Pollyana

https://www.theguardian.com/australi...-new-gst-rules

Amazon will not ship overseas goods to Australian customers after new GST rules that target international retailers come into effect in July.

Amazon’s new rule, announced on Thursday, will prevent Australians from buying from the Amazon US store – or any international Amazon stores – which frequently have cheaper goods and a greater range compared with the Australian Amazon store.

From 1 July this year, Australian customers who visit an international Amazon store will be redirected to the Australian site, which has been running since late last year.

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Might be possible to circumvent the ban using a VPN, but Amazon will not deliver to Australia so we'll need people in the UK, US or wherever to on-forward stuff to us.

As I'm sure most people have realised,Amazon Australia is just a waste of space.

Amazulu

This is f++ked - I buy shitloads off their websites. I will still buy stuff from them and get it shipped here via my auntie in Hawaii or use a consolidator, but let's see what's available and the prices on Amazon Global. Most of the items on Amazon.com cannot be shipped to Australia anyway. I had a look at a few other US websites and Newegg are adding GST but still shipping to Australia and B&H Photo make no mention of GST for orders under $1000. I doubt that Chinese sites are going to collect GST for the Australian government! Lot's of other countries are looking at taxing online shopping and the UK has it a bit worse (especially given the higher prices there already) in that VAT AND import costs are charged at the moment on personal orders

Unfortunately, governments can't help themselves when it comes to collecting tax - they can never have enough

Amazon AU is rubbish but it is getting better and will definitely do so when they launch Prime. There's no question though that they bungled their launch here

GarryP

I expect that suitable way around this stupidity, possibly using forwarding agents, will be in operation before we get to July.

I doubt people will be paying much GST, but I do expect parcels will be further slowed down and impeded as politicians screw things up in an effort to delay the inevitable.

Remember to say 'thank you' to Joe Hockey and Big Ears Abbott who's daft idea and naked cash grab this was. Isn't it nice to realise they continue to have a malign influence so long after they were kicked out for incompetence? And also remember the next time you are told that "GST is a simple and efficient tax to collect, and it doesn't matter that it's regressive and hits lower income families most".

I'm sure you will agree that this is preferable to getting Gina to pay her fair share ....

Pollyana

Its just f***ed as you say. I buy shedloads from Amazon, not just for myself but stuff as presents delivered direct to people in the UK. I'm reluctant to put a burden on family at home to ship things out for me, even if I can get access via a VPN.
They reckon this Amazon Global will have a very small amount of whats on UK and US, and we are bound to lose out. Amazon Aus is still pathetic, and I don't want to pay shipping fees to the UK when sending gifts.

I forsee two things - Amazon's loss will be ebay's gain, and Aus Post will have to lay people off due to the huge drop in parcel post.

moneypenny20

The only things I get from Amazon US are kindle books and that's because people buy me gift cards which can only be used in the .com store. Every time I try and buy something tangible, I get the 'can't ship to Australia' note so I've given up trying.

Pollyana

My main annoyance is over the stuff I buy for the family. All my Christmas stuff and almost all the birthdays are done online with Amazon for delivery in the UK. No way am I using Amazon Aus and paying shipping (even if they stocked the stuff, which they don't.

spouse of scouse

I know you have family over here Polly, but if you need a third party to send one of your UK family members a gift direct from Amazon I'll be here for a while yet and would be happy to do that for you.

spuddyo

My Local post office will be very happy. Every time I go in to pick up a parcel that they could not be bothered to deliver in the first place, they complain about the number of parcels they have to deal with every day, they take up too much room in the stock room and how hard it makes their job. They don't seem to want parcels which is crazy as it's where they make their money. Having said that they complain about passport applications too, which are also a good earner for them. But that's another thread..................

Swerv-o

I hadn't considered this aspect - I use Amazon almost exclusively for my Christmas and family birthday shopping. Will need to VPN up for this going forward.


S

Dreamy

I've got my fingers crossed that it'll be more like the Marks & Spencer site, where, so long as you promise faithfully that you're just sending it to a UK address, they let you access the good stuff.

Pollyana

moneypenny20

I don't have that issue. I send a hamper to the Mil and that's it.

Lorna at Vicenza

I'm not sure I understand how they are going to block you from using Amazon UK for example because as people have said ........ a VPN will give you a different IP address. I wonder if they will connect it to Australian bank credit cards?

Pollyana

Lorna at Vicenza

It would certainly piss me off as like you I order stuff from Amazon UK to be sent free of charge to UK addresses. It saves me from paying €12 to the Italian Post Office for a small package (money which can be spent on better or other gifts) and it eliminates the risk of the Italians losing packages. I always check both the Italian and UK Amazon if I need something for myself or the kids as a lot of stuff is cheaper on Amazon UK or just doesn't exist on the Italian one.