There are several forum members who have imported induction cooktops from England and New Zealand. If I recall, they had to pay the VAT, plus customs brokers fees and some pretty steep shipping. It just about doubled the price of the cooktops, and they took the risk of no warranty support and possible insurance issues with their carrier because of the non UL listing. Several people had problems with the appliances and some had them resolved over a very lengthy time frame and some never had them resolved. There is also the power conversion issue, as European appliances are all 220 at 50 cycles whereas we are 220 at 60 cycles. That is not an insurmountable issue, but it does mean that no timers or clocks or anything like that will work properly.

I think by the time you add in all of the fees and other issues, that you will find a UL certified appliance sold here will seem to be much more of a bargain.

Ooops.

Can't you just get a Miele 36" and tile over half of it?

Thanks for a very thoughtful response. I'm aware of the pitfalls. What I'm looking for more than anything is size, not a bargain :) There are some that are 7" bigger that are sold in the U.S., and there's exactly one that's the correct size that doesn't have the degree of control I need. But I didn't know about the insurance issues, and am grateful to you for pointing that out. I'll check with my agent.

ROTFLMAO!!!! Fori, thanks for the guffaw!!!

If the stores I'd e-mailed had just responded and said no it would be so much easier to do that...

Which Gaggenau cooktop are you referring to? Someone else may have a different suggestions for you.

Good luck!

Just had a cooktop shipped last week. I didn't pay VAT as the company dropped it with proof of shipping out of country. Also with the pound being so low and the awesome deal I found it was far less than US prices with more choices. Shipping with all fees included were just under $200 US dollars and took only 4 days.I chose to buy overseas due to the fact I was unable to find what I needed(well, wanted) in the US. Buy US if you can as the issues that arise are easier to resolve and it's good for our economy. But if you like me simply needed more options in regards to size and technology then surely don't hesitate due to concerns over cost without first checking it out. Our world is much smaller than it use to be thanks to the internet. Also let your local retailers know you are looking outside the country due to a need for more sizes or options. Hopefully we will have more choices here as the need is recognized.A side note , for us insurance was not an issue, they simply urged us to have it professionally installed to be sure there were no problems we were unaware of in compatibility. I found the time difference easy to deal with once we established the times we were available and the people I dealt with were extremely kind and provided top notch service.

Oh, thanks for the info and encouragement! I just wish I could find someone who carries the unit who will talk to me :)

Homepro, It's the Gaggenau CI 262, 3 burner, 24" (approx.) one that I want to buy. The only local 24" is the Diva, it has half the power settings, and I need control. If I had more courage I'd go for the De Dietrich with the zoneless, but the tech is so new and so not here... They sell the same Gaggenau here in a 36" model, which is exactly the same as the 24" with two more burners, so I figure I can get it serviced, even if I have to pay for it.

Momintennies, Good point about the price and taking a chance. I don't so much care about a bargain--from the prices I've seen it should, including shipping, etc., come out about the same as buying something equivalent locally. But if I can't find someone to sell me the Gaggenau, maybe I should just take a chance on the zoneless...

Lovinlife, Thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like what I had thought it should be. I have checked with the stores and distributor and let them know how unhappy the local choices have made me. My contractor, who is always antsy about code when I suggest something unusual, is totally fine with this, and thanks to Live Wire Oak's warning I asked my insurance agent, who is checking for sure but said she'd never heard of any kind of trouble there.

I wish I knew what to do... I just really don't want to settle for the 31" Miele. It's too big!

I suggest to look these companies:
Kuppersbusch (german)
Smeg (Italian)
Fagor (Spanish)
I checked your model and I'm pretty sure Kuppersbusch has a similar
Product and you don't have to deal with convert for Us, warranty, insurance etc.

I had inquired about a Rangemaster induction range from the European Aga (I guess)' but never received a response. The Us is slowly coming out with more options but not nearly as many or as nice the overseas induction ranges. I may end up with a separate cooktop and wall oven afterall. still got time; so I'll see how it all pans out.

Giacomo, Thanks for the suggestions, but none of those brands seem to sell the 24" in the U.S. Lots of brands have similar models in Europe.

Remodelfla, yeah it's that lack of response. I guess they must be deluged with e-mails asking about sending appliances over. Sigh.

ATAG makes a few induction hobs that are 600mm which is 23.6 inches as well as some nice duel fuel hob choices. Great brand and well priced. Check it out. Use the translation key from google to do price searches if you like the options ATAG offers as some of the best sites were not in English.

I figure I can get it serviced

Why do you figure this? If Gaggenau USA will even send someone out to look at it (doubtful) the guy won't have a clue because none of the schematics, part #'s or anything else will match the euro unit will match north american records.

When going this route it's best to have the mindset that you are buying a disposable appliance, if it breaks - you get a new one. Anything else leads most people to more anxeity than they can stand.

Antss, thanks for the caution. The reason I figured is that it's exactly the same as 2/3 of the one they sell here. Point taken about the schematics and part numbers. But that's why I was thinking this was a much better option than the truly disposable De Dietrich with the Continuum. We have a very nice local Gaggenau service man. I think he could cope with it. Of course, this would be off warranty, and might end up disposable anyway, but does have a better chance than the other. :)

One option is to contact Cooktek in Chicago. They offer an option to configure cooktops. Their 24" cooktops are two burners but are more powerful than the Diva and they don't power share. They make custom modules all the time for restaurants. These are usually one off units. Gaggenau has a speedcook oven in Europe and the rest of the world for many years but they have never brought it to the US.

