Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Apr 16th 2008, 4:08 am
#16
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Could I suggest you try http://www.priceusa.com.au/index.html.
Carolina (Miss PriceUSA) lives is Bendigo.
Here's a thread on Whirpool discussing PriceUSA http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...s.cfm?t=913221
The home-page details the benefits. I particularly like wrt ishop: delivery at cost; claim rebates/coupons on your behalf; cheap returns insurance @ 20% of shipping cost. Plus, as I have stated to Carolina, if it goes wrong it will be easy to sue her
.
I bought a Seiko watch via her and was very impressed with the ordering/communications process.
Ian
Carolina (Miss PriceUSA) lives is Bendigo.
Here's a thread on Whirpool discussing PriceUSA http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...s.cfm?t=913221
The home-page details the benefits. I particularly like wrt ishop: delivery at cost; claim rebates/coupons on your behalf; cheap returns insurance @ 20% of shipping cost. Plus, as I have stated to Carolina, if it goes wrong it will be easy to sue her
.I bought a Seiko watch via her and was very impressed with the ordering/communications process.
Ian
Apr 16th 2008, 5:03 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
I've just had a look at the Ishop site as well, and went through a psuedo order just to see what would happen.
Two pairs of shoes, about 20 bucks cheaper each than normal retail here in Aus. (New Balance and Adidas) however where the system falls down is 77 bucks in shipping.
So does anyone know how to reduce the shipping price from these stores... I reckon 30 bucks for the two pairs would make it worthwhile ordering from the states.
Apr 16th 2008, 7:44 am
#18
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 0
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
So with Carolina's PriceUSA the shipping for both (4lb) would be between $11 and $40 depending on your choice.
For my watch I went for the cheapest as I was in no hurry.
EDIT: Don't forget to look for coupons/rebates. See "Can I use a coupon code with my order?" on this page http://www.priceusa.com.au/faq-order...l#where_to_buy
Ian
Last edited by scrubbedexpat020; Apr 16th 2008 at 8:31 am.
May 13th 2008, 2:58 pm
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Ireland (norn iron)
Posts: 310
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Just been stiffed for tax from ishopusa.com. I am not impressed. Paid £58 for John Deer boots from my OH and then had to pay £44 shipping charges and they arrived 2 weeks after the date I was given.
Lo and behold today I get a bill for £57.06 for tax. Beware folks, some things aren't what they seem. Maybe I was just unlucky.
Lo and behold today I get a bill for £57.06 for tax. Beware folks, some things aren't what they seem. Maybe I was just unlucky.
May 13th 2008, 3:06 pm
#20
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Just been stiffed for tax from ishopusa.com. I am not impressed. Paid £58 for John Deer boots from my OH and then had to pay £44 shipping charges and they arrived 2 weeks after the date I was given.
Lo and behold today I get a bill for £57.06 for tax. Beware folks, some things aren't what they seem. Maybe I was just unlucky.
Lo and behold today I get a bill for £57.06 for tax. Beware folks, some things aren't what they seem. Maybe I was just unlucky.
May 13th 2008, 3:08 pm
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Northern Ireland (norn iron)
Posts: 310
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
I definately wouldn't have purchased if I'd have known. It has worked out way too expensive for me, anyway, you live and learn.
May 13th 2008, 11:30 pm
#22
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
I now buy very little in Australia - it's too overpriced here. Sure, things like big electricals, TVs, furniture are best bought here but most other stuff is cheaper if you import it - often radically so. Even after paying for the extra cost of delivery you can save heaps. I don't care about warranty issues on small items as I am saving so much I can afford to buy another and still save. Aussie retailers are saving so much due to favourable exchange rates yet they refuse to pass these savings on - so I refuse to shop with them.
CDs and DVDs from CD-WOW in Hong Kong
Books from the Book Depository UK
Electronics from Amazon and others in the US
RC aircraft stuff from the US and Asia
Outdoor stuff from REI and others in the US
Numerous stuff from Ebay
Even with delivery costs, I have paid 25-60% of the best Aussie price.
CDs and DVDs from CD-WOW in Hong Kong
Books from the Book Depository UK
Electronics from Amazon and others in the US
RC aircraft stuff from the US and Asia
Outdoor stuff from REI and others in the US
Numerous stuff from Ebay
Even with delivery costs, I have paid 25-60% of the best Aussie price.
May 13th 2008, 11:42 pm
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,521
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
May 13th 2008, 11:51 pm
#24
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
I've just been in KL and Singapore. Decent, branded clothes and shoes are 30-50% of the Aussie price. I doubt that I will buy many clothes in Australia again.
May 14th 2008, 12:33 am
#25
Banned
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Tapping (Perth)
Posts: 2,619
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Hope you don't mind me asking: but how does it work with the voltage difference between US/OZ?
