Outer Limits 4x4 Board

With the stronger Aussie Dollar I just bought from the US a Pertronixs Ignigtor and including shipping it cost $100 less than buying here in Aus.

This got me thinking how much I can save sourcing parts from over there.
I was given a link to http://www.rocky-road.com so had a look.

Whats blown me away is the cost of buying an ARB Air-locker from http://www.rocky-road.com and HAVING IT SENT TO AUSTRALIA comes to $1,215.45 AUD.
I just got off the phone with ARB here in Sydney and they quoted me $1,219.00 to pick up from their store!!!!!!!!!

ARB needs to have a look at what they are charging their home market especially with TJM providing much needed competition.

Why does it cost $4.00 less to have an Aussie made item sent over to the USA then purchased and sent back to someone here in Australia?????

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Mowie wrote:ARB needs to have a look at what they are charging their home market especially with TJM providing much needed competition.

Yea, but TJM price is no different. everyone sayign that once competition started prices would drop - ba bow...

Why does it cost $4.00 less to have an Aussie made item sent over to the USA then purchased and sent back to someone here in Australia?????]

cause they can.. supply and demand.


did your price inc GST from overseas which you MAY be hit with once it arrives?

bogged wrote: did your price inc GST from overseas which you MAY be hit with once it arrives?

Thats a very BIG may we all know that.... just luck of the dice roll on that one.

Mowie wrote:

bogged wrote: did your price inc GST from overseas which you MAY be hit with once it arrives?

Thats a very BIG may we all know that.... just luck of the dice roll on that one.

I was talkin on the locker... upto $400 is GST free.

ok so why doesnty everyone here buy their lockers from the states then. That would be a good plan of attack, just like the pertronix ignition kits

JEs

You can save more than that too. I was quoted about US$100 less for a D60 ARB than they list on their site.

bogged wrote:

Mowie wrote:

bogged wrote: did your price inc GST from overseas which you MAY be hit with once it arrives?

Thats a very BIG may we all know that.... just luck of the dice roll on that one.

I was talkin on the locker... upto $400 is GST free.

You've lost me Bogged, IF I had the unfortunate case of customs stopping the item and slapping on GST it would have to be on the sales amount not including postage which is GST excempt IIRC.

That would be 10% of 862.55 AUD being $86.25 not $400
(That just made me have a closer look at shipping, $342.127 AUD. Thats a little steep. I'm sure I could find an alternative that would pick up from them and ship to me cheaper!)

That is a very big if though, the mail room at Sydney Airport is overflowing and staffing numbers are not what they should be. Focus is being placed on more lucrative excise targets and things that should be handed over to AQIS.

Hand luggage.

Give the Corby's a call and see if any of them are heading that way...

You only get charged import duties and gst on packages over $1000 in value, including both purchase price and shipping cost.

So you will get charged GST on the whole amount of the air locker..

Winches are the same (except warn is US made of course). You can get the same thing in the US for AUD1000 that you can get here for AUD2000.

Go figure how shipping, import duties, gst add up to $1000?

Anything I can buy for the car that is small enough to be posted and preferably made in the USA costs about 1/2 price to buy from the USA.

One other example is turbosmart wastegate (australian made) is the same price in the US as it is here. But look at the american made wastegates and they are 2/3 the turbosmart price. I got my Tial wastegate for about AUD400 and you wouldnt see it here under AUD800.

Mowie wrote:
That would be 10% of 862.55 AUD being $86.25 not $400
(That just made me have a closer look at shipping, $342.127 AUD. Thats a little steep. I'm sure I could find an alternative that would pick up from them and ship to me cheaper!)

You get charged GST on the whole amount INCLUDING SHIPPING/POSTAGE. Is there still a $50 customs handling fee (+GST) as well???

I have ALWAYS been charged GST when I have bought stuff from the US.

difference in prices come down to basic economics. The US market is huge compared to here. They have different taxes, duties etc etc. If you don't like the pricing then don't buy it here. I get so sick of all you people whinging about pricing from copmpanies. Simple solution don't buy the stuff from them. They seem to doing alright with their current pricing strategies. Just because 4wding is your hobby people seem to think that everything should be cheap so they can get it.

grimbo wrote:difference in prices come down to basic economics. The US market is huge compared to here. They have different taxes, duties etc etc. If you don't like the pricing then don't buy it here. I get so sick of all you people whinging about pricing from copmpanies. Simple solution don't buy the stuff from them. They seem to doing alright with their current pricing strategies. Just because 4wding is your hobby people seem to think that everything should be cheap so they can get it.

