Thread: Dedicated Bowl Lathe - any in Australia?

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

Nice works on the Customs Duty & GST calcs, Neil - thanks. I wasn't even aware that we still paid a Customs Duty as well as GST. I thought Customs Duties were abolished when the GST was introduced? I blame Julia Gillard.
Wayne

So I was advised on Monday that the Hegner VB36 lather was now ready for pickup, having arrived from England via container ship at Port Botany about 10 days ago. In the same email I was also advised that if it wasn't picked up by Tuesday 3.00pm they would start adding storage fees to the total amount payable.

What was the total payable? Well, I had already paid all packaging & shipping costs to the supplier in England so it couldn't be too much - could it? Mind you, I had already been given a preview by Neil that both Customs Duties and GST would be applied to the total purchase price by the Federal Government, but that would be about it, right?

How about this list for a great way to rip you a new one?

1. $620.00 Packaging & Freight (GBP416 prepaid)
2. $1,159.46 Government Duties & Taxes (Duty $330.13 + $759.33 GST)
3. $120.00 Australian Quarantine inspection fee
4. $139.00 Quarantine fees
5. $150.00 Shipping Agent fee
6. $27.00 CMR fee (whatever that is)
7. $70.00 Delivery Order (whatever that is)
8. $15.00 EDI fee (whatever that is)
9. $137.70 Port Service Charges
10. $45.00 Sea Cargo Automation fee
11. $5.00 Terminal Security fee
12. $56.97 Additional GST on fees & charges

A grand total of almost $2,600 paid in shipping costs plus fees, additional taxes, fees, duties, fees, charges, fees ... oh, and don't forget the additional fee to pay the amount by credit card! Further, if I didn't pick it up yesterday they would start to add storage cost fees of $180.00 per day, plus whatever additional fees, charges & fees they could dream up. This has been an enlightening & costly exercise, boys & girls.
Turns out the actual VB36 machine was a relatively good deal from the English supplier - compared to the rorting, mongrel thieves in our Australian Government and local shipping agents. And yes, I blame Julia Gillard.

The worst part is I won't actually get to use (or even unpack) the machine for quite a while - possibly 6 months or more. We're currently negotiating to buy a new acreage property which will be a great improvement on our current situation, but which at the moment doesn't have a decent shed or workshop. Oh well.

Wayne