Australia, ho! Help sort out my kitchen.
March 9, 2016 6:22 PM Subscribe
I am preparing for a move to Sydney. I will be burning an askmefi question a week for awhile so here is question one: what to take from my US kitchen? I have a lot of equipment.
Before the move is there equipment I should get before hand? Here are the things I wonder to bring:
2 vintage kitchenaid mixers
1 modern kitchenaid mixer
DLX Magic Mill
Delusso ice cream gelato maker
Bamix hand blender
Food processor
Extensive tea collection
Extensive honey and preserves collection
Sous vide circulator
Vintage slow cookers
There seem to be mixed opinion on whether it is wise to bring plug in equipment even with a step down transformer. Any insight would be helpful.
Before the move is there equipment I should get before hand? Here are the things I wonder to bring:
2 vintage kitchenaid mixers
1 modern kitchenaid mixer
DLX Magic Mill
Delusso ice cream gelato maker
Bamix hand blender
Food processor
Extensive tea collection
Extensive honey and preserves collection
Sous vide circulator
Vintage slow cookers
There seem to be mixed opinion on whether it is wise to bring plug in equipment even with a step down transformer. Any insight would be helpful.
Anything with a motor or heating element is probably not dual voltage (check the labelling to be sure). My understanding is that using an inverter makes it (1) work not as well and (2) be more likely to fail faster. That said, it's also my understanding that this is a bigger issue stepping voltage up (bringing 240 appliances to the US) than the way you're going.
If the vintage stuff is of sentimental value, I wouldn't risk it. I just bought new appliances.
posted by olinerd at 6:40 PM on March 9, 2016
If the vintage stuff is of sentimental value, I wouldn't risk it. I just bought new appliances.
posted by olinerd at 6:40 PM on March 9, 2016
Oh and honey. NO. Honey is one of the big import no-nos.
posted by olinerd at 6:40 PM on March 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by olinerd at 6:40 PM on March 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
Best answer: No, it's a step-down transformer they want - to step 240v down to 120v.
Seriously, unless there's some overriding reason (e.g. family heirloom or such) I wouldn't bother with anything electric unless it's already 240v capable. Double for anything with a (mains-powered) motor or heating element, since step-down transformers of a suitable size ain't gonna be cheap.
As far as I know off the top of my head, you shoud be right bringing tea in, but the preserves & honey are likely to either be required to be inspected or will be destroyed if they're not certified for US export.
posted by Pinback at 6:42 PM on March 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Seriously, unless there's some overriding reason (e.g. family heirloom or such) I wouldn't bother with anything electric unless it's already 240v capable. Double for anything with a (mains-powered) motor or heating element, since step-down transformers of a suitable size ain't gonna be cheap.
As far as I know off the top of my head, you shoud be right bringing tea in, but the preserves & honey are likely to either be required to be inspected or will be destroyed if they're not certified for US export.
posted by Pinback at 6:42 PM on March 9, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: The teas will need to be packaged with ingredients labels otherwise they'll err on the side of caution. And as such, ditch any with citrus. I've had friends send me tea from the US and most get to me fine but ones with citrus peel were confiscated and I just got a sad little note from customs to explain.
posted by kitten magic at 6:45 PM on March 9, 2016
posted by kitten magic at 6:45 PM on March 9, 2016
My Kitchen-Aid mixer is super heavy... In addition to the issues raised above, you may want to consider the actual cost of shipping/moving them.
posted by amro at 6:47 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by amro at 6:47 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Added to the power questions (friends I have who moved to the US from the UK left all electronics behind as they found they weren't reliable even with converters), all those mixers are a bad investment to move if your move costs also factor in weight. Kitchen Aid mixers weigh a ton. I'd sell them adn use the money to buy an Australian version.
posted by cecic at 6:51 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cecic at 6:51 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Leave all the tea and honey and preserves. Sorry, but the biosecurity rules are very strict.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:58 PM on March 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:58 PM on March 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
Double for anything with a (mains-powered) motor or heating element, since step-down transformers of a suitable size ain't gonna be cheap.
And you'd want to check in advance whether an Australian home insurance company would cover them for things like electrical fires, or at least want to slap a big rider on them. Or, what I said in this thread.
No preserves, no honey.
posted by holgate at 7:00 PM on March 9, 2016
And you'd want to check in advance whether an Australian home insurance company would cover them for things like electrical fires, or at least want to slap a big rider on them. Or, what I said in this thread.
