Fri 23 Sep 2005
I’ve managed to scrape together enough money to build or buy the skateboard I’ve wanted for a long time. In New Zealand from a local skate shop it costs around NZ$500. From the US it cost US$150. An easy decision you would think, but the freight from California for a longboard is about US$75. Also, I would probably have to pay 7% import duty (what happened to free trade?) and 12.5% GST. That works out to a little under NZ$400.
What to do? Should I risk $400 and hope I get what I’m after, or spend $500 and know I can go back to where I bought it?
Is anyone coming from the US to NZ who could bring it with their luggage?
It’s here! I just had the call from my wife that a big parcel has arrived for me. I’m feeling sick…
…might have to go home early 
4 Responses to “Shopping for a skateboard”
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September 23rd, 2005 at 19:40
Hey you shouldn’t be stung for GST, because customs don’t collect GST if it’s less than $50.
I know this, because I’ve imported heaps of radio control gear (in varying value parcels), and only got stung on the NZ$700 transmitter.
Not sure about import duty. Somewhere on their site is a list of all the different products, and whether or not duty applies. The argument being that ones manufactured here attract duty.
September 23rd, 2005 at 21:24
If the goods are below $50? or if the GST is below $50 (goods below $400)? I had a look on the customs website and they charge 7% for skateboards, but nothing for surf or snowboards. I guess the skate industry aren’t as good lobbyists.
September 24th, 2005 at 18:20
Actually if you read this page, it looks like they add duty to the cost+freight, then calculate GST, and if the “total owing” (GST + duty I guess) is less than $50 they won’t bother collecting it.
So you need to come in under about $370 goods+freight
September 26th, 2005 at 13:18
The manufacturer put me in touch with his NZ distributer, but they’re still NZ$449 so I just ordered it from Skates On Haight. US$149.99 + US$70.75 freight. Will work out to about
NZ$320NZ$330 by the time the bank takes their cut of the forex. Stoked!!