[charcircuit]

>How are people supposed to know these things before buying the equipment.

By looking at reviews or paying someone to evaluate the product.

>What if they’re the only provider in their region

Then there is an opportunity for competition. Or you can import a product from another region.

[kstrauser]

As an outsider, that’s literally what I’m doing: paying attention to the reviews. And some people are telling the reviewer to shut up and quit whining, thus encouraging them not to leave the review that I want to be reading.

Make up your mind. Do you want people to read and write reviews, or don’t you?

[prawn]

All great in theory, but in importing farm machinery, you need to take into account servicing options and warranty claims. Would be painful if you need to truck a harvester or even mower interstate for a warranty claim.

And it's not like these things are always available from a source with reviews. Reviews for new models are less likely to cover repair-access issues that will arise in a few years' time.