I want to buy a particular Epson printer. The model isn't available in Oz yet. It's available in the UK and in US but US one is half-price. UK: £199. US: $199.
But the US Epson website says the voltage is 110. So, I am concerned it won't work here?
Gina
I want to buy a particular Epson printer. The model isn't available in Oz yet. It's available in the UK and in US but US one is half-price. UK: £199. US: $199.
But the US Epson website says the voltage is 110. So, I am concerned it won't work here?
Gina
May 14th 2008, 12:44 am
#26
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Hope you don't mind me asking: but how does it work with the voltage difference between US/OZ?
I want to buy a particular Epson printer. The model isn't available in Oz yet. It's available in the UK and in US but US one is half-price. UK: £199. US: $199.
But the US Epson website says the voltage is 110. So, I am concerned it won't work here?
Gina
I want to buy a particular Epson printer. The model isn't available in Oz yet. It's available in the UK and in US but US one is half-price. UK: £199. US: $199.
But the US Epson website says the voltage is 110. So, I am concerned it won't work here?
Gina
May 14th 2008, 12:56 am
#27
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,066
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Good post matey.
It drives me crazy when you try to shop in Aus online and nobody puts prices for anything on their site so you just don't buy from them the dick heads can't figure out if they let you know how much it costs you may just go ahead and buy it.
It drives me crazy when you try to shop in Aus online and nobody puts prices for anything on their site so you just don't buy from them the dick heads can't figure out if they let you know how much it costs you may just go ahead and buy it.
OK,
For a few days now I've been researching and after a decent tent to take me outback in a couple of months time, to do a hiking trip in Sept in Europe and the Simpson Desert next year.
I had narrowed it down to a few particular higher end tents with lifetime guarantees and so on since its for some serious travel and I'd rather entrust my wellbeing to them than some $30 effort of a tent from Anaconda/kmart.
So - could I manage to get them here ? Could I buggery. Every dealer said not in stock and we could order it, for about 4 times the price that they sell stateside. Naturally this being Australia the idea of actually ordering stuff online I threw out some years ago and spent days running around trying to get this sorted.
Why not order things from the US directly thinks I. Top plan, apart from the fact that the brands I want all lock the dealers regionally and we're stuck with a she'll be right distributors who dont actually want to import or sell anything.
In the end I stumbled upon this site http://www.ishop-america.com and have ordered the stuff from the USA from exactly the same shop that would not ship to me directly because of the regional issue.
In fact the shipping was a lot cheaper than the shop would have charged me directly if they were able to send it. Best part about it you simply set up an account and can order from ANY USA online retailer. They ship it to ishop in the US who then ship it to you.
Now seeing the Aus Dollar is doing so well I can't see myself getting too bored of ordering stuff at half the price as here that quickly
For a few days now I've been researching and after a decent tent to take me outback in a couple of months time, to do a hiking trip in Sept in Europe and the Simpson Desert next year.
I had narrowed it down to a few particular higher end tents with lifetime guarantees and so on since its for some serious travel and I'd rather entrust my wellbeing to them than some $30 effort of a tent from Anaconda/kmart.
So - could I manage to get them here ? Could I buggery. Every dealer said not in stock and we could order it, for about 4 times the price that they sell stateside. Naturally this being Australia the idea of actually ordering stuff online I threw out some years ago and spent days running around trying to get this sorted.
Why not order things from the US directly thinks I. Top plan, apart from the fact that the brands I want all lock the dealers regionally and we're stuck with a she'll be right distributors who dont actually want to import or sell anything.
In the end I stumbled upon this site http://www.ishop-america.com and have ordered the stuff from the USA from exactly the same shop that would not ship to me directly because of the regional issue.
In fact the shipping was a lot cheaper than the shop would have charged me directly if they were able to send it. Best part about it you simply set up an account and can order from ANY USA online retailer. They ship it to ishop in the US who then ship it to you.
Now seeing the Aus Dollar is doing so well I can't see myself getting too bored of ordering stuff at half the price as here that quickly
May 14th 2008, 1:02 am
#28
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,066
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
Possible downside is I think there's a ceiling on how much we can import before we start to get GST or some sort of import tax smacked on , I thought it was $2,000 a year before we got hit though?
Did the boots still work out cheaper than Aus though?
Did the boots still work out cheaper than Aus though?
Just been stiffed for tax from ishopusa.com. I am not impressed. Paid £58 for John Deer boots from my OH and then had to pay £44 shipping charges and they arrived 2 weeks after the date I was given.
Lo and behold today I get a bill for £57.06 for tax. Beware folks, some things aren't what they seem. Maybe I was just unlucky.
Lo and behold today I get a bill for £57.06 for tax. Beware folks, some things aren't what they seem. Maybe I was just unlucky.
Thread running on a boating forum gives the US v Oz price difference.
This guy is trying to buy two 175HP outboards for his boat.
