Sherod - yes Tiger's caddie is from here. Kiwis are usually both fiercely independent and fiercely competitive. This is possibly why our ancestors went to precisely the other side of the world just to get away from the English. Poor old Tiger probably gets told exactly what to do and gets ribbed when he screws it up.
Marakanetz - last time I looked the price in NZ was around half the price in the US. Some dealers here began to get a lot of internet and mail order sales to the US, but the US importer got wild and Plinius had to reign in those dealers. All that is fair enough. I personally do not disagree with the right of a supplier to set whatever price they wish, and therefore do not object to the price discrimination. But I am pretty sure noone can object to you walking into a NZ dealer and buy a Plinius at NZ prices, get a refund on the sales tax on the way out of the country and then rely on the international provisions of the warranty. Conversion to 115V is fairly easy with the Plinius gear, but I am sure the dealer would happily supply it in 115V guise. The relativity of prices will have changed with the NZ dollar having risen recently - principally because the US dollar has fallen, but also because our interest rates are high and terrorists are not interested in us. Since you seem like an old buddy to me, if you want to follow it up just send me an email and I will happily help some more.
Cpdunn99. Yes, I was referring to the ludicrousness of the politics, not the ludicrousness of being left-wing. While I lean to the right, or should I say towards Libertarianism rather than the "let's nuke 'em" part of the spectrum, it would be fair to say that NZ's right wing parties are well to the left of the Democrats in the US. What frustrates me about NZ's ludicrous left is that their well intentioned, but totally emotionally driven decisions, often completely backfire on the people they so desperately want to help. But I guess my apologetic reference to our politics was to say I am often embarrased at the churlishly anti-American sentiment that is often present in some of the statements of our left-wing leaders here. However, I am sure you are occasionally embarassed by your politicians too(?) Now tell me, are you a man that likes a wee dram. I love the Scot single malts, but can always benefit from a recommendation. I tend to like the peaty Islay (like Lagavulin) or Isle of Skye (Talisker), but also like some complex lighter drops such as the Balvenie too. The last Scotsman I asked this question of on Audiogon told me he didn't drink the stuff - hope that wasn't you.
Marakanetz - last time I looked the price in NZ was around half the price in the US. Some dealers here began to get a lot of internet and mail order sales to the US, but the US importer got wild and Plinius had to reign in those dealers. All that is fair enough. I personally do not disagree with the right of a supplier to set whatever price they wish, and therefore do not object to the price discrimination. But I am pretty sure noone can object to you walking into a NZ dealer and buy a Plinius at NZ prices, get a refund on the sales tax on the way out of the country and then rely on the international provisions of the warranty. Conversion to 115V is fairly easy with the Plinius gear, but I am sure the dealer would happily supply it in 115V guise. The relativity of prices will have changed with the NZ dollar having risen recently - principally because the US dollar has fallen, but also because our interest rates are high and terrorists are not interested in us. Since you seem like an old buddy to me, if you want to follow it up just send me an email and I will happily help some more.
Cpdunn99. Yes, I was referring to the ludicrousness of the politics, not the ludicrousness of being left-wing. While I lean to the right, or should I say towards Libertarianism rather than the "let's nuke 'em" part of the spectrum, it would be fair to say that NZ's right wing parties are well to the left of the Democrats in the US. What frustrates me about NZ's ludicrous left is that their well intentioned, but totally emotionally driven decisions, often completely backfire on the people they so desperately want to help. But I guess my apologetic reference to our politics was to say I am often embarrased at the churlishly anti-American sentiment that is often present in some of the statements of our left-wing leaders here. However, I am sure you are occasionally embarassed by your politicians too(?) Now tell me, are you a man that likes a wee dram. I love the Scot single malts, but can always benefit from a recommendation. I tend to like the peaty Islay (like Lagavulin) or Isle of Skye (Talisker), but also like some complex lighter drops such as the Balvenie too. The last Scotsman I asked this question of on Audiogon told me he didn't drink the stuff - hope that wasn't you.