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]

@ onefang - I am curious to know more about what you said re the Euro vs US exchange rate because I have paypal with a Euro and US dollar option. From what you say is it better to put the money in and convert it to US $ now rather than later?

[Fallenae]

"radd" wrote:
It is simpler than you think.

We are getting the Rift cheaper than the US is.

They're paying $599 before sales tax, which varies by state (and in some cases by city).

We're paying $590 before sales tax, which is our 10% GST adding $59 for a total of $649.

In Santa Monica, California, the sales tax is 9.5%, which on goods of $599 is $56.91. So they would be paying $655.91.

Yea ok, if its so simple why the silence from oculus?

[metalnwood]

"Fallenae" wrote:

"radd" wrote:
It is simpler than you think.

We are getting the Rift cheaper than the US is.

They're paying $599 before sales tax, which varies by state (and in some cases by city).

We're paying $590 before sales tax, which is our 10% GST adding $59 for a total of $649.

In Santa Monica, California, the sales tax is 9.5%, which on goods of $599 is $56.91. So they would be paying $655.91.

Yea ok, if its so simple why the silence from oculus?

Maybe they are busy getting on with the business of getting them ready for people that want them?

[onefang]

"blanes" wrote:
@ onefang - I am curious to know more about what you said re the Euro vs US exchange rate because I have paypal with a Euro and US dollar option. From what you say is it better to put the money in and convert it to US $ now rather than later?

I'm no expert on exchange rates, but I did a quick search for some predictions on them over the next few months. I thought I said it was better to keep it in my Euro balance until I need to pay? Yep, just double checked, that's what I said, I'm keeping it in Euros until I need to pay. Unless there's some major upset and those predictions are totally wrong, then might be a mad scramble to switch it to something else. My PayPal has AU$, CA$, US$, Euros, and British pounds, just coz I've needed all of those at one point or another over the years.

[blanes]

Ok thanks, I was just making an assumption from what you said, no worries.

[Aus21]

I think some people are missing the point slightly.

If the Rift is being directly imported then no GST is to be paid on the unit. Period. (Shipping is another matter)
If the Rift is being locally distributed then GST has to be itemised and in AUD? Why, because that's the law and its the consumer that becomes liable for the taxation. Also, it prevents companies charging "GST" is such a way that the company essentially sneaks in a higher price by way of unethical application of taxes.

In NZ's case if the unit was directly imported and the local GST was not itemised and duties clearly paid then customs will just see a base price and direct the end user to pay the taxes before the release the item to the consumer.

Sure, many people in the US are probably sick of hearing about this and if you are then apologies for boring you but please realise this issue of constantly getting ripped off is a major problem for international consumers.

[TwoHedWlf]

Yup, I totally feel ripped off, it's only costing about $100 or so more than I expected. I mean, if I'd been able to buy it from a local retailer I could have paid $700 more! :lol:

[Fallenae]

"TwoHedWlf" wrote:
Yup, I totally feel ripped off, it's only costing about $100 or so more than I expected. I mean, if I'd been able to buy it from a local retailer I could have paid $700 more! :lol:

So your happy to pay 540NZD more than an American?

[TwoHedWlf]

"Fallenae" wrote:

"TwoHedWlf" wrote:
Yup, I totally feel ripped off, it's only costing about $100 or so more than I expected. I mean, if I'd been able to buy it from a local retailer I could have paid $700 more! :lol:

So your happy to pay 540NZD more than an American?

How am I paying 540 NZ more than an american? Let's keep it all in USD. That's $350 USD. Now, we're being charged $100 or so more for shipping than the US. A bit high, I'll admit.

That leaves $250 USD more than Americans.

Now, there's another $100USD they tack on for being in NZ. That's the 15% GST. We'd have to pay that either way, and they SHOULD be charging us $110 for it. Oculus can't be blamed for taxes, and we come out ahead, so that part we can disregard.

So now...That leaves us with...What? That I should be pissed at Oculus for? Expensive shipping? $138 is high, but not ridiculous for express shipping from the US.

So I'm not inclined to be overly annoyed at paying GST and shipping for something that would owe GST and needs to be shipped.

And I don't think I'm exaggerating about the $700 more, I expect it will be that or more if they're available at an NZ retailer sometime soon.

[Fallenae]

Read the OP.

I have asked oculus through numerous ways whether they can confirm that GST is payed or not. This thread has been on the front page for 6 days now without an answer to the simple question in OP. You can almost guarantee that you will have to pay the $240 tax and duties to get your rift.