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Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/07/31 21:22Hi everybody.
Here's my first post here after a couple of weeks of lurking.
I'm almost set on buying my first espresso machine : after a trip to Italy, I can't figure how to live in my café-less small town!
It looks like I'll be going for the Miss Silvia, but I have a few questions regarding the place where I should buy it. I'm wondering if it's worth buying "localy" (read in Québec city, 2 hours from home) and paying more for the same machine with the hope of a better service if something goes bad. The shop I visited in Québec sells Silvia and her Rocky for 1330 $ (tx included).
I sure can bargain a little, but I doubt I can bring the price as low as espressotec.com, where it would cost me 1140$ (tx and shipping included) for the same stuff plus the BS50 base (which I don't really care about... still it saves me from buying a knock box ).
My question is : is it worth spending that much more to buy "localy" ? What kind of remote service can I get from espressotec if anything goes bad ?
Finally, if you saw a better deal on the Silvia, please let me know
Thanks a lot!
Luc
Edit : anybody dealt with GreatInfusion Co. before? They seem to have a too-good-to-be-true deal on a Silvia bundle.
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Frederick
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/01 03:39Hi there..... There is a saving there obviously. EspressoTec is a fine company with great prices. I would first check the service departement of your local shop, how long have thay handled that line? Are they more than familiar with it?
Even if you have to factor in shipping to and fro IF your unit needs repairs, it may cost less in the long run to send it further if the local place is not that familiar with the unit or has trainees handling the screwdrivers, or even has long delays.
This may contredict what I'm suggesting,in my region, BUY LOCAL is the word to save jobs. This does have it's limits though. As for what kind of service you can expect from EspressoTec.....call them up and find out. I know that they are tops!
When you factor in all if's and but's and maybe's my rule is: buy from the best.
Toodle-dee-doo-cracker-bits, Frederick.Frederick Nakos is the Global authority on the Atomic Espresso Coffee maker.
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tmplo
User Senior Barista
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/01 08:36EspressoTec's new website is up and running today. So they have officially raised their Silvia/Rocky prices as of today.
As for their service. They are good. I bought my 1st espresso machine and grinder from them. And I went back yesterday to buy the Silvia/Rock combo before the price increase. Saved $100.Tmplo is a Vancouver area resident and coffee expert
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LucUseTheFork
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/01 12:03tmplo wrote: EspressoTec's new website is up and running today. So they have officially raised their Silvia/Rocky prices as of today.
Holy bad news, Batman!
Since I'm not going to buy until next month, I guess I can't really ask for a "price-match-yourself"...That foils my plans.
The price is now worse than Cafe-Union in Montreal. Guess I'll buy "more localy".
Luc
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tmplo
User Senior Barista
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/01 14:42Hi Luc,
Canterbury Coffee here in Richmond is the distributor for Rancilio. I think they still have the old price. Their list price for Silvia/Rocky combo is $1,058. I suppose the price does not include the base. I don't know if they ship to other areas or not. If you go on their website, you can find their sales email address. Drop them an email and see how their price compare to your local price.
Also, if you buy from the States, you'll have to pay extra import tax on top of GST/PST or HST because Rancilio is made in Italy.Tmplo is a Vancouver area resident and coffee expert
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LucUseTheFork
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/01 18:08Thanks a lot Frederick and Tmplo.
After seeing that price increase at Espressotec (it's silly that the price changed the day afer I get to know their site) I'll try to get a bargain here in Québec City.
It looks like I'll be able to pull a deal similar to what I'd be getting on the net, minus the base. The PST adds a lot to a 1K $ bill
I'll keep you in touch.
Thanks again to this great community!
Luc
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dreaming of silvia
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/03 11:00Hi!
I am very interested in this discussion because I live in Québec city and plan to buy Silvia in the next few weeks. Where in Québec did you shop? I only saw Silvia at Mi-Ra (high price), and they did not seem to know the machine well. I saw it also at Epicerie Européenne. I was thinking about going to Montreal at Cafe Union to buy it, as they seem to know more what they are talking about and are willing to let us try the machine before buying. It might be possible to bargain there. About the price increase: do you know it the prices are going to rise again in the next weeks? Thanks! Patricia
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LucUseTheFork
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Re:Miss Silvia : buy localy or on the net ? - 2007/08/03 18:33Hello Patricia!
I didn't know l'Épécerie Européenne carried those kind of machines!
Please send me a message at luc.tremblay.6 at ulaval.ca, so we don't use this forum for a private discussion.
J'attends de tes nouvelles!
Luc
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