Customs and releases

[Mully]

I do feel a little sorry for them.. it sounds that in this 22nd centry of IT wizz bang, 3D intranet porn and appliances that give you verbal abuse... customs is still a very paper based process.

Not if you're in the business - it's all electronic...

[Mully]

btw there are some items that don't incurr GST.. and I don't know the full of it, but the last $1200US lens I ordered incurred only a small fee from customs.

That's a whole different can of worms. Probably best not to open it, really.

Simply put - allow 15% (plus ~$40 in levies) on top of anything you price overseas.

And if you've imported before (privately), Customs will make you get a broker - who will charge probably ~$100 or so.

[Robert Taylor]

That's a whole different can of worms. Probably best not to open it, really.

Simply put - allow 15% (plus ~$40 in levies) on top of anything you price overseas.

And if you've imported before (privately), Customs will make you get a broker - who will charge probably ~$100 or so.

Indeed, if businesses have to pay this why shouldnt private individuals? Its an inequity that is plain wrong.

[Kiwibaconator]

Indeed, if businesses have to pay this why shouldnt private individuals? Its an inequity that is plain wrong.

Businesses who import often get very good rates from brokers, the gst comes back in the next GST Return and the other costs are tax deductions. It's not the hassle it sounds as the volume of stuff coming through for a business makes the fees quite small per item.

In short, there are two economies of scale when importing.
1. Below the GST threshold.
2. Big enough that the fees become minor.

In between the $450-500 mark is the most painful, the fees become a big proportion of the items value.

[Robert Taylor]

Businesses who import often get very good rates from brokers, the gst comes back in the next GST Return and the other costs are tax deductions. It's not the hassle it sounds as the volume of stuff coming through for a business makes the fees quite small per item.

In short, there are two economies of scale when importing.
1. Below the GST threshold.
2. Big enough that the fees become minor.

In between the $450-500 mark is the most painful, the fees become a big proportion of the items value.

Sounds plausible, until you relate that many businesses importing low volume specialty products will not have the buffer of volume to spread the cost.