Price here is $44,000
US Price $21,550 AUD + Shipping $1932 = $23,482 + 10% GST = $25,830 V/s
The only worry is warranty, but as people on the thread are saying , you could buy a spare engine and bit quids in still.
This guy is trying to buy two 175HP outboards for his boat.
Price here is $44,000
US Price $21,550 AUD + Shipping $1932 = $23,482 + 10% GST = $25,830 V/s
The only worry is warranty, but as people on the thread are saying , you could buy a spare engine and bit quids in still.
OK,
For a few days now I've been researching and after a decent tent to take me outback in a couple of months time, to do a hiking trip in Sept in Europe and the Simpson Desert next year.
I had narrowed it down to a few particular higher end tents with lifetime guarantees and so on since its for some serious travel and I'd rather entrust my wellbeing to them than some $30 effort of a tent from Anaconda/kmart.
So - could I manage to get them here ? Could I buggery. Every dealer said not in stock and we could order it, for about 4 times the price that they sell stateside. Naturally this being Australia the idea of actually ordering stuff online I threw out some years ago and spent days running around trying to get this sorted.
Why not order things from the US directly thinks I. Top plan, apart from the fact that the brands I want all lock the dealers regionally and we're stuck with a she'll be right distributors who dont actually want to import or sell anything.
In the end I stumbled upon this site http://www.ishop-america.com and have ordered the stuff from the USA from exactly the same shop that would not ship to me directly because of the regional issue.
In fact the shipping was a lot cheaper than the shop would have charged me directly if they were able to send it. Best part about it you simply set up an account and can order from ANY USA online retailer. They ship it to ishop in the US who then ship it to you.
Now seeing the Aus Dollar is doing so well I can't see myself getting too bored of ordering stuff at half the price as here that quickly
For a few days now I've been researching and after a decent tent to take me outback in a couple of months time, to do a hiking trip in Sept in Europe and the Simpson Desert next year.
I had narrowed it down to a few particular higher end tents with lifetime guarantees and so on since its for some serious travel and I'd rather entrust my wellbeing to them than some $30 effort of a tent from Anaconda/kmart.
So - could I manage to get them here ? Could I buggery. Every dealer said not in stock and we could order it, for about 4 times the price that they sell stateside. Naturally this being Australia the idea of actually ordering stuff online I threw out some years ago and spent days running around trying to get this sorted.
Why not order things from the US directly thinks I. Top plan, apart from the fact that the brands I want all lock the dealers regionally and we're stuck with a she'll be right distributors who dont actually want to import or sell anything.
In the end I stumbled upon this site http://www.ishop-america.com and have ordered the stuff from the USA from exactly the same shop that would not ship to me directly because of the regional issue.
In fact the shipping was a lot cheaper than the shop would have charged me directly if they were able to send it. Best part about it you simply set up an account and can order from ANY USA online retailer. They ship it to ishop in the US who then ship it to you.
Now seeing the Aus Dollar is doing so well I can't see myself getting too bored of ordering stuff at half the price as here that quickly
Last edited by annqldau; May 14th 2008 at 1:07 am.
May 14th 2008, 1:18 am
#29
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
My understanding is that it is $1000 per shipment with no limit on the amount of shipments. I read somewhere that multiple packages arriving from the same source in a short space of time would attract tax though.
May 14th 2008, 1:47 am
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,905
Re: Why I've been forced to shop in the US rather than Australia
I also tried Ishop website, as wanted some gap clothes for the kids.
(Im in rural town and need kids stuff as choice here is limited)
Two pairs of kids lightweight swim shorts cost about $79 for shipping. Thats way too high. This was a test run, think I will look at the other website mentioned.
Ive also been looking for a rock tumbler (I make jewellery) and OZ price is from $200 or more and USA the same thing is about $60! Shocking.
Gems
(Im in rural town and need kids stuff as choice here is limited)
Two pairs of kids lightweight swim shorts cost about $79 for shipping. Thats way too high. This was a test run, think I will look at the other website mentioned.
Ive also been looking for a rock tumbler (I make jewellery) and OZ price is from $200 or more and USA the same thing is about $60! Shocking.
Gems
I've just had a look at the Ishop site as well, and went through a psuedo order just to see what would happen.
Two pairs of shoes, about 20 bucks cheaper each than normal retail here in Aus. (New Balance and Adidas) however where the system falls down is 77 bucks in shipping.
So does anyone know how to reduce the shipping price from these stores... I reckon 30 bucks for the two pairs would make it worthwhile ordering from the states.
Two pairs of shoes, about 20 bucks cheaper each than normal retail here in Aus. (New Balance and Adidas) however where the system falls down is 77 bucks in shipping.
So does anyone know how to reduce the shipping price from these stores... I reckon 30 bucks for the two pairs would make it worthwhile ordering from the states.