Shopping from the UK....living in Aus

[Jibbah24 10]

Morning all...

 

Just wondering what the implications are (if any) of shopping at UK/US stores online and having items sent to Aus.

 

Are there implications with customs with any GST having to be added or does the postage make this whole idea a non starter.

 

Would be interested to hear from anyone who does this and which stores do you find the best.

 

Thanks in advance... :wubclub:

 

S

[Petals 4,259]

The courier knows our place as there are not many days that packages do not arrive from overseas.

 

I buy from Amazon UK, Amazon America, Marks and Sparks, other smaller shops.

 

Daughter buys clothes from USA, UK, and all sorts of other things from all over the place.

 

She has had one package opened from UK as they must have been looking for drugs in the buttons but other than that no problems.

[Guest Colin R]

I have my regular fix from M&S...............too many according to Colin. There has never been a problem with the post from the UK in fact it takes less time to get to Tasmania than it does getting things posted from Melbourne! As for the postage it is so resonable as it doesnt matter how much you order it still only costs 15GBP. A friend sent over some Doc Martin boots and it was going to cost something like 80 pounds . by Royal Mail .

Sally

[Skani 5,444]

[quote name=Jibbah24;854743

Are there implications with customs with any GST having to be added or does the postage make this whole idea a non starter.

 

Would be interested to hear from anyone who does this and which stores do you find the best.

 

 

Providing you are not importing tobacco or alcohol' date=' you don't pay GST or customs duties if the value of your goods is A$1000 or less: see -

 

Importing Goods by Post

 

Different companies charge different rates for shipping, so you have to check on their websites to determine if it is worth it for you.

 

I have used Amazon (US) and for clothing I use Lands' End (USA) quite frequently. They are particularly convenient because they have a returns depot in Sydney, so if you do want to return something you only have to pay postage to Sydney.

[Guest Colin R]

With M&S it is not VAT free and is charged at the current VAT rate for the UK being country of source . GST is not applicable it seems. which is good , but even with VAt and the 15 pounds postage it is still cheaper to buy from the UK than it is get similar items over here. I hope that M&S do open their proposed shop in Melbourne. cant comequick enough for me. Only hope that they dont send it over to Tassie in their usual boxes covered with their name. It was so much easier to hide the carrier bags in the UK. now its huge cardboard boxes and so much easier for Colin to see them ,................... ?!

[Mongrel 3,077]

With M&S it is not VAT free and is charged at the current VAT rate for the UK being country of source . GST is not applicable it seems. which is good , but even with VAt and the 15 pounds postage it is still cheaper to buy from the UK than it is get similar items over here. I hope that M&S do open their proposed shop in Melbourne. cant comequick enough for me. Only hope that they dont send it over to Tassie in their usual boxes covered with their name. It was so much easier to hide the carrier bags in the UK. now its huge cardboard boxes and so much easier for Colin to see them ,................... ?!

 

M& S are robbin gb£££££ s vat sgould be taken off as it is out of the Ec , I get somesports gear from kitbag , the vat is taken off at the checkout , rugby shirts are $150 + here , same shirt 50 quid less the vat and add on postage bout roughly 90 bucks ,good saving ,also wiggle.co.uk do sporting gear free delivery over 100 bucks save shedloads there as well

[Petals 4,259]

I understood that Marks and Sparks are not opening a shop here they are going to be in a licence agreement with Just Jeans. I have seen their products in the shop here, in Best and Less the discount store a while ago they had some. If you look around their products to make the market here.

 

I buy from them because I like the fit of some garments not because I think they are better or cheaper. In fact I think that with the postage and the things that I buy its dearer.

[Rudi 1,730]

There's a few stores that deliver from the UK on this site - I've ordered through them before and not had any problems.

 

Welcome to UK 2 You

 

Happy shopping!!!!

 

Love

 

Rudi

x

[Guest girlwizz99]

Morning all...

 

Just wondering what the implications are (if any) of shopping at UK/US stores online and having items sent to Aus.

 

Are there implications with customs with any GST having to be added or does the postage make this whole idea a non starter.

 

Would be interested to hear from anyone who does this and which stores do you find the best.

 

Thanks in advance... :wubclub:

 

S

 

Anything over $1000 attracts tax. Below that no issue at all. I buy EVERYTHING other than food from the UK. Marks and spencers for clothes and home furnishings, ASOS , m and m direct, ebay co uk for books and dvds.

[Jibbah24 10]

Thanks for all that. Really good to know that one doesn't necessarily have to be ripped of on 'everything' we buy. Don't mind paying top whack if there's a good reason for it but always on the look out for getting a good deal!! ;-)

[Jibbah24 10]

Anything over $1000 attracts tax. Below that no issue at all. I buy EVERYTHING other than food from the UK. Marks and spencers for clothes and home furnishings, ASOS , m and m direct, ebay co uk for books and dvds.

 

For those of us keeping a UK bank account for our UK income, I would imagine the items you buy from these online sites in the UK can also be paid for in sterling which would save even more??? :spinny:

[Les Avalook 987]

I have my regular fix from M&S...............too many according to Colin. There has never been a problem with the post from the UK in fact it takes less time to get to Tasmania than it does getting things posted from Melbourne! As for the postage it is so resonable as it doesnt matter how much you order it still only costs 15GBP. A friend sent over some Doc Martin boots and it was going to cost something like 80 pounds . by Royal Mail .

