Laser machine, where did you buy and how much did it cost to your doorstep?

HI Guys,

I am looking for a machine... Its been a nightmare so far.
For the record, I am frugal guy... ( so please I understand the adage, you get what you pay for... so don't)

What I am asking for is this.

What machine did YOU buy:
How much did it cost:
How much did you pay for shipping:
How much for import taxes and customs etc.:

And who did you deal with?

I found the perfect machine... even saw how they built it... agreed upon the price, signed and sent back the contract... Paid them... and then, had to hear promises of " no, no, we will ship it tomorrow every day for a week... I finally canceled the deal and got my money back through alibaba...

AVOID CHUANGYA!!!:mad::mad::mad:

And Yes I have heard "I told you so" about a 1000 times in 3 days

Thanks Guys! I really appreciate every ounce of info you can provide!!

How good are you are troubleshooting and repairing electrical / electronics otherwise rule out direct Import.

Lots of US venders selling Chinese machines, Boss, LightObject and Rabbit USA is just a few. I have a Ray Fine fiber that I Imported directly, others have also. Do some searching on here you will find a lot of brands mentioned. Prices change daily.

I just bought my first fiber laser. 30 watt. In fact, I am still learning how to use it. I bought it from Pete Charalampopoulos in Minnesota (209)712-0741. It is a Chinese made laser, but Pete appears to have made numerous upgrades to it. It came with the laptop and EXCAD software. It also came with jigs machine made for the shapes I needed. Total cost $8,100.00. I drove to MN to pick it up over the weekend. I choose to pick it up because I wanted to meet Pete in person. His price would have included the shipping.

I really appreciate Scott (on this forum: Richmond, Va) for spending a couple hours with me Monday night at his shop to help me get going with this machine. Scott was super nice.

Do a search or look for my posts. I've two Ray Fines, one CO2 other a 20W Fiber. But THEY ARE CHINESE! Heed Bill's advice. It is better for some to deal with US based company, or US built. Things happen.

I had a great experience with Rabbit Laser in Ohio. Ray Scott imports rabbit lasers upgrades them to USA standards . He will deliver to your door help you set it up and give you training before he leave. I knew nothing about chinese lasers but was up and running in a few hours.Well worth th few xtra bucks.

My Epilog is still going strong after 13 years. Over that time I replaced the tube 3 times, the first on warranty, two x-axis motors, the x-axis ribbon cable, one lens and two mirrors. It cost $16,000 in 2004, and paid for itself after the first year.

Epilog Legend 32, 30 watt. Bought it a few years ago for about 1600 bucks at government auction.

Just a hobby for me. Still running strong. I just replaced both mirrors and the focus lens.

Frankly, I'm amazed the tube is still running. I took it apart when I first got it and the synrad tube assembly had a manufacture date of like November 2001 or something. It must not have been used all that much at whatever base hobby shop had it.

Not a hint of buyers regret in my case. I cannot stress enough how stressless my purchase was, and more than willing to pay a little, and I mean very little, more than chinese direct.

Rabbit QS 1290, 80 watt, 3 ft x 4 ft bed, delivered, laser installed, mirrors installed, mirrors aligned, software installed, AND tutorial on how to run it - all by the owner of Rabbit personally (Ray Scott). I can't fully remember the total - I believe it was just under 12 grand.

Ray gets full container loads of lasers, so he ACTUALLY has them in stock. They check everything and adjust the beds into square, etc. All tech support right here in USA.

He and Carol have always answered my questions. Laser still runs great after over a year of nearly EVERYDAY use.

No shipping costs, no import / tax blah blah blah - all built into a very reasonable price.

I hear Boss laser is real good this way too.

Its interesting as Norton's just blocked me from accessing Rabbit Laser USA as it showed 4 Trojan horse viruses in the Downloads section.

