Topic: Buying Direct from Ecowitt

[doubleohwhatever]

It's entirely possible that Fine Offset is dealing with chip and component shortages. It's an industry-wide problem at the moment.

[TinkerTown]

It's entirely possible that Fine Offset is dealing with chip and component shortages. It's an industry-wide problem at the moment.

They must. I placed the order 4/24 and no update or shipment status.

[GeraltLK]

It's entirely possible that Fine Offset is dealing with chip and component shortages. It's an industry-wide problem at the moment.

A few days ago I wanted to buy 2 spare parts, thermohygrometers specifically for my station and they didn't have them. Apparently it's a supply problem and they told me it can take months to restore it.

[doubleohwhatever]

Apparently it's a supply problem and they told me it can take months to restore it.

That's consistent with what I'm seeing. Some components that have always been in stock by the thousands are now back-ordered until at least August.

This is something most anyone who has a product with a circuit board is dealing with. So I would definitely not get too upset with Ecowit/Fine Offset. In this situation, I believe they are doing the best they can.

[TimHop]

I just got my tracking number today. Order was on 4/19.

[LazyDogFarms]

Apparently it's a supply problem and they told me it can take months to restore it.

That's consistent with what I'm seeing. Some components that have always been in stock by the thousands are now back-ordered until at least August.

This is something most anyone who has a product with a circuit board is dealing with. So I would definitely not get too upset with Ecowit/Fine Offset. In this situation, I believe they are doing the best they can.

I also ordered a WH51 from Ecowitt and while can I understand if shipments are delayed due to supply chain problems, what I am less than pleased about is their lack of any response to my inquiries about order status.

There was no indication on their website when I ordered that there were stock problems with the WH51.  The order page directs you (via red highlighted text) to review shipping & delivery information, which states in part:

In normal, the items with 433MHz or 915MHz are in stock(not including the console accessories) and we'll ship your order within 1-2 weeks or so. For items with 868MHz, we'll need about 4-5 weeks to prepare your order. If itmes are out of stock with unexpected reasons, we'll inform you by emails.

But after I ordered, it has been nothing but silence.  I've sent several inquiries via email (I assume Lucy no longer works there) and have not received a single reply, despite their note under shipping information that says:

Any problem, please contact us at support@ecowitt.com / ecowittweather@outlook.com

We'll reply your messages within 24 hours(48hours or more for weekends and holidays )

Since I needed the WH51 for a summer vegetable garden, I'll probably just plan on doing without.  And absent a response from Ecowitt, I'll have to dispute the charge with my credit card issuer so the clock does not run on my ability to have the charge reversed. 

In short, I understand supply shortages but don't understand why they can't either update their website to alert customers before they order and/or reply to emails in a timely fashion as they promise to do.  I've recommended Ecowitt to quite a few folks but will hesitate to do so again (at least as far as ordering direct vs. Amazon).

[Rover1822]

I too have some WH51s on order, and I agree I wish there was more feedback from Ecowitt on status. Unfortunately, this seems to the norm when ordering directly from a Chinese company as opposed to the exception, as I (and I assume a lot of others) have  experienced in the past.

I pretty much think that companies like Ecowitt , part of Fine Offset, would prefer to go through distribution channels than be direct sellers.
I also believe the Ecowitt product line has pretty much taken off as far as demand outstripping supply, potentially more than expected.

But again, I agree, I wish there was more feedback, or at least information posted on availability.

[eliteweathernz]

Got an update today.

The HP2553 was on hold for my order as the WS80
Was getting an upgrade. Likely the previously mentioned improvement to avoid inaccurate readings due to rain etc.

Apparently it will be shipped this Friday to me.

[Rover1822]

Placed my order on 05/14. received notification yesterday that the wh51s have been shipped.

I'm OK with that

[TimHop]

Ordered 4/19, delivered 6/22 to the west coast US.

[TinkerTown]

I might get it in the next few days, finally, woot!

