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Post by the_only_way_is_up on Apr 7, 2012 17:02:53 GMT
If anyone spies either of these in the Dhahran area please let me know!! I'm working with the travel variety at the moment. Not enjoyable. Thanks  |
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Post by Carolina on Apr 8, 2012 10:20:39 GMT
o
I do not mean to be negative BUT please read all of our previous comments over the last months about 110 Volts - THEY ARE BEING PHASED OUT in KSA - I have no idea at present what is left in KSA in particular SACO and EXTRA now it will depend what is in your house or apartment right now i.e. 110 volts or 220 volts i.e. mixed - the electrical appliances from SACO do not last and at times to be quite honest have been dangerous i.e. we have had two of their toasters go on fire - seemingly the housing department can be contacted and will allow 3 new 220 Sockets to be installed but they will decide where - yes this is causing a huge problem of course - even if one brings over from the US 110 volts appliances eventually they will need to be replaced and with what yes 220 volt appliances unless on return on repat leave one can take back some more electrical appliances 110 volts?
The rest of KSA run on 220 volts and only Aramco compounds run on a mixture of 110 volts and 220 volts (or maybe it is 240 volts) anyway the problem continues to exhist.
Please can everyone understand this as I and many others keep on advising about this subject.
Thank you
Carolina
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Post by Hadia on Apr 8, 2012 11:20:43 GMT
If it were me, I'd just order something from Amazon. Done and done.
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Post by the_only_way_is_up on Apr 9, 2012 6:08:47 GMT
Carolina, i've done nothing but read posts on this site for the last 9 months. I know the voltage is being phased out, but having been housed in a 110 only apartment and having housing tell me no, I cannot have 220 sockets installed - the entire compound will be upgraded "in the future" doesn't help me in the immediate. Some people have been lucky enough to move into a dual voltage apartments. Some people have paid electricians after hours to install sockets. I have not. I've managed to find a microwave, toaster and vacuum in extra and saco. I just need a kettle and an iron and then I never need raise the subject again! Why the company (American owned or not) didn't choose to operate on the same voltage as the rest of the country it is in is beyond me.
So in the meantime, again I ask, if anyone happens to see a 110 kettle or iron (or even has one that they no longer need) please can you let me know. If not i'll pay an electrician to violate my housing agreement or order some 110 items online. I'm from the UK so can't pick any up when I go "home".
Thank you
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Post by GroveWanderer on Apr 9, 2012 7:02:15 GMT
At least where I am in Dhahran, there is no plan to convert houses to 220V (I have checked with housing several times) and for the moment in my area, they will also not install 220V outlets, even if you ask - which I have, again more than once.
The last time I looked (admittedly a little while ago) I was able to find a 110V kettle and iron. I got one in Carrefour and one in Extra or SACO, I can't remember which. I'm pretty sure I noticed some more 110V appliances just a couple of weeks ago in Carrefour.
Incidentally, I think you have the situation the wrong way round. It was the rest of the country that decided to go with a different voltage. Aramco was the first place in the Kingdom to have electricity and they used 110V.
In fact, the national electricity company SCECO, used to be part of Aramco. When electricity was introduced in the local communities, as there was no standard specified by the government and probably because other countries (such as Bahrain) had 220V appliances available nearby, people installed a mixture of voltages. For instance, out of the several non-Aramco places I have lived in, some had both voltages, some had one, some had the other.
More recently, to avoid the dangers of people plugging 110V appliances into 220V outlets, which can cause fires, the government has apparently decided to standardize on 220V, probably because it is more common overall.
I have been told that Aramco will eventually change over to 220V but there is no time-frame for this and so I get the impression it could be quite a way down the road. So in the meantime we just have to put up with it.
I had thought that local shops might have stopped selling 110V appliances after I had not seen any for a while in Carrefour, which used to quite often have them but as I mentioned above, I'm fairly certain I have seen new 110V appliances (kettles) there quite recently. I almost bought one even though I don't need it right now - but then decided against it.
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Post by Tremblent on Apr 9, 2012 7:51:39 GMT
We bought ours from Sony Shop in Raheema.
May be a good idea to check in Sony Shops in Khobar area. They might still have them.
Good Luck!
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Post by azraeil on Apr 10, 2012 4:42:39 GMT
The new Saco World should have it. We just bought a 110v Popcorn machine a couple of months ago and I remember seeing some 110v kettle as well. Iron is a hit and miss thing. We ended up buying a 110v Rowenta Iron which was pricey at about SAR450 but it has lasted 2 years (touch wood) also from Saco.
Yes, looking for these stuffs takes time so just make sure you check every aisle.
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Post by Hadia on Apr 10, 2012 5:08:08 GMT
When I've needed to replace or augment my small electric appliances, I haven't bothered with running from shop to shop, in hopes of finding something 110v which probably won't even be to my liking. Personally, I'm rather picky about items like coffee makers and irons, and would not want to settle for the item of the week at Saco, but that's just me....
Instead, I research the item through consumer forums online, decide which one is right for my needs, and then usually I can find the make/model I want at amazon.com or even walmart.com. Frequently, they have free or low-cost shipping within the US. I have the item shipped to my US Aramex "Shop and Ship" address, and then it's air shipped to me and delivered to my door in Dhahran. It costs on avee about $12 USD per pound for Aramex shipping. For me, it's far easier to get what I want this way, and avoid all the running around here and dealing with limited choices. The weekends and shopping times are too short to deal with that, if you ask me!
Aramex offers their services in the US, UK and China. Not sure if they're in other countries, too. Amazon and Walmart have been extremely reliable and fast, and in fact, the delivery holdup is usually on the Aramex end, but eventually it does get here. On avee, my US orders take about 10 days to reach me, sometimes less, sometimes more. On a side note, some vendors will not deliver to known shop and ship addresses, Target and Apple being two of them.
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Post by kiwis aboard on Apr 10, 2012 5:38:51 GMT
Could anyone please shed some light for those who are recruited outside of the states on 110v appliances. My husband was recruited here in Thailand and we will take a split shipment from here and our home country New Zealand, however both of these countries operate on 220v. I am wondering if Aramco does anything to help people in this situation?
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Post by azraeil on Apr 11, 2012 4:44:06 GMT
No they don't. Most items however (like TVs/Computers) etc etc comes with multi-voltage which works on both on 110V and 220/240V.
Actually, there is not much of a problem of using a 220V on a 110V outlet (on some items I have to say). My PS3 has been working fine (it's not multi-voltage, it's 220V) and works fine. My table lamps which is also 220V works fine on the 110V as long as I use the 110V bulbs. I can use the 220V bulbs (made the mistake of buying these in IKEA or something) but it's not as bright as it's supposed to be.
The big No-No is using 110V with 220V outlets.
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Post by vpainter on Apr 11, 2012 21:28:43 GMT
A letter was sent to employees when this topic of 110 vs 220 was brought up. It said Aramco would study this for 10 years and then make a plan if implemented. That was last year.
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