What are wrought ! BEWARE

After paying lots of $$ for parts from MSA and then a whopping $341 for shipping, Concordia says that I need to pay additional money to get my package through customs at Melbourne airport.

Import Terminal Fee         AUD  $    65.00

Import Document Fee AUD $    15.00

Air Cargo Automation FeeAUD $    45.00

Airline Handling Fee   AUD $    40.00

Customs Clearance   AUD $    75.00

GST (payable on all local charges) AUD $    24.00

TOTAL                   AUD $  264.00

Has this happened to anyone before?  Normally, my parts get delivered to my home, no questions asked and no additional money to be paid.  The order was less than $1000 so I assumed this wouldn't happen.  This is something to be aware of.

customs charges fees when the item plus postage is worth more than 1k.

yes i have heard over 1k.

I bought a massive car amp a few years ago worth $750+200 postage and didnt get charged extra(that was from thailand).

Bought another large amp early this year just under $350 all up with no additional charges.

It really sounds like they are trying to do a dodgy....wth is a import document fee and $15. why $65 for a terminal fee....it all sounds made up.

customs charges fees when the item plus postage is worth more than 1k.

Ive heard differently, charges apply only when the item itself is worth over 1k 

My understanding (from http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5549.asp) is that if what you buy is $999, and shipping is $101, you pay nothing, but if purchase cost is $1001 and shipping is $99, you pay import duty on the $1001, and GST on purchase cost + duty + shipping.

Not that helps Roberto260z, those charges aren't from Customs, they're from the shipping company/freight forwarder. I can't help there sorry...

That is shiver! Can't remember if my MSA orders have been over the 1k barrier, including shipping it could've been close, that's annoying!

The total purchase price plus postage was $900 and in those charges there is no customs or import tax.  I think Concordia is asking for money to do very little ontop of their absurd freight charged from the US.

The ACCC should look into this !!

Be careful about extra shipping fees if you buy that spoiler, I bought one just a few weeks ago and it was apparently too big for the courier company they use so i was quoted a door to airport service, I then got a call call from the freight forwarding people in Australia saying I had to pay extra fees to release the spoiler , all up about an extra $240, and an expensive lesson.

Ah Roberto Roberto, same thing happened to me with MSA, same forwarder too, looks like you learnt that expensive lesson too.

Doesn't matter if it was under 1k, next time stick with a door to door service like US postal and avoid the fees!

Maybe they are just trying to pull one on you Rob?

Ah Mossy, it was you.  I remember that.  Next time MSA say's Concordia, best to tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.....

Maybe they are just trying to pull one on you Rob?

Yeah, just quietly I think so too :-\

call the fair trade ombudsman and discuss it with them.

If they are being greedy, it'll bite them in the ass.

They are probably hoping people will just pay it and be done with it.

It may also be worth looking closely at australian ownership laws.

Im no lawyer but i was under the understanding that Oz law states that once payment for goods has been made, legal ownership of said goods is transferred to to the payee.

If that is the case, you have the legal right to demand your goods, as withholding them could be construed as theft or extortion on the part of the freight company.

At least then you would have your gear while they send invoices for payment, that'd give you more time to drag it on, ect ect.