Duty free shopping BEFORE going to airport

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jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#108986 10-Sep-2012 20:13

Hi all,

Does anyone know a tech retailer who will sell me an Asus Infinity 64GB with dock at a duty free price if I show proof of an international flight on the 23rd Sept? Am assuming they will have them deliver it to the airport for me to pick up after going through customs, that's no problem, just trying to find someone who will do this is the problem. My Google mojo is munted tonight for some reason and I can't seem to find anyone who will do this.

I've emailed Expert InfoTech to see if they can do this, but wondered if anyone else has done this and if they can point me in the direction of a retailer.

I don't want to risk waiting until I get to the airport in case the duty free shops there don't have this tablet, and I can't wait until I get to Australia as I'm going straight to the office and will need the tablet for work - I don't want to take my 10kg laptop this time, lovely as it is, 2 weeks of lugging it around doesn't appeal.

Cheers,
Amanda

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656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#684091 10-Sep-2012 20:27

jamanda: Hi all,

Does anyone know a tech retailer who will sell me an Asus Infinity 64GB with dock at a duty free price if I show proof of an international flight on the 23rd Sept? Am assuming they will have them deliver it to the airport for me to pick up after going through customs, that's no problem, just trying to find someone who will do this is the problem. My Google mojo is munted tonight for some reason and I can't seem to find anyone who will do this.

I've emailed Expert InfoTech to see if they can do this, but wondered if anyone else has done this and if they can point me in the direction of a retailer.

I don't want to risk waiting until I get to the airport in case the duty free shops there don't have this tablet, and I can't wait until I get to Australia as I'm going straight to the office and will need the tablet for work - I don't want to take my 10kg laptop this time, lovely as it is, 2 weeks of lugging it around doesn't appeal.

Cheers,
Amanda

Have you considered ordering it in Australia and having it delivered to the office? You should be able to claim the tax back at the border before you leave Australia (and it may be cheaper depending on what the exchange rate is doing).

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684096 10-Sep-2012 20:37

Ooh, not a bad idea, not sure about having something delivered to the client site though. I'll ask them if they mind.

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#684098 10-Sep-2012 20:40

From memory you need a license to provide duty free products - I don't know of any electronics retailers who would have one. Generally the only people who do are jewelers and duty free stores.

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684107 10-Sep-2012 20:55

Thanks Kevin, I was wondering about that. I'll email the duty free store to see if they can get the tablet I want, though I may try the other option of having it delivered to an address in Aus first. :)

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684123 10-Sep-2012 21:41

After much googling and price comparisoning - the cheapest available in AUS minus the 15% GST works out as only $100 cheaper than buying one here at normal price coz the exchange rate isn't too hot. So I might do some more digging over here first to see what's what with duty free. I'm sure parallel imported or one of those offered me a duty free option on a camera a few years ago when flying to the UK.

kiwijunglist

2981 posts

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#684195 11-Sep-2012 03:30

yup one of the parallel import companies used to do this, I got a camera a long time ago at duty free cost and then picked it up at airport, they charged a 7% fee from memory. I can't remember which shop it was. I'd have a look at the australian pricespy equivalent and pick it up from an australian store and claim VAT back at the airport.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684223 11-Sep-2012 09:05

Yup, had a similar thing with a camera and a parallel importer back in 2009 but can't remember which company it was.

I used the AU pricespy but once taking into account the exchange rate and so on, it's only about $100 difference even after claiming back the VAT. I can claim back the GST here anyway as it will be a business expense, so I'll probably just pop down to Noel Lemmings as they have them for quite a good price at the moment, around $1300 from memory I think.

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bazzer

3438 posts

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#684227 11-Sep-2012 09:18

Yep, as kiwijunglist mentioned, they will usually charge a fee too, so the savings might not be as great as you expect.

KevinL

656 posts

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#684228 11-Sep-2012 09:21

jamanda: I can claim back the GST here anyway as it will be a business expense, so I'll probably just pop down to Noel Lemmings as they have them for quite a good price at the moment, around $1300 from memory I think.

*facepalm*

There's no duty on electronics items, so you wouldn't make any savings by buying duty free if you're purchasing for a business...

Dingbatt

6756 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#684229 11-Sep-2012 09:21

Just be aware that if you are returning to NZ you are required to declare any purchases exceeding $NZ700 and can be charged 15% GST. The customs form declaration is for goods purchased duty-free in NZ or overseas. I have done the maths a number of times for tech gadgets when travelling internationally. The only time it has come close to saving anything is in the sweet spot where you can claim back for goods over a value of $AUD400 (10% GST) via their Tourist Refund Scheme and then don't have to pay NZ GST by being under $NZ700. It's a pretty narrow band and would save about $50-70. Not worth it in my book.
By your post you obviously travel to Oz for business, so I would think twice about not declaring the item on your return. A conviction for false customs declaration probably wouldn't look good on your resume.
While waiting for my flights out of Auckland International I haven't seen anything like the Infinity on display. And even the consumer tech they do have is no cheaper than on the High Street in NZ.

Edit: Some comments I have been made redundant by posts while I was composing. GST recovery after a local purchase would appear to be the best option. Plus it is set up and working before you leave.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684231 11-Sep-2012 09:24

Yup, realised that as I was typing. Total *facepalm* indeedy. LOL! I suck at bookkeeping & accounting, good job I can write code okay ha ha ha.

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684234 11-Sep-2012 09:26

Thanks Dingbat - that pretty much settles what I'm thinking anyway, plus thanks for looking around the airport for the tablet. I'll buy it here so that I can get it all set up before flying out, it'll save hassles.

Thanks for all the help everyone. :)

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#684491 11-Sep-2012 17:08

Is there even duty on tablets? It's not like there's a local industry to protect.

You'd get GST off at best most likely.

@KnightNZ

Dingbatt

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#684504 11-Sep-2012 17:20

jamanda: Thanks Dingbat - that pretty much settles what I'm thinking anyway, plus thanks for looking around the airport for the tablet. ?I'll buy it here so that I can get it all set up before flying out, it'll save hassles. ?

Thanks for all the help everyone. ?:)

It's probably about two months since I looked around the DF stores at the airport so my comments were of a general nature (not Infinity specific), but they really are only into the popular tablets (read iPad and maybe a Galaxy Tab). Certainly nothing as specialist as the Transformer Infinity. It looks like a nice device.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

jamanda

21 posts

Geek

#684520 11-Sep-2012 17:41

Infinity acquired - it was so new at Noel Leemings that they only had one, didn't know they had it and it wasn't ready for display yet, so it took a bit of finding after I convinced the guy to check on his computer for one when he was sure it didn't exist. So I've got their first one in my sticky paws and am about to set it up. Yay! It's the 64GB version. The only thing that would've made it even better is a SIM slot, maybe the next incarnation will have that, but to be honest, I've got mobile wi-fi that works great in AUS, so who needs phone stuffs anyway. :)

So excited... and very much looking forward to not lugging my Qosmio (gorgeous as it is) all over Canberra in a backpack.

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