[SoCal]

I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon.com. They seem to have sites in several different countries but I can't find one in Australia. :confused: http://www.amazon.com.au/ is a broken link. Is there an Amazon.com in Australia?

[quincy]

No there isn't one. There are good online Australian companies that do the same thing - it really depends what you are looking for.

For books there is Dymocks which are quite pricey - you could try The Nile (it has free shipping over a certain amount $65?) and also there is the Australian online bookshop http://www.bookworm.com.au/ and the book depository http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/ with free worldwide shipping.

You can still order from Amazon as they deliver to Aus and the postage is not too bad for books.

There is www.cdwow.com.au for CDs, DVDs and games. It is Hong Kong based with prices in AUD and free delivery. Orders take about 10 days

[FamousFive]

You can import up to $1,000 of stuff without paying any import duty in Australia. What this means is that provided you keep your Amazon order below $1,000, it can be cheaper buying from Amazon.co.uk in Australia than in the UK. I've found on several orders that the postage costs to Australia are more than offset by the fact that Amazon doesn't charge you any VAT if you're in Australia - in effect that meant a 14.9% discount on amazon.co.uk list prices. With the recent temporary VAT rate of 15% it means an effective 13% discount for buyers in Australia.

[PamInPerth]

Hi,
That sounds great. Just to check is the $1000 limit an annual figure or is it per order?? Not that I'm planning to go mad and buy up the shop.:)

[FamousFive]

Hi Pam, welcome to the forum. The $1,000 is per order. If, however, you make a few orders that are delivered in the space of a few days and their total value is more than $1,000, you will be charged import duty. If you are a big spender, it's best to space your orders out a bit. According to

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

Note: However, where there are multiple packages to the same addressee in Australia from a single consignor overseas that arrive at about the same time, then the value of all packages will be combined for duty and tax assessment purposes. According to Customs:

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

Note: However, where there are multiple packages to the same addressee in Australia from a single consignor overseas that arrive at about the same time, then the value of all packages will be combined for duty and tax assessment purposes.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549

[PamInPerth]

Thanks for the info FamousFive.

[jimjams]

What this means is that provided you keep your Amazon order below $1,000, it can be cheaper buying from Amazon.co.uk in Australia than in the UK.

This won't work for books though?

[FamousFive]

That's right. Books don't have any VAT to deduct from the price AND their postage costs are much higher than for DVDs.

[jimjams]

I noticed here (http://www.livingin-australia.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-737.html) that Amazon has recently had a free delivery offer to Australia. Be interesting if they started doing it all the time.