Nice surprise. Ok my scopes are smaller than yours and I'm a strictly visual observer. Ordered a Losmandy AZ8 from Losmandy on Wednesday night. Losmandy quoted shipping via FedEx which was half the shipping quoted by a major reseller.
FedEx called tonight to advise it arrives here in Sydney tomorrow (Saturday) and will be at my door Monday am, and to arrange GST payment. Saved $500
on the list price from an Australian reseller and 3-day delivery is hard to beat.
And yes it's going to have encoders and a Nexus II fitted to function as a push-to setup.
Huge contrast to my 130mm refractor which took 6 weeks to get here, then I had to go through the rigmarole of filling out the customs paperwork, paying GST and drive halfway across Sydney to collect it from a depot.
To anyone buying something large/heavy from the US I'd have to recommend FedEx.
As you're looking at an EQ8, you considered an iEQ45 or CEM60 ? Importing one is pretty straightforward assuming you're prepared accept there's no local support.