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:
full document:
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:
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: ====================================================================
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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