2021-06-23
05:03:14
TENDERED FOR DELIVERY,Grand Prairie,TX
2021-06-22
15:38:03
ENCODED,Grand Prairie,TX
2021-06-22
15:31:49
RECEIVED,Grand Prairie,TX
2021-06-22
14:40:00
In transit, it's progressing through Post network,ORD
2021-06-21
00:00:00
Depart from the destination distribution center.,Chicago,IL
2021-06-19
19:00:00
Arrived at the destination airport,ORD
2021-06-19
19:00:00
Arrival of goods at destination airport,ORD
2021-06-19
15:00:00
Released from customs: customs cleared.,ORD
2021-06-19
02:55:00
shipment departed from airport of origin country,HKG
2021-06-17
18:36:18
Hand over to airline.,HKG
2021-06-17
16:00:00
Arrived at Hong Kong hub.,HKG
2021-06-16
04:46:13
Depart from facility to service provider.,Shenzhen,China
2021-06-12
20:18:47
Shipment arrived at facility and measured.,Shenzhen,China
2021-06-12
20:18:47
4PX picked up shipment.,Shenzhen,China
2021-06-09
20:43:24
Parcel information received,

[Rover1822]

As a side note, the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor is back on Amazon US and in stock. With prime, I could have had them in 3 days (According to AMZ).

[LazyDogFarms]

As a side note, the Ecowitt soil moisture sensor is back on Amazon US and in stock. With prime, I could have had them in 3 days (According to AMZ).

I saw that last week so I cancelled my order with Ecowitt direct and purchased the WH51 from Amazon.  It arrived the other day.

[broadstairs]

My things I ordered from Ecowitt on 1st June arrived in the post today 30th June. Not bad all the way from China!

Stuart

Update: I had the email this morning saying they had shipped my order and provided tracking information 

[ramblinche81]

I bought some of the new old wN51 soil sensors direct because product is discontinued via Amazon. Only wH51 is available.

A few weeks delay and prompt responses when I asked about three weeks in.

My daughter tried to buy WH68 wind speed couple weeks ago and Amazon ran out with no future availability date provided.

[kenthcwx]

Thought I'd give some insight from the stuff I ordered.

Ordered a WH40 & a WN30 on the 30th/31st May.

Got a notification that they had shipped on the 24th of June, looks like it was moving around in China from the 18th based on the tracking link.

Arrived safely in one go on the 29th of June. More or less one month all in all which really isn't that bad considering everything!

[eliteweathernz]

I finally received confirmation of Stage 2 of my order which I placed back on the 7th of May.

It was a big order and with some recent upgrades it has meant they were holding back shipping it out.

My first stage is still floating around somewhere.
No change in status since the 19th of June all I have is International Departure: Your item is in transit to your country.
Would have thought it would have at least arrived to New Zealand from China within maybe a week but nothing. Stage 1 of my order was lots of free items for testing and it was shipped on a slower carrier.

My stage 2 is coming with FedEx so I’m assuming it should get here relatively quickly.

Be nice to get everything within a few days of each other but I won’t hold my breath!!

[Kjartanbj]

I ordered in the beginning of April, Got a tracking number, waited and waited and waited, tracking number never worked, finally emailed them and got a reply back asking for 20$ extra for shipping because apparently I lived in a remote area.. which i do not and I told them that , then I got some BS reason that because of shipping delays they needed to use more expensive shipping method , sent them the money and received a new tracking number and finally received the package less than a week later in the beginning of July. Not impressed by them

[davidefa]

Note：According to the latest EU tax regulations, 19% tax fee will be charged on your order to ensure that the items arrive at you smoothly

I'd prefer to spare this 19% ( and having the items arrive 'roughly' ), but there was no option for this in the ecowitt shop : - (

[Gyvate]

Note：According to the latest EU tax regulations, 19% tax fee will be charged on your order to ensure that the items arrive at you smoothly

I'd prefer to spare this 19% ( and having the items arrive 'roughly' ), but there was no option for this in the ecowitt shop : - (

Ecowitt cannot handle Italian (or EU) customs  - you will have to pay your VAT (Italian IVA). Since 01-Jul-2012 the free allowance for non-EU imports has been reduced from 25 EUR value to 7 EUR value.
It has little to do with arriving smoothly or otherwise - In addition the shipment service provider (Post, DHL, UPS, FedEx etc.) will be able to put an extra customs handling charge on top.
Both are out of Ecowitt's control. When you buy inside the EU, you pay the VAT of the country the seller is located - i.e. e.g. for Froggit 19% - it will already be included in the price.

