Aussie Dollar is up again

[Moon]

Get those credit cards out again everyone - it looks like the Aussie dollar is back in town.

[TrevorW]

Happy days are here again

before it drops again :thumbsup:

[spearo]

Thanks
The graph suggests a psych ceiling at 95 cents, with nearly 3 attempts at it, if it goes above 95 it might then not come back under it for a while as the ceiling might become the new floor for a while.

will be interesting to see what happens.

Might have time to order a few goodies for the observatory!

frank

[Liz]

Before even seeing this thread, I have been browsing through hte US sites looking at some beautiful EPs. :D
Shame postage is still so expensive. :(
What are people looking at buying??? ;)

[mozzie]

its going to be good for me ordering a lx200 14":cool:and the dollar up can only help :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Hans Tucker]

Baader Flat Field Converter (FFC) :D

[Kevnool]

If it gets up higher then buy the best......US Dollars.

Cheers Kev.

[strongmanmike]

Oooh yeh! Sounds great Pete! Bring it to IISAC :thumbsup:

Mike

[Suzy]

I'm after more Pentax XW ep's. :prey: I check US prices regularly and the difference between last week's price and this week's price is only $10 ($340 as opposed to now $330). I'm no expert at understanding currency trends or associated lingo, just hoping it gets a bit cheaper - as the shipping cost of an extra $40 drags the price back up.
Also the Televue Panoptic is sitting at $240 + dlvry. You can buy them here for $260, when I looked not so long ago. Prices are from OPT.

[Merlin66]

Just a reminder...While I'm "exiled" over here in the UK I can buy and ship stuff from the UK to members in Oz...might help??
(If the A$ gets any stronger I'm not sure I can afford to come home!!)
Ken

[stanlite]

Ahh the pacific Paseo friend and foe

[stanlite]

Talk about some deals out there (if you don't include shipping) found a QHY9-C at https://www.ccd-labs.com/eshop/index.php?cPath=21 for 1080 Euro which works out to $1500 at present exchange rates ... thats $500 saving on QHY9-C from Australia and given the QHY8 pro is the same price that is $1000 saving on Astro Shop here in OZ :eyepop:

[midnight]

Just bought a MPCC at about 60% the price of that in oz inc delivery.

Paypal exchange rate is now 0.912 dollars and mastercard is about 0.904 dollars (up by 1 whole cent since I ordered a few days ago!!)

Make sure you stay under $1000 so you don't get the customs please pay GST letter.

Cheers,
D...

[shelltree]

Looks like I might be placing that book order after all! :D

[Octane]

Time to buy Epson ink cartridges, maintenance tank, and high quality archival paper. waa waa.

H

[Liz]

Euro is also looking good ... much better than when I was in Europe last year. :sadeyes:

I just bought a Paragon 30mm EP from Germany. I have read some great reviews of these EPs of late ... please dont tell me they are crappy. :rolleyes:

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2335_TS-Optics-PARAGON-2--ED-eyepiece-30mm---68--field---6-elements.html

[Moon]

Paraphrasing this report : "The dollar could reach parity or more in the next few weeks or months" LINK (http://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/dollar-soars-to-new-highs-as-gold-jumps-20100921-15k1q.html?autostart=1)

Wouldn't it be nice to wake up one morning and see the exchange rate was 1 AUD = 2 USD. It would only need to stay at that level long enough for all our orders to be placed online and payment sent. We could all have some very nice "Made in the USA" equipment under the christmas tree - Teve Vue, AstroPhysics, Bisque, FLI, SBIG, Planewave...

[Ric]

I wish I had some money to buy something. :sadeyes:

[strongmanmike]

Well, ya can't wait for ever, I took the gamble and paid for my pending US gear and UK gear in full...I got 94.5 cents and 60.6p respectively..not bad considering :shrug:...if the rates get better..?..DOH :doh:for me and :2thumbs: for those who wait...but if it gets worse...phew! ;). Parity one day you say?..hmm?, I hope so but too much of a gamble, may be waiting for ever, more likely to drop I recon?

Mike

[erick]

0.945 cents - Beaudy! Time for some Catseye collimation tools. :D

[UniPol]

I have also taken advantage of the very favourable exchange rate and recently purchased a brand new Celestron C9.25" OTA with the Losmandy dovetail off eBay. The cost of the scope inc. the standard accessories, after using Paypal, came to AUD $1432 (inc. shipping) and customs duties AUD $188 making a total of AUD $1620 delivered to my door which in anybody's language represents a huge saving over local prices.

I have the impression that people are somewhat reluctant to purchase goods from eBay, o/seas or otherwise and going through the Customs process. Going through the custom's process has become very simple especially over the internet. Provided you register with "Customs" as a client (basically identifying yourself with the 100 points business) you receive a CCID number for all future import declarations. This means you clear the goods yourself and the standard fee is $48.85 irregardless of the good's value. After receiving notification from your carrier e.g. USPS, FedEx et. al. with a reference number all you need to do is fill out an N10 Import Declaration form (PDF downloadable file from the Customs website) with the particulars of the goods, scan the filled out page and email it back to them. Of course you can fax or post the document(s) if you wish but is somewhat slower. Generally, when you email, the turnaround is one to two days when you receive the assessed amount payable in duties. Customs sends you a credit card authorisation form in PDF format and once completed is usually acknowledged the same day. In most cases the carriers contact you soon after stating the goods have been cleared through customs and will be delivered ...... By the way, telescopes don't attract any duties apart from the GST and the $48.85 clearance fee. The Tarriff Classification Code for telescopes on the N10 form is 9005.80.00. If you bought a scope for $1000 and Customs wanted their cut it would cost you $1148.85.

