Conference taveng::bagels

Allen,


>    My parents will be visiting Israel in September and would like to bring
>    over a VCR from Canada for my uncle who lives near Haifa.
>    
>    Can compatible equipment be purchased here in North America for use in
>    Israel?
>    
>    Specifics of standards/formats and availability are appreciated.

What they have to purchase is a multi system VCR which can switch between NTSC
which is the standard in the U.S. and PAL which is the European standard used
here in Israel as well.

Take in mind 220 voltage as well.

Most of the electronic stores in the Manhattan/Brooklyn area should stock these
models. I have had very good success in the past with a store called A.B.C.
Electronics on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Thanks,

Cb. 

    They will have to go through the Red Line (something to declare) at
    Customs at the airport, and most likely have to pay the taxes on the
    VCR.

    RE: .1
    
    Thanks Chaim.
    
    
    RE: .2,
    
    Jonathan, do you know what rate of taxes are involved and what
    documentation is needed in bring gifts?
    
    Allen

.0>    My parents will be visiting Israel in September and would like to bring
.0>    over a VCR from Canada for my uncle who lives near Haifa.
.0>    
.0>    Can compatible equipment be purchased here in North America for use in
.0>    Israel?

.1>	What they have to purchase is a multi system VCR which can switch
.1>	between NTSC which is the standard in the U.S. and PAL which is the
.1>	European standard used here in Israel as well.

Not necessarily.  Unless the uncle wants to watch tapes brought over from North
America, there's no reason that he can't use a PAL-only VCR.  That could end up
being cheaper than a multi-system, even though it's likely to cost a lot more
than a comparable NTSC VCR purchased in Canada.

Given the limited availability of PAL-only video equipment in North America,
your parents' best bet might be to purchase one here in Israel during their
visit.

>Not necessarily.  Unless the uncle wants to watch tapes brought over from North
>America, there's no reason that he can't use a PAL-only VCR.  That could end up
>being cheaper than a multi-system, even though it's likely to cost a lot more
>than a comparable NTSC VCR purchased in Canada.

I believe he wants a "multi-system" since he did mentioned JVC NTSC + PAL in his
letter.  Is JVC known best for making NTSC/PAL equipment?

Allen

RE: <<< Note 1345.3 by TROOA::RITCHE "From the desk of Allen Ritche..." >>>
    
>    Jonathan, do you know what rate of taxes are involved and what
>    documentation is needed in bring gifts?
    
	No documentation is "needed". The customs have their own list
	of what VCR's, etc., "cost."  You would/will have very little
	luck to change their mind.

	So you know, the prices on their lists are at and above "list"
	price in the US.

	The taxes will be: Currently, about 50% of the customs' list price
	will be added for duty on a personal import (make sure you tell them
	that it is a personal import). Then, 17% will be added to the sum 
	of the list price and the customs duty.

	Not cheap, but if you buy well in the US, even if you pay all
	the taxes it will generally cost less than here.

	The down side: Israeli service agencies generally find it 
	"inconvenient" (to say the least!) to provide service on 
	applicances which were not imported/sold by them. Therefore, 
	comments from the people who sell the VCR in USA aside, there 
	will essentially be no warranty coverage here. There are 
	exceptions, but...

	Understand?  :-)  :-) The person who receives the VCR will generally 
	have to get any necessary service from local "labs."  Not necessarily 
	bad; just so you know.

don feinberg

.5>                             -< wants NTSC + PAL >-
.5>
.5>	I believe he wants a "multi-system" since he did mentioned
.5>	JVC NTSC + PAL in his letter.

I understand that Panasonic now makes a VCR that can play both PAL and NTSC
tapes with a PAL-only television.  (Panasonic equipment is sold in Israel under
the brand name National, and is widely available.)  This is not a true
multi-system, but might do everything that your uncle wants.  Again, buying
this here in Israel might be cheaper than bringing in a multi-system and paying
duty on it.  And as Don points out, you may have fewer worries about service.

RE: .6 and .7,

Eric and Don, thanks.  I'll check out the options.

If I check out a Canadian price here for one or two models (or maybe a U.S.
price when I am on travels to the Boston area), would someone be able to
compare with the cost in Israel?

Allen

In fact, unless you buy the nifty new machine that can play both PAL and
NTSC tapes on a PAL TV, you'll have to not only have a multi-system VCR,
but also a multi-system TV.  Plain old multi-system VCRs will only play
tapes on a TV compatible with the tape format.

That same nifty new machine will also allow you to record PAL programs in
NTSC and vice versa.

But it costs a lot of money.  A lot.

/john

   We bought a Sony with PAL plus NTSC playback on PAL in Israel for 
   about $900.  I think that the PAL only model was about $725-$750.
   Sony is typically about 10% more expensive than some of the other 
   locally popular brands.

   I had previously brought in a Panasonic VCR from the US and 
   while noone would honor the guarantee I had no problem 
   paying for and receiving service.  Of course, if it's not a 
   model which is found locally you could be way up the creek 
   if it needs parts.