I was wondering if anyone have any experience with ordering gear from international internet sites (e.g. scubatoys)?

I seriously need to start building up gear of my own so i can dive more often (having to rent all my gear puts me off joining in things like the lake dives), but the difference in costs between here and overseas is crazy! Things like wetsuits I'd need to get locally so I can go through the wetsuit-wrestling process, but even factoring in postage, it would seem to be cheaper to order regs, bcd from US/ UK to get what I want.

Am I likely to be stung with customs duty if I order stuff from abroad? If so, how much? Will it still work out cheaper? And am I likely to lose out on things like warrenties?

Thanks guys!

No you will not get customs duty for scuba gear unless it has a manufacturing base here, the only one that does is wetsuits so no worries!

Keep each shipment under $400 NZD and you won't have to pay GST either..

As PB says, most items won't cost you duty. The GST thing can be off putting, but then again, you have to pay GST for pretty much everything else you buy new; it's jsut handing over a specific payment is a bit gutting, but we do it every day and don't think about it as the cost is integrated.

**Do also bear in mind that if you're buying from the UK, and the order is a big enough size, they'll drop the UK's 17.5% VAT from the bill. So, with GST @ 12.5% you're still doing pretty good.

Shipping is the issue for heavy items, but again, if you chat it through with the retailer, they can often strip out some of the excess bulk. On a recent order from the UK the guys in the UK stripped down the original packing, removing packing weight and heavy manuals (they were available as a PDF online) and cut the cost down significantly.

The logn and the short of it; if you can buy something for 50% of the price in the UK, don't let a 12.5% cost put you off - you'll still only be paying around 56.5% of the NZ price

US sites like Leisurepro.com and Scubatoys.com offer full warranties on their stuff, you just have to send it back there which can be a hassle.

I've bought from Scubatoys and had great service, they respons to questions quickly and shipping was very fast.

We do seem to have a few places popping up that are starting to do some decent prices - ocean escape somewhere else on this board have some stuff that's reasonable.

Quita a few of the regular lakers have multiple pieces of equipment that you may be able to borrow to try out before buying everything (Backplate and wing vs BCD for example).

Personally I would buy mask, fins and wetsuit here in NZ and if you can get a good deal on other equipment then fine, otherwise I would order online. You would just want to check the weight as ytou wouldn't want shipping costs to blow out the savings! (that and our up down dollar!)

I've ordered a lot overseas - BCs, computer, lights, knives, wetsuits...etc. Scubatoys mainly for stuff requiring warranty. I found that whether customs pick up on it depends largely on the size of the parcel! My parcel from Scubatoys was about 12kg, there was no way custom is gonna overlook it. Duty was 7% + 12.5% GST. Again, it depends on your luck whether they waive the 7%, I've had medium sized parcels with only 12.5% GST and small ones (mask and weight pockets) that they didn't incur any duty at all! Scubatoys uses USP which has an in-house custom clearance so they wouldn't do my a "favour" by labeling it as gift, I tried, they just ignored me.

Yes, not only will it still be cheaper to get it from them even with the duty charges (high end BCD = $500US + 19% duty + shipping = around $800 NZD!), you also get options.

I still try and support LDS with some stuff, but I just can't justify paying hundreds more for the same or less product.

Have fun shopping.

..then again, don't automatically assume that overseas is cheaper & better.
Both Global & HQ Greenlane can provide backplate & wing setups (single or double tanks) for not much different than the online price, but with the advantage of being able to go see, look, & try before buy & local aftersales support.

Regs & computers are far cheaper overseas currently (though there are now local supplies of VR3 & Shearwater at pretty good rates rates), but many things are available locally at as good as if not better rate taking into account postage, & also factoring in a little for the extra risk of buying overseas.

Why the hell did they charge you duty?? did you have a wettie in there?

There is no way you should've been charged the 7% otherwise. If you didn't have anything in there then you can demand the duty back.

Shark girl, If you do bring in anything with a value more than (I think off the top of my head) $999 you have to have a customs client code which you obtain by filling out the form NZCS 224 fax it off to them and they'll fax it back with your very own number which you then use when ever you bring in goods above that thresh hold you can find that form here..

http://www.customs.govt.nz/library/form/NZCS+Forms/default.htm

I did had to pay the 7% duty for some reason, just that once with the huge big Scubatoys box I had. Though I did had a wetsuit in there...

I also had a Zeagle BC in there (for my sister), at the time there was no rep in NZ, but there is one now at http://www.oceanequipment.co.nz. Their prices on Zeagle BCs and regs are the SAME as you'd get from overseas, less shipping. I'd give that a look.

I'm not sure about BP/W prices in NZ though. I did had a look at Global's OMS setups, they're still more expensive than getting a DSS setup or Dive Rite / OMS from Scubatoys and Leisurepro. When I had my DSS, they folded it up in a small box, it actually went under the custom radar and didn't get taxed on! The whole thing was under $700 shipped (currency was great at the time).

You guys are great! Thanks for all the advice. I'll check out the local guys first (ocean equipment prices look great! I'd never heard of them before). I'd prefer to support businesses- if they are competatively priced! Good to know that taxes won't be ridiculous if I do go with the overseas option. I'll bear in mind the 'fold it up small' advice! And thanks Plumb Bob for the customs link!

sounds like it was for the wettie Scoobi. A manufacturer having a distribution arm in NZ or not shouldn't affect duty - by my understanding it's only applied to good manufactured here - so Zeagle wouldn't count being US (?)

Sharkgirl - if you can buy local then do that (as long as the price is competitive - and don't be afraid to tell them what you can get it for online and see if they can match or get close enough to make it worth your while), but don't be afraid to buy from oveseas either.

Scoobi, you can still get a partial refund of the 7% due to the fact that it was just laziness on the part of customs to not look at the shipping bill properly to ascertain where duty was liable. 7% of 20% is rather less than 7% of 100%...

That is of course if you can be bothered and like most governmental dept. they rely on the avergae person not having the time or inclination to chase their mistakes up..

LOL...that was more than a year ago though, I'm not sure they'll even look at my case again.

Shark girl, Zeagle is a great brand, if I wasn't going for a BP/W I would've gotten a Zeagle (hence, my sister's BC), less plastic-ky feel than Mares IMO. I was amazed how Ocean Equipments could sell them at the same price as in US with full lifetime warranty I think they do free shipping within NZ as well.

Shame I can't try ocean equipment's stuff before hand (hitting the problem with internet shopping right on the head!), but everything I've read about their stuff is good. I've been looking at them on scuba toys (really like the back inflator idea- no more being squeezed!- and should be good for trim. I haven't really looked into bp/w as an option for me, although they do seem very flexible.

They certainly are more flexible, usually less fussy and gimicky, facilitate a better trim and unless your shopping for brands (read halcyon) cheaper..

BP/Ws are not just techie gear, that's just shop speak for "we don't have that stuff in stock and don't want you walking out the door"..

I've used a jacket a dozen or so times but would never use one by choice again.

ditto ditto! ditto!!!
I would seriously try to borrow some different rigs before splashing out the $$$.
I wish I did...