Darrin stated " Make sure you stay under $1000 so you don't get the customs please pay GST letter. " If you receive a "letter" from Customs/Australia Post et. al., a "Notice to Postal Importers of Dutiable Goods" is usually included. What is of interest is the section " IF YOUR GOODS ARE VALUED AT OR BELOW $1000 " the following is stated :

" You need to fax, email or post your invoice/receipt for payment to Customs as evidence of the value of the goods. .......... If Customs accepts accepts your invoice you will not be required to pay Customs Duty or GST. Your postal article will be delivered by Australia Post."

I suspect that if a seller understates the cost of goods e.g. new C9.25" OTA for USD $50 one would expect Customs to be suspicious! In the case of my C9.25" (15kg box) I included scanned copies of eBay's winning item page, proof of purchase page as well my Paypal receipt showing exchange rate at the time. Apparently Customs views this information very favourably owing to the sheer volume of goods passing through their system and obviously not all Customs officers are familiar with telescopes of varying types. Naturally, if you are honest and upfront with them and provide as much information as possible, I believe the system works smoothly.

Sorry if this reply is somewhat long winded and off topic but if one is considering purchasing from o/seas as a consequence of our strong dollar then I hope this information may be of help to IIS members.

Cheers, Steve
Winmalee, NSW

[erick]

Paypal gave me 0.923 cents. Good enough!

[lacad01]

:doh:why is it that the dollar is always up when I've the least amount to spend? Murphy's Law I guess...:)

[sly]

Let's hope that is lasts! Purchases from the US are real sweet now hehe!

[allan gould]

Just purchased a WO 72mm Megrez doublet APO with the new digital display guage with FREE international delivery for less than I can get the plain 72mm Megrez here in Australia. Got 92+cents on the $ through paypal and so it should be here next week.

[OICURMT]

I noticed that the Australian dealers have not moved on their prices... Stock from mid-year at 0.85? They better reduce it soon or potentially have "old" stock that will never move and have to be liquidated at a loss.

Comments by Darrin and Grady sorta drives the point home...

[that_guy]

does this mean that the clouds are gonna be here to stay.. i mean with all them purchases cant be good :/

[mozzie]

just bought some items on ebay and cant wait to get them:(:( a 177 pc wilton cake decorating kit and some merange cooking stuff woo hoo wouldnt know what to do with it!!!!!! :lol::lol: there for elise shes been doing a cake decorating course and these were a bargain.by cricky its amazing what shes done proud of her

[acropolite]

We know you want it Mozzie...

Seriously though, with prices dropping I wouldn't mind a 7D body.

[erick]

Means nothin' without photos! New thread! Let's see :thumbsup:

ps. anything like attached?

[erick]

0.938 cents today from Paypal. :jump:

[taminga16]

Brilliant, I have just purchased a few things from the UK, ( Not Astro though, Sports Car)
Greg.:)

[mozzie]

wow the dollar is wright up there know 0.99 will it make 1 for 1

has it ever been higher then a dollar u.s ??? and what was its highest ???

[Moon]

Peter - you need to turn on your grammar checker!

Looks like it hit 0.9915 earlier today.

[mozzie]

i just did a widget check and still 0.99 either way still good for buying astro gear

[mithrandir]

Back in the days before Paul Keating's "Banana Republic" statement and floating the $AU it was well above the $US.

[BlackWidow]

Two things have been on my bucket list... And no nothing to do with the wife LOL :lol:.. I wanted to see a shuttle launch and the other is to see the Arura Borialis. I went to NASA in Orlando early on this year and had tickets for launch day... That was when they held the launch date for a week due to bad weather. I did get to see her on the Launch Pad (pretty cool!)..

Well today I made the final payments for nmy trip to North Alaska to a place just north of Fairbanks to see the Arura (I hope). The USA Dollar is just Soooooo Good at the moment I could not let the chance pass by.. No I am even more poor than I was, but this is truly a great time to go to the USA.. If you can do it, Just do it!.

Oh yes thier will be a stop over in San Fran on the way to visit Scope City. I think a nice Vixen VMC95L to use whilst in Alaska Co's I need a Guide scope for my SCT. I am sure thier will be other things if I can find a wife shop near by. I would hate her to witness a Telescope Purchase Frenzy.... it's a very scary thing to those not like us :eyepop:

Hand on burning pocket
Mardy

[Louwai]

Today I bought another kendrick heater ctrlr, 5 heater straps + a 2ndry heater, a Telegizmos cover for both the 12" dob & the SCT, + a powered ground board kit from Stellar Cat for the 12" dob.

All for well under AU$1000 delivered. :thumbsup:

Am waiting on a reply email from Starlight about a FT for the 12" as well.
The one I want is a good price now.

Only a couple of more bits to get now for the 12" touch up.

A Telrad & a Laser pointer & I'm done. Maybe.......:P