US electrical goods

[queendisney]

I am going to treat myself to a Kitchenaid mixer which cost a fortune in the UK and are half the price in USA..
Has anybody ever bought back electrical goods like this and do they work just as well with an adaptor plug here?
Should be fun getting it back though. What do you think would be the best way as it will be in a biggish box...would you take it out of the box and wrap it in loads of clothes? Just don't know what to do for the best really..

Thanks..

 

[Dimplenose]

US electrical equipment usually needs a transformer as well as an adaptor to stop it being damaged by the 230V electricity supply that we have in the UK as opposed to the 110v supply in the US.

 

[queendisney]

US electrical equipment usually needs a transformer as well as an adaptor to stop it being damaged by the 230V electricity supply that we have in the UK as opposed to the 110v supply in the US.

oh..thank you for that I would never have known that. I suppose I can get one of those from a DIY/electrical store?! Better do a bit more research..

 

[jns]

Would love to know how u get on as I would love one of these too but way to much money here
Seen them on QVC last week was very temped

 

[Netty]

Here is some info for you
http://www.accessorystore.co.uk/acatalog/transformers.html

 

[queendisney]

thanks Netty for that information.
although the transformers are not that inexpensive, the Kitchenaid I was looking at is 300wts so it adds about £80 to the cost but it would still make it a worth while buy. Ok this looks like its going tobe a good deal..so long as I can get it back in one piece..Just looked at the boxed weight and its
12kg so an extra suitcase is now a must..
Its a BIG birthday of mine when I am there and my DH does not understand how a kitchenaid as a present will make me so happy

 

[Netty]

this one on amazon is cheaper!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000NIYH94/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

also what about takng it out the box and putting it in your hand luggage..they have never weighed our hand luggage yet (VA). or play safe and stick it in a case!
its my big birthday next year..50...

 

[queendisney]

this one on amazon is cheaper!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000NIYH94/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

also what about takng it out the box and putting it in your hand luggage..they have never weighed our hand luggage yet (VA). or play safe and stick it in a case!
its my big birthday next year..50...

I keep on telling myself its only a number...don't want tobe 50 but what can I do about it!!!!! I am still a youngster in my mind if nothing else

Yes I did think about putting it in my hand luggage but then had doubts, but you're correct they never weigh it coming home. SORTED then...DH can lug it back in his hand luggage. Buying it in USA will save a couple of hundred pounds..it has tobe worth the hassle. Thanks for your help and advise..x

 

[Fobgirl12]

As an expat in the UK, you will need a transformer to use the KitchenAid here - which you will probably have to order over the internet. The machine is quite heavy, as you know, so it could easily put you over the weight limit for baggage. I wouldn't want to lug that think all around the airport.

 

[mikki.young]

You could leave it in the box and treat it as an item of luggage. We did that once with one of the large statues. Believe it or not VA did weigh our hand luggage in January!

 

[queendisney]

You could leave it in the box and treat it as an item of luggage. We did that once with one of the large statues. Believe it or not VA did weigh our hand luggage in January!

Lordy....I think I will take a load of bubble wrap and put it in the case now. It's prob not worth risking it if they are weighing hand luggage and as a pp said it is rather heavy...

 

[chmurf]

I wonder how TSA would react screening such an appliance in carry on luggage ? since there is no obvious reason why someone would carry such a heavy and uncanny object in their carry ons, I would be quite curious to see their reaction.

I wouldn't be confident in getting such an expensive item in my checked luggage, for I woud never leave anything of value out of my sight while on a trip. So many things happen in the bowels of airports.

Using the appliance in the UK would require a transformer (a mere converter probably wouldn't be enough). You need a really tough transformer, even though some people/vendors will tell you that they have a cheaper solution, there is a huge risk of just frying your appliance, or even burn your house down.
Then it will all depend if the appliance is designed to handle 50/60hz or only 60hz. (for all we know it might accept dual voltage). In any event, the appliance might run a bit slower. For the US market it is designed to run at 60hz (60 cycles per second), and in europe (UK included) the current is set at 50 cycles per second. So to give you the idea, when your kitchenaid does 60 rotation a second in the US, it will only do 50 rotations in the UK, it runs slower and at a superior energy cost.

Last but not least, there is a fairly high chance that kitchenaid's warranty does not cover the use of this appliance outside of the US (as some customers from europe dearly experienced when european current fried the appliance they'd brought back)

 

[queendisney]

to solve this transformer issue etc my DH is going to have a word with an electrician where he works...I have been googling it and have come across mixed results. Thanks everybody for your input..