desmondo84

Hi
Been here a week and the cost of living has really hit home - ouch!! Even for things like books and toys... Can anyone provide an overview of online options? I believe there is a threshold below which you do not have to pay duty?

And what are the best websites to minimise shipping costs? Any tips?

janiejones

Have a look at the customs website, they've got a ready reckoner that will tell you how much duty and GST you'll pay.

I've used Amazon in the UK and US, and we've also used Debenhams without any problems. I've got a YouShop account with NZ Post, for buying stuff from companies that don't ship here.

Robbo25

Not sure about toys really, there doesn't appear to be a toy culture as such here, but for books try Book Depository: Millions of books with free delivery worldwide which are comparable and sometimes better than Amazon.

MOSO

Book Depository is owned by Amazon.

Also try fishpond.co.nz and mightyape.co.nz as well as trademe.co.nz (eBay)

Sometimes whitcoulls or paperplus have offers on books online so shop around, and join your local library!

Robbo25

WOW was Book Depository always owned by Amazon? That's a real shame and not something they own up to on their website

MrsFychan

use Import Duty Calculator - Figure out import tax rates nz to check you won't pay import taxes.

Marks often have free delivery as well as Tesco

A Rush And A Push

There used to be a long thread listing all the companies that delivered here I think?

Book Depository: Millions of books with free delivery worldwide definitely for books

M and S are currently doing free delivery till the end of September.

I think Next is free delivery?

Tesco, John Lewis and Debenhams all deliver, for about £10-15, so depends if you think the delivery cost makes it cheaper than buying here.

I'm not sure where you are, if you are in Auckland KMart Kmart Home are quite reasonable for kids clothes and toys.

Use Salefinder Sale Catalogues from 40 NZ Retailers - Sale Finder Online Catalogues to find where the deals are, at any given time at least one shop will probably be having a sale on what you want.

We use the library a lot for books and magazines, you can order them from any library in the Auckland region and they will be sent to your nearest library for pick up. We often have about 20 kids books out, I look at it as getting value for our rates

Amazon deliver lots, you again have to work out if the added delivery costs make it cheaper or not. To my surprise I found Lego was the same price or cheaper here, especially when on sale, I was going to get relatives to bring some out from UK but didn't find it worth it in the end.

MrsFychan

what this one http://britishexpats.com/forum/sheep...ing-nz-682105/

A Rush And A Push

That's the one

bearskin

What's that like? Could you give an example of something you bought and what % of the overall cost of getting it was charged by YouShop, thanks!

For example i bought something from the UK on ebay recently but had it sent on to me via family in the UK. I think the sellers postage (within UK) was about £5, then another £9 from UK to NZ.

janiejones

I just bought some beauty products that are only available in the US, the shipping on those was $17 for a smallish box. We also bought some tramping boots for £45, shipping was $30, tracked airmail. The same boots over here would have been $500, so it still represented a substantial saving. We've used it about four times I think.

The shipping is calculated based on volume and weight, so I try and find the item or similar on Amazon, as the listings there show dimensions of packaging, even if I'm buying it elsewhere. That gives me an idea of the package size, so I can calculate shipping before I commit to purchading.

The address for the States is in Oregon, so there's no sales tax. On the whole it's very handy, and worth the money.

bearskin

Thanks for the info, very handy to know.

moonie2011

I know it's not buying but we never used libraries in the UK, we use them all the time now, the kids love it and it's the quietest journey home when they have the new books. They also have toy libraries here.
It does get easier, honest, we are 18mths in and we are just starting to save a few dollars every payday as we have everything we need
The kids have had to learn that some everyday foods in the UK are now treats here, but they soon learn.
It does get easier

cappuccino

Buy your cosmetics online from Strawberrynet.com - much cheaper and more choice than the shops.

S_and_T

Something to be aware of with YouShop, if you have several parcels arrive at their depot (in Hayes or Oregon), and pay for them all at once,they may bundle them all together as one shipment. As a consequence, you may find the shipment as a whole is subject to GST, despite each package within that shipment being below the GST threshold.

This has stung me a couple of times. You may be better off forgoing the small discount YouShop give you for multiple parcels ($6 I think) and pay for each parcel separately.

We shop online at Tesco, Next, M&S and Vertbaudet (kids clothes) and have them sent here.