Ordering Overseas

[beale187]

Hello All,

So I'm looking at buying a few goodies o/s and was hoping to have a couple of questions answered I can't seem to find the answers on and some feedback.

- So as I understand it orders =>$1,000 AUD MAY attract duty and GST. Does that include the shipping cost? Or the goods alone? E.g. Coilovers $800AU + $300AU shipping = $1,100AU, would I now be over the $1,000 threshold?

- ECS Tuning, I'm sure plenty of you have ordered from the guys over there
a) Is the calculated shipping costs at the checkout accurate?
b) Would love some feedback from Oz buyers? Shipping times? Any issues at customs? etc... Google revealed some pretty bad feedback but the range they have is so juicy it's hard to not order!

Cheers

[Sirocco20348]

No, no... Thanks to Harvey Norman the ole Kent, we must pay GST on everything. The $1000 rule has been scrapped.

GST on low value imported goods

My mate also went through ordering an LSD from the UK recently, here is the break down..

- GST on items bought (not shipping)
- 5% duty on car parts
- DHL charged $22 to get the item through customs

I've also ordered from ecstuning and the shipping is accurate and most times expensive, so make sure you make it worthwhile. Last time I asked around if anyone else needed anything when I ordered who was local to me. Really brought that doing cost down.

Otherwise if you have mates in the USA, have all the stuff sent to them first, usually it's free domestic shipping for them. Have them open them up, Rebox them , dirty them up a bit and send them on to you.

[Guest001]

I bought a thermostat from Lithuania on Ebay last week and the EBay invoice had 10% GST added on at checkout
Dont know what smaller sellers do but as I understand it the Govt collects it off SELLERS not you

[beale187]

No, no... Thanks to Harvey Norman the ole Kent, we must pay GST on everything. The $1000 rule has been scrapped.

GST on low value imported goods

My mate also went through ordering an LSD from the UK recently, here is the break down..

- GST on items bought (not shipping)
- 5% duty on car parts
- DHL charged $22 to get the item through customs

I've also ordered from ecstuning and the shipping is accurate and most times expensive, so make sure you make it worthwhile. Last time I asked around if anyone else needed anything when I ordered who was local to me. Really brought that doing cost down.

Otherwise if you have mates in the USA, have all the stuff sent to them first, usually it's free domestic shipping for them. Have them open them up, Rebox them , dirty them up a bit and send them on to you.

The worlds most complicated tax system strikes again hey, thanks Mr. Turnbull you massive knob... GST on everything.

So by having someone rebox o/s does that eliminate the GST component because your now buying "2nd hand" goods from a "private" seller? Or is it simply just shipping costs are lower, assuming they put everything in fewer boxes and get the free US shipping?

shame about the ECS shipping costs because they're ridiculously high.

[beale187]

I bought a thermostat from Lithuania on Ebay last week and the EBay invoice had 10% GST added on at checkout
Dont know what smaller sellers do but as I understand it the Govt collects it off SELLERS not you

So is that because you bought it through eBay Australia? Rather then direct from from the seller?

[Umai Naa!!]

Have you tried shopping locally?

[Sirocco20348]

The worlds most complicated tax system strikes again hey, thanks Mr. Turnbull you massive knob... GST on everything.

So by having someone rebox o/s does that eliminate the GST component because your now buying "2nd hand" goods from a "private" seller? Or is it simply just shipping costs are lower, assuming they put everything in fewer boxes and get the free US shipping?

shame about the ECS shipping costs because they're ridiculously high.

Yep you are now buying 2nd hand goods haha.

Sent from my LG-H870DS using Tapatalk

[Sirocco20348]

Have you tried shopping locally?

I don't mind buying locally if the price is competitive and I receive the part sooner.

But if I use my friends LSD for example, it was $2000 cheaper (even after applying GST and duty etc) to purchase and have it delivered from the UK. This is the type of rubbish I hate seeing Australians subjected to.

[beale187]

Have you tried shopping locally?

at this point I'm eyeing off some US spec bits from the Jetta GLI and the ECS suspension refresh kits.

But I'll also be in the need of a timing chain kit and clutch kit for a MK4 R32 which I'm hoping to source locally if you have suggestions Umai?

[beale187]

I don't mind buying locally if the price is competitive and I receive the part sooner.

But if I use my friends LSD for example, it was $2000 cheaper (even after applying GST and duty etc) to purchase and have it delivered from the UK. This is the type of rubbish I hate seeing Australians subjected to.

Wow that's not even close, absurd difference...

[Umai Naa!!]

at this point I'm eyeing off some US spec bits from the Jetta GLI and the ECS suspension refresh kits.

But I'll also be in the need of a timing chain kit and clutch kit for a MK4 R32 which I'm hoping to source locally if you have suggestions Umai?

Yeah try the likes of Imparts, HSY and Tooleys.

Just make sure you've got a VIN with you.

[beale187]

Thank you sir, much appreciated.

[jmcc]

Hey I bought some parts off ecs last week.

Got tagged with 10% gst + 5% duty + $50 customs fee. New tax rules suck...

The shipping is pricey but you it'd because they only offer express, I compared the prices with other places and it's about the same. You could freight forward it with some cheaper shipping maybe if you aren't in a rush.
I've used shipitto before they're pretty reliable.

I bought a clutch kid from a place called cascadegerman a couple months ago, reasonable shipping and decent price.

[beale187]

great feedback thanks guys, guess I'll start saving my pennies.

[dylan8]

Silly question but at what stage do you pay the tax? I'd assume once it lands in Australia but before its delieved to you?