Sally

 

Up to 2kgs by airmail is £23, what size shoes does he take? :laugh:

[Les Avalook 987]

M& S are robbin gb£££££ s vat sgould be taken off as it is out of the Ec , I get somesports gear from kitbag , the vat is taken off at the checkout , rugby shirts are $150 + here , same shirt 50 quid less the vat and add on postage bout roughly 90 bucks ,good saving ,also wiggle.co.uk do sporting gear free delivery over 100 bucks save shedloads there as well

 

 

They charge £15 to ship any weight to Oz and you call them robbin gb££££ s ?

 

What do you call Oz shops?

[Koala Chloe 57]

I read this thread with interest. I thought Amazon UK didn't deliver to Australia. Is this wrong? Do they?

 

Yours hopefully,

KC

[Rudi 1,730]

I read this thread with interest. I thought Amazon UK didn't deliver to Australia. Is this wrong? Do they?

 

Yours hopefully,

KC

 

 

Yes they do. I have ordered from them via UK Books and had books delivered. There are some items which they will not deliver though - like electricals.

 

Love

 

Rudi

x

[ZeroBantam 10]

Hi

 

This sounds quite cool....couple of questions though:

 

1) Do people pay with their Aus bank/ credit card or UK

2) Do you just use the regular websites or do you need to go through a 'host' like UKtoyou?

3) Obviously a lot of M&S lovers on here! What about other stores like Firetrap or French Connection etc? Or failing that Debenhams?

 

Hope its as easy as it sounds.....need some new trainers dont really want to pay the best part of $200!!

 

Cheers....

 

Andy

[Petals 4,259]

I have been buying from Amazon UK and US for years, just use one of my cards. Great satisfaction dealing with them.

 

Also deal with Marks and same use my card and great to deal with too.

 

If Paypal is available I use my paypal account for other o/seas suppliers.

 

We shop on line all the time.

[Skani 5,444]

I use my Australian issued credit cards - no hassles there.

You access the stores through their own home page. If they offer the service there will be a link to mail order and/or international shipping. Haven't tried Firetrap or French Connection but Debenhams deliver to Australia and NZ - click the "International Deliveries" tab under "Deliveries".

[Happy Lass 864]

If you need any books (and who doesn't) The Book Depository is well worth a look. They offer free shipping to Australia and show their prices in Australian dollars so you won't need to convert. :GEEK:

 

Lakeland will also ship overseas apparently but I haven't tried ordering anything since moving over here. I'm going to have to cave in and order their Daisy Cake pan soon though because it looks brilliant. Their customer service was top notch when I lived in the UK so I would think they would be just as good about sending things to Australia. :smile:

[Guest guest36762]

If you need any books (and who doesn't) The Book Depository is well worth a look. They offer free shipping to Australia and show their prices in Australian dollars so you won't need to convert. :GEEK:

 

Lakeland will also ship overseas apparently but I haven't tried ordering anything since moving over here. I'm going to have to cave in and order their Daisy Cake pan soon though because it looks brilliant. Their customer service was top notch when I lived in the UK so I would think they would be just as good about sending things to Australia. :smile:

re books, why buy them, when you can get them from the library for free

I'd completely forgotten about the existence of libraries til I had kids. I only really buy books as presents now

[Guest guest32776]

I use my Australian issued credit cards - no hassles there.

You access the stores through their own home page. If they offer the service there will be a link to mail order and/or international shipping. Haven't tried Firetrap or French Connection but Debenhams deliver to Australia and NZ - click the "International Deliveries" tab under "Deliveries".

 

You can get Firetrap and French Connection, Diesel and loads of good brands on http://www.asos.com - they deliver for not much and it is pretty quick in my experience.

[Happy Lass 864]

re books, why buy them, when you can get them from the library for free

I'd completely forgotten about the existence of libraries til I had kids. I only really buy books as presents now

Primarily it is because I love having books in my home and enjoy collecting them. Otherwise known as a bibliophile of course.

 

Practically, I find it rare that the book I'd like to borrow is available from the libraries that I have used.

 

Furthermore most authors make so little per book that I would rather buy the book than borrow it.

[Skani 5,444]

re books, why buy them, when you can get them from the library for free

 

 

Because some books I want to refer to time and time again - not just in the 3 weeks I have them on loan from the library.

(I'm talking about reference type books - not a novel you might devour in a couple of sittings).

[Guest guest36762]

Primarily it is because I love having books in my home and enjoy collecting them. Otherwise known as a bibliophile of course.

 

Practically, I find it rare that the book I'd like to borrow is available from the libraries that I have used.

 

Furthermore most authors make so little per book that I would rather buy the book than borrow it.

 

I think for the first time on PIO, I feel I occupy the moral high ground!

Getting books from the library is much better for the environment of course, and why the need to hoard books? To show people how many you've read?

I feel quite smug and can imagine a few people grumbling about how bloody positive I am!

[Happy Lass 864]

I was about to edit my post and say the same thing but you beat me to it, Skani.

I also like to re-read novels albeit after many a years' interlude.