US Online Stores?

[hgen]

Does anyone know any US Online Stores that ship Internationally? Just trying to get a list together. JRR is the only one I know of. Thanks.

[autodidactic]

The store www.sweetwater.com ships international too AFAIK.

[ozraves]

Last time I checked my friend Warren Dent at www.frontendaudio.com shipped internationally.

[Faderjockey]

Here is one...

www.bbproaudio.com

[warhead]

Originally Posted by ozraves

Last time I checked my friend Warren Dent at www.frontendaudio.com shipped internationally.

Every day...heading to the post office in an hour to mail something to Australia in fact.

War

[matt thomas]

there's heaps

it depend on what you want to buy as to which one to use

narco

[BCains]

SoundPure

[headwerkn]

I've bought a few things from Sweetwater but not everything they sell can be sent OS because of individual manufacturer agreements may state which markets they can sell to. Focusrite, for example, only let 'em sell to the USA, but they can ship internationally with Mackie products.

In either scenario, I bounce all my purchases through a friend in Washington so we can choose the cheapest (ie. not UPS) shipping option... oh, and make it a "gift" to avoid duty on the expensive items (oh shush, did i just say that ;-)? )

Gear in Australia is so ridiculously expensive.... :-(

[hgen]

Gear in Australia is run by the bloody mafia! They must add protection money to the cost, freakin outrageous! I refuse to buy in Aus, flamin mongrels!

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by headwerkn

...not everything they sell can be sent OS because of individual manufacturer agreements may state which markets they can sell to.

Yes. And the manufacturers who extract such agreements do so IMO specifically and solely so that their distributors in those markets can price-gouge massively.

Case in point, various US distributors recently declined to ship me an outboard switch for a TC Helicon unit, so instead I picked one up in person whan I was in California briefly last month.

Price in the US = $30. Price in Australia = $260. It's maddening!

[Stefan Elmblad]

Hope this isn't seen as shameless promoting, but I have read on several forums that people in Australia have a hard time getting hold on quality gear at the right prices, and that sucks. Since it was brought up, I would like to inform that www.recordista.com can deliver to Australia (and any other country) without any problems. It is a Swedish Pro Audio site which me and a good friend is running, all professional and no funny surprises. All prices are swedish list prices (because of swedish distributor mafia rules ) including swedish VAT (25%), so please, drop an e-mail for correct price quotes (which will be a fair bit lower, and not be including the 25%VAT, usually we follow the US street prices), and shipping to Australia, and we will be happy to get back to you. Also, the shop is not filled with everything we have to sell, so if you miss anything, again ask.

Best Regards
Stefan Elmblad

[thejook]

Mercenary ships internationally.

Regarding prices due to VAT.

I live in Israel. VAT is a whopping total of 35% on audio items, and you have to go through the inquisition every time you have to pick something up.

I spent many an hour convincing customs agents "No, this does NOT amplify anything" (puts it in the most expensive tax bracket).

There's ways around everything though, they just take time to learn

But they wanted $900 to let me have my CMV-563!!!! I had to have it shipped OUT of the country to the US and wait for the next time I visited my parents!

Crazy. New cars are also taxed 144%.

[Stefan Elmblad]

Originally Posted by thejook

New cars are also taxed 144%.

WHOA!!

[BCains]

Originally Posted by hgen

Gear in Australia is run by the bloody mafia! They must add protection money to the cost, freakin outrageous! I refuse to buy in Aus, flamin mongrels!

There are a few places that price very good IMO.
Legacy Audio (GC), Soundcorp (VIC), Awave (VIC) are just a few. thumbsup

[Tubthumper]

Someone mentioned recently that Alto Music in NY was a reputable dealer. I just emailed them with an enquiry re: delivery to Oz, and they quickly replied that YEP, can do.

War at Front End (U.S.) has a good reputation, as does Greg B at Pro Audio Toys. I bought a mic from Greg B and all was "as sweet as".

I bought a Sansamp unit from Rogue Music in NYC which was delivered promptly. I've since heard a couple of people bitch about them over something or other.... a search may reveal more info.

[TonyBelmont]

Well, since no one mentioned my company... Shameless plug for High Profile Audio. We ship international orders daily.

[hgen]

Thanks guys for the heads up, even after shipping we save $300 - $500 aud by buying from the US. The mark ups and GST (TAX) is a killer here and there's a sort of 'I'm doing you a favour' arrogance that alot of muso salesman have here. They will all slowly go to the wall I'm afraid!

