I find this old chestnut is often based on opinion rather than fact.
Let's take QHY.
You can buy a QHY183C from OPT currently for $USD699.
Assuming you pay for it with a credit card, the bank will likely charge you
$A1050. But that's not including any shipping. If you want to trust the USPS mail system add another $USD75 or so i.e. $A110....want FedEx?
add another $50 minimum.
Total so far? $AUD1160 ....but wait there's more. Being over $A500 likely you will pay GST (the Harvey Norman Tax) AND being over $A1000 you'll need a N10 formal customs entry. So an additional $A160.00 or so. Total $AUS1320
Yet local Oz dealers will sell you one for $A1150 including GST
But say you are on holiday and are in the OPT store...damn..you'll pay sales tax of about 9%...so $USD761.90 or $A1130.00
Yep...a real rip-off. $20.
Oh, but I forgot, there is this thing called Australian Consumer Law....you'll be on your own with that camera purchased off-shore, yet your local dealer will have to refund/repair/replace depending on what problem might occur.
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