Aussie advice: Does the M9 attract import duty?

[parasko]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all,

Well, my M9 finally arrived from Robert White UK but UPS have indicated that I must pay import duty tax in addition to GST before they will release the item for delivery.

 

I have purchased ALOT of camera gear previously from the US, and although this is the single most expensive item I have ever purchased abroad, I have equally spent this amount of money previously and I have never been charged import duty, but only GST.

 

I have queried this with UPS who are investigating...meanwhile camera delivery is being delayed.

 

...is there any reason why this camera would attract import duty into Australia, in addition to GST?

[thrice]

...is there any reason why this camera would attract import duty into Australia, in addition to GST?

 

It is classed as electronics, over 1000 AUD, you will be liable for GST + handling fee. The GST is calculated on the cost of the entire shipment PLUS shipping.

 

I'm going to assume you'll have almost 1k in import duty to pay. I paid ~400 on a ~2.6k 35mm Summilux-R a while back. I had to pay almost as much for my 90 APO-R.

 

I'm much more careful with the value of my shipments and which dealers I deal with nowadays. I hope you still saved enough to make it worth not being able to send your camera to a local dealer/Adeal for warranty issues.

 

Unfortunately that's the nature of the Australian closed-market anti-globalism government.

 

I just re-read your post, it shouldn't get additional duty aside from from GST and the handling fee. Read the ATO page.

 

Aside from luxury cars and wines there are no other items given specific taxes. An M9 would be calculated thusly:

5% for customs duty (handling fee I alluded to) on the value of the camera

Cost of re-posting the goods to you with insurance

GST on all of the above added to the value of the camera.

 

So... all values in AUD:

7010 for the camera, assume shipping was about 50.

 

customs duty: 350.5

another 100 for T&I (transport & insurance of the camera to you)

746.05 GST on all of the above

 

You'll likely have around 1200 AUD to pay. Which brings it up to about what I paid for my M9 from Kayell QLD.

[jaques]

They nabbed mine- I only remember paying around 12% total on the purchase.... I ended up well ahead of the Austrlian m9 price- and got my camera months earlier.

[parasko]

I can confirm that UPS/Customs had made a mistake by initially charging duty.

 

I was only charged GST plus handling fee so a total of $765 AUD...much better than the $1200 I was originall quoted.

 

...so around $8400 AUD all up, which I think is still cheaper than the Aussie market and received in quicker time no doubt!

 

...Robert White in the UK were also great to deal with, sending follow-up emails re: availability etc.

 

....camera arrives this afternoon...very exciting!!!

[k-hawinkler]

Congratulations and please post a pix of what your part of the country looks like.

 

Cheers, K-H.

[thrice]

I can confirm that UPS/Customs had made a mistake by initially charging duty.

 

I was only charged GST plus handling fee so a total of $765 AUD...much better than the $1200 I was originall quoted.

 

...so around $8400 AUD all up, which I think is still cheaper than the Aussie market and received in quicker time no doubt!

 

...Robert White in the UK were also great to deal with, sending follow-up emails re: availability etc.

 

....camera arrives this afternoon...very exciting!!!

 

That's good news! However, I paid 8400 AUD for mine from an Aus dealer and got mine in November. I do understand wanting to deal with a Leica dealer you feel you can trust, which is why I bought from Kayell in QLD even though I am in WA.

 

I agree with sharing pictures, please do Don't upset the mods though, post them in the pictures forum and link us if need be.

 

At least after reading this thread I will look much more closely should I ever have to pay import tax.

[marknorton]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If it's any consolation, Australia seems to have surived the recession rather better than the UK, where the Government is rewarding us today with a 51.5% top rate of income tax and a VAT/GST rate likely to rise from 17.5% to 20% once the election is out of the way.

[parasko]

That's good news! However, I paid 8400 AUD for mine from an Aus dealer and got mine in November. I do understand wanting to deal with a Leica dealer you feel you can trust, which is why I bought from Kayell in QLD even though I am in WA.

 

I agree with sharing pictures, please do Don't upset the mods though, post them in the pictures forum and link us if need be.

 

At least after reading this thread I will look much more closely should I ever have to pay import tax.

 

Truth be it known, I actually only paid $8375 AUD, so still cheaper than Kayell

I ordered mine in January so the wait was exactly 3 months...a bit longer than anticipated.

 

...will definitely post some real images (not brickwall shots) once I've had a chance to play around with the camera this weekend.

[hoppyman]

Nice to hear that you got a camera, enjoy!. As Thrice commented, if you have any warranty issues you may need to return your camera to your overseas dealer. Always worth factoring into your price equation, in my opinion.

[jaques]

Geoff: I have no concerns about service- and will get the same service as anyone who purchase from an Australian dealer. It does not matter where you purchased the camera. As soon as I registered my USA purchased m9 online with Leica they updated the site to indicate that my address for service was with Adeal Australia and all the contact details were listed.

 

then when I purchased an m8 from a private individual in Thailand Leica quickly did the same for the M8.

 

Both cameras were give the two year warranty... Great service from Leica.

 

and I still paid less than 8400...

[parasko]

This is good to know. However, if I have camera problems, I hope to send directly to Solms to fix the issues rather than having to deal with a local dealer.

 

Why deal with a third party and not go directly to the Leica factory if there are issues? This makes no sense to me. Sure there are shipping expenses involved with this option but for such an expensive camera, this is a non-issue!

 

Geoff: I have no concerns about service- and will get the same service as anyone who purchase from an Australian dealer. It does not matter where you purchased the camera. As soon as I registered my USA purchased m9 online with Leica they updated the site to indicate that my address for service was with Adeal Australia and all the contact details were listed.

 

then when I purchased an m8 from a private individual in Thailand Leica quickly did the same for the M8.

 

Both cameras were give the two year warranty... Great service from Leica.

 

and I still paid less than 8400...

[hoppyman]

Jaques, when you register a Leica item using your address, naturally the local distributors address will be listed. You can easily obtain that information for any country without any purchase .

I have no doubt either that, should you require service, Solms will recognise the international warranty and Adeal would handle it for you. Warranty conditions do vary in different regions though. Your dealer is evidently reputable and that is fine. Not every Leica product is sold that way. My comment was that it would be unreasonable to expect a local dealer to provide free support (for example advice, postage and insurance costs to return an item to our national distributor).

 

For what its worth, I spent seven years in camera retailing (long ago) and I still recall the number of customers who would start a conversation with telling you what a great deal they got by buying overseas, then ask for instruction or advice or free service etc.

 

In any event you have your camera and the numbers have evidently worked well for you on this occasion. Our very favourable exchange rate currently helps a great deal.

I've actually seen it go the other way and know a number of Leica customers overseas who have bought from Australia when particular exchange rates prevailed or certain rebates were in place from Adeal.

[tobey bilek]

Insatiable demand for revenue is everywhere including Australia. The USA is heading down that road also and that road leads to an underpreforming economy, even more welfare, more taxes, further underperforming, requiring even more taxes. It is a death cycle until the people vote the big spenders out. This becomes more and more difficult to accomplish as more and more people are on some kind of government subsidy.

 

I warn you it is slippery slope to get on.

[hoppyman]

Tobey you may like to post this kind of content to to Barnack's bar.