No preserves, no honey.
posted by holgate at 7:00 PM on March 9, 2016
Is this intended as a permanent move? If not, leave the equipment in the US for when you return. If yes, and someone else is paying for the shipping, and they have sentimental value, I don't see much harm in taking it, as long as you're prepared for it to not work as well/at all/have no warranty/possibly blow up. I certainly wouldn't pay to bring them - sell them instead and put the money towards a replacement fund. All the things you list, except the vintage stuff, can be bought in Australia, with warranties and a voltage that is designed for the Australian system. The sticker price will be more expensive in Australia, but the US dollar goes a long way.
I wouldn't bother taking any of the food products you list. You might get some of the tea and preserves in if they're commercially packaged, labelled and sealed, but you very well might not, and an encounter with the customs folks is at the very least going to slow up your shipping/luggage. Enjoy what you can before you leave, give away what you can't, and look forward to exploring the excellent food that Australia has.
posted by une_heure_pleine at 7:11 PM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
I wouldn't bother taking any of the food products you list. You might get some of the tea and preserves in if they're commercially packaged, labelled and sealed, but you very well might not, and an encounter with the customs folks is at the very least going to slow up your shipping/luggage. Enjoy what you can before you leave, give away what you can't, and look forward to exploring the excellent food that Australia has.
posted by une_heure_pleine at 7:11 PM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: My understanding from friends who have moved has been to take a full complement of US measuring implements if you don't want to do conversions for any beloved recipes. No products with motors, and you should be willing to lose any electronics like the sous vide unit.
Use the weight you'd spend on those things for clothes, computers, and shoes. I have a friend who comes to the US every 2-3 years to visit family and she replaces their computers and buys clothes for three children, to cover the 2-3 year gap before she comes back because those items are that much cheaper in the US.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:22 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Use the weight you'd spend on those things for clothes, computers, and shoes. I have a friend who comes to the US every 2-3 years to visit family and she replaces their computers and buys clothes for three children, to cover the 2-3 year gap before she comes back because those items are that much cheaper in the US.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:22 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
I moved from Canada to France and back again. First time, only took a couple of electric items and small transformers for them. Absolutely no problem and I would have been sad to have left them behind. I absolutely hated having to buy everything new and none of the baking pans were the right sizes for my recipes! Drove me mad.
When I came back, we brought all the electric appliances we thought we wanted - and wished we'd brought everything. We brought a European power bar and got a transformer when we got here. You must have a transformer, not a little converter. Ours is massive and really heavy. Plugged the power bar into the transformer and the appliances into the power bar. Everything worked absolutely fine. The rule of thumb is that the transformer should have the capacity for twice the wattage of any heating appliance. Our coffee maker uses 1300 watts. The transformer can handle 1500. Coffee maker works fine. Blew the little fuse a couple of times but it wasn't a big deal and a stronger transformer would have been huge and hugely expensive.
If you are shipping your stuff by sea, a few extra boxes won't add anything to your cost. Don't leave anything behind that you are sentimental about or enjoy using.
You should be able to find the rules for what can be imported into Australia on the internet - look for information for Australians who are returning from holidays.
posted by strasbourg at 7:25 PM on March 9, 2016
When I came back, we brought all the electric appliances we thought we wanted - and wished we'd brought everything. We brought a European power bar and got a transformer when we got here. You must have a transformer, not a little converter. Ours is massive and really heavy. Plugged the power bar into the transformer and the appliances into the power bar. Everything worked absolutely fine. The rule of thumb is that the transformer should have the capacity for twice the wattage of any heating appliance. Our coffee maker uses 1300 watts. The transformer can handle 1500. Coffee maker works fine. Blew the little fuse a couple of times but it wasn't a big deal and a stronger transformer would have been huge and hugely expensive.
If you are shipping your stuff by sea, a few extra boxes won't add anything to your cost. Don't leave anything behind that you are sentimental about or enjoy using.
You should be able to find the rules for what can be imported into Australia on the internet - look for information for Australians who are returning from holidays.
posted by strasbourg at 7:25 PM on March 9, 2016
Best answer: I have dealt with Australian biosecurity recently for personal things and have dealt with quarantine in various jobs. The best advice you can follow is do not fudge anything. Be clear, honest and don't try and sneak in anything - you'll make hell for yourself if you do. Quarantine here is entirely unlike traveling in Europe for example.
