NZ and mayb AUS buyers (Another thread but an important one)

[Fallenae]

Hey guys I got a message from an Oculus fella. Sure we all know its USD now and I can come to terms with the price. But I'm still not 100% sure about the GST thing and didn't really get a solid answer here. Palmers tweet says extra money is for local tax, this guys says regulatory fees. Do you think its a possibility it could be shipped with GST paid sticker or something? I just highly doubt it, based on past experience.

[–]to TheTwistgibber sent 1 day ago

Hi can you confirm is $699 for NZ is in USD? Also is NZ GST included and paid for?



[–]from TheTwistgibber sent 48 minutes ago

Yes, it is in USD. The price is inclusive of all regulatory fees.

http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/whats-my-duty website is quoting $236.85 and you have to register a client code by mail beforehand because its over $1000NZ???

Item Duty
Computers
Value: 699.00 USD

NZ Value: 1,043.28 NZD

Duty: 0.00 NZD

GST: 156.49 NZD
156.49 NZD
GST on freight 31.12 NZD
Total 187.61 NZD
Entry fees* 49.24 NZD
Amount due 236.85 NZD

*Entry fees:
Once the threshold of $60 of duty and/or GST payable is reached, then a Customs import entry transaction fee (IETF) of NZ$29.26 (GST inclusive) is payable. Please note that the $60 threshold does not apply to tobacco and alcohol products. Entry fees are collected on these two regardless of the amount. A Ministry for Primary Industries biosecurity system entry levy (MPI Levy) of $19.98 (GST inclusive) is also collected by Customs. The total fees equal NZ$49.24 (GST inclusive)

This is all way to complicated for me just to buy a toy for me games.

Could someone from Oculus PLEASE just let me know that either:
-Yes, all GST is covered and it will be shipped and delivered to my door.
-No, I will have to get my shipment from customs after paying GST and fees.
-Sorry, we really don't know.

So that I can put my mind to rest and just look forward to April..

[blanes]

Oculus do have an Austalian registered company and stated that back when the Dk2 was shipped and that presumably is why they have added tax at the checkout but confusingly they charged tax in US dollars and not at gst of 10%.

Having setup an Australian company would explain why the charge last time was to Oculus LLC and not Oculus Ireland. Like I said, until it is explained clearly what they are doing with a complete breakdown of the charges, I will express my concern & suspicion. I understand enough to know there is reason to ask questions, if you think it is all above board good for you but I don't accept your advice of what I can say on these forums based on your opinion of my understanding. I haven't heard any explanation why payment would go to Oculus Ireland rather than the company setup 2014 in Australia.

[kojack]

Hmm, exchange rate continuing to drop.
What was $1104au on launch day is now $1123au. We've had a $19 price rise because they haven't billed us yet.
Of course that could turn around too, we could save money over the next 3 months if it starts rising.

(If we were back at the april 2011 exchange rate, we would only be paying $710au. Ah, the good old days)

[onefang]

"blanes" wrote:
Oculus do have an Austalian registered company and stated that back when the Dk2 was shipped and that presumably is why they have added tax at the checkout but confusingly they charged tax in US dollars and not at gst of 10%.

Having setup an Australian company would explain why the charge last time was to Oculus LLC and not Oculus Ireland. Like I said, until it is explained clearly what they are doing with a complete breakdown of the charges, I will express my concern & suspicion. I understand enough to know there is reason to ask questions, if you think it is all above board good for you but I don't accept your advice of what I can say on these forums based on your opinion of my understanding. I haven't heard any explanation why payment would go to Oculus Ireland rather than the company setup 2014 in Australia.

I agree with you blanes, the numbers are just not adding up. I wouldn't mind so much, but for the initial sticker shock, followed seconds later by more sticker shock as the amount to be paid magically increased itself, then even more sticker shock as the rather huge shipping fees got added. That the amounts where later confirmed to be US$ instead of AU$ lead to even more shock later. After my analyses, things just are not adding up. I would be quite happy if Oculus explained all of these odd amounts, hell I'd probably spend time convincing others if Oculus can convince me.

