Buying from the States?

[Mully]

you have to be careful of this, cause the insurance on the package will only cover whats is decleared so it it goes missing you could be out of pocket.

Plus, it's, ya know, fraud and that. And if Customs suspect anything, they will be all over you like a rash. They can (and on occasion, do) open any damn package they like at the mail centre. So Caveat Emptor if you do this.

At the end of the day, NZ retailers have to pay GST (which you pay when you buy stuff). If that's the difference between saving money and not, buy from the local guys.

[Mully]

I believe that if the item is for your own use , not for resale, then GST does not apply as you are the end user.

Nope. A common misconception (and actually a reasonable misconception also).

If the declared value of the goods, plus freight, plus any insurance is over NZ$400, Customs will want an entry done.

[imdying]

At the end of the day, NZ retailers have to pay GST (which you pay when you buy stuff). If that's the difference between saving money and not, buy from the local guys.

Fair call

[Owl]

If the declared value of the goods, plus freight, plus any insurance is over NZ$400, Customs will want an entry done.

I would certainly expect that and I do. However, I've brought in shitloads of gear from the US and I've only been copped for GST twice. Several times the amount has exceeded NZ$500 (declared) and its just arrived at the door.

[Robert Taylor]

Authorised distributors ( NZ businesses ) have to pay for customs clearance charges, EDR fees, port fees, other misc charges, gst on those charges and gst on the proper declared value of the goods.
Hardly a level playing field when many private one offs often dont incur charges. These charges should apply to EVERYONE.

[Owl]

Authorised distributors ( NZ businesses ) have to pay for customs clearance charges, EDR fees, port fees, other misc charges, gst on those charges and gst on the proper declared value of the goods.
Hardly a level playing field when many private one offs often dont incur charges. These charges should apply to EVERYONE.

Fair call Robert and I'd live with that. Please understand though, that it's not always about saving a buck, but simply getting something that’s not available here.

[Robert Taylor]

Fair call Robert and I'd live with that. Please understand though, that it's not always about saving a buck, but simply getting something that’s not available here.

Yeah, thats the whole issue with having such a tiny population. Local business just doesnt have enough turnover to support stocking everything and in large quantities. But also this whole offshore buying lark helps to further exacerbate that whole situation.
Ultimately also I think we should all have concerns for the ongoing viability of NZ business and more pointedly their ability to employ people.

[Chooky]

Yea most US retailers ship Fedex so when it arrives the customs have all the details on value etc and sting you with GST before the courier will deliver it.
Only way round it is get someone you know to repack it, rip all the tags off,value it at $10 and post it.......

[Guzza]

When he sends it tell him to declear it as a gift and put the value down as $100 and you will be fine. Make sure he takes all price tags off and no sales receipt.

I've brought alot of climbing gear into NZ from the States via mail, I've always made a point of keeping the value under NZ$400 and to have "Unsolisited Gift" stated in the declaration. I have yet to be hit with duty.

[Guzza]

Authorised distributors ( NZ businesses ) have to pay for customs clearance charges, EDR fees, port fees, other misc charges, gst on those charges and gst on the proper declared value of the goods.
Hardly a level playing field when many private one offs often dont incur charges. These charges should apply to EVERYONE.

I cant speak for the difference in price for bike gear but When I'm faced with the option of buying a brand name climbing carabiner for US$6.00 or NZ$30.00(NZ$1.00=US$0.75 at that time) Its pretty hard to look away

[YellowDog]

Fair call Robert and I'd live with that. Please understand though, that it's not always about saving a buck, but simply getting something that’s not available here.

I would generally prefer pay more and give my business to an NZ firm. When I imported my Tiger from LA, the NZ$/US$ was over 80c and whilst I was happy to pay a couple of grand more to buy in NZ, I saved over $5k in total and the saving was just too great. To afford the NZ prices atathat time I couldn't go any higher than an SAT kitted 1250 Bandit.

Now the NZ$/US$ rate is closer to 50c, there is no way I would import a new bike.

[Robert Taylor]

I would generally prefer pay more and give my business to an NZ firm. When I imported my Tiger from LA, the NZ$/US$ was over 80c and whilst I was happy to pay a couple of grand more to buy in NZ, I saved over $5k in total and the saving was just too great. To afford the NZ prices atathat time I couldn't go any higher than an SAT kitted 1250 Bandit.

Now the NZ$/US$ rate is closer to 50c, there is no way I would import a new bike.

And that is a good thing for the country, we need to pay more credence to export earnings.

[Sparky Bills]

In the past 2 weeks, there have been 4 bike shops in nz go under....
Just something to think about.

[scumdog]

Authorised distributors ( NZ businesses ) have to pay for customs clearance charges, EDR fees, port fees, other misc charges, gst on those charges and gst on the proper declared value of the goods.
Hardly a level playing field when many private one offs often dont incur charges. These charges should apply to EVERYONE.

But distributors are always at liberty to add their profit margin...at times it is an 'Awful Lot'(tm).

[98tls]

you have to be careful of this, cause the insurance on the package will only cover whats is decleared so it it goes missing you could be out of pocket.

Yep thats the chance you take eh,ive had heaps sent over the years from England/states and never once has anything gone missing.As for customs ive always had the sender put a low dollar value and never had a problem with them,got stung once when a guy put the true value on the box,pissed me off a bit but hey once in all these years i figures not to bad.One thing to watch is that they put the value at say $200 kiwi dollars not $200 pound as if its over 400 kiwi customs want some $ and they wont release it until its been paid