Comments on: Shopping for a skateboard

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 01:18:47 +0000

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$320~~NZ$330 by the time the bank takes their cut of the forex. Stoked!!

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 06:20:50 +0000

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

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 09:24:32 +0000

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.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 07:40:51 +0000

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.