A tip for anyone in Aus buying from the USA

[topshed34a]

Last year I bought a Ric 4003 from the USA, it was shipped FEDEX and when it arrived I had to pay duty etc etc, this consisted of all the various components including GST duty quaranteen fees etc etc .
But then I got speaking to another geezer who told me that if you buy American made items and import then you don't have to pay the duty component because Australa has a free trade agreement with the USA.
Now it comes as not suprise to me that FEDEX would have known this, so I put in a tax dispute with fedex. Today I recieved in my bank account A$118.21 for the duty they charged me.
So there you go, if you buy from the US goods made in the US don't let the carrier take you for a ride by charging duty because you dont have to.
Hope it help someone out there.
Regards Steve

[bails]

I know of hundreds of instances were people have been forced to pay import duties on guitars from the US, and I myself have paid them at least 5 times.
Yours is the first story I've heard where someone has not had to pay. Hope it's not the last story of this phenomenon!

[ozover50]

There is a declaration that you can send to the shipping company that clearly states the FTA clauses, etc. and is in effect a claim for duty. I have a copy at home somewhere............

[Mr.Mow]

I know of hundreds of instances were people have been forced to pay import duties on guitars from the US, and I myself have paid them at least 5 times.
Yours is the first story I've heard where someone has not had to pay. Hope it's not the last story of this phenomenon!

Yep, same with me.. Customs themselves have made me pay them every time even though I have specifically noted the items are made in the US..

[weemac]

Does this include the GST or do you have to pay that on anything over $1000?
Eden.

[antipodean]

Eden,

The bad news is that GST does have to be paid on anything over AUD 1000 in value. Think of the GST on a '59 Les Paul - ouch!!!

[weemac]

Eden,

The bad news is that GST does have to be paid on anything over AUD 1000 in value. Think of the GST on a '59 Les Paul - ouch!!!

Oh Bum!

Eden.

[topshed34a]

There is one great mystery to all this. I wanted to share it with other so they could save a bit of money if they wanted to buy a US made instrument.
I put a similar posting on the Ricenbacker Forum and they removed it.
i just don't get it, You know what is wrong with someone such as my self buying a Rickenbacker from the USA, lets face it we all know that US made instruments are the best. it not as if as if I have cheated a dealer in Aus becuase there are none. I had to buy mine of ebay, because dealers in America wont sell oversea.
Rickenbackers are a unique instrument, the looks of the bass simply turn heads and the sound, it like a really good bottle of vintage red wine, not that I know wine, but sensational.
The other thing is during this world ecconomic crisis surely any company anywhere in the world would want to export there products.
Maybe some one can explain the reluctance of Ric to sell overseas, after all Australia is harldy a leper colony is it
regards
Steve
Rickenbacker 4003s rule.

[Mr.Mow]

There is one great mystery to all this. I wanted to share it with other so they could save a bit of money if they wanted to buy a US made instrument.
I put a similar posting on the Ricenbacker Forum and they removed it.
i just don't get it, You know what is wrong with someone such as my self buying a Rickenbacker from the USA, lets face it we all know that US made instruments are the best. it not as if as if I have cheated a dealer in Aus becuase there are none. I had to buy mine of ebay, because dealers in America wont sell oversea.
Rickenbackers are a unique instrument, the looks of the bass simply turn heads and the sound, it like a really good bottle of vintage red wine, not that I know wine, but sensational.
The other thing is during this world ecconomic crisis surely any company anywhere in the world would want to export there products.
Maybe some one can explain the reluctance of Ric to sell overseas, after all Australia is harldy a leper colony is it
regards
Steve
Rickenbacker 4003s rule.

I've been trying to get parts from them.. they flat out refuse to answer my emails, instead I have to try and deal with Ric Asia.. screw that.. Japanese Yen is sky high.. There ARE dealers in the US who will quietly sell Rics..

But I asked Customs for a clarification of the US trade thing..

ENTRIES
All goods imported into Australia must be cleared by Customs. Importers are responsible for obtaining a formal Customs clearance for goods above $1000 in value.
Customs applies cost-recovery charges for the processing of entries by Customs. These costs depend on whether the entry is submitted by electronic entry or as a documentary (manual) entry and how the goods have been delivered to Australia.
GENERAL IMPORTS
In general the goods would attract a 5% rate of import duty and 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The import duty would be paid on the purchase price of the goods.
The 10% rate of GST is paid on the combination of-
- The purchase price of the goods
- The import duty paid on the goods
- The cost of freight and insurance into Australia
The agreement in place does not automatically allow all goods into Australia from the USA with no import duty. Every year the duty rate will decrease, eventually giving an 'nil' duty rate.