SanDisk 1TB SSD

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 30 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Bargains and Deals › SanDisk 1TB SSD

1 | 2 | 3

BDFL - Memuneh
80658 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41070

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1954510 9-Feb-2018 19:25

harlansmart:

No, currently it is still exactly the same at USD259.99 i.e.

NZD373.74 (Amazon Retail Price of SSD)

NZD8.25 (Shipping & Handling)

NZD381.99 (Real price landed in New Zealand)

NZD93.71 ('Imaginary Import Fees Deposit')

NZD475.70 (Price including 'Imaginary Import Fees Deposit' landed in New Zealand)

It makes perfect sense. It's too close to the threshold and if for any reason the currency exchange fluctuates wildly Customs might see a different value for it and collect GST plus the documentation fees (the $36 over the 15% GST is probably the brokers/customs fee and if so it's actually cheaper than if you had to deal directly with Customs).

Nope, I will continue to buy from Amazon - even paying GST on some imports it is still 30% cheaper than retail here.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

cshaun

408 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 72

ID Verified

#1954545 9-Feb-2018 19:53

No arguing Amazon is offers great prices and customer service. I often buy form them. (That is until they wipe out all competition and become a monopoly and starting increasing their prices.)

Um surely if Amazon charge you in NZD that's the value? There is no fluctuation. Interested if someone does know exactly how it works - which would explain the reasoning behind charging it.

BadBadBadMonkey

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#1954549 9-Feb-2018 20:06

I think it's this ...

"Duties and taxes are calculated based on the market value (actual price before any promotions) of the product and not the price after Amazon promotions. This allows destination country customs authorities to obtain the accurate import duties and taxes owed to them based on the actual value of the goods."

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&pop-up=1&nodeId=201117970&ref=amazon_global_shipmsg_viewed_help

The "original" price of that product is US$399, so you would have to find it listed somewhere else that's not doing the ol' fake-list-price-and-discount trick. Amazon's good but they're still a retailer using all the same tricks.

Make hay while the sun shines: once the retail con artists in NZ start squealing loud enough, the govt will find the political excuses to bring the threshold down to zero, and thereafter I expect start cranking up the GST rate further. NZ's way too left-wing to stop it.

cshaun

408 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 72

ID Verified

#1954555 9-Feb-2018 20:15

BadBadBadMonkey:

I think it's this ...

"Duties and taxes are calculated based on the market value (actual price before any promotions) of the product and not the price after Amazon promotions. This allows destination country customs authorities to obtain the accurate import duties and taxes owed to them based on the actual value of the goods."

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&pop-up=1&nodeId=201117970&ref=amazon_global_shipmsg_viewed_help

The "original" price of that product is US$399, so you would have to find it listed somewhere else that's not doing the ol' fake-list-price-and-discount trick. Amazon's good but they're still a retailer using all the same tricks.

Make hay while the sun shines: once the retail con artists in NZ start squealing loud enough, the govt will find the political excuses to bring the threshold down to zero, and thereafter I expect start cranking up the GST rate further. NZ's way too left-wing to stop it.

Right. So too lazy to do it now, and most things get through easily. But plenty of leg room if they do want to squeeze out some extra revenue in the future.

harlansmart

447 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 59

#1954577 9-Feb-2018 21:59

AFAIK: duties & taxes are always based upon the price of the item, the price paid, the price it cost, the advertised price... in this case about NZD365-382.

Duties & taxes, import fees etc, nowhere does it ever say they are based on imaginary or made up figures, or figures other than the selling price at which the item is bought & paid for & billed to the card.

Otherwise it would become a quagmire.

==========================

We have never paid 'import fees' on imaginary numbers, or made up numbers.

We have only ever paid them based upon the price advertised which is always the same as the price we've agreed to & this is naturally reconciled against the price appearing on the credit card statement.

If they made these numbers up, the system would not work.

How can it be not based upon the real life facts?

Numbers are numbers, just like rules...

BadBadBadMonkey

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#1954598 9-Feb-2018 23:23

harlansmart:

AFAIK: duties & taxes are always based upon the price of the item, the price paid, the price it cost, the advertised price... in this case about NZD365-382.

In this case Amazon is basing it on the RRP non-discounted price, i.e. NZ$550. Obviously it's wrong and should be based on the paid price. But good luck arguing with them.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

harlansmart

447 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 59

#1954615 10-Feb-2018 02:11

+1 cshaun and this is just precisely & exactly what we keep asking, how, does anyone make this spacial determination and then justify billing these imaginary made up baseless senseless unjustified incorrect numbers.

How can people in NZL defend this... beyond us... whats wrong with us.

cshaun: surely if Amazon charge you in NZD that's the value? There is no fluctuation. Interested if someone does know exactly how it works - which would explain the reasoning behind charging it.

Are they 'basing it on the RRP non-discounted price'? Just what number are they basing this upon precisely.... does anyone actually (as per above) know... where does it actually say they can make numbers up?

Who is allowed to literally 'make numbers up'?

BadBadBadMonkey it seems you are unusually ontoit, you see it, you get it, and it is plainly by the facts & evidence wrong, but we're (mostly) sucking it up (is it because we are stupid, a small market, poor at explaining 'right & wrong')?

We're trying to get an answer from them, but again you are right 'good luck with that'.

