Originally Posted by
SaigonCyclo
I use step down convertors all the time. Mine aren't noisy, but I use 1500 watt versions for my high end electronics. I've been told that over time, the step down process will slowly burn out your electronics. Hasn't happened to me yet. .
This has happened to my wife on small electronics like kitchen appliances that use motors, eg mixers, blenders etc.
However, I have an American bought AV reciever that I have been using for five years so far in Europe with a step-down transformer and it is doing just fine. Ditto for my CD player.
I suspect the issue is that some small electronics with motors struggle with the 50hz/60hz issues, where are the solid-state items like TV's do not. So your Plasma screen might be fine, but the fan inside might not be in the long run. Just a theory.
Originally Posted by
SaigonCyclo
One other issue you'll have is a warranty. I doubt your USA product warranty will be covered in Poland, but check with Panasonic.
As for the warranty, you can forget about it. I am in the UK and moving to Scandinavia soon and Panasonic UK says they will NOT cover the item there. If they wont cover it a product bought in the EU, no way in hell they will cover it abroad. This may be true for German or Dutch bought goods in Poland
For this reason, I would say that buying a flatscreen and exporting it may only make sense if you buy a cheaper used item which you dont mind taking risk on.
That said, you could aslo make the argument that skilled labour is cheap in Poland and you can find someone on your own to fix the thing if it breaks, thus making your purchase savings pay off. But if you dont have the stomach for that, bite the bullet and pay it.
As far as importing things to Europe goes, the key loophole is that most countries do not tax personal household effects/furniture etc imported by people migrating there. If you are legally migrating to Poland, this should be doable or of you know someone in the polish community in the US moving home. For example at the Swedish church in NYC, you will find ads posted for people looking to share the cost of a container or half-container of goods shipped him. It is cheaper to ship heavy goods that way - if if someone is moving home or migrating legally, no tax/dutie will apply for this type of item. You could pursue that route.