Ordering studio speakers from overseas

Hey guys. I'm going to buy some new speakers soon for mixing, and have been eyeing up the Alesis M1 Active 520s. At DMC Wellington they cost $800, and the sales guy told me this was likely to go up. However when I got home I checked the price on Amazon.com and was surprised to see that they are $200US...about $360 NZ. Obviously a big difference. Now I now there are shipping costs involved, but I'd be extremely surprised if they amounted to $440 dollars. I'd say $100 max.

So my question is, has anyone ordered speakers from overseas before and what were the shipping costs? Also, what overseas retailer did you use? (many don't ship to NZ).

Thanks!

If you struggle to find a supplier in the US that will ship to NZ, have a look at Australian suppliers. The price wont be quite as good as the US obviously, but I would say it would be substantially cheaper than in NZ, and the shipping would be heaps cheaper from Oz which would offset some of the price diff with the US

Good idea mate. I've found a US supplier that goes through ebay.com.au, and it works out to be about $570 including shipping and custom taxes. Do you know what the deal is with custom taxes btw? On the customs website it says 18% tax for importing speakers (no idea why it isn't 12.5%??)

Try www.midistore.com, they ship to NZ and shipping seems to be cheaper relative to other US online retailers. I bought a Korg Nanopad from them.

In regard to the customs duty and GST, if your combined duty and GST comes to less than $50 NZ they waive it. This is calculated on the combined declared value of the item and the shipping amount. This will obviously in your case be in US dollars so this would be calculated using the exchange rate on the day that your speakers arrive at customs in NZ.

At midistore today you can purchase a pair of Alesis Monitor1 MkII Monitors (6.5" for US$199. The cheapest shipping on them is USPS Priority Mail International - 6-10 days ($200.40). Total = US$399.40 = NZ$639.65

This would attract duty and GST and you bill would be 12.5% ($79.96) + 18% ($115.14) = NZ$195.10

So total cost would be NZ$834.75

Speakers are bloody heavy and shipping is done by weight. USPS is the cheapest shipping from the states. they used to have a 1 - 2 month sea freight option that was dirt cheap but that service ceased about two years ago.

I buy snowboards off ebay which is how I know this stuff.

I was looking to do the same thing from the states for monitors about 6 months ago (with the same monitors you are looking at getting funnily enough) and it is just cheaper with the exchange rates the way they are to purchase them here.

What the guy at DMC is refereeing to when he says they will go up is the fact that increases in transport costs and exchange rates will increase the retail price of future stock purchased from overseas.

That's strange. The retailer I checked with said it would cost $100 for shipping using USPS Priority Mail international. The Alesis M1's are 15kg.

Also I thought the 18% included the 12.5% GST charge?

http://www.customs.govt.nz/importers/Private+Importers/Customs+Charges.htm

On the table it says Duty/GST rate.

BTW do you know how the customs charge is paid for? Does the retailer charge you at the outset or does customs ring you up when it arrives?

Thanks bro

it is definately GST on top of duty.

What store is that from? it seems very reasonable!

That link you posted answered all your questions.

Calculation of Customs Charges
Where applicable, Customs duty is levied on the transaction value of the goods (the price actually paid for them). Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 12.5 percent is then calculated on the duty-inclusive value plus international freight and insurance charges.


Payment of Customs Charges
Payments will only be accepted in New Zealand currency. Cash payment (which includes cash and cheques) is required for imports via air or sea. Personal cheques may only be accepted up to NZ$1,000.

MasterCard and VISA are accepted for imports made by private persons on goods for their own personal use via mail. Call 0800 388 437 to make a payment.

Seller is this guy: http://myworld.ebay.com.au/playgroundkeyboards?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:AU:1181

I find it crazy that they charge such a massive duty. That is hardcore protectionism! I thought NZ had done away with almost all its tariffs/rates...18% is ridiculous!

Dude, the duty on clothing and apparel is 26.5%!!!!!

Any wonder clothing is so expensive here?

True, but I can see the justification for clothing duties (protect local jobs). But AFAIK there are no local producers of speakers.

Anyway, good news. I emailed customs and they advised me that there is no longer a 18% duty on imported speakers. It is 12.5% GST charge only.

So total charge for those Alesis M1's would be $530 NZ all up! $230 saving, not bad

$270, actually. Even better

The quote the American dude gave me shipping turned out to be wrong, with the correct shipping code (much higher), the cost ended up being about $700. Still a $100 saving, but not as good as I thought initially.

FYI...

There are - but not active studio monitors..

I heard Phillips were set up in the 60's or 70's for this very reason. (Not active monitors, just speakers)