BadBadBadMonkey:

In this case Amazon is basing it on the RRP non-discounted price, i.e. NZ$550. Obviously it's wrong and should be based on the paid price. But good luck arguing with them.

'Common sense, the least commonly sense used by humans'.

richms

29104 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10222

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1954731 10-Feb-2018 11:54

Customs can decide to use any value they like really on imports, otherwise people would just run scams like "subscribe to this service and buy a product for $1" to get around GST etc. Invoice shows you paid $1 but its not worth that.

Amazon are just protecting themselves incase the shipment gets assessed and charged.

Richard rich.ms

harlansmart

447 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 59

#1954753 10-Feb-2018 12:43

No they can't, and nor should they, just make up numbers or like you state richms 'use any value they like really on imports'.

We're not talking about spurious 'scams' here... we're talking about a plain jane Crucial SSD, it is a long running item, at a long running price, thats on a long running platform called AMAZON... this is not a spurious 'scam', this is plainly an item that retails on AMAZON for about NZD365-382 as per the plethora of evidence shown & in view, in the public domain, this is seemingly a purchase that's being hit with unjustifiable 'Imaginary Import Fees Deposit'.

Today this item is still USD259.99 (NZD380.76) total including shipping & handling.... thats what it says, thats what it costs, thats what it bills at, NZD380.76,

NZD380.76 < NZD400 hence GST/Import Fees Deposit does not and can not and should not ever apply - yet regardless, they still apply & bill you extra 'Imaginary Import Fees Deposit' of NZD93.30, which is not a 'small sum' for many.

Then, you don't have your NZD93.30 for '60 days' it's debited against your card and plus also you lose out of course on 2 x conversions, a tri-way loss.

'Common sense, the least used sense by humans'.

richms:

Customs can decide to use any value they like really on imports, otherwise people would just run scams like "subscribe to this service and buy a product for $1" to get around GST etc. Invoice shows you paid $1 but its not worth that.

Amazon are just protecting themselves incase the shipment gets assessed and charged.

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15468

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1954758 10-Feb-2018 12:49

harlansmart:

No they can't, and nor should they, they can't just make up numbers or like you state richms 'use any value they like really on imports'.

I hate to break it to you, but they can do whatever they see fit. You don't have to like it, you can always buy elsewhere, but that would be your loss.

harlansmart

447 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 59

#1954766 10-Feb-2018 12:56

Where does it say AMAZON or NZ CUSTOMS can 'do whatever they see fit' (richms) or 'use any value they like really on imports' like you say?

Thats sounds like hogs-wash... they are not a law unto themselves, surely they must abide by the facts as evidenced/shown?

Right now, at full price, my card gets billed a total of NZD380.76, no more, no less, nothing else, thats it.

networkn:

harlansmart:

No they can't, and nor should they, they can't just make up numbers or like you state richms 'use any value they like really on imports'.

I hate to break it to you, but they can do whatever they see fit. You don't have to like it, you can always buy elsewhere, but that would be your loss.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

richms

29104 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10222

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1954771 10-Feb-2018 13:05

If they think that the declared value is BS, they can find a value for the import any other way that they like pretty much, you can try to prove your case some other way like with purchase invoices etc but they don't have to accept that at all. They are the law.

Richard rich.ms

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80658 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41070

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1954774 10-Feb-2018 13:11

Too much complaining. If there is no fee to pay or less than charged you get a refund. If Customs charges more Amazon will pay the difference. End of story.

Too much ado about nothing.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

networkn

Networkn
32871 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15468

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1954791 10-Feb-2018 13:20

harlansmart:

Where does it say AMAZON or NZ CUSTOMS can 'do whatever they see fit' (richms) or 'use any value they like really on imports' like you say?

Thats sounds like hogs-wash... they are not a law unto themselves, surely they must abide by the facts as evidenced/shown?

Right now, at full price, my card gets billed a total of NZD380.76, no more, no less, nothing else, thats it.

NZ Customs are the most powerful agency in NZ. They have powers no other party has, not the police, not the people who protect our PM, they are THE law.

Not sure why you are bell aching here. Take it up with Amazon. I would suggest they will do 1 of two things. Issue you a refund outside of their (pretty reasonable IMO) policies as a matter of good will, or refuse and let you take your business elsewhere.

In my experience, Customs can be reasonable, or unreasonable depending on your view and who you deal with on the day. You can provide them a receipt and sometimes this will get the item released, or they can say they have reason to believe it's incorrect and stand by their own valuation.

There is a complains process with NZ Customs, but be prepared. It's not simple or cheap, and I'd suggest you'd lose anyway. I wouldn't want NZ Customs as an enemy.

This has gone on far too long. Start your own thread, this was a deal announcement.

BadBadBadMonkey

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#1954803 10-Feb-2018 13:50

Your complaint's with Amazon anyway, I understand they don't want to risk being viewed dimly by the world's customs agencies, but in this case valuing the product way higher than the actual 'street value' and charged price is pretty dumb. When you go to the supermarket and buy something on sale you don't pay GST on the original undiscounted price.

But as I said above, get used to it, it won't be long before it's normal to pay NZ GST/duty on all overseas purchases. Taxed at source. Don't like it, stop voting for it.

1 | 2 | 3