The website you want to determine if you can import your foodstuffs is the BICON system. It is extremely comprehensive but rather technical, I would recommend this route only for things you really care about and will be unable to get in Australia (I'm not sure what these things would be, honestly). A better, and probably less frustrating, rule of thumb to adopt is to simply not import any foodstuffs. If it's unopened in labeled, commercial packaging it's often doable, but why bother buying new things to bring? Mixed teas are hard to import, honey is flat out impossible - for you anyway, it can be commercially imported.
A note for the kitchen appliances with motors, if you get tempted to bring them. Aside from the voltage difference, Australian power is 50hz, yours is 60hz. A step down transformer will not correct this. Your appliances will probably work at this frequency but will run 20% slower and likely hotter, unless they are designed for this. It's not very good for them.
posted by deadwax at 7:39 PM on March 9, 2016 [6 favorites]
The website you want to determine if you can import your foodstuffs is the BICON system. It is extremely comprehensive but rather technical, I would recommend this route only for things you really care about and will be unable to get in Australia (I'm not sure what these things would be, honestly). A better, and probably less frustrating, rule of thumb to adopt is to simply not import any foodstuffs. If it's unopened in labeled, commercial packaging it's often doable, but why bother buying new things to bring? Mixed teas are hard to import, honey is flat out impossible - for you anyway, it can be commercially imported.
A note for the kitchen appliances with motors, if you get tempted to bring them. Aside from the voltage difference, Australian power is 50hz, yours is 60hz. A step down transformer will not correct this. Your appliances will probably work at this frequency but will run 20% slower and likely hotter, unless they are designed for this. It's not very good for them.
posted by deadwax at 7:39 PM on March 9, 2016 [6 favorites]
You could replace almost all your electrical items with delightful Australian vintage equivalents for under US$400. Considering the cost of transport, and a quality step down transformer (@$200), it may be cheaper and more convenient all round to just buy new-second-hand when you get here. You can then sell it again before you leave, if you are going back home.
Don't bring any food stuffs at all. Australia is a gourmet paradise and you can get everything you want here.
posted by Thella at 7:43 PM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Don't bring any food stuffs at all. Australia is a gourmet paradise and you can get everything you want here.
posted by Thella at 7:43 PM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I moved from the US to Australia in 2008. I brought appliances and bought step-down transformers (which aren't cheap and they weigh a ton, more than my cast iron Dutch oven does) and it just didn't achieve the desired effect - blown fuses, appliances not drawing enough power or drawing power irregularly enough that the internal fuse blew, it was just a complete pain in the ass and I recommend you just sell your old appliances and start over.
Bring every hand tool you own, though, and all of your pans, because it gets very expensive very quickly re-equipping a kitchen. Just on dry goods and basic herbs and spices I spent about $200 and a couple of hours - I'd suggest you make a list of everything that's in your pantry now (exempting the random items that are covered in dust because you really thought you were going to learn how to use them or you got them as a gift).
Australian biosecurity is indeed a pain in the ass but I have brought in tea - as long as there aren't seeds, you are usually okay.
Canned clams are the only thing I haven't been able to find here. Well, and half-and-half, but you can make that if you can find liquid whipping cream (there's loads of thickened and/or sweetened or sour cream products here but your basic liquid unsweetened whipping cream not so much) or you can make do with whole milk.
posted by gingerest at 7:53 PM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Bring every hand tool you own, though, and all of your pans, because it gets very expensive very quickly re-equipping a kitchen. Just on dry goods and basic herbs and spices I spent about $200 and a couple of hours - I'd suggest you make a list of everything that's in your pantry now (exempting the random items that are covered in dust because you really thought you were going to learn how to use them or you got them as a gift).
Australian biosecurity is indeed a pain in the ass but I have brought in tea - as long as there aren't seeds, you are usually okay.
Canned clams are the only thing I haven't been able to find here. Well, and half-and-half, but you can make that if you can find liquid whipping cream (there's loads of thickened and/or sweetened or sour cream products here but your basic liquid unsweetened whipping cream not so much) or you can make do with whole milk.
posted by gingerest at 7:53 PM on March 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
>No, it's a step-down transformer they want - to step 240v down to 120v.
