'antique" furniture -- ?

Is there anything that you really wish you had brought, but didn't?

We are trying to plan what to bring...thanks for the help.
Jennifer

[veronica]

Its not so much the individual price of household items as much as the cost of replacing everything at one time. Not at all sure of the cost of stuff in USA so its difficult to compare, but we have just had people come to stay so have had to go out and buy two new duvets (comforters) at just under $60 nz, luckily we had some spare sheets and covers, you can buy cheaper but have found from experience that its sometimes a false economy. even the odd bits and pieces such as a yard broom, dustpan and brush, the odd screws and nails that you normally have at home and just go out to the garage for, it all starts to add up pretty quickly.

If you want to send me a list of a few examples of things I will have a go at pricing them, but to be honest as I have said before on this forum, if its yours and in a halfway decent condition bring it. I think there is a good market for antiques here, there is an avid market for anything 2nd hand so there would no probs moving anything on.

[Raeven]

Hi, Paul and Junnifer,

I can't speak to price differences between NZ and the UK, but from a USA perspective, I've been taking the pulse on this issue for many months. Without exception, everyone who has gone before has agreed: Bring everything you can as it will cost more to replace than to ship. Moreover, there have been many comments that quality standards differ a great deal. Others have said that there is much comfort gained from having your own familiar items around you, so that's another consideration.

Here is some additional information that does us Yanks no good as the items are electrical appliances and can't be brought from here, but my understanding is that NZ does not sell upright vacuum cleaners to speak of, and the washers and dryers are like toys compared to what we are accustomed to here. My husband and I are already scheming on how we can induce our Australian relatives into hauling over a Dyson for us on one of their visits! No idea what to do about the washer and dryer yet.. but I'm working on it.

I understand NZers have a fascination with large, dark, heavy oak antique furniture. My husband and I have thought about filling any available space in our container with such goods and selling them once there to help offset the cost of shipping. Just a thought.

Hope this is helpful. - Rae

[paul arthur]

Thanks for the very helpful comments.
paul Arthur

[veronica]

Hey Raeven, you can get dysons here, they are expensive though. and we have just bought a washing machine that takes 10kg, thats no toy, its huge. and I know that you can get 7 kg and 8 kg ones too. (we had to buy a large one because of washing out the hire ski clothes not because we are really mucky).

[Raeven]

veronica, you're making me swoon!!!!

Tell me that washer is a front loader and I'll bring you wine!!!! That's great news!!!! :mrgreen:

Thanks for bringing me up to date.. can I ask what kind of washer you got and the approximate cost?

Muckily yours, Rae

[veronica]

It's a front loader, its an LG, and it cost loads, $2,700nz. (red please!!)

[veronica]

forgot to say that the 7 kg one was about half that price.

[Raeven]

LOL, girl, johnny-on-the-spot -- red it is!! And thank you.. you just made my day!!!

Rae

[acisman]

I would be wary of taking white goods such as washing machines and dish washers to NZ as it is unlikely that you will be able to get spare parts. Fridges and Freezer tend to have less break down problems so they may be worth the risk.

We are using a container and we are taking most of our household goods and effects. However we are not taking the dishwasher and washing machine. Prices of these goods in NZ are very much inline with UK prices.

As previous writers have said, there is a good second hand market in NZ. Many furniture and electrical shops have second hand sections and will sell items for you for a commission.

I have family in NZ and have been advised to bring everything.

A few expensive items in NZ are paint, wallpaper and carpets.

Dave

[jesselyn]

what about a pc? umm pentium 4?

[veronica]

I wouldn't worry to much about spares on white goods a lot of the brands are the same, we had an LG at home that we were pleased with (and will be shipping that over here next year) and the machine we have bought is an LG. Also a lot of machines with 'different' names are actually say for example a hotpoint sold under a trade name. I can't say for sure that you would get spares for a specific machine but if the worst comes to the worst just buy or rent another, but even if you bring it over and only get a year out of any white goods then at least its got you past the expensive setting up phase.

[coastcat]

what about a pc? umm pentium 4?

If your PC can be set to run on 240V power, bring it! Most computers (and a lot of peripheral equipment) sold in North American can switch between 120V and 240V, so we're bringing what we need. Okay, since my husband will pack up the computer equipment, we're probably going to bring considerably more than we need. :laugh

[acisman]

Hi

With regard to computers; it is possible that you may have trouble with a northern hemisphere monitors. This is because monitors are configured for the magnetic field on the northern hemisphere, which of course is different from NZ. I am led to believe that a loss of resolution and flickering may occur. I also understand that you can get the problem resolved by a technical person in NZ, but be wary of attempting anything yourself. Mega voltage can be found (touched) in a monitor.

We are taking both our computers ( and monitors ) and will see what will happen. If we have problems we will probably buy new monitors when we get there.

Dave

[coastcat]

Would that affect LCD monitors, or just CRT ones? We don't intend to bring CRT monitors, except perhaps a tiny one for use with the server.

[veronica]

HASN'T AFFECTED OUR LAP TOP AT ALL.