Bill what specifically were you trying to do?? I just went to Rabbit and had no problems downloading project or manuals.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill George

Its interesting as Norton's just blocked me from accessing Rabbit Laser USA as it showed 4 Trojan horse viruses in the Downloads section.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by John Hendrick

I just bought my first fiber laser. 30 watt. In fact, I am still learning how to use it. I bought it from Pete Charalampopoulos in Minnesota (209)712-0741. It is a Chinese made laser, but Pete appears to have made numerous upgrades to it. It came with the laptop and EXCAD software. It also came with jigs machine made for the shapes I needed. Total cost $8,100.00. I drove to MN to pick it up over the weekend. I choose to pick it up because I wanted to meet Pete in person. His price would have included the shipping.

I really appreciate Scott (on this forum: Richmond, Va) for spending a couple hours with me Monday night at his shop to help me get going with this machine. Scott was super nice.

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He was incredibly helpful to me also, gave me his personal cell and on the weekend. He refused to take any money also, what a nice guy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bert Kemp

Bill what specifically were you trying to do?? I just went to Rabbit and had no problems downloading project or manuals.

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Do you recall last summer when I got a virus from a download (Ransom Ware) and Lost Everything on my main computer? I did have a back up that was 3 month old. That is when I took off all those free virus programs and put on Norton's. It found 4 viruses like I posted on in downloads area. Sure you can download all you want, but when Norton says there is a virus in the download.... I am a believer. Do what you want.

Bill I didn't say I didn't believe you I ask what specifically you were doing on the site. Can't find or fix a problem if we don't know where it is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill George

Do you recall last summer when I got a virus from a download (Ransom Ware) and Lost Everything on my main computer? I did have a back up that was 3 month old. That is when I took off all those free virus programs and put on Norton's. It found 4 viruses like I posted on in downloads area. Sure you can download all you want, but when Norton says there is a virus in the download.... I am a believer. Do what you want.

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Bought a Shenhui twin 80 watt 1580 eight years ago for total of $9300 of which $2600 was for shipping/clearance by freight forwarder. One original tube still going and 2nd tube replaced two years ago.
Have put over $200K worth of business thru it with only replacement lens twice.
Best regards
GM Perzel
Laserarts

I just got my machine last week and installed. I went with G. Weike LC1390 w/ 150w Reci W6.

Base price of the machine was 3800 with accessories and lenses it came to about 4300. They let me pay in two installments of half. The second when they sent me pics of it finished in the warehouse and before it shipped. Both payments were by bank wire xfer.

I used nina@wklaser.com and she was amazing. She responded quickly to all my emails and questions and stayed responsive during the customs phase of the process when I needed and FDA document. I can't say enough good things about her. Consider there is a day/night delay with China and she often was answering emails late into her night.

It was about $180 in shipping from china to the Port of Oakland and was included in the $4300 price.

Another $180 fee for freight forwarding I think. Truck delivery from port to my home (close by) was another $180. Customs fees I don't have the details of but all together to get it to my home I paid about $850.

The total was about $5100 all in. 150w laser, rotary, full set of 7 different lenses, blower, air pump , and she upgraded me to the CW5200 chiller at no additional charge.

BTW it worked just fine on arrival. The only real issue was the bed holding bracket had slipped on one corner and needed to be raised to make it level which was easy to do.

I went with G. Weike because from what I have heard they make many of the other brand's lasers machines in the same factory before they get marked up and re-branded. They've been doing this for 15 years and have the process down well. There was not a hint of any shadyness at any point and I got exactly what I asked for for less money than what I was expecting to pay through ebay. G. Weiki sells a lot of industrial laser and CnC equipment and now that I'm on their email list I keep getting invites to the trade shows they attend. My impression is this 5k machine is small potatoes for their business.

Oh and I used Ability Customs Brokers in San Leandro, CA and had a great experience with them as well.

I have a friend in Germany who is waiting to receive the exact same machine in a month or two. This was my experience. I hope yours goes well.

--Christopher