idonowidont international sales tax & GST

[jewellery4fun]

Hi
Just wondered if anyone has had any experience buying diamond rings internationally & with associated sales tax. I bought a ring from an idonowidont auction in July. I was shocked in my ignorance perhaps to realise that my $2000 US ring would cost $130 to post to Australia. I found out about the extra postage after purchase. I was even more shocked when rung by customs to pay an extra $450. The site does not provide any information on this. idonowidont offerred to help out with the customs duties, but I have been communicating with them since July. They say a cheque has been sent, but no money has turned up. I am wondering if I am being lied to and if they hope I will just go away. Anyway just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, or if anyone knows if such sites should advertise that they do not pay import duties, as in looking since, other sites do seem to do this.

 

[tyty333]

I''m probably not going to tell you what you want to hear...but I think it is your responsibility to know what
taxes you are going to have to pay for something that you have bought outside of your country.
From what I understand, idonowidont just provides an interface between the seller and a buyer. Unless the
add said that postage and taxes were included then I dont feel like the seller owes you anything. I
wouldnt think that it was idonowidont that offered you the refund (taxes)...I would think maybe the
seller offered to refund you some of your money to help cover the taxes. I dont feel they are responsible
for paying your taxes but may have offered to help out? Or maybe they are just trying to get rid
of you by telling you the check is in the mail. Hopefully some other Aussies will give their opinions.
This is just my 2 cents.

 

[oldminer]

If they told you they sent you a check, I''d be surprised if it was not the case. It may take a bit longer than you think to process and for the slow mail to arrive, but I have not heard bad things about this site. As far as being surprised about shipping and duty, I think the previous posting in this thread puts the responsibility primarily on the buyer, especially in a country other than where the auction or sale is taking place. A sentence or two warning prospective purchasers to check local regulations qwould not be a problem for a website to provide. Maybe somewhere it alreadys exists in their fine print.