Shipping To Australia
Interesting point Aitch regarding customs tax for items over AUD$1000. Not sure what happened in my own case, but when i shipped in my 320, its purchase price was US$1000 which attracted a AUD$210 fee. A few short years later when i shipped in my 360, its purchase price was US$5 cheaper than the 320! NO customs tax!
But geez that shipping fee hits you for six!
But geez that shipping fee hits you for six!
Hi
This one's primarily for the Aussies.
I realise this thread is a bit old now but I've received a lot of good advice from this forum and I feel obliged to chip in here.
I'm in the final stages of having a Ric imported from the States. It cost me US$1195 and I paid US$95 for shipping with USPS. It's my understanding and experience that if you ship something from the States with USPS it will be delivered in OZ through Aus Post. If it's over AU$1000 it will be stopped by customs and you will be asked to pay duty and GST (more on this later). You will be sent paperwork that has to be completed and once fees are paid, the item will be released to Aus Post who will deliver it. If however you go through USP or other service, my understanding is that you will have to use a broker or go in person to deal with customs direct to pay any fees. This can be more expensive. I also mention this because I live in the sticks and in my situation I couldn't just drop into the local customs office in Brisbane or Sydney.
Regarding size limitations with either USPS or Aus Post, I didn't have a problem this time and haven't in the past. Incidentally, my Ric has been sent in what looks like an old bass case!
Last week I had an old Epiphone solid body sent to me. It came through USPS, was in a box with no case and was declared (honestly) at US$230. Being under AU$1000 it came through in three weeks and turned up at my local country PO. No GST. No duty. No customs fee.
As I said earlier, the Ric I'm awaiting was over AU$1000. It was stopped by customs and I received my paperwork express posted to me from the Brisbane customs office at the airport. However, I was given a hint by a friend about the "fact" that US made products that are shipped from the US don't attract customs duty. GST yes; duty No. I rang customs and found I had to download a special import declaration form and attach it to the paperwork provided by customs. It included a space were I had to enter a tariff classification No. that I had to ring another arm of customs to get. When I explained the situation they were very helpful and confirmed that the guitar should not attract duty if it was made in the US and shipped from the US. Apparently it's to do with the 2005 US/Aus free trade agreement.
Anyway, I faxed my forms in in the morning and by the mid afternoon got a call confirming that just over AU$200 would be charged for both GST and the $40 odd customs fee. No duty. The guitar was released to Aus Post this arvo and should be here in two days.
The whole process was relatively painless (though I did have to ring customs a few times to clarify paperwork and I had to provide receipts and 100 points of identification) and customs in Brisbane were very helpful. Unless anything goes pear-shaped between now and when it arrives, I'm considering my first brush with importing through customs a success.
Just thought you might be interested.
This one's primarily for the Aussies.
I realise this thread is a bit old now but I've received a lot of good advice from this forum and I feel obliged to chip in here.
I'm in the final stages of having a Ric imported from the States. It cost me US$1195 and I paid US$95 for shipping with USPS. It's my understanding and experience that if you ship something from the States with USPS it will be delivered in OZ through Aus Post. If it's over AU$1000 it will be stopped by customs and you will be asked to pay duty and GST (more on this later). You will be sent paperwork that has to be completed and once fees are paid, the item will be released to Aus Post who will deliver it. If however you go through USP or other service, my understanding is that you will have to use a broker or go in person to deal with customs direct to pay any fees. This can be more expensive. I also mention this because I live in the sticks and in my situation I couldn't just drop into the local customs office in Brisbane or Sydney.
Regarding size limitations with either USPS or Aus Post, I didn't have a problem this time and haven't in the past. Incidentally, my Ric has been sent in what looks like an old bass case!
Last week I had an old Epiphone solid body sent to me. It came through USPS, was in a box with no case and was declared (honestly) at US$230. Being under AU$1000 it came through in three weeks and turned up at my local country PO. No GST. No duty. No customs fee.
As I said earlier, the Ric I'm awaiting was over AU$1000. It was stopped by customs and I received my paperwork express posted to me from the Brisbane customs office at the airport. However, I was given a hint by a friend about the "fact" that US made products that are shipped from the US don't attract customs duty. GST yes; duty No. I rang customs and found I had to download a special import declaration form and attach it to the paperwork provided by customs. It included a space were I had to enter a tariff classification No. that I had to ring another arm of customs to get. When I explained the situation they were very helpful and confirmed that the guitar should not attract duty if it was made in the US and shipped from the US. Apparently it's to do with the 2005 US/Aus free trade agreement.
Anyway, I faxed my forms in in the morning and by the mid afternoon got a call confirming that just over AU$200 would be charged for both GST and the $40 odd customs fee. No duty. The guitar was released to Aus Post this arvo and should be here in two days.
The whole process was relatively painless (though I did have to ring customs a few times to clarify paperwork and I had to provide receipts and 100 points of identification) and customs in Brisbane were very helpful. Unless anything goes pear-shaped between now and when it arrives, I'm considering my first brush with importing through customs a success.
Just thought you might be interested.
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longboard_ric
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 634
- Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:15 pm
Hi Adrian,
Glad you got everything through OK.
I brought a guitar in recently valued at less that AUD1000.00 via UPS with no problem at all. No duty no GST and all in all it took just over a week, door to door.