Thank you, you are of course correct. I don't know why I wrote that. Is it home-time yet?
posted by pompomtom at 7:59 PM on March 9, 2016
Thank you, you are of course correct. I don't know why I wrote that. Is it home-time yet?
posted by pompomtom at 7:59 PM on March 9, 2016
I wouldn't sell my old Kitchen Aid mixers (or any other well-made kitchen appliances) for love or money. Those older appliances were built to last and most of the newer offerings are just cheap garbage.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 10:39 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by LuckySeven~ at 10:39 PM on March 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Any kind of kitchen appliance, as well as the foods you mentioned, will be of biosecurity concern, so you should declare all of them if you want to bring them to Australia - presumably because of the risk of bringing households pests and food in them unintentionally.
On this website, you can get a room by room breakdown of all the concerning items from a biosecurity perspective.
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling/moving-immigrating/personal_effects#kitchen
You can't bring the honey at all. You might be allowed the tea and preserves if they're unopened and in commercial packaging, but you still have to declare them. They might be fumigated, and if so, you'll have to pay the cost.
posted by Stephanie_Says at 10:51 PM on March 9, 2016
On this website, you can get a room by room breakdown of all the concerning items from a biosecurity perspective.
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/travelling/moving-immigrating/personal_effects#kitchen
You can't bring the honey at all. You might be allowed the tea and preserves if they're unopened and in commercial packaging, but you still have to declare them. They might be fumigated, and if so, you'll have to pay the cost.
posted by Stephanie_Says at 10:51 PM on March 9, 2016
Just as data point, I've brought in both honey and teas from Europe with no problems at all. I had honey bought in a shop, as well as some packaged by friends and neither were rejected. The customs lady had a careful look to see if the honey had been strained and passed it. She automatically passed my teas. The only thing I had problems with were some vegetable seeds that didn't have English or Latin names on them, they had to go in the bin.
Don't forget to bring measuring cups and spoons if all your recipes are in US measures.
posted by glitter at 12:33 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Don't forget to bring measuring cups and spoons if all your recipes are in US measures.
posted by glitter at 12:33 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you're moving here for good and are thinking of bringing the mixers for sentimental value or because they are of better quality, keep in mind that they will have zero resale value here. Sell them in the US, use those higher-valued dollars to buy replacements here.
I've had Quarantine Control confiscate tea because of citrus peel and peppercorns. I wouldn't risk it. I also broke a bunch of smaller electrical goods (blow dryer, hair straightener, electric razor) and wish I'd just sold them back in America. Australia has everything you'll want, and for a lot less money.
Welcome :)
posted by third word on a random page at 1:05 AM on March 10, 2016
I've had Quarantine Control confiscate tea because of citrus peel and peppercorns. I wouldn't risk it. I also broke a bunch of smaller electrical goods (blow dryer, hair straightener, electric razor) and wish I'd just sold them back in America. Australia has everything you'll want, and for a lot less money.
Welcome :)
posted by third word on a random page at 1:05 AM on March 10, 2016
If there is a sign up at the airport that says Channel Seven is taping "Border Security," for the love of all that is holy, just throw all your foodstuffs in the bin. There is no honey so good it is worth appearing on Australian reality television for.
posted by retrograde at 1:12 AM on March 10, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by retrograde at 1:12 AM on March 10, 2016 [12 favorites]
Although if you're a white person for whom English is a first language you will do okay on Border Security.
posted by gingerest at 1:27 AM on March 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by gingerest at 1:27 AM on March 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
I had honey bought in a shop, as well as some packaged by friends and neither were rejected. The customs lady had a careful look to see if the honey had been strained and passed it.
This is kind of mind boggling to me, I've even had honey confiscated within Australia (SA to WA border), I've never heard of it getting through before and I kind of wonder if the quarantine person was entirely doing their job. I'm a former bee keeper (hobby, but still, I know a little) and straining achieves approximately nothing in terms of diseases, pasteurisation is what they should have been checking for but that's impossible to judge by looking at it and 99% of packaging doesn't say either way.
So ok, it's not unheard of to get it in, but you will have to be very lucky.
