USA purchase Vs. Australia purchase

[tommycc78]

Hello, I'm keen to purchase a new Celestron C8S-GT (XLT) 8" go-to scope, and I note a HUGE price difference between Australian dealers and those in the USA? Any ideas why? If you take into account exchange rate, shipping and mark-up, the price still seems unreasonable. I'm thinking of purchasing this scope through a US vendor, and shipping it. I believe I'm saving over $1500AUS on the deal by buying internationally. Any ideas why there is a such a huge dollar difference? Warranty? Service? If it breaks, I'm assuming the $1500 differential would cover most reasonable repairs? Any comments?:help:

[[1ponders]]

Unfortunately, unless you know someone over there that can buy it for you and then ship it over, there is an agreement between the Meade and Celestron manufacturers and supplies here and in the US that Telescopes won't be sold to Australian customers and then shipped here. You can get individual items like mounts and accessories, but not Optical Tube Assemblies. :(

[tommycc78]

Thanks Paul. Luckily I do have a good friend who is willing to ship it for me. If it were you, and you had this ability, would you buy in the USA and ship it???

[[1ponders]]

Yes ....and no. If you buy from the States you can kiss your warranty good-bye unless you are prepared to ship it back to your friend if something goes wrong. Those sort of shipping cost (and potential for additional damage) get pretty high (about $400 buck for a Losmandy G11 mount....without OTA).

[PeterM]

This is and always will be an ongoing debate until you add in all the things you missed like GST, Customs Clearance, maybe underestimating shipping costs by a very large amount (its by size of package not weight), insurance - or take your chances and it's a heck of a lot of travelling for said scope. And then if you are unlucky enough to need one (or more) warranty repair and the item needs to go back, do the shipping, insurance again by double - back there and back here and then throw in how lucky you were that it arrived safely the first time. Now if you were over there and bringing it back yourself then maybe as you might eliminate some risk. Australian dealers offer warranty, support and advice on products they sell and I have experienced that these can be way more than you will ever save by buying overseas. Small items perhaps, telescopes with lots of glass, not me.
PeterM

[Kal]

As already mentioned, Celestron has a very protectionist way of doing business, and the only way to purchase new Celestron scopes in Australia is through Extravisions hands. They have a huge markup, so all Australian shops have their hands tied and are forced to sell at a very high price compared to the US price.

If you have a friend in the US who is willing to ship it then go for it, you will save a bundle.

[renormalised]

Just goes to show you how big a thieves some companies are....they're all trying to become millionaires overnight. It's a pity we're just not a big enough market to force Celestron's hand in this.

Best way to make Extravision stand up and take notice would be to threaten to send it broke by not buying the product.

[DJDD]

[quote=tommycc78;407490] I believe I'm saving over $1500AUS on the deal by buying international/quote]

$1500?
that's a flight to the US nearly.
if something breaks fly to the US with the goods for warranty support AND have a holiday! :)

[Geoff45]

My experience with buying OS is that you only save time and not much money. Often if you order from the US you can have the product within a week, wheras the local dealers often "have to order it in". Pricewise it depends on the $AUS. If the dollar goes up, you win if you buy OS because local dealers have bought stock with a low dollar. Dollar goes down, you lose by buying OS if dealers have stock they bought with a high dollar. Don't forget to factor in shipping and GST (on anything over $1000).

[TrevorW]

Its the old Catch 22, someone wins and someone loses. I recently purchase a filter direct from the US for two reasons

a) it wasn't available from a local supplier
b) all other brands supplied locally were more expensive

Why don't local suppliers stock cheaper brands. I believe Skywatcher sell a LP filter which works and isn't expensive yet nearly it costs around $300 for any other brand from a local supplier, thats nearly half the price I paid for my ED, this just doesn't make sense to me.

I'd say go for it as long as the items insured and well packed you'll save a bundle.

[JethroB76]

I bought all my EPs, filters and barlows overseas. With freight a fairly small component, up until second half of 2008, this was very cost effective. Items are always in stock and the speed of international freight craps all over AusPost.

I would have to think more carefully about getting a scope this way though..

[tommycc78]

Thanks everyone! It is indeed a sad indictment on Australia that we have to pay huge mark-ups, GST and suffer excessive wait-times for equipment that is stock-standard, ready-to-go in the USA. I think I'll end up buying there, despite the risks associated with transport of all that glass... thanks for all the pointers on this! CHEERS!

[TrevorW]

No more risk than when they are shipped direct to the local supplier by the manufacturer I'd say, best of luck

:thumbsup:

[PCH]

... and to cap it all Tommy, if Customs do ask you to pay import duty/gst etc because of the price of the item, they charge you a nominal fee to raise this paperwork and you pay gst on the total of all charges up to and including the Customs paperwork fee :P

Cheers :thumbsup:

[PeterM]

If you do end up having your friend send you the telescope it would be interesting to see what the all up final cost works out to, if you don't mind posting that here. Tommy I see you live at Ipswich, so maybe when you do get the scope you might like to come out to our Leyburn Dark Sky site.
All the best.
PeterM

[Kal]

If your friend ships it it is highly unlikely you will pay GST, as the item will not be shipping from a commercial address. If it ships from a residential address then it is akin to shipping a second hand item.

It might be wise for your friend to open up all the boxes and ensure that everything is in working order before shipping anyway.

[wavelandscott]

It depends on the shipper and the shipping company...some automatically include a fee and GST it depends on the declarations filed...I've had that happen on truly second hand computer gear shipping it back to myself so I did not need to carry it...turned out to be much more expensive than I had allowed for...

[[1ponders]]

Just out of interest, I bought my G11 from Optcorp a couple of years ago (non Gemini) and by the time it got here I had save only about $350. Hardly worth it if you consider the warranty issue.

[Nightshift]

Personally, I ONLY buy overseas unless it is an item that exceeds a certain size or weight consideration. I buy many items regualrly from the US, especially car parts and always come off saving a huge percentage. You can fly to the States and buy it yourself for the savings you have suggested. Let me give you a small example of non astronomy savings I recently did.

I needed two brake kits comprising 2 seals, 2 dust boots and 2 "o" rings. Best price here in Australia, $70 a set.

Normal US price from all dealers, $11.95 a set. You do the math. Especially true if you keep your purchase under $1000 AU as it does not attract any import duties. I say buy overseas unless you have extraordinary circumstances.