[matt thomas]

Assuming Aus is simlar to NZ.

- The "gift" idea is a common falacy, ie. it is not true. AND it is one of the most obvious signs of a fraudulant declaration.
- I regularly get customs agents researching and checking my declarations.
- Fraud is one of the more serious offences in the eyes of the law.
- GST is 100% claimable if you are registered, so in the long run you don't pay it anyway.
- USPS (not UPS) is WAAAAY cheaper than fedex
- there are some excellent local manufacturers that offer excellent value locally (obviously not all)

I import virtually all my gear, except that that I get endorsement deals for. I ALWAYS do it legally, and of utmost importance -I have a good accountant, she saves me many times the money she costs.

narco

[headwerkn]

Originally Posted by narco

Assuming Aus is simlar to NZ.....

In terms of customs, I don't think it is. I once sold a Zoom PS-02 on eBay to a dude in NZ (stated value about AU$400) and he got nailed with customs, poor bugger... I've bought stuff in from the US (stated value AU$450) and didn't have an issue.

I'll agree that just writing 'gift' probably isn't enough, that's why my special contact rewraps stuff in dodgy birthday paper, puts in a card that says "happy birthday, hope this helps with the new album"... last time all her kids jammed in finger paintings and drawings of kangaroos too! Like someone said, there are ways around everything...

Originally Posted by thejook

"No, this does NOT amplify anything" (puts it in the most expensive tax bracket).

OMG are you serious?! That's mad! The trade in black market megaphones and bass amps must be amazing. Is it a sliding scale based on wattage?

[headwerkn]

I should mention though that I do try to help out my local shop as much as I can afford to... they're certainly not to blame and do me the best deal they can possibly do without running at a loss. Through them I can test and borrow gear and get advice... I can't do that at an online store.

Most of the problem in Australia has to do with (a) distributors who overcharge to retailers, because most brands only have a single distributor here, and (b) the scales of economy. There are 20 million people in Australia... there are 280 million in the USA - and that makes a huge difference. More competition between distributors, more competition between retailers, higher turnover from more sales to more people means margins can be lower, and retail prices can be cheaper.

This is perhaps the only upside to the perenial debate here that our population should be raised to 50 million...

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by headwerkn

I'll agree that just writing 'gift' probably isn't enough, that's why my special contact rewraps stuff in dodgy birthday paper, puts in a card that says "happy birthday, hope this helps with the new album"... last time all her kids jammed in finger paintings and drawings of kangaroos too! Like someone said, there are ways around everything...

don't believe it

quote from aus customs website:

"Customs is required to collect import duty and GST on gifts coming into the country, but if an unsolicited gift through the mail is valued at $200 or less, it is allowed into Australia free of duty and GST. Anything above that amount attracts government charges, which are calculated on the gift's value in excess of $200."


narco

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by narco

don't believe it

quote from aus customs website:

"Customs is required to collect import duty and GST on gifts coming into the country, but if an unsolicited gift through the mail is valued at $200 or less, it is allowed into Australia free of duty and GST. Anything above that amount attracts government charges, which are calculated on the gift's value in excess of $200."


narco

Narco,
I do not know what "aus customs" web site you are quoting, but the opening sentence on http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549 is:

"All goods (except for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages) may be imported duty and tax free if their value is $1,000 or less."

Having done imported gear myself many times, I can vouch for the fact that the above is indeed the guideline which is applied. If there was ever a $200 limit, it must have been quite a long time ago - it certainly has not been so for quite a few years.

[hgen]

I've never had to pay duty on anything yet so the threshold must be higher than $200!

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by DarkSky

Narco,
I do not know what "aus customs" web site you are quoting,

the same one you are,

the page you quoted is about buying over the internet.

the page I quoted is specifically about "gifts" (which is what I was talking about), dated 2003

http://customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4232&c=3869

So it appears you are better off to be honest and say you bought it over the internet, because that has a $1000 limit wheras gifts have a $200!

Although I would guess that its a combination of both, ie. when a gift is over $200 then the other rules apply as per normal. In other words the "gift" theory on dodging taxes is a fallacy, which was my original point.

narco

[hgen]

It is sent from a SHOP so you can't say it is a gift. US Customs out, Aus Customs in, with relevant documentation etc.