View Full Version : Purchasing aquatronica
It has been six months since starting this hobby and I am sure I am hooked enough to make a further investment.
Looking at the aquatronica and was wondering the advantages and disadvantages of buying from europe eg europe = lot less cash and a certain site charges no postage.
Any pointers?
Chris
instantsquid
17-02-07, 12:25
You'll get no backup from ITC (the UK distributor) if you buy it from overseas. I have reason to believe that at least one member on this board has had problems upgrading the firmware due to incompatibilites between UK and non-UK components.
Given that this is relatively new equipment and it does, very ocassionally have the odd "hiccup", personally I like the peace of mind of knowing that help is only a phone-call or an email away. I've had a couple of components replaced under warranty - I'm not saying you won't have a warranty if you buy it from Europe, but it'll be a right pain in the backside trying to get something replaced - particularly if it's something stopping the whole kit and caboodle from working properly!
That's my two-pence worth.
You'll get no backup from ITC (the UK distributor) if you buy it from overseas. I have reason to believe that at least one member on this board has had problems upgrading the firmware due to incompatibilites between UK and non-UK components.
Given that this is relatively new equipment and it does, very ocassionally have the odd "hiccup", personally I like the peace of mind of knowing that help is only a phone-call or an email away. I've had a couple of components replaced under warranty - I'm not saying you won't have a warranty if you buy it from Europe, but it'll be a right pain in the backside trying to get something replaced - particularly if it's something stopping the whole kit and caboodle from working properly!
That's my two-pence worth.
- Ian
Ian,
you are right but
if the UK distibutor would put his prices in line with the EU ones I trust lots more businness will be generated
The Aquatronica is made in Italy ( I am Italian:)) and the cost is about 39% cheaper there, thats a lot of dosh on top
I also believe that if you buy the Aquatronica in Germany the warranty will still be valid in the UK because they have a distributor here.
its like buy a dvd from sony in France and if somenthing goes wrong I believe sony UK have to be responsible
I got a sony lcd tv from Italy i would not contact sony in Japan if I got a problem with it
discuss.....
thanks
Luca
petergillett
17-02-07, 17:26
Not sure how it relates to a distributor. If Aquatronica is Italian and you bought a unit abroad, I'm sure Aquatronica Italy would support. Likewise Aquatronica UK probably would too. However if there is no Aquatronica UK and they are simply being sold by an independent distributor in the UK then they would be responsible for the one's they sell but not anybody else's.
ie. Buy a Sony from Comet. Sony will support, Comet will support. Dixons won't, even though they are a Sony dealer/distributor.
Back to the original poster, buy a UK one from the UK. The savings against inconvenience just aren't worth it. I've done a couple of stupid things that I shouldn't have with my new build and they've come back and bit me! Should have just done it properly in the first place!
Pete,
you may be right
so you are happy to pay up to 39% more for the UK distributor to support you?
they will just send the unit to Italy to fix it....
Am I missing something? are we not in the ECC market?
If you want the Aquatronic then PM and pay EU prices
cheers
(Sound like ANOTHER British rip off to me)
instantsquid
17-02-07, 18:54
they will just send the unit to Italy to fix it....
Not in my experience, and I think most other people have had the same treatment - i.e. faulty unit replaced with a new one. Certainly have not heard of anyone having to wait for something to be sent away and fixed.
It took 10 days to sort my dosing pump out, given that there was only one available in the country and that was sitting on a retailers shelf Ian had no option but to have it fixed.
But then I did get one of the first batch in the country, silly really as I still haven't actually got around to using it properly, but there was good reason to buy it then and not now.
From chatting with Ian@ITC and Steve (at a non-sponsor retailer) this was very unusual, it was just that there wasn't a new one available to swap out with.
Alan.
I would go with UK.
ITC have no obligation to any customer who purchased a non uk spec item.
Lets not turn this in to another price / rip off thread. None of us know the terms to which Aquatronica trade to any of their distributors. Then factor in differing tax, VAT, exchange rates etc and its not as clear cut.
Looking at some European sites the price differences are not massive.
I would pay a little bit more (if it is indeed more) for the peace of mind and superb back up offered by Ian and Jez.
Thanks for the replies guys, still hunting for the best bargain :o)
Does the european equipment work in conjunction with the UK base unit/plugbars?
I am assuming so but asking to be sure.
Chris
petergillett
17-02-07, 20:31
Pete,
you may be right
so you are happy to pay up to 39% more for the UK distributor to support you?
they will just send the unit to Italy to fix it....
Am I missing something? are we not in the ECC market?
Don't particularly want to pay 39% more, but also wouldn't want to send the piece of kit that runs my tank back to Italy and wait for it to be fixed. Having the distributor here does mean the possibility of swap-out with faulty kit.
I would go with UK.
ITC have no obligation to any customer who purchased a non uk spec item.
Lets not turn this in to another price / rip off thread. None of us know the terms to which Aquatronica trade to any of their distributors. Then factor in differing tax, VAT, exchange rates etc and its not as clear cut.
Looking at some European sites the price differences are not massive.
I would pay a little bit more (if it is indeed more) for the peace of mind and superb back up offered by Ian and Jez.
