Aussie Help - Import Question

[aj7]

Hi all,

Quick Question (and it maybe a little silly). I recently purchased a ring and diamond from the USA and it will be shipped to Australia via FEDEX. I understand the charges involved with Australian customs, but am wondering do I need to fill out any forms in order for the package to be received into the country? On the Australian Customs and FEDEX they talk about ‘declarations’ but am unsure if I need to organise this or FEDEX does it on my behalf.

I may be confusing myself completely, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

aj

 

[AshNZ]

Don''t take my word for this:

The FedEX box will have a ''value'' and ''type'' category on it. Australian Customs will contact you and bill you - then you receive the package. Or it slips straight through unnoticed.

Ash

 

[freddy]

Hi, I live in Australia also and this year I have received two pieces of jewellery from USA via Fedex. I have not had to complete any paperwork/forms to be able to receive the items into Australia.

The only paperwork I have had to fill in was my signature to say I had received the package. Both my items were sent with the Fedex paperwork marked sender paying for the shipping, and that the recipient paying for the bill duties and taxes.

I had a lot of trouble with the last item before it was posted, as there was a Fedex employee who was giving wrong information to the sender. They were saying I needed to have a Fedex account or provide a credit card number, before they could send the item which is not correct. It all got sorted out though after many emails etc, but a misinformed person sure can create a lot of trouble.

Fedex will contact you once the item arrives in australia(they phoned me), and they will let you know how much you need to pay before they will release the package. I have paid using my c card over the phone both times, but there are more options. You will also receive later the import declaration from fedex detailing exactly how the charges have been calculated.

Let me know if you want to anything else or me to clarify or provide more details.

 

[aj7]

Freddy and AshNZ, thanks for the excellent information

cheers
aj

 

[Lozzarina]

Hey fellow aussies!

Items over $1000AU are subject to import duties - anything under this threshold is freely able to enter without any import taxes.
I had a purchase of $1025AU (so only just over!) an was charged about $225 in fees

Customs are a pain in the butt IMHO

Hope this helps!

 

[arjunajane]

Hello fellow Aussie AJ!

No you won''t have to do any paperwork, a customs broker does it for you with FedEx.

The only exemption to this is when customs "don''t believe" the declared value on the package, or think you are declaring it at less than its worth etc. Then they will get you to fill out a whole lotta stuff !

This shouldn''t happen though - if it does pls feel free to post and ask, as it happened to me and I know how to do the ppwk.

Enjoy your ring

 

[MishB]

I''ve recently purchased earrings from Blue Nile, it couldn''t have been easier. Fedex called me, I gave them my credit card number and the goods were delivered the next day.

The duty was less than I expected, the earrings were around $2500 and the customs fees were 300 something.

 

[wenwen1111]

How comfortable are you with giving our your credit card details over the phone? My ring is coming in a couple of days time so i''ll have to deal with the GST ~____~

Let''s hope the Aussie Dollar stays up til then

 

[aj7]

Thanks everyone for the great answers. I thought FEDEX would do the broker part of things but wasn''t 100% sure, which means i can relax and wait!

Cheers

aj

 

[misssoph]

I recently bought a diamond from the US and like you I was worried about all the customs stuff, but in the end it really was no big issue. My item was sent fedex and they dealt with all the customs /GST. I arranged with fedex for them to pay the GST and fees up front and I reimbursed them by eftpos when I picked up the package. I had the package held at the depot and picked it up from there rather than having it delivered to my house as this seemed more secure. Really for all the trouble it saved me I thoght the fedex shipping fees were great value!.

 

[AshNZ]

Out of interest (as I am an ex-Australian Resident) - are you saving a lot by buying in the US?
I''ll be in Sydney in a month and was thinking I shop for an e-ring there too (as well as here)

Ash

 

[aj7]

Me personally i am saving enough to make it worth wild - even with the extras due to shipping, customs, etc.

I assume others are also as alot of us on pricescope seem to be doing it.

cheers

aj

 

[D2B]

Definately worth it, for the money you get sooooo much better cut and quality stones, and you do save a heap.

I was looking at 1.01c G SI1 ex ex ex for the stone at the local jeweller alone it was AUD 11,800 - whereas here you can get the same stone (and better cut in terms of AGS 000 for a much cheaper price, factoring in customs etc.

So yes worth it,and australian stores in general have not heard of upgrade policies.

db

 

[hihowareyou]

We saved a lot by buying from the US. I''m a bit annoyed though because had we held off for a month we''d have that awesome exchange rate, 92 US cents atm (the diamond we wanted may not have waited for us though). I think we bought when it was around 84 or something but it was still much better than retail in Australia or even the wholesale places that we looked, much better quality and quite frankly there is nothing like a GOG OMC here

Like D2B said, US stores also have much better policies. I loved the whole process.