Questions about importing to Australia

  • avatar

    by: Praz
    New SaleHoo Member
    3 posts

    Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 26 Oct 09 2:49 am.

    Hi All, I'm new to this whole buying and selling business. After weeks of looking for products I've decided on computer parts from Evertek.com. They have a minimum order of US$1000. Australia Customs charge a total of 15% for items valued over AUS$1000. My Questions are:
    1) Can I order minimum amount which will be > AUS$1000 and ask the supplier to invoice me stating that its less that AUS$1000.
    OR
    2) Try and get the supplier to accept an order which be less than AUS$1000
    OR
    3) Should I do the right thing and order US$1000 and pay 15% to the Customs?

    4) What are the implications of regularly (every 2-4 weeks) ordering items less than $1000 from the same supplier or different ones?

    Thank you in advance,
    Pras.
  • avatar

    by: frbsy12
    New SaleHoo Member
    1 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 26 Oct 09 4:45 am.

    you need to talk to a customs broker
    you can call me on 08-82443622
    my name is Adam stevens
  • avatar

    by: ozgunner
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    17 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 26 Oct 09 8:52 am.

    Not ever advisable to mess with big brother mate - trust me i know. We brought in some samples a while ago and put $15 on each, the next thing off goes the phones and i was offered declare the right amount or loose the lot hahah.

    They are not stupid, so start out professionally as you mean to go on. If the product can't stand the import and GST taxes, don't buy it. Simple really.

    The last thing you need is to be flagged (watched)

    Hope this helps
  • avatar

    by: Praz
    New SaleHoo Member
    3 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 26 Oct 09 10:11 pm.

    frbsy12, thanks for the reply but I don't think I'm a big enough imported and a regular yet, but I'll keep the brokerage in mind.

    ozgunner, thanks for the advice and it definitely makes sense to do it by the books if i'm looking at importing over a long term.
  • avatar

    by: fudjj
    SaleHoo Staff
    2969 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 26 Oct 09 10:21 pm.

    Yep, as ozgunner has highlighted, easy to get caught on a seriously under valued load, and then you risk getting the load tied up in red tape for what can be weeks.

    They pretty much know the value of popular products, so can pick an undervalued load without too many issues. Of course they can hold the load up even if it's a genuine declaration if they even get sus, so having good accurate paper work will always smooth out any lumps in the road.

    Of course most companies need to maintain accurate book work for their own tax records, so most won't be interested in undervaluing, however it does happen.

    If it's your first time importing I would suggest just going with someone like DHL. They'll take care of everything for you, and even though they won't act until a package has been held up by customs for more than 48 business hours, if there is a problem beyond that they are able to assist in sorting through the issue for you.

    Bottom line, not worth the risk from any stand point really.

    Marc Ransom

    Community Manager
    SaleHoo.com

    About the Community Manager

  • avatar

    by: Praz
    New SaleHoo Member
    3 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 27 Oct 09 12:23 am.

    Thanks fudjj and ozgunner. its exactly what i needed to hear :)
  • avatar

    by: AlliGdigital
    SaleHoo Junior Member
    30 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 29 Oct 09 8:01 am.

    An other thing to keep in mind , if you have multiple packages valued under $1000 and they arrive at the same customs depot at around the same time they add the combined value . What I do if I have a few orders usually around $600 for each package is send one via DHL and the other via Fedex , when you track them online, one lands in Brisbane and the other lands in Sydney . So keep an eye on your tracking and a pattern emerges . Problem solved

    link hidden

  • avatar

    by: fudjj
    SaleHoo Staff
    2969 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 29 Oct 09 9:43 am.

    Yeah, good tip actually. I must confess that I have piggy backed a few loads into Brisbane just under the 1k valuation each via Fedex, arriving one day apart from each other and gotten away with it, but only because of the instant customs clearance that you usually get.

    I took the risk because I needed the stock, but if customs had just held one back on me, which of course they can do for 48 hours without any reason given, I would have gotten caught out lol

    Marc Ransom

    Community Manager
    SaleHoo.com

    About the Community Manager

  • avatar

    by: cadman
    New SaleHoo Member
    1 posts

    Re: Questions about importing to Australia

    Posted 15 Nov 09 8:55 pm.

    When talking about the 1k valuation are we talking total cost ie goods plus freight.We brought in over 800 items from usa cost of items $350 freight $600(57lbs)