Get of your soap box - A legitimate question has been asked: Why is an AUSTRALIAN MADE product cheaper to buy in the US and import than it is to buy here.

Sure the market is bigger in the US, but most ARB lockers sold in OZ are sold directly by ARB - so no middle men involved.

Just because you get annoyed when people ask you for a discount doesn't mean they shouldn't keep asking.

ISUZUROVER wrote:

Mowie wrote:
That would be 10% of 862.55 AUD being $86.25 not $400
(That just made me have a closer look at shipping, $342.127 AUD. Thats a little steep. I'm sure I could find an alternative that would pick up from them and ship to me cheaper!)

You get charged GST on the whole amount INCLUDING SHIPPING/POSTAGE. Is there still a $50 customs handling fee (+GST) as well???

I have ALWAYS been charged GST when I have bought stuff from the US.

Cool, so its GST on over $1000 and there is a good chance your gonna pay. Does Customs determine the value by looking at the whats stuck to the package?

With the Shipping/postage cost being included I think you may legally be able to get around that or pay the GST component on that separate there buy not having it included to the goods cost for GST calculation.

So if I purchase a ARB locker for $862.55 AUD in the US and I purchase my own postage to Australia for under $137.40 I've beat the system by coming in at $999.95

If I can't find postage cheaper than that from a separate company than who sold me the product still the value of the goods I have purchased is below the $1,000.00 threshold and my postage component still should not come into the equation or if it does be taxed individually?????????????

This would in effect be two different transactions with two different companies initiated by myself seperatly.

You say this isn't so ie (goods+postage x %10 = GST), but it doesn't make sense in my head other than the governments tipping the scale in their favour (whats new there)

well if their were no gst on imported items no one would buy aussie made at all

ATO answered my question

How do I pay GST on imports?

The Australian Customs Service (Customs) collects GST on taxable importations. GST is 10% of the value of a taxable importation.

The value of a taxable importation is the sum of:

* the customs value of the goods

* any customs duty payable

* the amount paid or payable to transport the goods to the port or airport of final destination in Australia (or the place in Australia to which goods are posted)

* the insurance cost for that transport, and

* any wine equalisation tax payable.

ISUZUROVER wrote:

grimbo wrote:difference in prices come down to basic economics. The US market is huge compared to here. They have different taxes, duties etc etc. If you don't like the pricing then don't buy it here. I get so sick of all you people whinging about pricing from copmpanies. Simple solution don't buy the stuff from them. They seem to doing alright with their current pricing strategies. Just because 4wding is your hobby people seem to think that everything should be cheap so they can get it.

Get of your soap box - A legitimate question has been asked: Why is an AUSTRALIAN MADE product cheaper to buy in the US and import than it is to buy here.

Sure the market is bigger in the US, but most ARB lockers sold in OZ are sold directly by ARB - so no middle men involved.

Just because you get annoyed when people ask you for a discount doesn't mean they shouldn't keep asking.

different wages, taxes, rents, cost of living, strength of the US dollar all come into play. And I did answer him with a legitimate answer. My point was people get very blinkered in their thinking about pricing on things when they are linked to hobbies.

Argh sooo confused!!!!!!!

Just got off the phone to Customs, they infomed me that the $1000 threashold is on THE VALUE OF THE GOODS only.
So in the case of an ARB Airlocker, you DON'T pay any GST and you DON'T pay any duty

If the value of the goods is over $1000 you must pay duty on the goods THEN GST calculated on the GOODS + SHIPPING + DUTY + INSURANCE (if any)!!!!!

So for the Purchse of an ARB Airlocker IT IS CHEAPER TO BUY ARB FROM THE USA THAN AUSTRALIA
AT least your still buying Australian made

Its just a play on the strong Aussie $.


Bazzle

If your really 'tight', you can claim its even more cheaper becasue you dont need to pay the petrol costs of driving to an ARB shop to pic up the item. (sorry bad english)

I have heard of other things being cheaper to buy this way before; you can understand why, but it still defies simple logic.

