paulry

I have to say that I strongly agree with that statement

Not yet ventured into online shopping on this side though.

mulben

Just purchased a large panel for a Subaru

Subaru online Japan quoted A$553 without shipping cost

Subaru dealer in OZ A$763 + pickup

Subaru dealer Washington State US $190 + $300 shipping ( could have mucked around with shipping but its a little bit fragile ) added some extra parts with no extra shipping cost.
On average all parts are 75% less than the Aust. price

Part numbers are not interchangeable so its a cumbersome way to buy.

Pollyana

As opposed to hosepipes which are currently greatly sought after!

armandra

Guys, I would say comparing Oz and US is unfair particularly when it comes to automobiles due to US subsidising everything. Any damn (be it sports or otherwise) car costs 40-50% lower in US.

Turban Explorer

As a 'yachtie' anything connected with boating is astronomical in Oz and we order almost everything from the States or the Uk - getting it split into packets of less than $1000 in value to avoid gst (my phone's predictive text was desperate to change gst to gay) . The differences in price cover the freight costs several times, for instance, Sunbrella canvas for a new storm hood costs $21.99 in the US yet the supplier in Cairns wants $49.95 a metre -more than double!! How can you afford to not be 'un- orstraylian'? I don't know whether some people just buy the overpriced goods here as they are loaded (funny way of showing it if they are) or don't realize they are being fleeced. Surely if I can get goods at less than half the price here so can Aussie businesses? I realise there is less volume in sales here as a low population country with distribution costs but a little more commercial acumen might enable the fabric shop in Cairns to get closer to the competitive ball park. Unless they are held back by state wide Aussie supplier not passing on the strength of the AUD when the primary source purchases overseas?

Anyway it probably doesn't matter now as the mammoth cyclone brewing off Fiji and expected to track west to Queensland will be blowing away the nice new storm hood around Thursday!

paulry

Just so that I get this right: The per package value must not exceed 1000 AU$ but you can have as many packages as you like?

Swerv-o

Providing all the packages don't strive at the same time, thats pretty much the go. if too many packages from the same supplier arrive at the same time then I believe that customs can aggregate them together for duty.


S

elice_in_oz

Another one in agreement. I live here, I choose to live here, and so I put up with the cost of living. And of course I shop online from overseas too, you'd be a fool not to.
The US is always going to be way cheaper in mostly everything anyway. That was the case when I lived there 20 years ago, it's still the case now.

Wol

The operative word there is "way".

I think most of us accept that Australia is a long way from most suppliers' areas and costs have to reflect that.

But when so many things cost double, triple and sometimes ten times what they do elsewhere it just doesn't wash as an excuse.

Amazulu

Interesting as I looked at buying a rear light assembly for my Golf when I was over there 2 years ago and it was the same price as here - the only thing I found that was not cheaper.

paulry

Thanks

mulben

Small world init , it was a rear light assembly I purchased .

GarryP

On a related note, does anyone know of a service similar to PriceUSA for the UK ?

For those that don't know, this lot allow you to order from the US, even things that won't ship direct, for a fee. http://www.priceusa.com.au/

What I really would like is someone who will just act as a delivery address and forwarder, with the best possible deal on shipping rates, and the lowest fees.

Of course, what I'd reeeeallllly like is for Australian shops and distributors to stop trying to thieve high margins.

sr71

But that is an unacceptable excuse these days when everything is manufactured and shipped from China which is closer to Australia.

And in any case, many of us know first hand the shipping costs - when you can get entire containers for 4000 pounds from the UK to Aus there isn't that much additional per unit shipping costs once you have filled one of those with widgets/clothes etc.

BadgeIsBack

Rip-off Britain was so 1998-2000 though. They've moved on since then.