Importing from the U.S.A.???? Breaking the embargo?

[el_draco (Rom)]

Getting sick of being ripped off by massive mark-up and the monopoly situation that allows Aussie retailers to get away with it? I am and this may be the answer http://www.priceusa.com.au/index.html . I see one of their last orders was a Celestron Edge 11 SCT., bought and imported from OPT for about Au$4200. Cheapest I have see in Aus is about $7000. Has anyone dealt with this business before?

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Yeah, link has been threaded a few time in the forum.

[MikeyB (Michael)]

Whirlpool has the info you are seeking (in mind-bending detail!):

Is PriceUSA safe?

and:

PriceUSA (pt 2)

tl;dr It appears that PriceUSA is reputable

[Dean]

Looks like they take a commission too for any items purchased from Amazon... as their links have their affiliate ID imbedded
Possibly similar setup for other USA stores too... Oh well, if the service is high quality, good on them for being enterprising!

[cohiba (Robert)]

Rom
I am an importer/exporter albiet a different product, you must remeber they are many hidden costs associted with importing ie inland freight costs USA, export freight costs, Duties, Insurance and a profit for the importer I would guess a cost of US$4200 would equate to a landed cost of about AUD$5800.00 so if the retailer is charging $7k thats a 20% markup not a lot in the commercial world. Also dont forget the retailer in Australia will be reposible for all back up and warranty claims.
I have read on these forums guys who reckon they have saved heaps on importing themseleves, but conversley you dont hear about the disatsters, shippments not arriving, parts missing, damage in transit etc etc I guess you take a chance, personally I would only buy equipment from a regonsised Australian distributor

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

You can get return shipping insurance with price USA for a % of item cost. Still works out a lot cheaper.

I have to wonder why Aust prices are so high when we are at .92c per $US (and have been so for some time) and given the fact most Astronomical OTAs are shipped from China. Given this, how can they be cheaper (to import from USA) when the item attracts shipping costs from China to USA and then to Australia.

[cfranks (Charles)]

I've dealt with OPT quite a few times. Their prices are fairly standard for the US, freight is usually high (UPS) but I always get good service and the landed price (Inc GST & freight) has always been cheaper than buying locally. Very much faster delivery too. Why should I pay significantly more to an Aussie dealer when I can do it myself. They will always take longer to get it too.
Pay by Paypal when you can because they send the transaction to my bank in $AU. Paying to a US company means the amount gets to your credit card in $US and my bank (westpac) then charges me an additional 3.5% to convert to $AU.
Charles

[Steffen]

I'm as dismayed as the next guy at the often inflated local prices. I decide on a case by case basis whether it is a good idea to import stuff myself or not. Among the inputs into this decision are:

• the actual price difference, shipped, after currency conversion, fees and GST (if $1000 and above)
• the actual price difference factoring in 2 extra lots of shipping (in case the item has to be returned for repair or exchange) - this is somewhat weighted with the likelihood the item might be faulty or needing repair
• the reputation of the local dealer for customer service and their distance from me (Sydney shops are more likely to steer me away from imports)
• the local dealer's stock level (if they don't have it and have to order it I may as well order it myself)
• with brick'n'mortar stores, do they have it there for me to play with - this has very strong persuasion for me, I'm far less likely to order on-line or from overseas if a dealer has floor stock that I was allowed to inspect

For example, if I were to buy a TeleVue eyepiece I wouldn't hesitate getting it from Bintel, since their prices seem very fair compared to self-imports. If I need it repaired or exchanged - they're half an hour's drive away from me.* On the other hand, the local authorised dealers (which shall remain unnamed) for Pelican cases can eat my shorts for price gouging. I simply can't justify paying AU$250 plus shipping for a 1470 case when I can get the same from the US for AU$150 shipped.

Cheers
Steffen.

* I have no affiliation with Bintel, and have never bought any eyepieces from them.

[mch62 (Mark)]

Is it the dealer or certain wholesalers doing the dirty.
Celestron appears to be the biggest mark up.
eg an 8"edgehd ota from OPt $1300 cheapest here $3000
I didn't think there were duties on Astronomical products-last time I imported there weren"
Just GST, freight and exchange rate.
So either our $ has taken a dive or frieght is $1000plus.
I am sure OPT make a nice profit even at $1300 sell.
I have nothing aginst making an honest profit but don't understand how some Astronomical products are closer to the US and other just ????????
Mark

[el_draco (Rom)]

Well, thanks for the imput here folks. I dont mind paying a few % markup to an Aussie dealer who does the importing part of the sale but I am loathed if I am going to pay thousands for no apparent gain.

For some gear here the prices are simple outragous and suppliers better wake up before they lose their clients to agents like priceusa. We are supposed to have a free trade arrangement with the Yanks and maintaining these rediculous little monopolies is counter productive. IF I buy Celestron again, it'll be through an agent.

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

I have noticed some products in Australia are reasonably priced ATM.

But I have also noticed that prices across the board are still more than they were pre-GFC, despite the Aussie $ being high for longer than it was down.

[bojan]

20% ia a lot of margin. When I worked for NEC, I was told by various marketing people our mobile phones had margin of only couple of %.. sometimes none..it was that tough.
When I bought my EQ6, it was just before huge price drop 2 years ago.. I bet the margin in my particular case was 50% - AU$ was almost like US$ for quite some time, and I know that my mount was ordered directly from China (it was not from local stock). A week or two after I received it, the local price dropped significantly and I figured out I could have get Synscan version instead of standard one for the same amount, if I waited only those two weeks.. or if retailer was more honest/less greedy.

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

Originally Posted by Steffen

On the other hand, the local authorised dealers (which shall remain unnamed) for Pelican cases can eat my shorts for price gouging. I simply can't justify paying AU$250 plus shipping for a 1470 case when I can get the same from the US for AU$150 shipped.

Glad I'm not the only one.. What a disgraceful mark up there is on Pelican related gear.