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Author Topic:   Canadian Honda / U.S. Buyer???

browning20ga posted 01-24-2002 07:32 PM ET (US)
I'm still shopping for a best price on a Honda 30hp. outboard. One of this forums members suggested a Canadian dealer and I can save about $600.00, delivered to my door. My question is, has anyone bought a Canadian out board and had any warranty service done in the states? I called Honda of Canada and they say the warranty would only be honored in Canada, of course the dealer says that is not true Canadian dealers service U.S. outboards and U.S. dealers will honor Canadian warranties. I don't want to save $600.00 and loose the Honda 3 year non-degrading warranty. Trying to get info out of these guys is like pulling teeth and then you can only believe half of what they say. Any comments or experience would be appreciated
Thanks, Darrell

jimh posted 01-24-2002 07:52 PM ET (US)
This anectodal report of a similar purchase may be of interest:
A co-worker of mine is a very avid home theatre enthusiast. He has a very elaborate satellite system, video players of all sorts, a very high-end surround sound reproduction system, and just recently purchased a very large 16-by-9 High-Definition television.
The set he bought is made by a Japanese firm. It was available from several local retailers for about $6,000. The set was also available from a Canadian dealer (just across the border for us in Detroit) for about $1,000 less than the best price available in the States.
Fearing problems with warranty and service, my co-worker friend made many inquiries about these issues. The American retailers all cautioned him against buying the set abroad, citing problems with service, issues of "gray market" retailing, lack of proper support, etc.
The Canadian dealer told him it was perfectly legitimate, he would handle all the paperwork, deliver the set across the border, install it, etc.
To resolve these issues my friend contacted the manufacturer directly, where he found indeed the Canadian dealer was completely licensed and authorized to sell the sets, there would be no problem delivering them to the States, there was no difference in warranty, etc.
Since the cost savings was considerable ( $1,000) and none of the American dealers was interested in lowering their price, he purchased the set through the Canadian dealer.
He is a very satisfied customer, has an extra $1,000 in his pocket, and now is a stauch supporter of NAFTA.
--jimh
Bigshot posted 01-25-2002 09:12 AM ET (US)
Hit the nail on the head there Jim, NAFTA! I hear you might have an issue with buying American made stuff in Canada and shipping to US but I think that mainly has to do with emmissions stuff that does not meet US code on our American exports. Anything imported into Canada and then bought by Americans will be honored from what I understand(Japanese, German, English, etc).
browning20ga posted 01-26-2002 01:19 AM ET (US)
F.Y.I. I called a local Honda dealer and told them I had a Canadian outboard that needed some warranty work, they said the couldn't do it and said they always check the VIN# to make sure its under warranty and a U.S. model????? Guess I'll have to buy $merican.
Darrell
Toad2001 posted 01-26-2002 11:10 PM ET (US)
The cost differential is probably short term. Everything foreign made (from Japanese engines to US made trucks) is relatively a bit cheaper in Canada than in the US. Its due to our current all time low dollar. ie: a vehicle that sells in the US for $30000, isn't $48000 in Canada, as conversion would imply. (its far less/subsidized). The Canadian dollar now tracks at an exchange rate that similar to metric and imperial speed conversion (albeit inverted)... :-)...100 MPH=160KMH, $1.00 Canadian = $1.60US$...
This "subsidy" is likely short lived and should the Cdn $ continue to trend low, us Canadians will end up paying even more "realistic" pricing.
"Good deals" in Canada appear that way only because the US$ is so powerful right now relative to Cdn. Because manufacturers are basically subsidizing the Canadian market, they really don't want a mass exodus of the destined product heading South. Expect that the manufacturer's will try and minimize the appeal of exporting by making things difficult forn US consumers (re: warranty etc). The runaround you experience is part of their strategy. (Its almost impossible to export a new truck from Canada to the US-if Ford/GM made it possible/easy, everyone trying to save a buck would do it...)
PS-if you are looking for a great deal on a used car or boat, Canada might be a great place. Lets say a boat was for sale here for $11000 Cdn., thats only $6875 US$. Again, things are more expensive here, but typically not 1.6 times as expensive.
(Unfortunately, we don't get paid 1.6 times that of Americans) :(
Bigshot posted 01-28-2002 11:04 AM ET (US)
Browning...do not take a dealers word for it, cal Honda USA and ask them. If they say warranty is good...then it is good. Call a local Merc dealer and tell them you bought the engine out of state and need warranty work....
JFM posted 01-28-2002 11:59 AM ET (US)
The teak bench we sent jimh came from Indonesia to Canada to the U.S. to my company. The reason I buy from the Canadian Co. is price. The same bench from Indonesia to U.S. to me cost 20% more. The lifetime warranty applies to the Canadian Co. only, 25 year warranty from the states. So far the warranty hasn't been an issue, I haven't had to use one yet after selling several hundred. Knock on wood! Man that's bad. Regards, Jay
lhg posted 01-28-2002 01:57 PM ET (US)
Does one even need a warranty on a Honda?