[zoomx]

When you buy inside the EU, you pay the VAT of the country the seller is located - i.e. e.g. for Froggit 19% - it will already be included in the price.

It depends on how many sells you do in other countries. If you sell form more than 10.000 euro (I believe in the previous year) you have to pay the VAT in the buyers country.
For example if I buy from Amazon DE I have to pay 22%. But if I buy from a small seller in Germany I have to pay the german amount of VAT.

[Mandrake]

It all depends on what you are ordering..
If its a big order >100Euro then expect to pay some customs bill on receipt of the package.

On the whole though if just ordering a couple of sensors etc it will just arrive in the post as per any parcel and no extra charges.
Just had some new WN34 production sensors sent to me and was about 5 days elapsed from Ecowitt to my door and no customs charges.

[Gyvate]

When you buy inside the EU, you pay the VAT of the country the seller is located - i.e. e.g. for Froggit 19% - it will already be included in the price.

It depends on how many sells you do in other countries. If you sell form more than 10.000 euro (I believe in the previous year) you have to pay the VAT in the buyers country.
For example if I buy from Amazon DE I have to pay 22%. But if I buy from a small seller in Germany I have to pay the german amount of VAT.

It's even more complex than that plus every EU country has their own VAT rules - only the final VAT can be settled across country borders in intra-EU business.
But Amazon is not a good example as they (the Amazon Goup) have a dependency in most EU countries and they will deliver through the local dependency even though you have ordered in another EU country. But I don't think anyone here in the forum is really concerned by the details as they don't run a business inside the EU and don't buy from Ecowitt (or Froggit) in large quantities.

[Gyvate]

It all depends on what you are ordering..
If its a big order >100Euro then expect to pay some customs bill on receipt of the package.

On the whole though if just ordering a couple of sensors etc it will just arrive in the post as per any parcel and no extra charges.
Just had some new WN34 production sensors sent to me and was about 5 days elapsed from Ecowitt to my door and no customs charges.

Maybe still in the UK, but in the EU the free allowance for non-EU (also UK) imports has been drastically reduced since 01-Jul-2021.
There may be a transition time for applying the rules nationally, but this won't be for long.
The "golden" cheap China import times will be soon over.
Of course, technically, the seller could pre-pay the VAT, but the prices will be higher, one way or the other.
And even including VAT it may be still worth the deal.
But why do Froggit or WeatherSpares have higher prices than Ecowitt ? Not only because they also want to make business.

[Weather Spares]

As a UK business we've had to register for the EU Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) and obtain a IOSS number, it's taken 2 weeks to get sorted. The system works as follows for anyone in the EU buying from outside of the EU:

1) Orders over €155 are sent with VAT/TVA/TAX unpaid and the local customs charges this along with any handling fees.

2) For orders under €155 VAT/TVA/TAX is charged by us at rate of the customers EU country, from 19% to 27% depending on where they are. These are paid to us at time of purchase and reported every night into the IOSS system along with the customers order number and parcel tracking reference. Customs in the EU country check the incoming parcel details and customs label against IOSS, know the taxes have been paid and pass these through to the customer. No customs handling should be paid for this method and parcels should get to the customer quicker.

If a company hasn't registered for IOSS then a customs processing charge and local VAT/TVA/TAX will apply.

IOSS is mandatory for anyone sending in over €10,000 in good per year, optional below this but recommended for a smoother delivery experience.

Also importantly the €22 lower limit for sending good in before being caught by customs has been removed reduce TAX avoidance.