Share Your Online Shopping Experience When Buying Stuff Valued over $1000 (From Overseas)

justwii on 06/12/2017 - 00:13
Last edited 06/12/2017 - 09:52 by 1 other user

I think some of us like me are still unclear about the fees and charges associated to buying things online of over $1000 value. Typical questions like:
1. How do you work out the import tax, duties, charges payable?
2. What happen if you need to return the item, are those refundable?
3. Can the seller declare a lower value?
4. Does it matter if the item is new or second hand?
5. Does removing the original boxes make any difference?
6. Can the seller separate the item into parts (or from a big bundle into smaller items) to lower the value of each package? (if shipping is less than the tax)

Just for an example, say I am buying a $4000 desktop bundle including case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. from US. How much extra do I have to pay on top?

Thanks

• 

  Diji1 on 06/12/2017 - 00:44

  I think you pay GST so 10% - I do not have personal experience of this though.

• 

  El Grande on 06/12/2017 - 00:49

  Plus custom duty 5%

• 

  [Deactivated] on 06/12/2017 - 08:07

  +1

  My buying experience from Europe, about AUD2000 of motorbike goods from a recognized retailer.

  1. I didn't, TNT called me, then emailed through an invoice for me to pay before they would release my parcels after customs.
  2. No idea sorry
  3. Don't see why not, however, I've read of customs opening parcels and valuing items themselves, regardless of what the declaration/invoice says.
  4. Makes no difference
  5. Again, see 3.
  6. Nope, customs do not consider each individual item or parcel when determining if GST/Duties apply. It is applied to your entire shipment, I've heard stories of customs keeping a log over a few days to make sure you are not trying to rort the system by sending them a day apart.

  All in all, not worth the risk.

  For about $2000 of goods, i paid around $350 in GST, duties and a handling fee to TNT. Still came out 1000 cheaper then to buy the parts inside Aus.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 06/12/2017 - 09:02

  Ordered some sports gear from the USA… About $1.5k worth of gear all up.

  1, Invoiced by courier company. GST plus some import duty paid. Admin fees covered in the shipping costs, but some couriers might sting you a small amount for that.
  2, No eye deer. Wasn't an issue for me.
  3, They can, but probably won't as it might open them to more hassle than your order is worth. Most don't. Also, Customs may check, so if a shiny new imported iPhone X is worth, like $78, this will tip them off.
  4, Not really. It's worth what it's worth.
  5, Nope.
  6, They might, but Customs keep an eye out for this. They're busy, but not stupid. Again, depends if the seller will lie for you.

  If you want to dodge import duties and it's a bunch of parts, order them from different sellers a few weeks apart. But even with import costs, shipping etc. there's still $$$ to be saved. Even with a weeks delay for invoicing, I got my stuff in less time, for a third of the price an equivalent Aussie retailer wanted to charge me.

  Take the hit. Assume like, 15-20% markup for taxes, duty, shipping, exchange rate and all that, factor that in to your costs and enjoy the savings without the hassle!

• 

  mumof2sydney on 11/12/2017 - 12:52

  on the same subject-looking at buying a watch from Joma shop USA- ($1650 AUD shipped cf $2865 locally) - do I just sit tight and wait for someone to issue paperwork and a bill?

  The likely bill total??

  Thanks

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 11/12/2017 - 13:10

    I had a quick look at the Customs website, looks like it'll be 5% duty + 10% GST + a processing fee. So you should be paying about $2k all up, which is a very decent saving.

    You could even save waiting for the bill and lodge an Import Declaration by email which might save you a few more dollars on processing fees and get you your goods more quickly.
    http://www.border.gov.au/Busi/cargo-support-trade-and-goods/…

    Maybe phone Customs? Can't see them not wanting to help someone who actually wants to give them money. ;)

• 

  2ndeffort on 13/12/2017 - 12:41

  I bought some carbon wheels for my roadbike. Australian prices for the wheels were around $2500, with a discount code and free shipping etc i managed to get them for about $1100 on Probikekit. In fairness they were end of year runout wheels, 2017 model and presumably the 2018 wheels will have different stickers on them!

  A week or so after the transaction I received a bill from some other company associated with PBK asking for amother $350 ish. Part of the cost was the 10% GST, the other parts were customs inspection fees etc. At the time I was a bit miffed but the deal was still way cheaper than any local deal and the company had an international warranty that covered me if there was any dramas with the product (vs buying 2nd hand etc) so i paid the extra. Wheels arrived and all great!