International Transformers retails and Australian GST. What retailers are doing.

[DELTAprime]

As people may know the Australian government as of the start of the 2018/19 financial year on the 1st of July will require the store to collect GST on behalf of the Australian government. This is going to affect us Transformers collectors.

So far we have word from two retailers as to what will happen as of the 1st of July.

Amazon - Amazon will block Australians from buying items from all non-Australian Amazon sites.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/c...31-p4zikr.html
Update - We can use foreign Amazon sites again.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/busi...e8d8f3bea71c97

HLJ - HLJ will be implementing GST collection as of the 1st of July.
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpo...&postcount=101

BBTS- BBTS will collect GST. Note that it sounds like they are collecting GST on items already paid for sitting in your POL, so ship existing POLs quickly.
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpo...8&postcount=27

Amiami- Amiami will be charging GST as of the 1st on all orders under $1000 AUD.
http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpo...9&postcount=47

Ebay- Ebay is charging GST on all private sales. Larger sellers that have an ABN can apply for an exemption meaning their customers will not be charged 10% on eBay, because the seller should be collecting GST in their sale price.
https://sellercentre.ebay.com.au/con...fees-ebaycomau

I'll try to keep this list updated but mods feel free to add more TF stockist to the list if I don't see them.

[hYpNoS]

Whelp I'm glad hlj at least lets us visit, anyone checked with amiami and other retailers?

Ones like bbts robot kingdom etc are also a worry.

Sucks about amazon though they sent me a coupon for $20, lets hope the range is actually any good this time

[ZoonMaster5000]

well goodbye hlj it was nice knowing you. If I have to pay gst I would rather support someone local like Savier’s toys or Toybot Importz thanks Gerry.

[ChlorHex]

What a pain!

[reillyd]

Given that RK openly advertises that they will put a lower price on customs, I am thinking they won't be passing on a lot of gst.

[Jetfire in the sky]

Its amazing that the gummint finally worked out how to do this, the initial problem was that collecting gst when the item arrived in Oz would have cost more than what was being collected, personally I think they could have just started with Oz-post international items needing to be collected in store to pay gst or do it online when your item is scanned into Australia and it could be delivered, still a costly exercise, but once automated could have worked.
Now they are getting people in countries who are paid a lot less to do the work, great outsourcing there d!ck$!

I think it is total BS and the over $1000 rule was enough, I know BTT has a lot to say about this and rightly so, and I agree with him.

If I were say RK or Chimungmung I wouldn't even bother, how can the Australian Government enforce anything on a Chinese seller, yes they might geo-block their page but really, there are other ways around it.

[bowspearer]

well goodbye hlj it was nice knowing you. If I have to pay gst I would rather support someone local like Savier’s toys or Toybot Importz thanks Gerry.

Depends on what you're buying. Gunpla will still work out at least a third cheaper buying from them than buying locally.

[ZoonMaster5000]

Depends on what you're buying. Gunpla will still work out at least a third cheaper buying from them than buying locally.

I only collect transformers so I was able to capatilise on shipping with the mp and legends line. With the legends line technically over and now the added costs it’s just no longer worth it

[DELTAprime]

HLJ just sent me an email saying that they are now collecting GST on shipping also. They were required to do so under Australian law but were not until this point. I don't think they are the only place that hasn't been collecting GST on shipping.

Hello,

As you are no doubt aware, beginning in July a new policy from the Australian Government requires that merchants like ourselves outside of Australia must collect a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the purchases made by customers in Australia and then submit these collected funds to Canberra every quarter. We have been collecting GST on the merchandise portion of customer invoices up until now.

However, while preparing our first quarterly payment, we became aware that we were required to collect the tax on the shipping portion of customer invoices in addition to the actual merchandise portion. As such, beginning immediately, our GST collection procedure has been updated to base the calculation on the total invoice including the shipping fees. In the case of Private Warehouse orders and shipments, GST will be collected on the cost of the item when we receive your payment for its merchandise cost, and then on only the shipping fee when you create a shipment of items.

While "more taxes" is a phrase that nobody likes to hear, and we wish we didn't have to implement this policy at all, I'm afraid that we have no choice but to comply properly if we're to continue serving our loyal customers in Australia.

Thanks for your understanding, and most importantly, for your loyal support of HLJ!

[Krayt]

https://www.news.com.au/finance/busi...e8d8f3bea71c97

Looks like Amazon is going back to normal...