Importing parts

Not a local so no direct experience but chiming in with a though and observation;

Down here the government steals in exactly the same way. GST over the total amount so including shipping costs etc. What a laugh... Anyway, I have noticed that ebay and amazon have started a total service for parts being shipped in some cases (depends on the shop I guess?). What they do is calculate everything, including import duties (the right TARIC code etc. in our case) and automatically generate a customs form. This way when customs get your package it has been declared and paid for and no extra administration fees apply.

Of course they can choose to open the package and check it's contents to determine if the value on the form is in line with what they think it should be worth, but then it is no longer the case that you, the end customer, has to pay for it by means of administration costs. Down here, they only apply when you have not provided documentation. So, you could get rid of that if you provide your shipper with the correct form to include, which is something you should be able to whip up?

Not sure if this applies to .au but it might be worth looking at.

Cheers,
-P

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Originally Posted by 101RRS

GST has always been on the total import cost - eg cost, shipping, duties, fees. There has always been a compliant that this is a tax on a tax but that is the way it has always been.

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to be honest it wasn't a complaint as such, more of a comment that expectation wasn't reality.
I wouldn't really be complaining myself tho, as it makes sense that you will be charged GST on the service that it shipping costs.

Afterall, shipping is a service and therefore it attracts a goods and services tax.

The info to the OP was to take this into account when comparing prices(local vs importing by self) ... especially heavy items that involve costly shipping and probably the non returning of exchange unit(core deposit).

Gst is calculated on the CIF value,that is -
Cost of item plus duty,insurance (.25% is industry standard) plus freight.
Its converted to AUD before gst is calculated.

I ordered a rebuilt R380 with the heavy duty 5th gear bearing and the LT230 rebuild kit from Ashcroft in March last year. I remember having to pay DHL about $450 before they would deliver the goods to my door.

What surprised me is that at the beginning of Covid, my delivery was at my door in 10 days (from England). No chance of that happening now.

I have a 1972 Peugeot 504 as well. At the end of January this year, I ordered some brake caliper parts from a mob in Germany that I have been using for years and their freight timing was always around two weeks. But after a month I contacted them to find out why my small order was taking so long. I was told that because of covid, there are only a limited number of air freight flights now and they are only taking "essential parcels". My peugeot parts were therefore sent via ship and took 12 weeks..

Two weeks ago I ordered a Bushtech Canopy from South Africa for my 130. It is coming by ship to Perth then trucked to me in Brisbane. Won't see this until end of July.

Thanks for all the advice and experiences. I have talked to a well known LR place in Burwood who said they can either fix my gearbox or modify a Defender reco one they have, for a figure not much more than for bringing in an Ashcroft one, paying the core deposit, shipping, and all the numerous other fees. They could also offer a realistic time to do the work and 12 month warranty, whereas Ashcroft are quoting a 4-5 week build time.
I think the advantages of dealing with just one local organisation, and having reasonable certainty about the cost and time frame outweigh the appeal and possible complications of getting the Ashcroft box here and installed, in my situation (I’m not as young, flexible or patient as I used to be).
Once again, many thanks to all for your thoughts, they certainly are appreciated and helped considerably in my decision making.
cheers,
Woolly.

Interesting. I was talking to Brad at KLR Auto and he says shipments from the UK generally take about a week to ten days.

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Originally Posted by p38arover

Interesting. I was talking to Brad at KLR Auto and he says shipments from the UK generally take about a week to ten days.

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Here is the bizzare thing, I ordered parts from Turners in the UK on Friday afternoon, they were in Sydney customs first thing on Monday morning, and then took until Wednesday midday to clear customs and then was delivered the following Monday.

2-3 days from the Uk to Sydney
7 days from Sydney to 3.5hrs drive west of Sydney. :censored:

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Originally Posted by Slunnie

Here is the bizzare thing, I ordered parts from Turners in the UK on Friday afternoon, they were in Sydney customs first thing on Monday morning, and then took until Wednesday midday to clear customs and then was delivered the following Monday.

2-3 days from the Uk to Sydney
7 days from Sydney to 3.5hrs drive west of Sydney. :censored:

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The same on this side Slunnie

2-3 days UK to Perth
7-10 days Perth to Albany , 4 hours drive South
A.P. really need to feed their camels more ( I assume that's what they use )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Woolly

Thanks for all the advice and experiences. I have talked to a well known LR place in Burwood who said they can either fix my gearbox or modify a Defender reco one they have, for a figure not much more than for bringing in an Ashcroft one, paying the core deposit, shipping, and all the numerous other fees. They could also offer a realistic time to do the work and 12 month warranty, whereas Ashcroft are quoting a 4-5 week build time.
I think the advantages of dealing with just one local organisation, and having reasonable certainty about the cost and time frame outweigh the appeal and possible complications of getting the Ashcroft box here and installed, in my situation (I’m not as young, flexible or patient as I used to be).
Once again, many thanks to all for your thoughts, they certainly are appreciated and helped considerably in my decision making.
cheers,
Woolly.

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All good, except that mob in Burwood do NOT have the rep that Ashcrofts do. But it's your choice. Personally, I'd choose Ashcroft.
Do what you need.

I have a packet from the USA that has been in transit since mid March. Based on tracking had made a couple of circuits of the USA. Has also been to Japan and a one point it did come across here to the U.K. Currently is back in USA again.