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CUBE Thinker Notebook 13.5 Inch 3:2 Windows 10 Home Intel Core M3-7Y30 8GB /256GB A$607.42 / US $437 Exclude Shipping @ Gearbest

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Similar to deals like (see specifications there) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/316245 or https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/304884, but now at even lower price. Use https://www.cashrewards.com.au/ for further discount 1.05% (existing customer) or 2.45% (new customer). The deal expires 5 days from time of posting, but I had seen it being extended few times - with the price dropping each time. Shipping about A$9.83 for 5-10 business day delivery.

Main concerns could be: relatively heavy at 1.68 kg, possible keyboard quality issues (probably this is of most concern), relative poorer battery life, a hassle to mail back for potential repair. Otherwise sounds like a great machine for productive work. And at this price, maybe an acceptable risk & reasonable specification compromise?

Great advertising lines like: "you cannot refuse", "make fingertips perfectly matches with your brain" - Google machine translation from Chinese rocks.

Another thing: Even post 1 July 2018, it seems Gearbest does not collect GST & hence we should receive this GST free (under A$1000 threshold)? Anyone can confirm this?

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closed Comments

  • -3

    does not collect GST & hence we should receive this GST free

    unless it gets confiscated at Customs.

    • +1

      How would Customs know if GST is supposed to be levied or not? Because if company does business below A$75,000 there's no need to collect GST. I do not know if Gearbest does that volume of business, and unless they voluntarily give out that info, how would others decide?

      • -3

        How would Customs know if GST is supposed to be levied or not?

        https://goo.gl/kBCvf8

        • In English, link is: https://www.ato.gov.au/business/international-tax-for-busine…

          This would be up to Gearbest to register to collect GST on behalf of ATO. What if they did not do that - during checkout, there is no GST component listed & charged, does this mean item is exempt from GST, because (maybe) Gearbest handles less than annual A$75K business by volume? And if so, what would Customs do when the good arrive? Would they accept the payment made is legit "GST-free" & let item pass through? The GST collection is up to seller, and if item is not above A$1000 anyway, the usual Customs-hold-your-item-and-demand-GST procedure may not apply - that's what I am hoping for but uncertain of.

        • @lokets: Gearbest's parent company is worth over $5 billion AU. They originally had plans to charge GST but I'm not sure what happened to those plans. Perhaps with Australia now providing an insignificant amount of income to the company or the fact that customs will not be seizing packages that have not had GST paid.

    • +2

      It won't get "confiscated" at customs. Read the legislation and supporting documentation from both Home Affairs and the ATO. The enforcement of GST collection is between the ATO and the merchant for low-value imports (less than AUD $1000). Rules remain the same for purchases >$1000. The flow of goods will not be affected.

      https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/busi/cargo-support-trade-and-…

      There will be no changes to:

      • the AUD1000 threshold for reporting and collection of duties and taxes at the border
      • border clearance processes
      • the flow of goods across borders
      • current import requirements for tobacco, tobacco products or alcoholic beverages.
      • There will be no changes to:
        the flow of goods across borders

        So why can't Amazon.com just say NO

        • +1

          You should read more and comment less. There are provisions in the legislation to enforcing compliance:

          https://www.ato.gov.au/Business/International-tax-for-busine…

          If you choose not to comply with the law, the Commissioner of Taxation can take actions including:

          registering you for GST
          imposing an additional 75% administrative penalty, which then becomes legally payable
          intercepting funds from Australia that are destined for you
          registering the debt in a court in your country
          requesting the taxation authority in your country to recover the debt on our behalf.

          The legislation is intended to go after the big players that the ATO has easy leverage over, Amazon, eBay, Multinationals etc.

          Most of the big guys will just charge, remit, and get on with life. ATO will have a harder time trying to get Chinese companies to comply, so much so that probably won't even try.

        • @BlinkyBill:

          They won’t be able to do a thing against most of them. Just idle, meaningless threats.

        • @jv:

          ATO has the power to seize local assets and order sites be blocked. Very easy to do to eBay and Amazon as they both have local presence. Hence why they comply.

        • @BlinkyBill:

          Very easy to do to eBay and Amazon

          Technically easy maybe, but it would never do it due to the repercussions…

        • @jv:

          You want keep going don't just get the last word in don't you? I've shot down your crap with facts yet you keep going.

          And yet Mighty Amazon and eBay have yeilded to the government and collecting GST.

        • @BlinkyBill:

          And yet Mighty Amazon and eBay have yeilded

          Have you tried buying from amazon.com lately ?

        • @jv:

          What about it? They redirect to the amazon.com.au site that is set up for GST and are making available a much larger selection of US catalogue in the AU store. Keep digging.

        • @BlinkyBill:

          They redirect to the amazon.com.au

          Different store… Order of magnitude less choice and much more expensive…

          Have you tried buying from amazon.com lately ?

  • -1

    relatively heavy, keyboard quality issues & poor battery life?

    The things you generally want the opposite of in a portable device!

  • -1

    A refurbished Surface Pro 3 would be by far the better choice and can be pretty easily found.

  • This is more like a LAPtop, a transportable machine, rather than an ultrabook (think XPS), which it is definitely not.

  • +1

    have had this laptop for around 6 months. Some major QC issues on mine like a screen that's peeling off and random and violent flickering with the display. I still use it and Gearbest gave me a full refund.

    • That's not good experience. So you get to keep the lousy unit for free? Is the keyboard giving you troubles too?

      • I sent it back to Gearbest but it failed to clear Chinese customs, so it came back to me. The keyboard is okay. Best feature is a Microsoft Surface Display, it is really a sight. Most people believe the flickering issues are related to a bad batch of batteries, most people are not having the issue. Otherwise, I would recommend buying an Acer/HP/Asus or go for a cheaper china laptop like the EzBook Pro.

  • Rather buy Microsoft Surface Go 128GB FOR $90 or so more.

    • Worth mentioning there's no keyboard. And it's 128GB. And the resolution is lower.

      I would buy neither.

      You can get an i5 8250U 8GB/256GB laptop around the $700 mark from various brands.

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