Optics prices

[Andrew Hobbs <>]

According to the Australian Customs website one needs to pay a 5% duty 
on the cost/value of any imported items over $1000.  One then adds the 
cost of transport/insurance and then adds 10% GST.  The total is around 
15% of the total cost (Sorry, I didn't mean to imply a 15% duty).  Some 
people understate the cost/value of the imported items but most 
reputable dealers overseas won't and there are significant penalties if 
caught doing so.  On top of that are any collection fees or processing 
fees from Customs or from transport companies.  Australia Post don't 
usually charge such collection fees, but some overseas companies will 
only send by private transport companies such as FedEx.  Some years ago 
I was interested in importing a scope with a cost over the limit, and 
was told by the representative of the transport company that there was a 
minimum $150 customs paperwork/collection fee. (All of these add to any 
costs for a commercial importer of course).
And when comparing overseas costs versus local costs I wouldn't be too 
quick to discount the Woolies syndrome (or volume purchasing).  Our 
local supermarket chain often complains that they can't buy their goods 
wholesale as cheaply as Woolworths sell them retail (and supplied from 
the same wholesalers.)
Andrew


STEVEN MCBRIDE wrote:
> Andrew,
> FYI, from personal experience, there is no import duty on optics(bins &
> scopes). There is 10% GST charged on imported items over $1000 plus
> Customs will charge a collection fee of ~$48.
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
>  On Behalf Of Andrew Hobbs
> Sent: Saturday, 16 February 2008 10:44 AM
> To: Birding Aus
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Optics prices
>
> I presume these prices you paid from ebay include the 15% import duty 
> and GST which is due on anything brought into australia with a value of 
> over $1000?
> Andrew
>
>
> Paul Dodd wrote:
>   
> > Hi Dave and Alistair,
> >
> >  
> >
> > Despite my rant of last night, I agree with you both. I do suspect
> >     
> that the
>   
> > "problem" in Australia stems from further up the line rather than just
> >     
> with
>   
> > the retailer. A case in point, I bought an iPod just before Christmas
> >     
> from a
>   
> > well-known consumer electronics retailer. I checked the prices that I
> >     
> could
>   
> > buy it for on eBay beforehand and then went to the stores. One large
> > retailer advertised the price at about $50 more than I could buy it
> >     
> for (I'm
>   
> > including the shipping in the price from eBay, by the way) - they
> >     
> declined
>   
> > to negotiate the price. I tried the next store - their price was about
> >     
> $40
>   
> > more than I could get it for from eBay, so I asked if the price was
> >     
> the best
>   
> > they could do - they asked me what price I could get it for, so I told
> >     
> them
>   
> > - they ended up beating it by $5. Clearly the imported or wholesale
> >     
> price
>   
> > was reasonable since the retailer had enough margin to be able to
> >     
> negotiate.
>   
> >  
> >     
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