[bliksembokkie]

Hi there...
Please don't leave anything you are attached to...I still have sleepless nights with tears eight years down the line about my old book collection (which I am slowly replacing) and small occasional tables, and good linen etc. Rather cram your container than be sorry!
Bliksembokkie

[jesselyn]

If your PC can be set to run on 240V power, bring it!

will try to ask if thats possible... thanks cc :D

jes :angel

[jesselyn]

Please don't leave anything you are attached to...

umm thats why i told my nephew i will bring him to chch and his mama and baby sis :yes not to mention my mom and dad :nice1

jes :angel

[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

Had to jump in here on the computer monitor bit and relieve some worries. And I don't want to embarrass anyone, so no names will be used to protect the innocent. :laugh

Your computer monitor will work without a worry in New Zealand. Our Dell, IBM and Viewsonic are purring along just fine (both CRT and flat panel). All they needed was an outlet adapter. All of ours were designed to run on 120V 60Hz or 220V 50Hz. Most are, but even if not you can use a transformer to step down 220V to 120V.

Computer monitors are bascially the same around the world with the only difference being that they are designed to run at different refresh rates. The difference in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz) between where you come from and NZ may cause a flicker (not likely if it was already set up correctly) but that can be adjusted by going into the video settings on your computer and changing the refresh rate either up or down until the flicker goes away.

Couldn't pass that one up ;)

[Annierobrigado]

Please don't leave anything you are attached to...

umm thats why i told my nephew i will bring him to chch and his mama and baby sis :yes not to mention my mom and dad :nice1

jes :angel

jes and bliksembokkie,

you think we can bring over my husband's cd/vcd/dvd/mp3 collection, as well as the pioneer component-dvd player, and the samsung tv? eek, how much would that weigh and cost to ship?

we have a laptop and two desktop computers, a canon printer and scanner. also includes modem. haha, funny to be lugging all of these equipment along and then not having a house to put them in! yeesh! :laugh

how nice jes you'll be bringing the whole family! I think you are the favorite aunt, yes?

annie

[Raeven]

Hi, Annie,

If you give Rich's electronics threads a good squiz, you'll find out what things are good to take and what aren't: http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=167

He covers most of your concerns about these items.

Best of luck! - Rae

[jesselyn]

yes annie, i am the favorite aunt. :D umm favorite to buy this and that... :mrgreen: oh! big sis did not force me, i volunteered for the job ;)

wow! it will be nice if i can bring my jvc tv and component so i dont have to buy a new one. however, i think the shipping cost will sway us to sell (jeez! we are talking as if we are leaving soon, huh? :P - i wish)...

was thinking of bringing the pc, cousin said it is possible to run on 240v... :clap however justin (6yrs old) doesnt like the idea. :? he has vested interest :laugh. the thing is, jasmine (1yr&9mos) thinks she owns the comp already :uhoh

jes :angel

[dazzlr]

My goodness, how very helpful! I have not yet applied, but with some 25 years' accumulation, I was wondering just how much disposal pressure I'd be under. The comments reminded me of my mom's tales of refugees arriving in New York pre-WWII with EVERYTHING including trash containers.
The washing machine comments surprised me. I own a Fisher/Paykel machine, NZ made, and am amused at the prospect of shipping it back to its nation of origin. Anyone priced these in NZ?
I'm glad to hear that US electrical thingies can run in NZ with transformers.
More than anything, I'd hate to give up my toothbrush.
Now - is there no organized method of buying used household items, with some sort of quality screening?
Thanks for all the tips!

[funkstar deluxe]

We are having trouble with shipping quotes. It cost more to ship our stuff than it did to buy it. So now I think we are selling everything as ££ go further.

Any comments?

[veronica]

Its not how much you paid for the furniture in the first place, its how much will it cost you to replace it here........... have you considered packing it up yourself and just getting a container

[Juniper]

Here is some additional information that does us Yanks no good as the items are electrical appliances and can't be brought from here[...] My husband and I are already scheming on how we can induce our Australian relatives into hauling over a Dyson for us on one of their visits!

what do you mean, we -can't- bring appliances over? :eek you mean because of the electrical differences, or because of some customs thing? i thought adapters could be used for most things...

[veronica]

Juniper, as I understand it the NZ voltage is 220/240 and the USA is about half of that so they aren't compatible. Try doing a search on the forum as there have been several good postings on this subject.

[Juniper]

yeah, i've seen threads about adapters and such...which was why raeven's post confused me a bit...

[Raeven]

Hi, Juniper,

Rich Adams' posts on electrical stuff USA to NZ are the most comprehensive to be found on the web, so for an in-depth discussion about what will work, look for those. But in short, there are some things that absolutely will not work from the US in NZ. It's not just the 220/240 voltage difference. It's also that one of the countries runs on one-cycle something and the other on two-cycle-something. Again, Rich's posts are great at explaining all this in detail.

Don't bring anything with a timer or a motor in it. Those items won't work well if at all. Get rid of washing machines, dryers, microwave ovens with clocks and clocks themselves. VCRs will work but the clock will never be right, so no good for setting a timer for recording (not that there's much worth recording on NZ tv as I understand it!). DVD players are set to a different standard (regional discs are different), but if you have one that plays universal discs, that's ok. You need to check that out, however.

My vacuum cleaner comment would have been confusing.. I think vacuum cleaners will work fine with an adapter. We were due for a new one, so we had planned to replace it once we got to NZ. Instead, we've replaced it now we've got to Oregon!

Hope this clarifies, and sorry I confused you. All the best to you in NZ!!

Rae

[Juniper]

okay ;) i'm glad you said vacuum cleaners are cool, cuz that's one of our nicer appliances....well i will read up on it! thanks