Amazon Charging "Customs Duty" on Top of GST for Purchase above $1000

hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 13:26
Last edited 08/11/2018 - 13:44 by 1 other user

Been discussing this at whirlpool, I found an 8TB hdd on Amazon AUS which is listed as 'fullfilled by Amazon USA' despite being listed in AUD on .COM.AU site.

So they DO charge GST of 10% on it, included in the $247 AUD price.
However, once you exceed 4 of them, you're over the 1k$ limit and pay more fees, which just happen to be, almost exactly, 10%

I always thought the fee was just GST over $1000 - apparently it's "customs duties" (according to Whirlpool) and it is, infact a normal fee.
So approx $247x7 drives (assuming free shipping for simplicitry) is now $1884 vs $1723.

Anyone know much about this? Honestly, I thought Amazon had the web form configured wrong. The govt is double dipping with GST AND Customs duties here, it's disgraceful.

Thoughts?

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Comments

  • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 13:29
    +1

    To be clear and re-iterate, this item is being charged in AUD and GSt is ALREADY INCLUDED, see this picture.
    https://i.imgur.com/fsXMcxl.jpg

    • cwongtech on 08/11/2018 - 13:35

      Customs fee is different to GST, they charge you money to collect your money.
      Yes.
      That is life.
      According to this, it's about $50 - $90 for 2016.
      https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/ReportsandPublications/Docume…

      Inflation hurts.

      It does say deposit though, so should be $111.70 refunded if the $50 figure is correct

      • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 13:41
        +1

        If I agree to free prime, then the shipping becomes 0$
        I can then buy 4 of them for just shy of $1000 with no fee (apparently, assuming customs aren't asses about it?)

        I can then order 3 more a few days later, again, over $500 for INTL free shipping on the prime trial, but under 1k$
        Does this ACTUALLY work though?

        • cwongtech on 08/11/2018 - 14:06

          It would work, assuming Amazon US will send to AUS addy

        • carlJack on 08/11/2018 - 14:38
          +1

          yes It will work

          • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 16:59

            @carlJack: Thanks to both of you guys, I may consider this. $250 AUD is my limit per disk.
            Any risk of interception or other fees?

            Also, random thing, I took advantage of the free Amazon Prime US thing like a year ago, I'm surprised they are showing the splash screen again for me. Reckon they might not actually let me "trial' it again?

            • carlJack on 08/11/2018 - 17:12

              @hamwhisperer:

              Any risk of interception or other fees?

              you will be fine as long as the invoice is less than 1000. Just make use of Amazon prime free 30 day trial. You can make it 4 per order. You can also order using someone else's name.

              Also, random thing, I took advantage of the free Amazon Prime US thing like a year ago, I'm surprised they are showing the splash screen again for me. Reckon they might not actually let me "trial' it again?

              Probably not. you can always open a new account using a different email.

              • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 17:20

                @carlJack: I'll take a crack and update the thread, with the shipping fee, I'm just over 1k (although Amazon no longer charging the fee, concerned customs may get greedy)

                You'd think they would monitor for unique ccard number, or unique customer address, I'll find out in the next few days.

  • abb on 08/11/2018 - 13:44

    That's the law of the land, if you don't like it, write to your MP.

    • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 16:59
      -1

      Pretty lame laws, double dipping indeed.

      • whooah1979 on 08/11/2018 - 21:35
        +2

        Pretty lame laws, double dipping indeed.

        no it isn't. gst was and is intended to be distributed to the states. duty is payable depending on the tariff classification.
        https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Busi/cargo-support-trade-and-…

      • Rockets84 on 09/11/2018 - 14:24
        +2

        What's lame is that if you order something over the Internet and ship it to Australia, $1000 is when the duty kicks in.

        If you're travelling overseas and buy something worth more than $900 AUD for an adult then that's when the duty kicks in and is due at the airport when you arrive back. It's $450 for children under 18. Families & defactos can pool their limits thankfully. So $2700 for 2 adults and 2 children in one family.

        Not like the government to be inconsistent at all is it?
        https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/ente/duty-free-concessio…

    • havebeerbelywillsumo on 08/11/2018 - 17:32
      +1

      …send blank cheque to your MP's party would have an effect, nothing else will…unless your initials are GH.

  • thord on 08/11/2018 - 14:20
    +1

    This is normal. All import purchases over $1000 are subject to customs duty. I don't like it, but it's been in place as long as I can remember and is normal and expected.

    • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 17:01
      +1

      I had always thought the $1000 was them billing us because "waaaa waaa we're missing out on GST" - now that we're paying GST that's just a gross rule.
      Thanks though. At least I know. I'll split the order. Hope I can double dip on Amazon prime trials (they showing me the splash screen, so maybe)

    • whooah1979 on 08/11/2018 - 21:46

      All import purchases over $1000 are subject to customs duty

      goods are subject to duty depending on their tariff classification. one may import $1000s worth of goods without paying a single cent of duty.
      https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/busi/cargo-support-trade-and-…

  • 2jzzzz on 08/11/2018 - 17:20

    There's 2 possible taxes on things like this; GST and Duty. But we have a free trade agreement with lots of places so there should never be a duty charge.

    • hamwhisperer on 08/11/2018 - 17:21

      Does not appear to be the case according to Amazon USA :/

      • 2jzzzz on 08/11/2018 - 17:41
        +3

        I once bought a gold ring from amazon, got sent rhe duty calculation, sent an email back we have a free trade agreement and they removed the duty. They called it a error when calculating, but I know that's BS and they would have kept it.

        • hamwhisperer on 09/11/2018 - 16:54

          WOW, nice call! Damn, brave.

          I'll be showing them a copy of the invoice which clearly shows GST paid, might use your line too.
          (yes, I've caved in, 4x HDD @ total cost of $980 AUD) so I'm very, very close the limit here.

      • Zachary on 09/11/2018 - 09:59

        oh yeah, i remember trump placing a tariff on all exports…that could be why…? and since amazon usa is based in usa…..

        • hamwhisperer on 09/11/2018 - 16:54

          No no that's IMPORTS, the way tarriffs work is that he wants to make it more expensive to buy foreign goods, in America, so there's incentive to manufacture the goods locally (local jobs, etc)

  • Diji1 on 08/11/2018 - 17:44
    -3

    The govt is double dipping with GST AND Customs duties

    For some reason you're acting surprised even though the government has been transferring more and more of your money away from you via various means including this over the past three decades. It shouldn't be a surprise. If you voted Liberal or Labour then you voted to lose your own money.

    And if you didn't think they were going to keep doing what they've already been doing for the last three decades then … you believed what they said? You only consume commercial news so your a zombie? Genuine mental difficulties? Beats me, I don't like losing money so wealthier people can have it but that's what people vote for.

    • Baysew on 08/11/2018 - 20:15
      +1

      If there is an alternative to Liberal or Labor, why not name them?

      • [Deactivated] on 09/11/2018 - 12:08
        +1

        Palmer United
        One Nation

        • Baysew on 10/11/2018 - 10:12

          I was hoping that Diji1 would respond.

          (Diji1 would see that Clive Palmer is the "wealthier people" in "I don't like losing money so wealthier people can have it")

    • whooah1979 on 08/11/2018 - 21:49

      we vote for the party that may help our businesses grow.

  • hamwhisperer on 09/11/2018 - 16:56

    For anyone still following, I've caved in.

    Order 4x$245 HDDs from Amazon USA, total $980 with free shipping ("Prime trial") and GST included.
    Interestingly, they let me have a month free Prime trial, a second time on the same account (?!!?)

    I will be ordering 3 more hard drives maybe mid next week.
    Amazon did not charge the fee, under 1k, I did find some NZ posts from people who purchased goods that was /CLOSE/ to their $400 limit and still UNDER and the customs bastards still tried to sting them.

    • whooah1979 on 09/11/2018 - 17:33

      claim the gst back on your next bas.

  • jackspratt on 09/11/2018 - 22:57

    Hard drives are duty free, so there is no customs duty no matter how many you import.

  • corgicorgi on 13/11/2018 - 23:10

    hey guys. how do you actually order from Amazon USA without being blocked? I keep getting "We are unable to ship non-digital items from amazon.com to Australian shipping addresses." thanks.

    • hamwhisperer on 14/11/2018 - 17:04
      +1

      You can't, it's crap - this is where we are thanks to our garbage govt..

      You have to order on Amazon.com.au or use a re-shipper (very expensive, add at LEAST 25% to the Amazon cost for items)

      • Zachary on 15/11/2018 - 03:32

        ….or just have someone you know who lives in the states that you trust to forward this to you(so you put he's address down so he gets free post (usually with bulk items)) and you pay that guy back in full whatever the post cost it is to post to here from he's place…..

        I'm guessing you used a re-shipper for your items?

        • hamwhisperer on 15/11/2018 - 09:42

          My girlfriend in the US, moved to Aus, so that option is gone and I don't want to bug her parents.

          Also, depends on your friend in the states, as to which state they live in. I would instantly pay 7% more money unfortunately due to California taxes on Amazon, it'd be far better to have a pal in very particular states.

          I wish I had someone there who could've bought me those 10TB Western Digitals for $179 US this week (!!) ugh

          • Zachary on 19/11/2018 - 14:28

            @hamwhisperer: Yeah have a mate in one of those tax free states…. I have friend who lives in Seattle which isn't tax free…. To pot something from there to here is like $50+ for bulky or and heavy items….

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