|
Purchasing Headphones Online
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Lanithium |
hey guys,
looking at buying some sennheiser hd25s from the uk, just wondering if anyone has done this before and if there will be any extra charges ie. import duty when they reach customs here in australia?
reason i ask is, to buy them from the uk they will cost me in total (including shipping) around $230 however if i buy them here in australia they will cost me $450+
i've asked quite a few people and ive gotten mixed reports.. some say there may be an import duty however some say that because its considered a person import and not a commercial one they will not add any extra charges.
thanks! |
|
|
| calum |
You will be charged an import duty if the price is over some limit i think, the way to get around it I think is to have the package marked as a gift, but retailers are unable/unwilling to do this??
You could always check with the post office to what would be any duties/charges if you were to buy them online.
Your best bet is to get someone to buy them for you over there, and bring them back (if they are their on holiday), or if you have any freinds/relatives there (buy them and post them as a gift).
However, I have bought in >AU$230 in one hit of records from chemicals in the past and have not been charged any import duties - so I think you would be best to check if headphones/electronic equipment are charged import duties.
Many years ago I was charged $200 on a $600+ mp3 portable player. So just a warning |
|
|
| Beemer |
I hear ya - it's so hard figuring out the customs duty crap...and the Customs website is absolutely useless - it's impossible to find anything clear on there :(
Found this on another site a lil while ago when I was looking to buy a digi cam from the States:
"Customs duty concessions (therefore, GST Free) will also include goods of insubstantial value. Goods of insubstantial value are goods on which customs duty and taxes come to $50 or less, and which have a customs value of:
less than $1,000 for goods imported by post, or
less than $250 for other goods."
I think this means u should be safe - cos, GST on ur headphones would be less than $50, and the total value is under both $1000 and $250..........but yeah, it does make it easier if the sender can tick the 'gift' box on the customs declaration and put a much lower value on there than the goods are really worth....u'd be surprised how many overseas retailers are willing to do that actually - I bought an mp3 discman from Hong Kong and the retailer said from the start (without me even mentioning it) that he'd tick the gift box.....the place I got my digi cam from in the States were also more than willing to do that :) So, it's definitely worth asking!! My digi cam cost me around $900, so technically I should've had to pay duty on it (since the GST value on it would've been over $50), but the gift thingy saved me from that......
Like I said, I don't think u'd have to pay any duty regardless though, since ur headfones seem to fall below all the limits.....so, I wouldn't worry :)
Customs are dodgy as tho - it seems that they pick and choose when it comes to charging - I've known plenty of ppl who bought things that were over the limits, and never got charged, while some have been just over the limits and did get charged - seems to depend on whether or not the Customs officer looking at ur package is having a good day or not :rolleyes: |
|
|
| Beemer |
| ohh forgot to mention...if u ever do try to bring in sumthin that's over the customs duty exemption limit, but has the gift box ticked, u need to be careful about the receipt - if ur package says its a gift, and Customs opens it (which isn't that uncommon - lotsa packages get opened for checking) and finds a receipt in there stating u actually paid for the goods, they'll tell u u have to pay the duties............one to watch out for!! |
|
|
| Master_Yoda |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lanithium
hey guys,
looking at buying some sennheiser hd25s from the uk, just wondering if anyone has done this before and if there will be any extra charges ie. import duty when they reach customs here in australia?
reason i ask is, to buy them from the uk they will cost me in total (including shipping) around $230 however if i buy them here in australia they will cost me $450+
|
Hey let us know how this goes... cos $230 is a damn good price for them, and i'd sure be interested in getting a pair, and i'm sure other ppl would as well.
Which web site are you looking at?? |
|
|
| Lanithium |
thanks for the replies guys!
thought id take the chance and just ordered them then.. gonna get a pair anyway whether i buy them online or not so doesnt make much difference... however if i can save $200 by getting them online then thats just an amazing bonus! :P
will let ya's know how it turns out
| quote: | Originally posted by Master_Yoda
Which web site are you looking at?? |
i was going to buy them from chemical records ($220 + $8 shipping), but they sold out a few days ago, spent all last night searching for a similar price finally came across bangingtunes.com who had them for $206 however shipping was a bit more expensive seeing as they send by registered mail which worked out to about $40.
$246 not bad at all for hd25s!! :P hopefully the price stays that way haha |
|
|
| djway |
Personally know two people who have done this before[ a shop of ebay]. Both got them for $240. Shipping was $20AUD and they were fine, as they were "gifts", the shop did this automatically. I'd be confirming that in an e-mail tho ;)
--djway |
|
|
| Lanithium |
| quote: | Originally posted by waXology
hd- 25's meh! |
?? |
|
|
| waXology |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lanithium
?? |
hehe not a fan of them a few ppl i know have em and they broken on occasions. |
|
|
| Sharpy |
| Did they accidentaly reverse over them with their car? |
|
|
| Lanithium |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sharpy
Did they accidentaly reverse over them with their car? |
haha i was thinking along the same lines
:D |
|
|
|
|
