Quote:
Originally Posted by 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...
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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
why is it that the dollar is always up when I've the least amount to spend? Murphy's Law I guess...