Highway-Star wrote:but it still defies simple logic.

no it is simple logic.

I'm going for a visit to Canada in July, I just priced some lockers for the Prado, total cost $1832.38 AUD shipped to my parents place. But then all have to put them in my suitcase......oh well who needs clothes.

Andy

I wonder if ARB will warrant the item as it was purchased in the US

I know electronics companies don't

grimbo wrote:

Highway-Star wrote:but it still defies simple logic.

no it is simple logic.

Your logic is obviously different from ours. Cost of living, wages, overheads etc. are IME the same or higher in the US. Naturally mail-order companies have lower overheads than places with a showroom, but there are OZ mail order companies too.

AFAIK the price is more driven by market forces in the US - there are lots of competitors, and america likes the "lazy" approack (e.g. auto lockers - which are dirt cheap) - so ARB has to have low prices to compete with detroit, etc.

I buy winch ropes from the US as they are about 50% cheaper. I bring them back in my check-in luggage no problem.

The current AU$ being so high to the US$ helps. A few years ago the exchange rate wasn't so good.

The best part about cost of living in the US is you can claim your mortgage interest as a tax deduction. I wish we had that rule here, it would help more people get into the market.

ISUZUROVER wrote:

grimbo wrote:

Highway-Star wrote:but it still defies simple logic.

no it is simple logic.

Your logic is obviously different from ours. Cost of living, wages, overheads etc. are IME the same or higher in the US. Naturally mail-order companies have lower overheads than places with a showroom, but there are OZ mail order companies too.

AFAIK the price is more driven by market forces in the US - there are lots of competitors, and america likes the "lazy" approack (e.g. auto lockers - which are dirt cheap) - so ARB has to have low prices to compete with detroit, etc.

so isn't that some easy logic. if you knew the answer why didn't you post it earlier?

I think you'll find wages are better here, well they were last time I spoke to my cousin who works in a similar job to me. His rent is less than mine would be and his weekly food bills are less. So i used that logic

grimbo wrote:My point was people get very blinkered in their thinking about pricing on things when they are linked to hobbies.

With the cost of living in Shitney and another interest rate rise around the corner if you buy something when the same item is cheaper elsewhere you are shooting yourself in the foot. That applys to everything in life not just "hobbies"

Maybe you can afford to throw money away, I wasn't raised like that

Now this isn't General Chit-Chat so don't stray far OT.

@ blkmavDon't know mate, I could always call up and ask, "G'day my brother/uncle/gaot lover living in the States bought this for me as a Birthday present and now its farked, will you provide warranty?"
With electrical isn't that because they don't run on 240v over there?

Mowie wrote:

grimbo wrote:My point was people get very blinkered in their thinking about pricing on things when they are linked to hobbies.

With the cost of living in Shitney and another interest rate rise around the corner if you buy something when the same item is cheaper elsewhere you are shooting yourself in the foot. That applys to everything in life not just "hobbies"

never said people shouldn't try and find the best prices. I said people seem to always think that because it is their hobby that they shouldn't have to pay as much as some things cost.

It used to be if parts were a warranty claim they didn't get taxed and have duties applied to them when sent from OS.

When buying from Rocky Road be careful with shipping times they can sometimes blow out a lot. make sure you get a shipping number straight away. You will probably need to hound them a bit to get it sent. i had some parts sent over from them a few years back and it took a lot longer than originally quoted.

Mowie wrote:With electrical isn't that because they don't run on 240v over there?

Excluding some pro gear, digi-cams are only covered in the country they are purchased in.

grimbo wrote:When buying from Rocky Road be careful with shipping times they can sometimes blow out a lot. make sure you get a shipping number straight away. You will probably need to hound them a bit to get it sent. i had some parts sent over from them a few years back and it took a lot longer than originally quoted.

Cheers grimbo.

I'm thinking of getting quotes from postal services in the states that collect and ship items out of the US.

I've purchased various items from the US but nothing as heavy as an ARB Airlock Rocky Road quoted $342.127 AUD to send.
Once again if there money to be saved it is in my interests to explore those options.

the quicker you want the item the higher the price. So if you are happy to wait some of the sea postal options can be quite good price wise. The obvious benefit of using a courier company is the security a tracking number can offer.