New rates to import to Australia!

Just ordered from B&H a new 70-200 f4L lens for USD$624.00 inc shipping and insurance (4-5 day delivery by UPS express). I found out Aussies can now import up to AUD$1,000 worth of goods tax free instead of the old AUD $250.00. The B&H price inc shipping when converted to Aussie dollars is $822.00. This is AUD$400.00 better than the local prices. With these import price level changes you would have to have rocks in your head not to purchase at B&H USA over a local place

Clipper

I agree, Australian importers or companies like Canon are going to have to look at their price structure for the Australian market as more of us do our shopping online to places like the USA. Loyalty to using Australian companies only goes so far.

Dead right Brian!....these new import price levels will mean Canons price hold on the Australian market place will be at big risk. I also found out as long as shippments dont come together the $1,000 import limit can be used as many times as you like....in other words I can have mutliple imports arriving everyday under $1,000 and not one cent of duty is payable as long as the shipment is on its own.

That will really shake the market up as more people go online for purchases.

Clipper and Brian,
I fell into this trap about a year ago. I was ordering some astronomy software from the States, as it was about 60% of the local (Aussie) price. I thought order 2, the freight was only $5 more, and the total cost was still way under $400. However, it came by international courier, and they went the whole hog in clearance charges, and Customs, and GST, everything.
At the end of the day, I ended up paying well over the odds, and have a copy that no-one wants, so I'm out of pocket. If an item comes by post there is no problem, but the couriers say that it is their policy to go through Customs, and they charge accordingly. Try to contact them before it arrives, and explain that you don't want to go down that road, thank you very much, and in future try to ensure that any freight is by Postal Service, and not courier.
Happy Snapping, Mike

Hi Mike.....I just checked with customs and apparantly all this changed in October last year. Now it can come by courier and no problems with customs etc. In fact they dont care anymore if its by post , courier or boat its treated all the same way..that is...if its under $1,000 there are no charges on their side...GST etc. I also rang UPS and they said that B&H's charges included everything including custom charges etc. I had a pda cover arrive last week from Singapore also by courier and no custom charges also. I think in UPS's case the fact that they are their own customs brokers means that they can clear it themselves without the need for a 3rd party customs agent to do the work and charge accordingly.

Well then, that should be OK. I had the software delivered last July, when the limit was set at $500, so it should still have been free of duty etc. I have just looked up the details, and UPS charged me $10.95 security fee, $52.25 Customs entry fee, and $37.58 GST, and when I spoke to them about it, they told me that their policy was to do a customs entry and clearance on everything, irrespective of value.
Mike

Hi all..Quick update...Ordered 70-200mmf4L from B&H on Tuesday....Shipped ex New York Wed and here in Australia today!!!. Hows that for service...Unbelievable​. Also tracking number was sent by B&H at time of dispatch which links straight to UPS for in transit status. Tracking details show lens landed in Australia this morning in Sydney and has passed through customs(at no charge) and is actually in transit to Melb as I speak. It has delivery to my doorstep scheduled for am tomorrow morning according to tracking status. This is unbelievable. 4days from order and to the other side of the world!..or should I say Down Under. Nearly as unbelievable as the sight of B&H 's setup in NY when I visited the states last year. They are one helluva professional outfit if ever I have seen one!

Cant wait to get my hands on my first "L"

Regards

Final Update....Lens arrived today and I can confirm there were no definately no extra charges of Customs or GST to pay. This basically means its 50% cheaper to buy O/S online from B&H than its is to get here in Australia discounted. B&H 70-200 f4L USD $624.00(inc shipping ) vs Australia ave discounted price of AUD$1200.00 = $USD923.00. Suppose that means I wont be buying anything more in Australia until Canon stop artificially inflating their retail prices/margins here.


Regards

Congratulations Clipper. I also received a new lens today, bought secondhand through this site, and I am very pleased with it (Canon 105 2.8 Macro), and have a 100-400 IS on its way from Michigan, so I shall have plenty to play with.

Regards,

Mike

Good to hear shrnbrook....looks like all our $$$ are heading offshore ...mmmmmmm must look at the 100-400 IS now .....bet you got that also a lot cheaper than here

Does anyone know if the $1000 threshold is based on the value of the item only, or the item + postage/insurance?

It is $1K total. Item, S&H, insurance, `processing fees', bribe for the dog...

If the express companies are not gouging at this end, that will be a big change!

If possible, have it sent by post. In the US the postal servise sucks big time. Most of the rest of the world is OK, and international destinations are seperated out from the bulk very quickly.

It's coming from digitalrev, so hong kong... Item + shipping is $1050... So I am subject to GST and the processing fee ($50 if i remember)?

I have bought all my gear from B&H.
Excellent service.

Digitalrev gouge through postage and i suspect inflate the price of lenses as opposed to B&H