Looking at that info from customs re currency rates- I can see the senario- customs officer has parcel - value whatever - posted 3 weeks ago goes to folder - thumbs back 3 weeks ( or looks up web site and scans back 3 weeks) looking for rate - gets out calculater and works it out

OR

"hey Joe whats the exchange rate on UK Pounds?" - " I think I heard Koshy say it was 66P this morning" OK thanks"

_________________
David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

So , Lockie , how close , or over the $1000 limit did you go ?

If you went over the limit , were you thinking ," i'll take a chance here" , or from others "advice", you thought you would be right .

From what i'm reading , if you stay fairly well under the limit , ( like i did , $87 ) you should be right ?

Yes if your under $1000 you don't have to wince in the slightest.. so long as your not smuggling drugs within it

because I've done alot of OS buying over the years, ive always kept it under well under the $1000 limit

This time I was not well under, at the time of buying it was $8 under, but things changed and tipped me $23 over. But then they decided to add the freight to that of course so im wayyyy over.. something like 1500 over...

I knew it was going to be risky, so sure I took the risk, i accept that, but if you never try you never know. I'm not one to be cocky and tell people you can do something without knowing I can do it first correctly..

But i was sure that what people had said and what customs website said seemed correct if all paperwork was in order.

But now we all know this is NOT the case.

_________________
Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

The US dollar shifted by 10% in 4 days this week (From $1.10 - $0.99), before settling where it now is at 6% less than it was a week ago.

At times like these, you gotta watch what you are doing closely if skipping under the limit is your game.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Like most of us I too have ordered stuff from both the US and UK. Most have not been over the AU$1000 limit and I didn't get contacted or complete any customs stuff at all.
On the one occasion where it DID go over, the courier would not release the goods until I had paid the duty and GST charges.
I didn't think Customs/clearance places let stuff go and then came after you for the tax
The duty is calculated on the full amount spent plus freight charges.

_________________
'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

they don't. I never said my goods had arrived had I? Have to pay it first, but waiting for them to get back to me, to give details of where to pay..

_________________
Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

No Lockie you didn't I was quoting Michael.
"I received my package OK within 1 week and then a few days later I had an email from DHL requesting me to pay duty of about $100 which I understood was for the amount over the $1000 AUS."

_________________
'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

oh sorry. Missed that bit. My apologies.

_________________
Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

recieved this from the company that sent it after I enquired...




Hi Lachlan,

With regards to your query about the shipping invoices.

Please be advised that your invoices were reduced to £650.00, which at the time of dispatch converted to just under 1000 Australian Dollar.

Due to the conversion rate £650 is now just over 1000 Australian Dollar. Please be advised that unfortunately this is an unforeseeable situation.

We can request for the parcel to be returned to us and re-sent again. However, you would need to pay another shipping to get the parcel dispatched from ourselves again.

Please accept my sincerest apologies for this inconvenience....I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Kind Regards

_________________
Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

I guess that is from the supplier?
If that is the case you've committed fraud and got the business to fudge the numbers to get out of paying tax and duty on the items. And then you put it on the internet.

_________________
Simplify and add lightness

nope, never was "reduced" that's what I'm trying to point here,, they are just trying to weasel out of it as well any way they can. I emailed them to see what they had to say about my drama's. That was the total cost of the parts without any lowered costs they never reduced it, they are just trying to use that word for me to think they "Reduced" it,,, like B..SS they did... got a bank receipt here to prove it if anyone wishes to dispute me...

_________________
Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Let me guess here Lockie, you spent your money with Mini Sport UK and you didn't use (or they didn't arrange for) a customs broker?

There is no way I'd import anything over about $800 AUD worth without a broker.

Depending on the specific part (eg a Brake dics designed to operate at temperature over 350 deg C) and / or the date which the vehicle was manufacture (over 30 years - again only on specific parts) they will be Duty Exempt, BUT not GST exempt.

<EDIT> for fiji's question \/ - PM sent

_________________

What can a broker do for u and what does it cost I soon will b ordering some parts?

_________________
PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

if your buying goods that are that close to the threshold then its your own fault. exchange rates change everyday and the dollar was only going to go back the other way when it was that strong. i dont think its fair you trying to blame the company sending the goods - they did all the right things. you were setting yourself up for disaster and it backfired - accept it and learn from the experience

jezz, rude much???

He is only telling people on here for the better of good. As a lot on here think they "know" the system and you can declare it as goods for a 30yr car and not pay.. Lockie put this post up to notify others who may not be so fortunte with advice like this.

People like you who are so rude and say things like that, don't deserve too read experiences like this so you know yourself for sure.

Your just second guessing what went on, when I spoke to Lockie the invoice were incorrectly labeled by the company and this caused problems as the courier costs were assumed as the goods amount. This is what caused most of the problem.

Next time DTRAIN, if you don't have something contribution to say, don't say it.