Given the current state of affairs, and recent history in Australia, it's no wonder we are a bit suspicious and trying to figure out what's really going on. A simple bit of maths that actually adds up and explains it all is all that is required from Oculus. I've done mine publicly, they can correct it. It's half a dozen numbers, a little addition and division, not rocket science. It's entirely possible I am wrong, I don't have all the data, Oculus do. That they are leaving us guessing just adds fuel to the fire. The Ireland thing, even more fuel to the fire.

Not to mention the dubious legality that my analyses seems to indicate, that others agree on.

Looks like New Zealanders are in the same situation, I just have no direct experience there.

USA got sticker shock, Europe got double sticker shock, Australia and New Zealand got quadruple sticker shock. At the moment the balance of the evidence available to us says something went horribly wrong, quadruple sticker shock with no idea why. All these extra charges on top of expensive tech that needs us to spend even more money upgrading our computers in order to run it, we are bleeding cash here, it's gonna be too much for some, they'll cancel. Me, I'm waiting to see what happens in the near future, but I'm currently a lot closer to cancelling than I was when I placed my pre-order.

Throw us a bone Oculus, make some of the shock go away, you can do it. All that good vibe we had for Oculus has been quickly evaporating since seconds after we hit that pre order button. Makes us think Facebook turned you evil, coz we were not expecting this sort of corporate bullshit from Oculus. Thought they where good guys, now it's looking like they are the usual rip off merchants all the other big corps are. Are they even paying attention to aussies and kiwis?

[TwoHedWlf]

"onefang" wrote:

Throw us a bone Oculus, make some of the shock go away, you can do it.

Doing the math just now, based on a $599US purchase price, plus $138 shipping that's $737 US pretax, $847.55 US including 15% GST.

They're charging $837 US. So we're getting a $10 discount.

[onefang]

"onefang" wrote:
USA got sticker shock, Europe got double sticker shock, Australia and New Zealand got quadruple sticker shock.

Oops, I forgot the Canadians. USA 1 x sticker shock, Canada 2 x, Europe 3 x, Australia and New Zealand 4 x, is this about right? I'm seeing a pattern here.

[MorganH76]

I would like to know why it costs over $130 USD (PER UNIT) to ship to Australia, but only $40 US to Europe.

Surely it can not cost over 3x as much??

[TwoHedWlf]

"MorganH76" wrote:
I would like to know why it costs over $130 USD (PER UNIT) to ship to Australia, but only $40 US to Europe.

Surely it can not cost over 3x as much??

Would cost about $145 US to send it back to the US from NZ, International Courier Express. If my guess of a 20cmX30X30 box weighing 5kg isn't too far off.

[sayanbha]

Just scared that I will get a letter from customs regarding GST payment. Will see when the shipments starts arriving. Anyone in NZ with March shipments. Mine is in the April slot.

[Aus21]

Just scared that I will get a letter from customs regarding GST payment. Will see when the shipments starts arriving. Anyone in NZ with March shipments. Mine is in the April slot.

For my NZ friends, I would be suspect about this too. Good question to which Oculus still hasnt answered.

Would cost about $145 US to send it back to the US from NZ, International Courier Express. If my guess of a 20cmX30X30 box weighing 5kg isn't too far off.

Except that, at least in AUS's case, shipping is local. A local company ships from Sydney and there is no way in hell it costs that much, especially in USD. You can also bet they dont send Rifts's to AUS in single items either.

I am still yet to see any convincing statement by Oculus that they have correctly adhered to AUS customs and taxation laws. As a local AU company entity they are required to collect 10% GST but in doing so must collect in AUD and provide a tax invoice with the GST amount clearly indicated. That or they drop all taxes and invoices as they are importing goods under the $1000 duty cut off.

Its not right either way and frankly its downright dishonest. Apologies to the OP for my slightly highjacking this topic, I would urge Oculus to unequivocally state if NZ (and AU) taxes and duties are correct, final and legal. Last thing our NZ brothers want is a fight with customs!

[kojack]

"Aus21" wrote:
but in doing so must collect in AUD

Why? 10% of us dollars is the same as 10% of aus dollars. There's no difference in how much they collected.