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Author	Topic: Canadian Honda / U.S. Buyer???
browning20ga	posted 01-24-2002 07:32 PM ET (US) I'm still shopping for a best price on a Honda 30hp. outboard. One of this forums members suggested a Canadian dealer and I can save about $600.00, delivered to my door. My question is, has anyone bought a Canadian out board and had any warranty service done in the states? I called Honda of Canada and they say the warranty would only be honored in Canada, of course the dealer says that is not true Canadian dealers service U.S. outboards and U.S. dealers will honor Canadian warranties. I don't want to save $600.00 and loose the Honda 3 year non-degrading warranty. Trying to get info out of these guys is like pulling teeth and then you can only believe half of what they say. Any comments or experience would be appreciated Thanks, Darrell
jimh	posted 01-24-2002 07:52 PM ET (US) This anectodal report of a similar purchase may be of interest: A co-worker of mine is a very avid home theatre enthusiast. He has a very elaborate satellite system, video players of all sorts, a very high-end surround sound reproduction system, and just recently purchased a very large 16-by-9 High-Definition television. The set he bought is made by a Japanese firm. It was available from several local retailers for about $6,000. The set was also available from a Canadian dealer (just across the border for us in Detroit) for about $1,000 less than the best price available in the States. Fearing problems with warranty and service, my co-worker friend made many inquiries about these issues. The American retailers all cautioned him against buying the set abroad, citing problems with service, issues of "gray market" retailing, lack of proper support, etc. The Canadian dealer told him it was perfectly legitimate, he would handle all the paperwork, deliver the set across the border, install it, etc. To resolve these issues my friend contacted the manufacturer directly, where he found indeed the Canadian dealer was completely licensed and authorized to sell the sets, there would be no problem delivering them to the States, there was no difference in warranty, etc. Since the cost savings was considerable ( $1,000) and none of the American dealers was interested in lowering their price, he purchased the set through the Canadian dealer. He is a very satisfied customer, has an extra $1,000 in his pocket, and now is a stauch supporter of NAFTA. --jimh
Bigshot	posted 01-25-2002 09:12 AM ET (US) Hit the nail on the head there Jim, NAFTA! I hear you might have an issue with buying American made stuff in Canada and shipping to US but I think that mainly has to do with emmissions stuff that does not meet US code on our American exports. Anything imported into Canada and then bought by Americans will be honored from what I understand(Japanese, German, English, etc).
browning20ga	posted 01-26-2002 01:19 AM ET (US) F.Y.I. I called a local Honda dealer and told them I had a Canadian outboard that needed some warranty work, they said the couldn't do it and said they always check the VIN# to make sure its under warranty and a U.S. model????? Guess I'll have to buy $merican. Darrell
Toad2001	posted 01-26-2002 11:10 PM ET (US) The cost differential is probably short term. Everything foreign made (from Japanese engines to US made trucks) is relatively a bit cheaper in Canada than in the US. Its due to our current all time low dollar. ie: a vehicle that sells in the US for $30000, isn't $48000 in Canada, as conversion would imply. (its far less/subsidized). The Canadian dollar now tracks at an exchange rate that similar to metric and imperial speed conversion (albeit inverted)... :-)...100 MPH=160KMH, $1.00 Canadian = $1.60US$... This "subsidy" is likely short lived and should the Cdn $ continue to trend low, us Canadians will end up paying even more "realistic" pricing. "Good deals" in Canada appear that way only because the US$ is so powerful right now relative to Cdn. Because manufacturers are basically subsidizing the Canadian market, they really don't want a mass exodus of the destined product heading South. Expect that the manufacturer's will try and minimize the appeal of exporting by making things difficult forn US consumers (re: warranty etc). The runaround you experience is part of their strategy. (Its almost impossible to export a new truck from Canada to the US-if Ford/GM made it possible/easy, everyone trying to save a buck would do it...) PS-if you are looking for a great deal on a used car or boat, Canada might be a great place. Lets say a boat was for sale here for $11000 Cdn., thats only $6875 US$. Again, things are more expensive here, but typically not 1.6 times as expensive. (Unfortunately, we don't get paid 1.6 times that of Americans) :(
Bigshot	posted 01-28-2002 11:04 AM ET (US) Browning...do not take a dealers word for it, cal Honda USA and ask them. If they say warranty is good...then it is good. Call a local Merc dealer and tell them you bought the engine out of state and need warranty work....
JFM	posted 01-28-2002 11:59 AM ET (US) The teak bench we sent jimh came from Indonesia to Canada to the U.S. to my company. The reason I buy from the Canadian Co. is price. The same bench from Indonesia to U.S. to me cost 20% more. The lifetime warranty applies to the Canadian Co. only, 25 year warranty from the states. So far the warranty hasn't been an issue, I haven't had to use one yet after selling several hundred. Knock on wood! Man that's bad. Regards, Jay
lhg	posted 01-28-2002 01:57 PM ET (US) Does one even need a warranty on a Honda?