new shocks - what should i be paying in Aus

[gareth_oau]

tirerack have got the Bilstein PSS coilover kit to suit yours for USD1078.

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s....H1&perfCode=S

Therefore assuming say $200 for shipping, your landed cost including taxes would be around $1830

Alternatively you could go a set of Koni FSD dampers and matching Eibach lowering springs in a kit for USD924

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/s...9-2&perfCode=P

a landed cost of circa $1615

[Dub_Star_V6]

Suspension from overseas is *significantly* cheaper than locally. Before duties and taxes

There's the kicker, because when you add import duties, pricing become similar. Yes it's still cheaper OS but considering the warranty and product support you'll get I'm not sure it's really worth it with some big dollar purchases?

Yes, there are warranty/support/liability issues with bringing stuff in from overseas - but I can't imagine how that accounts for a 100% markup on overseas pricing (particularly when it's retail pricing overseas, and they're taking the same responsibilities over there as a local retailer would take here).

Is this because companies like Bilstein and KONI make their local distributors actually stump up and buy all the items they want to stock? If so, it becomes understandable that the importer/wholesaler/distributor all want their cut to make sure they cover their a$$es after paying for something someone is yet to purchase?

tirerack have got the Bilstein PSS coilover kit to suit yours for USD1078. Therefore assuming say $200 for shipping, your landed cost including taxes would be around $1830

Alternatively you could go a set of Koni FSD dampers and matching Eibach lowering springs in a kit for USD924, a landed cost of circa $1615

How much import duty would you end up paying on those amounts, and would that therefore take it close to local pricing (despite the current strong AUD exchange?)

[Manaz]

There's the kicker, because when you add import duties, pricing become similar. Yes it's still cheaper OS but considering the warranty and product support you'll get I'm not sure it's really worth it with some big dollar purchases?

The prices are not similar, not even close. As I indicated, working with a local operator, we managed to get my PSS9s as a one-off (ie no discount for bulk purchase or per unit savings for bulk shipping) landed with all taxes, duties and profit margin for TWO end-user facing businesses (only one being an online business with the associated lower operating expenses) for $2420. That's ~$600 less (or 20%!) than Bilstein Australia quoted when they've got access to better pricing due to their wholesale/import agreement and their ability to bulk import and save money on the per-unit shipping costs. The initial quote from Bilstein Australia was actually $3400 (they only dropped the price to $3000 due to having the item in stock rather than having to bring it in), or almost 50% more expensive than I've ended up paying.

And that's just one example. The ball joints mentioned in another thread are another prime example - Pedders want $110 per ball joint (because they're German), I doubt VW Australia are any cheaper various places in the US will sell them for USD$25 each. You'd get two of them shipped here for less than the price of one bought locally.

Rotors for the Mk4 R32 Golf are another golden example. AUD$680 per rotor from VW Australia, or land a pair from the US for less than AUD$400 including all shipping.

I realise there's some justifiable price premium given our geographic separation from the point of origin and relatively size of the market here, but the amount of markep that seems to be the norm here is simply ridiculous at times.

I keep hearing calls that we should support local businesses - but that needs to work both ways, and perhaps some local businesses should also consider supporting the local market rather than trying to rip it off blind...

[gareth_oau]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gareth_oau
tirerack have got the Bilstein PSS coilover kit to suit yours for USD1078. Therefore assuming say $200 for shipping, your landed cost including taxes would be around $1830

Alternatively you could go a set of Koni FSD dampers and matching Eibach lowering springs in a kit for USD924, a landed cost of circa $1615

How much import duty would you end up paying on those amounts, and would that therefore take it close to local pricing (despite the current strong AUD exchange?)

My 'quoted' costs ($1830 and $1615) are inclusive of all local duties, GST and import agency fee, and will also include delivery to your home.

Note, they are an estimate based on a $USD200 shipping fee, which would probably be lower.

also note that I believe import duty will drop from 10% to 5% from January, so that would reduce the landed costs to circa $1750 and $1550.

Local suppliers will also benefit from the lower duty, but i imagine this will take time to filter through the system and their existing stocks are cleared.

If you are genuinely interested, email tirerack and ask for an all inclusive ex USA cost including delivery, then give that quote to a local customs agent and ask how much extra it will cost to clear the goods.

you could also wait for the A$ to increase further to US$0.93 (currently 0.8 and then you will avoid duty and GST altogether (though I cant see that happening in the near future!!)

another option would be to find suspension less than US$880 ex USA (not including delivery) and then you will not have to pay any Duty/GST/customs fee

[Manaz]

another option would be to find suspension less than US$880 ex USA (not including delivery) and then you will not have to pay any Duty/GST/customs fee

Duty is calculated on the value of the goods, but GST is calculated on goods plus delivery - so you might avoid duty, but not GST in that instance.

Duty will also only drop to 5% on goods from the US which are manufactured in the US - goods from the US manufactured elsewhere (Europe for a large amount of the gear we're likely to bring in) will still remain at 10% I believe.

[Dub_Star_V6]

Sorry lads, you did indicate those were inclusive figures.

Cr@p, quite a difference indeed.

[gareth_oau]

Duty is calculated on the value of the goods, but GST is calculated on goods plus delivery - so you might avoid duty, but not GST in that instance.

Duty will also only drop to 5% on goods from the US which are manufactured in the US - goods from the US manufactured elsewhere (Europe for a large amount of the gear we're likely to bring in) will still remain at 10% I believe.

You are correct on the the GST is applicable on the cost plus freight total if that exceeds $1000, so therefore there are two thresholds:

ex US for goods $1000 for duty
delivered to Oz for goods and freight $1000 for GST.


However, goods manufactured in the US are duty free because of the Oz/Us Free trade agreement. Stuff imported from US (or anywhere) but made overseas are subject to 10% or 5% as I mentioned.

[Gravey]

thanks for the replys guys, looks like ive been a little mislead during my research into suspension options... from memory i remember people being able to get both shocks and springs for around the $1200 mark. not to be by the looks of things!

all good though, as people have mentioned, premium product with warranty = premium price...



Gravey, where have you found the best prices? ive called places such as imparts and that place at nth tce kent town, overall prices seem to be similar...

I contacted Bilstein Australia and they put me onto Car Torque, who are just a distributor, so they wont be able to install for you. $1230 for a complete set of B8's for the Bora - 4mo prices were the same as fwd. They quoted $600 for springs and said they couldnt match what was on eibach direct site, which is $320 delivered for the Pro-Kit.

Other places in Adelaide quoted me around $2.5k, I think you should be able to buy the bits and get an install for about $2k locally.


eshocks.com quoted me $569US for a set of B8s + $189.75US Shipping within 5 business days. That equates to around $840AU delivered. So with springs and install you could probably save up to $500.

I was also told I'd have to wait 6 weeks if buying locally - probably because the local distributor gets it sent over on a boat, not by air.

[evorobin]

Give Dean a call at imparts on 8260 3577‎.

375 Main North Rd, Enfield