- No Local Warranty or Service – If it breaks down then you’re on your own. Electronics repairs are expensive, usually charged at around $100 per hour plus costly replacement parts if available.
- Customs Duty – Usually charged at 5% of the invoice price.
- Import Declaration Costs – Make your own import declaration and you could be up for a $48.85 fee. Otherwise you will need to pay a customs broker a clearance fee.
- GST Payable – GST of 10% is payable on top of the purchase price, duty, freight and any other import costs.
- No CE or C Tick? – These compulsory product compliance markings ensure that consumer safety, health and environmental requirements are met. Does your supplier offer these?
- You are the Importer – As such it is your liability should anything untoward happen with the product. If someone gets zapped then YOU are liable.
- Purchase of Local Power Adaptor – You need 240V power so you’ll need to purchase a local power adaptor. If available these can be very expensive.
Lightsounds is 100% Australian owned an has been supporting the local industry for over 20 years. Contact your nearest store and speak to one of our staff about the best possible deal on your next Lighting, DJ or Audio purchase. www.lightsounds.com.au
Tags: ebay, hidden cost of buying overseas, industry, warning
The Hidden Costs of Buying Overseas…
No Local Warranty or Service – If it breaks down then you’re on your own. Electronics repairs are expensive, usually charged at around $100 per hour…
Wow… I hope you post more stuff like this soon….
I saw this weirdpost similar to yours…
Yes I agree with this based on the fact that it is better to buy from an Australian stores, you will get a face to face service, and support Australian jobs and so on HOWEVER:
As the Australian Dollar gets stronger it does not seems that the retail prices are going down a great deal. It’s hard to see these price decreases being passed onto customers. In some cases it seems as the $AUD gains strength, distributors, retailers or wholesalers does not always pass on these discounts to customers and therefore make greater profits. We pay too much in this country.
@ DAVE thank you for your comment. We are working with our suppliers to get the best deals considering the strong aus$ and wee will post about this soon. BUT believe me our profits have never been lower with online competition and price matching we are often struggling to see a point in supplying some brands.
It is important to remember that while we can pay more in Australia for some items we also get payed more for an hours work than many countries, well pay more for rent etc… a lot of it is relative imo.
Working in retail is still a job for many (myself included) and id love for it to be that way well in to the future
My experience is shop around in ozland ,I almost got caught as the sales engineer in the US didnt take in that we are 240volt 50 hertz which I specified. american is a lower voltage 116 v from memory and absolutly 60 hz what a stuff up I had the order cancelled just in time before shipment and got my money back ,however my bank rang me a week later to say a suspicious transaction has taken place on my credit card that followed the previous US one I have talked about and my bank would be cancelling my card and would give me a fresh card and number asap.More hassle but there it is . I believe Light and Sounds angle I also have no ties with them. Shop around and give them a go if they have what you want they sound the full quid. Ray from Queensland check out thesecrectwhisper.com
I bought some lights from overseas, and one broke… BUT, they were American DJ branded, and luckily we were able to sort something out with the company. All fixed now.