Shipping cost was US270.00 which included UPS brokering the package through customs.
Some years ago we brought in some items from the UK via the postal service. In that instance we had to arrange our own broker to do the customs entry and pay duty etc.
Glad you got everything through OK.
I brought a guitar in recently valued at less that AUD1000.00 via UPS with no problem at all. No duty no GST and all in all it took just over a week, door to door.
Shipping cost was US270.00 which included UPS brokering the package through customs.
Some years ago we brought in some items from the UK via the postal service. In that instance we had to arrange our own broker to do the customs entry and pay duty etc.
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
Hi Adrian.
The last few that I bought overseas that were over $1000 AUD were shipped UPS. They simply called and told me how much the GST and customs fees were and I paid by credit card over the phone..... no problems!
The first time they actually shipped the guitar without me paying any fees and sent me an invoice. Go figure!
As with many government instrumentalities, Australia Post does it the hard way.
The last few that I bought overseas that were over $1000 AUD were shipped UPS. They simply called and told me how much the GST and customs fees were and I paid by credit card over the phone..... no problems!
The first time they actually shipped the guitar without me paying any fees and sent me an invoice. Go figure!
As with many government instrumentalities, Australia Post does it the hard way.
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
Wow, the plot thickens. The info I got from customs initially was quite specific about avoiding other shipping methods other that USPS.
It's been a funny experience; I was surprised to find how helpful customs in Brisbane were when it came to me completing the relevant forms to have the guitar released considering the contradictory, unclear and often downright disparaging nature of the advice customs provided initially. I sort of got the feeling they really don't want individuals importing.
Have you fellas been exempt from duty because of the US made issue?
It's been a funny experience; I was surprised to find how helpful customs in Brisbane were when it came to me completing the relevant forms to have the guitar released considering the contradictory, unclear and often downright disparaging nature of the advice customs provided initially. I sort of got the feeling they really don't want individuals importing.
Have you fellas been exempt from duty because of the US made issue?
Adrian, as I understand the free trade agreement between the US and Australia, no duty is payable on US manufactured products, provided they are purchased in the US and that they accompany you on your return trip to Oz. Such goods are not included in your $800 duty free allowance.
From your experience it sounds like you can import US made products, without having to accompany the goods personally, provided you complete the necessary paperwork.
Hmmmm, interesting......
From your experience it sounds like you can import US made products, without having to accompany the goods personally, provided you complete the necessary paperwork.
Hmmmm, interesting......
'59 425, '59 335, '60 335, '60 360, '60 335F, '60 345F, '64 RM 1999, '65 RM 1998, '65 360-12, '66 335, '67 450-12, '72 4001 '72 4001, '75 4000, '75 4000CS, '00 700S, '01 700C, '01 700S-12, '01 730S-FH, '06 660 DCM
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headbanger
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 735
- Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2001 10:06 pm
Hi Guys, my 2c. Caveat...I'm in Perth so I pay even more...
Oct 2005 I bought my 72 4001fl from a guy in Houston. He hand delivered it to a freight co who crated it($65) and sent it in a "consolidated" shipment that was already coming to Perth. Thus the freight charges were shared.
I paid brokers fees, quarantine charges($95), GST, airport fees & insurance as well as the freight charges.
I can't recall the exact breakdown but the guitar cost was US1500 & the total AUS landed cost was about $2800 all up.
I found out after the fact that the quarantine inspection wasn't necessary on a 30yr old finished solid body guitar. If it had been a hollowbody an inspection would be mandatory & fumigation might be required(horror!)
Musical instruments from the US used to attract a duty of 5% but now it is zero.
The sender had to show ID & provide all his details for the airway bill, which was a pain for him.
I chose this method primarily because of the purpose made crate(which I still have) and it probably cost more than the USPS or UPS method you guys are using but the peace of mind was comforting for me.
Oct 2005 I bought my 72 4001fl from a guy in Houston. He hand delivered it to a freight co who crated it($65) and sent it in a "consolidated" shipment that was already coming to Perth. Thus the freight charges were shared.
I paid brokers fees, quarantine charges($95), GST, airport fees & insurance as well as the freight charges.
I can't recall the exact breakdown but the guitar cost was US1500 & the total AUS landed cost was about $2800 all up.
I found out after the fact that the quarantine inspection wasn't necessary on a 30yr old finished solid body guitar. If it had been a hollowbody an inspection would be mandatory & fumigation might be required(horror!)
Musical instruments from the US used to attract a duty of 5% but now it is zero.
The sender had to show ID & provide all his details for the airway bill, which was a pain for him.
I chose this method primarily because of the purpose made crate(which I still have) and it probably cost more than the USPS or UPS method you guys are using but the peace of mind was comforting for me.
Darren, what you say about accompanied baggage when traveling is interesting. I've been fortunate enough to travel to the States on hols a couple of times and both times I brought guitars back with me. I thought the new undeclared limit was AU$900 per person? I've always been under that amount because I traveled with my partner and they allow you to combine the total (ie $1800 for two people). Is it really the case now that because of the free trade agreement anything (but in our case, guitars) that is made in the US and brought back into OZ from the US when traveling is also exempt duty regardless of value? That's fantastic news if its true. My partner might just get that rip to the Canada and the States at Christmas after all...