Best of luck!

Thanks, Homepro. I was originally thinking I'd get Cooktek, but they require far too much air space under the unit. Maybe I should find out if they have alternative installation configurations.

I actually considered this. So I think it's an interesting idea. Intellectually.

I don't know where you live, but maybe Eurostoves, outside Boston, can offer some advice. They would know about differences in current, getting service, maybe insurance, maybe other lines. They might even be able to special order something, or tell you where to find it. Or tell you their thoughts on how to go about what you're going to do.

Also, have you considered what's available in Canada?

I could never get my head around how a device made for another electrical current could really be safe here. But that's me. Some people are terrified of canaries ... Or spoons.

When I looked into having literally anything brought over, no matter what it was, a sink, an appliance, whatever, the cost of the object locally, plus shipping, added up to approximately the cost of an equivalent "eurostyle" object in the US - translation -- we're already paying for the shipping, we might as well get what we REALLY want.

Plus -- and here is where I get truly evil -- the biggest hit in shipping is the first hundred pounds or so. After that it gets much cheaper. So while you're getting that shipped, if there's anything else you've been dreaming of getting shipped, like some nice tile, or a schranke or something cool, you might as well.

In fact, (and I am honestly a fairly cheap person) you might be wise to get a cheap winter plane ticket, do the deal in person, see to the shipping on that end and make sure you get the appliance you need and you get your questions answered. And a little winter holiday!

Good luck!

LOL! Growlery, thanks for the ideas and encouragement. I'm in Southern California, but I'd be happy to work with a store on the other coast. :) I'll see what advice they have to give. My contractor, who is himself of an international background and familiar with wandering appliances, isn't concerned about making it work on the current here. Unfortunately, he doesn't have contacts where there are dealers. Canada seems to have the same ones as U.S.

I've looked at the price, shipping (it's neither big nor heavy, so doesn't take a carrier--UPS is fine), and customs, and it comes out competitive to what I'd pay here. And I don't really have questions--I've seen the bigger version of the same thing, and read through the whole manual online. The holiday thing does sound fun though... Sigh. Demo's going to start, though.

If I could find anything like it already in the U.S. I would go for it! But the closest is the Miele, which is 7" bigger. And I'm worried tiling over it would be kind of bad for it, or I'd go with Fori's suggestion. :)

I could not get you to a 24" but I could get to just over 27" with mixing a few options. You can get the 3500watt single burner Cooktek or the Diva De provence or Gaggenau. Then purchase a single 12" Diva De Provence dual burner or Kupperbusch or Wolf. I think this will give you the same control but in a slightly larger layout. It is worth considering but I don't know if you can go over the 24" space requirement.

Homepro, I really appreciate your help. Yeah, any improvement on 31" (Miele) is good. Maybe I should reconsider and just get the Varios. They butt up to each other and would fit. I got really tweaked by the 38% price increase though. I could buy the Gaggenau 24" from Europe and the Diva 24" as a backup for the same price as the Gaggenau wok burner, and save 6" horizontal and 2" vertical at the same time.

I hadn't considered the Diva commercial. That's an interesting notion. They don't require the clearance that the Cooktek does.

I can actually squeeze in the Miele, but it won't be nice. And it fries me that something that fits my precise requirements is so close to reach... I had the same problem trying to buy a new car. I had one all chosen out and they told me I couldn't get the handling package with the beige headliner because the robots couldn't be programmed to do it. Used to be you ordered it you could get what you wanted. Too bad I can't special order the cooktop from the factory.

Hm... maybe I should go ask. Couldn't hurt to try (though I'm sure I know why they'll say no...).

Okay, the weird issue that will not die is back!

My insurance agent got an answer about the policy, and there is now a paper in my file that says that the company doesn't have an issue with a European appliance.

I've talked to the Gaggenau repair guy who says that the speed of the timers will be affected (as we knew) but that's just a matter of writing down the conversion from Euro minutes to U.S. minutes and they should function. He says there shouldn't be any other issues, and that changing out U.S. parts for Euro parts is a bad idea.

I really need those 7 inches of countertop. And the unit is cool. So I'm going to give it another shot, and see if I can get hold of one, even if I have to make my brother sign for it in person when he's abroad.

Thank-you all, with a special thanks to Homepro, for all the advice, assurances and cautions.

Plllog, I hope you will report back because we are struggling with the same issue. 24" is all we have for induction cooktop & wall oven beneath. Like you, we have been frustrated with all the beautiful options available overseas but not this side of the pond. Good Luck. Deb

I know this is an old post but I wanted to give it a bump...Did the OP end up importing the stove? Any lessons on taxes/customs/insurance/compatibility?

@lovinlife06, which company did you use to purchase the range? Did you travel to UK to purchase or were you able to purchase over the phone? Also, which freight shipper did you use.

There are not many good options for induction ranges in the US. It seems that Europe has a more options ranges with multiple smaller ovens. I'm not sure why the US manufacturers do not provide additional options. I like the 48" AGA induction range, but I can't fit that size in my home and the other options are too industrial for my Victorian kitchen.

Try lacanche they are doing the induction for the us market now and have many sizes. Good luck.

Hi Ania, I would also recommend that you look at the Lacanche ranges. My Lacanche Cluny 1400 is a gas range with a gas and an electric oven, but they do offer induction. The ranges come in many different sizes and colors. The style would look great in a Victorian style kitchen.