THE DANGERS OF PARALLEL IMPORTING POWER TOOLS:

Tool and Industrial Supplies are authorised resellers of all the major power tool brands in NZ.  We have a great relationship with our suppliers and always work to bring you the best deals possible. 

All of our tools are genuine brands, built for the NZ electrical system, built to take NZ fuels, and built to an extremely high standard. Each and every tool is backed by a full manufacturers warranty.  Whats more, if you bring a brand name tool to us that’s having problems and is still under warranty, we will  send it off for repair (Even if it wasn’t purchased in our store!) We see broken down and poorly performing  parallel imported tools all the time.  We cannot warranty these and would like to make potential buyers aware of the problems they may face.

WE NEVER PARALLEL IMPORT OUR TOOLS – ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT!

Here’s a few of the problems that people who buy parallel imported tools run into:

1.   PARALLEL IMPORTS AND THE NZ ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The parallel imported power tool or battery charger isn’t rated for the NZ electrical system.  Tools imported without electrical safety approval may be hazardous when operated on New Zealand mains power with potentially catastrophic consequences.   Tools without New Zealand electrical safety approval will not be able to be tagged for electrical compliance.  Don’t risk melted chargers or fires with unsafe tools.   

2.  COUNTERFEIT TOOLS

Counterfeit tools are always  substandard and just don’t do the job they were designed for. Often they are downright dangerous.  If a brand name is popular such as Hitachi or Makita, you can bet there will be counterfeit products out there.  Always buy from an NZ authorised dealer such as ourselves to ensure you’re buying a tool that does what it says, is FAR less likely to run into problems and is backed by a full warranty.  There are loads of counterfeit power tools being produced. 

3. REPAIRING PARALLEL IMPORTS

Trying to get a parallel imported tool repaired in NZ will be next to impossible.  Authorised Service agents  may not be able to access the spare parts required to repair the tools and even if the tool is still under warranty – no authorised dealer will repair it.  Parallel imported tools may look the same to you but authorised tool stores are trained to spot fakes and power tool manufacturers like Makita and Hitachi will never repair counterfeit or parallel imported tools.

4.  PARALLEL IMPORTED OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT

Beware of Outdoor Power Equipment that has been built for other overseas markets   - carburettors will not be tuned for New Zealand fuel and therefore starting, performance, fuel efficiency and emissions may be affected

5.  PARALLEL IMPORTED POWER TOOL BATTERIES

We often have complaints of power tool batteries not holding their charge, having reduced run time and being low on power.  Check out the parallel imported Makita battery that was sold for $160 but had only one layer of cells and the rest was POLYSTYRENE!  Or the Hitachi Lithium Ion battery with inferior battery cells and missing Hitachi's electronic protection circuitry. Other reports of counterfeit batteries having internal wiring that is too thin with the possibility of   overheating during heavy usage

Power tool batteries are expensive to produce and there are no short cuts when making them – you get what you pay for!

SO HOW DO YOU  TELL IF A PRODUCT IS GENUINE?

• Price - Genuine products cost more.  If the price seems too good to be true then it most likely is.  We can offer the cheapest prices in NZ for most power tool brands.  If we can't match or beat the price, then its most likely fake or parallel imported.
• Ask the seller for the product code and check the code against the manufacturers NZ website. If the product isn't listed on the site (with the exception of very new products) then its not genuine.  (to check makita go to www.makita.co.nz and for Hikoki - go to www.hikoki.co.nz 
  
•  If you are still not sure call us on 09 272 9191

Click on the links below for more info on parallel imported tools:

NZ Herald article on fire risks with parallel imports

Hitachi warning on parallel imported tools

Makita warning on parallel imported tools