Australian reality television
International. You can watch it in Denmark. Made me want to hide under the couch in embarrassment.
posted by deadwax at 3:26 AM on March 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
This is kind of mind boggling to me, I've even had honey confiscated within Australia (SA to WA border), I've never heard of it getting through before and I kind of wonder if the quarantine person was entirely doing their job. I'm a former bee keeper (hobby, but still, I know a little) and straining achieves approximately nothing in terms of diseases, pasteurisation is what they should have been checking for but that's impossible to judge by looking at it and 99% of packaging doesn't say either way.
So ok, it's not unheard of to get it in, but you will have to be very lucky.
Australian reality television
International. You can watch it in Denmark. Made me want to hide under the couch in embarrassment.
posted by deadwax at 3:26 AM on March 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I'd leave the appliances and stuff your suitcase with Milanos, everything from Trader Joes, Libby's tinned pumpkin, Rotel, anything Mexican, Fluff and Graham Crackers. You could sell all those things to expats here and make a killing. If you really want to bring something over, I'd recommend just the Bamix and one vintage Kitchen Aid. There is a good chance they will die here if they're not compatible with 240v 50hertz. Take the teas with you, you should be fine unless they've got whole flowers in them.
posted by travellingincognito at 3:47 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by travellingincognito at 3:47 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you have more questions, join FB groups Yanks Down Under or Americans Down Under.
posted by travellingincognito at 3:52 AM on March 10, 2016
posted by travellingincognito at 3:52 AM on March 10, 2016
I've even had honey confiscated within Australia (SA to WA border)
WA has its own quarantine and they're very serious about it. There's sniffer beagles at the domestic airport checking flights as they come in and a checkpoint at the road borders.
posted by Talez at 6:49 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
WA has its own quarantine and they're very serious about it. There's sniffer beagles at the domestic airport checking flights as they come in and a checkpoint at the road borders.
posted by Talez at 6:49 AM on March 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh and in addition to the Border Security show warnings, Australians take biosecurity really, really seriously. Sneaking stuff through isn't about thwarting The Man but can seriously damage the environment. So declare everything you do decide to bring. They'll tell you if you can have it or not and you don't get fined if you're honest and turns out it's not allowed.
The basics of Border Security is the quarantine staff saying over and over, are you sure you don't have anything not allowed, the person saying oh, of course not and then after ANOTHER ad break it's revealed they have a suitcase full of it. Oh, that stuff.
(I've had US friends tell me to just not declare stuff I was unsure about bringing into the US and I was horrified. We're raised from birth to be wary about quarantine risk).
I think kitchenaid mixers are expensive here and it would be a shame to ditch quality ones. If you think you'll return to the states someday, can you leave them with someone to use or store?
posted by kitten magic at 3:56 PM on March 10, 2016
The basics of Border Security is the quarantine staff saying over and over, are you sure you don't have anything not allowed, the person saying oh, of course not and then after ANOTHER ad break it's revealed they have a suitcase full of it. Oh, that stuff.
(I've had US friends tell me to just not declare stuff I was unsure about bringing into the US and I was horrified. We're raised from birth to be wary about quarantine risk).
I think kitchenaid mixers are expensive here and it would be a shame to ditch quality ones. If you think you'll return to the states someday, can you leave them with someone to use or store?
posted by kitten magic at 3:56 PM on March 10, 2016
Response by poster: Thank you all for the replies. I am sad in ditching a mighty nice accumulation of kitchen goods. I am going to find homes for the items. A chunk of the teas are still sealed in bags so I will declare those. I assume the chocolate collection is a no go, too.
So, upthread it was mentioned that I could replace items for $400, which makes me hopeful. What local brands should I be considering to swap out and what merchants should I scope out?
posted by jadepearl at 7:26 PM on March 10, 2016
So, upthread it was mentioned that I could replace items for $400, which makes me hopeful. What local brands should I be considering to swap out and what merchants should I scope out?
posted by jadepearl at 7:26 PM on March 10, 2016
Really not my area of expertise, but if you're looking for vintage stuff, my guess is most people use eBay (that's ebay.com.au, rather than .com). The main Australian kitchen appliances brands are Breville and Sunbeam (started from the American company, but I think it is separate now?). But Australia is not a big manufacturing country, so we have a lot of American and European brands, and when it comes to kitchen stuff, I think people generally rate foreign brands higher (but that may have no basis in fact; Australians often take an irrationally dim view of home-grown things). If you're looking at vintage mixers, I would expect to see lots of Kenwood and KitchenAid.