Well I believe in competition and if you can find the aquatronica with the same customer service in Europe you could save some dosh!
i bought a combination of both - my central unit is UK sourced...EVERYTHING else is from Europe and i saved loads.
depends how much you buy but i have loads of interfaces and probes, pc software, etc, etc.....worse case is if an interface was faulty (never heard of one being so myself) i would chuck it in the bin and buy a new one....with what i have saved i'd still be in pocket.
I had a few issues with some updating but none more than others and all works fine now.
In my mind its nothing to do with rip off britain.....i simply buy from where i get good value. As a European i select from the European market, i would no more buy from the UK because its the UK than i would use an expensive LFS in my town instead of one in the next town simply because its closer.
The worlds a small place.....when i can get on the net and place an order to buy something with ease anywhere on the earth a UK seller has to have something special on offer beyond having less distance to post stuff to me.
instantsquid
17-02-07, 22:07
Tiggsy,
Did you not have an issue upgrading firmware at some point? Have you got the latest version installed now? I seem to recall it being an issue as you were considering using the AQ dosing pumps.
I have had to send back two pieces of AQ equipment. If I had to send them to Italy or Germany I would have been in serious problems waiting for 3-4 weeks for it to be returned. Instead the Local US Dealer shipped a replacement part within 12 hours of me contacting him. Now that's the kind of thing that makes paying a little more worth while.
Thanks all.
Decided to buy UK and CGA has my order :)
Chris
Thanks all.
Decided to buy UK and CGA has my order :)
Chris
You won't regret it.
Tiggsy,
Did you not have an issue upgrading firmware at some point? Have you got the latest version installed now? I seem to recall it being an issue as you were considering using the AQ dosing pumps.
- Ian
yes - but i was pratting about with 200 yards of usb cable and all sorts :D
in the end i ditched the idea of running the wires all the way to my home office and istead i have installed a touchscreen screen on the wall beside my tank in the living room and use that to control the device (no need for extensions and it works perfectly)
as i said- my controler hub is UK, the rest is European....i have 4 bars, and tons of extras as i control and monitor my disaply, mutilpe sumps and both Q tanks of the same system.....thousands of pounds of tronica gear. I saved hundreads, not because i care too much about saving money but because i simply saw it as shop A and shop B where B was cheaper.....i saw no reason to use A, i dont need much in the way of long term care when i buy something like an interface.
I dont really get the UK attitude to overseas buying - we are such a dinky little place that to limit ourselves to our shores seems pointless. If you were in the states you wouldnt think twice about buying from the east coast if you lived in LA yet here we wont buy from France which is an hour away!
I buy loads of stuff from overseas eg: my camera gear is coming from Hong Kong, my tronica from Europe, my Gem Tangs came from Germany and i'm just about to order a Ford Mustang from the US.
I'm a global shopper :D
LOL no wonder you've got 3050 posts since Aug 05, you must sit infront of your pc screen every night!!! will you have any time to drive the mustang??
lol.....i doubt it!
From 8am till 9pm pm every day i am either in front of my screen or driving to clients.
Fast car and fast PC is all i need (and clients that make me coffee and cake :D)
You'll get no backup from ITC (the UK distributor) if you buy it from overseas. I have reason to believe that at least one member on this board has had problems upgrading the firmware due to incompatibilites between UK and non-UK components.
Given that this is relatively new equipment and it does, very ocassionally have the odd "hiccup", personally I like the peace of mind of knowing that help is only a phone-call or an email away. I've had a couple of components replaced under warranty - I'm not saying you won't have a warranty if you buy it from Europe, but it'll be a right pain in the backside trying to get something replaced - particularly if it's something stopping the whole kit and caboodle from working properly!
That's my two-pence worth.
Hi Everyone
I am a firm beleiver in supporting the local distributor/LFS particulary with delicate electronic items which may need repair/replacement or tech support.
I had a problem with one of my Aquatronica Bars failing and Ian from ITC came round to my place and sorted out the problem which it later transpired was down to the way I'd set the kit up. Apart from a cup of tea it cost me absolutely nothing.
I somehow doubt if the european distributor would have offered anywhere near the same level of service as Ian from ITC.
If ITC are 39% dearer than their EU counterparts I'd say they have more than justified the price differential. Bottom line is you pay your money and make your choice.
so are you saying buy from the EU if you know what you're doing and buy from the UK if you dont ;)
NOTICE FOR END-USERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING AQUATRONICA PRODUCTS...
The commercial policy of Aquatronica is to utilize one exclusive distributor for every country....
The commercial policy of Aquatronica is to utilize one exclusive distributor for every country, in this way we can provide better service to all of our current and potential customers: for this reason we ask our clients, who reside in countries where a distributor has already been established, to refer to their local distributor for any information or assistance required. In countries where an official distributor does not yet exist, we ask FINAL CUSTOMER who is interested in our products to contact us directly (service@aquatronica.com) for any technical or commercial queries.
By acquiring our system online from internet sites from outside the country may result in the following inconveniences:
- No technical assistance or service from the distributor
- difficulties in warranty service of the product
- possible double payment of tax fees
- shipping expenses
- software and instruction manuals in the language of the country where the product was purchased.
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