Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey people,
A mate and me are lookin at gettin some lockers from the US. We are working out final prices but am not sure what the go with customs and stuff. Does anyone know what the go with tax and stuff on the imported items, or who to talk to for info. The package would be 2 detroit lockers to suit zooks. Price per locker is $175 US. Any info would be much appreciated as now my tax is done, i keen to sort this out
Layto....

I bring in stuff from the US all the time around US$200. Haven't had to pay duty once. Shipments have been UPS, Fedex, Post etc.

Layto have a read of this-

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4376

Looks like posting them over is the go- you can bring in up to $1000 worth of goods before they sting you that way! (Compared to $250 for freight?! GO figure!! )

Here it mentions car part are different?:

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4368#5

I know I got stung for a couple of hundred dollars a few years back for importing some car parts from the UK (around $600 worth). That was pre GST though, so hopefully things have improved.

Ah, good timing. Looks like if I quote the value of the gears I'm looking to send your way at $100 US, it should come in under the radar.

XterraGuy wrote:Ah, good timing. Looks like if I quote the value of the gears I'm looking to send your way at $100 US, it should come in under the radar.

Yes, there's always that option- some companies won't do that though...

Would doing that have implications if the goods went missing? eg. the insurance will only pay out the lower value?

In the past i have had stuff shipped as warranty items and this has incurred no duties

xtreem of here seemed to know his stuff on this He said packages under 400 seldom get looked at

I'll be doin the same as you soon and so will someone else from the zook section

Have done numerous GPS' now.

Do them 1 at a time. Less chance of getting hit.

A mate did 2 in one parcel, even though the customs paperwork said value of under $300 they got stung for duty.
NHJ...


Also do them over a few weeks, spread it out so they dont end up with 5 parcels for you, all valued at $300ea, they will nail you for $.

YMMV

All you can avoid is duty and GST and on small amounts like a few hundred bucks there's stuff all duty and GST. You will pay more on freight than duty and GST. If the product is the wrong part or breaks you are knackered. There's no such thing as international warranty. Sometimes you're better off buying from importer stores. Yes, there is a tendancy to no GST or duty under 1000 but I have been got on $200 deals in the past by Fedex as well.

the savings work out that it's worth taking the gamble with lockers from the states, cheapest we've found over here is $550ea, importing we save around $200....

As STUMPED said, the savings are faily large, and even with gettin stung a bit through customs, it still works out better than buying in Aust.
Layto....

umm, i thought you can olny bring $500 au before they make you pay 10% tax..as i have ordered alot of stuff from the US now....and one package was $550au so they charged me $50 tax...but every other package has bene under $500

ryan

OK, I have imported a lot of mountainbike parts from the US before, this is the deal:

Any freight company (i.e. FEDEX, DHL, etc) that electronically lodge customs clearance documents (both of these do) on your behalf, will mean you will pay GST on the full value (including freight) PLUS a $55 AUD customs handling fee PLUS any duty payable (depends on the nature of the goods as to whether duty is payable - e.g. mountainbike frames and forks attract duty but not other parts). So the rule of $250 or less does not apply if you use one of the above companies, you will pay GST+CUSTOMS+DUTY regardless of value.

If using USPS then the minimum values will apply - but remember that this can include postage, and you will be charged GST on postage as well.

I had to pay 15% duty plus 10% gst on total including duty.