Customs cracking down on eBay, & online store purchases entering Australia, and you can ex...

Customs cracking down on eBay, & online store purchases entering Australia, and
you can expect major delays.

I play the game by the rules, and get caught up. I am really getting pissed off
now!
Who was the polly that dreamt this one up?
3 months won't make any difference. Read on:

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A document from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service from late
January details a three month campaign to
crack-down on expensive parcels entering Australia marked as gifts or with a
declared value under $1000, exempting them
from liability for GST or duty payments. The document notes that the campaign
aims to ensure that GST and duty
exemptions for low-value goods entering Australia are not being "abused or
exploited" by importers.

full story:
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/375895/customs_cracking_down_ebay_online_store_purchases_entering_australia /

full document:
http://www.cargosupport.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ACCA2011_01.pdf

I think this witch hunt for 3 months, will be a waste of custom resources.

I have had a package sitting in customs from the 6-feb to the 10-feb. Was in
Sydney on the 4th. I hope to get it today,
the 11th of Feb.

Here is the on-line doco:
http://www.tnt.com/webtracker/tracking.do?navigation=1&searchType=CON&respLang=en&respCountry=GENERIC&genericSiteIdent=.&cons87%8960854

This package is for $7000 worth of goods, and includes all documentation, but it
still gets held up in this fiasco.

As a business importer, I make sure all packages fall into 2 groups:
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1) Well under $1000, so there are no delays, or import costs. I usually make it
$800 to be safe. Daily exchange rates
can play a bit part.

2) Well in excess of $1000, so that expensive courier fees cover all my import
paperwork and time involved. I pay, and I
get a service.

I know many ebay sellers put "gift" on packages that contain just $10 worth of
goods. They don't know or care what the
limit is world wide. They only wish to sell their goods and not have import
problems for the purchaser.

If you purchase something with a value over $1000, and expect to get it in under
that value to circumnavigate customs,
you are taking a big chance. One I would never attempt. Not worth the hassle.

Cheers Don...

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