For new stuff, I think any of the chain homewares/appliance retailers (Harvey Norman, the Good Guys) are much of a muchness. Australia's version of Consumer Reports is Choice but there are probably plenty of online forums for cooking enthusiasts.
posted by retrograde at 6:12 AM on March 11, 2016
For new stuff, I think any of the chain homewares/appliance retailers (Harvey Norman, the Good Guys) are much of a muchness. Australia's version of Consumer Reports is Choice but there are probably plenty of online forums for cooking enthusiasts.
posted by retrograde at 6:12 AM on March 11, 2016
Best answer:
A few caveats though:
As for new stuff: retrograde's already mentioned a couple of the 300lb gorillas of appliance retail (HN & GG). The 3rd gorilla is JB Hi Fi. There's also a bunch of locally-owned stores that operate under umbrella names (e.g. Retravision, Betta) which can sometimes do good prices. I'll also add Appliances Online, since we've had nothing but good experiences with them - 'customer service" (or, indeed, "service") is a concept that's alien to many Australian retailers, on-line or otherwise.
(* I'm in Brisbane & collect old radios, but I watch eBay & check out the local shops there every few months.)
posted by Pinback at 8:11 PM on March 11, 2016
upthread it was mentioned that I could replace items for $400I was all ready to say I thought that was wildly optimistic - but looking around on eBay, and depending what you call 'vintage', a good collection of old kitchenware is probably doable for ~ that sort of money.
A few caveats though:
- If you call 80's stuff 'vintage', then you'll be disappointed. That's basically when Australian manufacturing was destroyed & mostly replaced by cheap imports - and, along with it went imports of good quality UK/Euro stuff. That last has changed a bit in more recent times, but if you're looking for local equivalents to, say, your vintage Kitchenaid mixers, then you'll be looking at 70's or earlier.
- In a lot of respects (e.g. design, features), even those 70's & earlier appliances are 10-20 years behind their US counterparts. The flip-side of that is they're possibly better built overall...
- In my admittedly limited experience*, the hipster/retro crowd have totally sk(r)ewed the market for old homewares & appliances in Sydney/Melbourne & nearby. Anything halfway good is quickly hoovered up only to re-appear in a 'retro' shop or dealer at 5x~10x the price.
- A lot of kitchen appliances simply weren't popular here until the 80's or later. You might find a late 70's/early 80's coffemaker or grinder, but they're rare. Similarly, pre-80's electric jugs are common, while electric kettles are rare. Same for blenders, etc.
As for new stuff: retrograde's already mentioned a couple of the 300lb gorillas of appliance retail (HN & GG). The 3rd gorilla is JB Hi Fi. There's also a bunch of locally-owned stores that operate under umbrella names (e.g. Retravision, Betta) which can sometimes do good prices. I'll also add Appliances Online, since we've had nothing but good experiences with them - 'customer service" (or, indeed, "service") is a concept that's alien to many Australian retailers, on-line or otherwise.
(* I'm in Brisbane & collect old radios, but I watch eBay & check out the local shops there every few months.)
posted by Pinback at 8:11 PM on March 11, 2016
It should be noted that the original poster said US$400, so that is around AU$530 right now. Of course, things could change a lot by the time you move.
posted by retrograde at 10:32 PM on March 11, 2016
posted by retrograde at 10:32 PM on March 11, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks all, I have a tentative game plan for my kitchen move:
posted by jadepearl at 4:45 PM on April 9, 2016
- give away a majority of my heavy equipment. If you are in the Twin Cities memail me to see what is available;
- bring all pots and pans and maybe buy certain pieces in preparation (ship);
- supplement my vintage cast iron items(ship);
- kitchen knives (check-in luggage?)
- order a sous vide circulator that is meant for Australia because the price is that much cheaper in the US (ship)
- Weber smoky mountain (ship)
- teas still packaged and sealed (ship)
posted by jadepearl at 4:45 PM on April 9, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
I've not had to deal with bringing 120v equipment into Aus (and it's a step-up transformer that you'd want) but I suspect it'd be a PITA. That said: remember to bring a US-plug powerboard or two if you have them, so you can minimise the plug-converters/rewiring you'd need (though that's more for other electronics with switchmode power supplies, rather than motory things like mixers).
posted by pompomtom at 6:33 PM on March 9, 2016