Excellent Service From Hardinge

They are not bad over here either. Prices suck but the service is good.

Wayne...

LOL Another way of putting that is that price isn't as important as value.

I like their gear and can even see the difference between the real deal and the import s*it, but here's a working example.

The same collet from Hardinge UK. Hmmmm at todays exchange rate about $96. Was more like $130 a couple months ago.

Of course we can't but from Hardinge USA.

Wayne....

How much demand would their be for a service where an individual will buy Hardinge and other "restricted" parts for a lower US price and air post to the UK, to a home address, possibly as a "gift," with payment by personal check?

If it can be done with the cheap Canadian meds, why not the cheap American parts?

Unka' George [George McDuffee]

------------------------------------------- He that will not apply new remedies, must expect new evils: for Time is the greatest innovator: and if Time, of course, alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better, what shall be the end?

Francis Bacon (1561-1626), English philosopher, essayist, statesman. Essays, "Of Innovations" (1597-1625).

Students here in America do it all the time with texts. In the UK, the reverse would avoid their VAT and be halted in short order.

Thats a farce and waste of resources too! VAT registered companies get charged the 15% (Was 17.5%) VAT on import and then claim it back.

Of course even the UK price I quoted earlier was less the VAT.

There probably is a market here for grey imported tooling and no doubt an opportunity at least for a while.

Isn't it any wonder that the chinese import stuff is so popular, I have used chinese collets and can't really say I've had real issues with them apart from less spring than a real Hardinge 5C or 16C item. But the Hardinge stuff is really nicely finished off in comparison, and most likely much better made.

I was suprised when recently I bought a collet from a well known UK manufacturer (Crawford Collets) and when it arrived it was an Import! So they are not even bothering to make their own now.

Wayne.....

What did Hardinge UK have to say for themselves when you pointed this out Wayne? They must have an explanation.

Can you avoid the VAT tax using ebay or internet ordering?

Best, Steve

Yes there is, it's F'n expensive to do business in the UK.

Place is a damned ROCK! What didja' 'spect? LOL

When we traveled there for the first time cost of living was shocking to see. When we were paying $1.25 gallon it was $6.00 gallon there. A $1.99 at Dennys here equivalent cost $15.00 there. Computer $1,200 here equivalent about $4,500 there.

But one thing that still stands out in my mind was when people told me they had to pay a use tax on TV antennas to watch broadcast TV, what we consider "Free" TV.

Everyone seems to criticize English food but for us it was great. Lot of ethnic foods to try, Indian food was outstanding. I don't know where the bad rap comes from, maybe it just helps to know the locals.

Most embarrassing, the only American TV show I saw was "Jerry Springer", no wonder they think poorly of Americans (Pre-Bush).

Tom

Yep, and they are real sticklers. There was a big rumpus over there about this recently. Seems they have coppers specifically assigned to deal with scoff laws.