DarkSarcasm Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 Hi all, I have decided to buy a LightSpeed Zulu headset. It was a hard choice between the Zulu and the Bose but in the end the Zulu seems better value and if it turns out I made the wrong choice, I guess I can always sell it on eBay and buy a Bose! I am planning to buy one from the US since it appears to work out cheaper (around $1000AU). I have a few questions though... If you ask the seller to mark the package as 'gift' to avoid customs import fees, does that mean that you can't claim insurance if the package disappears in transit? Has anyone else out there bought a headset from overseas and did customs actually charge you import fees or did it get through? Any help/suggestions about importing headsets would be welcome :) - Darky:cool:
turboplanner Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 Don't do it Darky, they aren't dumb and you don't want your purchase confiscated, not to mention the fine.
Tomo Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 If it's over a thousand $'s they charge import duty and tax.....! So work out the overall price with all that, and see if it's still cheaper than in Aus, if not... well it's not much point. Other than that it's usually pretty good, But you just have to do you home work and see if it's really worth the effort! And Cost difference!
DarkSarcasm Posted August 15, 2009 Author Posted August 15, 2009 I hadn't thought about them confiscating it....ok, not doing the 'gift' route. I did some calculations and it seems including what I estimate customs fees and stuff to be, it should work out about $100 or so cheaper, which seems to make it worth it When customs charge you import duty/tax/whatever, do they contact you and tell you to pay or what happens? i assume you don't have to work out the amount yourself, they contact you instead, am I right?
Guest Qwerty Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 Hey I have a bit of a different take on buying form OS, for a saving of $100, I would prefer to deal with a local supplier. 1. to support local aviation businesses. 2. so you have a real person that you can go and talk to if you have any problem with it later. 3. there is no chance of the freight company crushing it in transit. There is some stuff that is better sourced from OS (spruce) eg bolts and hardware where you only need to buy what you want and the price is very much better than local suppliers who don't seem much interested is supplying us anyway. Cheers, Qwerty
DarkSarcasm Posted August 15, 2009 Author Posted August 15, 2009 Now that I'm looking at the customs requirements and apparantly you have to fill in all these forms and stuff, I'm not sure it's worth it for $100 either... Anyone know of any shops in Aus that do good deals on headsets?
DarkSarcasm Posted August 15, 2009 Author Posted August 15, 2009 Don't worry guys, problem solved. I did a little more hunting in my own backyard (i.e. Australia) and found a shop selling Zulu's for...get this...$1080 with $20 shipping. Yay! :)
Tomo Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 When customs charge you import duty/tax/whatever, do they contact you and tell you to pay or what happens? i assume you don't have to work out the amount yourself, they contact you instead, am I right? Yeah they contact you through email or whatever, and you've got to pay them before they'll let it go... obviously. They let you know the cost required. Ps. Good to hear you've gotten on to one for a nice price in Aus!:thumb_up:
Admin Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 Hopefully Clear Prop will be stocking Zulu headsets next week...and cheaper as the small margins placed on products pays to keep this web site available to you :big_grin:
Guest mudjeep Posted August 15, 2009 Posted August 15, 2009 Glad to hear you are shopping local. For interest, if your goods are worth less than $1000 then you won't be charged anything. If they are more than $1000 then you need to complete the entry paperwork, pay the duty and GST (the GST is applied on the value of the goods PLUS the cost of the freight and insurance), plus there is a processing fee of just under $50. Customs will let you know if the goods have been held so that you can arrange to have them cleared. If the goods are concealed in any way or misdescribed then penalties can apply. Your goods will only be seized if you don't pay the duty/GST and penalty, or if they are Prohibited Imports. If you decide that you don't want to pay the duty/GST, and provided that you have committed no offences and the goods are not Prohibited Exports, then you will get the option to re-export the goods at your expense. For the latest information always check out the Customs website www.customs.gov.au or call the inquiry line (staffed by real live Australian Customs and Border Protection officers!). Or better still, shop at Clear Prop!
DarkSarcasm Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 Hey Ian, D'u have any estimate on what Clear Prop might charge for the Zulus? I could be persuaded to wait an extra week for my new toy if the price is right
perthjay85 Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 yeah im very interested to ian. I just bought a cheap pair from altronics to get me by but will definitely be looking into the zulu's. great spot thought Dark :)
Guest studentbiggles Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 Hi Ian, I to would be very interested in purchasing a set of "Lightspeed Zulu's".....Let me know of your price etc...Many thanks Studentbiggles (Alley)
Admin Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 Hi Ian, I to would be very interested in purchasing a set of "Lightspeed Zulu's".....Let me know of your price etc...Many thanks Studentbiggles (Alley) Don't know at this stage but I guess they would be cheaper then the ones you have found.
DarkSarcasm Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 Do you know if you'll be getting them next week or is it just speculation? I'm trying to make a sensible informed decision but I'm also keen to get my new toy, especially after hearing how amazing ANR is! :)
perthjay85 Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 great work ian. once you have all your t's dotted and i's crossed let us know because i will hopefully be ordering a set to add to my collection along with some other bits and pieces. cheers Jay
DarkSarcasm Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 same here, although having looked at your shop I fear I will be spending the money I save on the headset on other bits & pieces!
perthjay85 Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 hahahhahhaa Dark i already have a list written. so i know in one purchase i wont be saving anything. Jay
DarkSarcasm Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 Except I bet yours is full of useful stuff every pilot needs Jay. Mine is more like 'hey that altimeter clock looks cool, I could put it on my desk to replace that clock with no battery and it's only $40!' (despite the fact a new battery for the old clock would be like $2!)
perthjay85 Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 hahaha not all of them totall useful lol. anything thats shiny should be bought didnt you know that????
DarkSarcasm Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 I'm glad it's not just me who has that weakness! Everytime I go near eBay my bank account is in terrible peril...
perthjay85 Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 hahah i actually ban myself from using ebay. i put a sign on my laptop no ebay till such a date. my brother is the worst. over 3000 purchases in his first 14 months. his reply was they were all really cheap
DarkSarcasm Posted August 16, 2009 Author Posted August 16, 2009 good grief, 3000 purchases. I'm still only at 57 so I'm clearly not as bad as I thought! The sign on the laptop thing is a good idea though. I've got one now saying "STUDYING = FLYING" in an attempt to get myself to study for uni (if I study I feel less guilty when I fly). It isn't working to the extent that I hoped for though
perthjay85 Posted August 16, 2009 Posted August 16, 2009 hahah signs dont always work lol. my purcahses are sitting about 250 over 2 years but i buy stuff for mates that dont have the net or cant be bothered signing up. hahahhaha i like the idea of your sign. but flying is far to addictive lol
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