Cost of goods imported to Australia going up - including supplements

[lafarfelue]

Thought this important enough to post about, considering how many of us import supplements to reduce the often overwhelming cost of managing our illnesses.

Starting July 1, 2018 the 10% goods and services tax (GST) will be applied to all imported goods to Australia.

It's a bummer. I can imagine that for some this will mean the difference between being able to take certain supplements and not being able to afford them at all.

 

[Art Vandelay]

It's ridiculous. I'm going to order up at iHerb later today.

iHerb currently have a 11% off sale if you use this coupon code apparently. See here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/386061

 

[heapsreal]

Nothing like living in the nanny state. Should have the hammer and sickle instead of the union jack on the flag.

 

[heapsreal]

How are they going to be able to collect the gst? Open every parcel? Charge the company or the purchaser? Get iherb to put a receipt in your order for $5 instead of the real price? So many holes in trying to collect gst. Mobile phone cover from china for $1.50, its going to cost them more to process stuff to get their 15cent gst.

 

[pamojja]

How are they going to be able to collect the gst?

In my country they do inspect it on the arriving airport, charge a €10,- handling fee for each, and then add either 10 or 20% import tax (to be paid at handover from postal-service). Because iherb limits shipment to my country to $100, having to pay each time at least 20% on top is annoying. Though because the parcels are very small, some to regularly go through without being inspected or charged. First was very upset by so much arbitrarilyness, when I found EU-wide the import tax alone would actually be above 20% I'm glad they still haven't caught up yet .

 

[heapsreal]

In my country they do inspect it on the arriving airport, charge a €10,- handling fee for each, and then add either 10 or 20% import tax (to be paid at handover from postal-service). Because iherb limits shipment to my country to $100, having to pay each time at least 20% on top is annoying. Though because the parcels are very small, some to regularly go through without being inspected or charged. First was very upset by so much arbitrarilyness, when I found EU-wide the import tax alone would actually be above 20% I'm glad they still haven't caught up yet .

Handling fee, they know how to sting you.