Buying Audio Gear From The Us

[MODNIZD]

Hi guys,

Im looking into buying some gear from the US to take advantage of the dollar plus a new model that is not available in Australia yet.

Do I need to worry about customs or anything else I should look into before I send off close to $900?

Cheers

[PM-R33]

Under $1000AUD no customs fees.

[Chris Rogers]

if its DVD or navi based - don't..

[bloodsword27]

^ different regions wont work in OZ

[Thelen]

Make sure they use a reliable shipper that has good customer support, otherwise you could wait months for it to arrive if it gets held up in customs.

[Carbon 34]

depends one who your buying from, you can get burned on shippping, and transshipping is voiding your warranty from day one.

if you fry it , you will have to ship it back to usa in most cases to the authorixed dealer. lots of dealers say they have rights to sell equipment but don't , which = no warranty and you spending a mint on shipping

but things like sounddeadener is so much cheaper even shipped it comes out way cheaper for the good stuff.and you won't need a warranty on that kinda stuff.

pm me the shop your considering and what gear, I know a lot of audio dealers in US or can find out for you if there dodgy or not .

also watch out for substitution clauses on items out of stock, they can sell you alpine, then ship a hifonics if the alpine is out of stock. if the prices/specs are similar .

don't buy any DVD players from USA or video items unless you can convert your items from NTSC to PAL . and the sat. systems don't work properly even with the right maps from OZ.tech issus pn some units.

and anything that uses household power(power supplies for car shows ), is prob not going to work here, usa is 110volts and only some items convert to this power with a switch/.

tell your shipper to split your order cost per box to less then 1k but charge your shipping based upon the total cost. it will save you duty and shipping costs.

they wont ship with "gift " on the customs invioce so dont bother asking them. goods from china direct will do that but not usa

the USA is in serious trouble with lots of biz failures so beware of "fly by night" dealers(.they disappear over night with your money, and CC details )

never wire transfer money to USA or anywhere for that matter, unless you know who it is on the other end , a reputable dealer won't ask you to wire money ever

ask them to charge your items the day you buy them, if the dollar slides overnight, which it can do the cost will jump , sometimes in your favour but not usaully

only ship registered mail, where you sign for the goods and insurance is mandatory , don't ship without it

don't fall for the fedex shipment, or overnight, the items will get here only as fast as a jet flies and fullfilment boxes them up. expect 5-9 days on most htings to OZ once shipped to major cities.

hope that helps..lol

[SargeRX8]

My brother bought a fair bit of kicker gear from the US. Dirt cheap compared to here. The same monoblock 750wrms amp cost about $600 here he got it for $299 shipped.

[Carbon 34]

My brother bought a fair bit of kicker gear from the US. Dirt cheap compared to here. The same monoblock 750wrms amp cost about $600 here he got it for $299 shipped.

supply and demand of the population and lots of people sell the same products so they have price wars all the time. the retail market is pretty cutthroat in USA on car audio,

but the installation is another storey, you get what you pay for. here in OZ and same in USA. most chain stores aren't going to give you a box designed for your gear, just one off the show room floor.

I had a boss a lot time ago (20 years ago) in usa who was on the verge of bankruptcy and so cheap that he asked us to solder the cut off wire bits together from past installs and use them for new alarms/radio installs etc. dodgy as hell. and you guested it he is out of biz now. . so use someone to install you know is going to be around more then a few years. .. might cost a tiny bit more but the quality of work is normally 1000 times better.

if they wont show you past work, walk away. they should be proud to show you jobs. and have passion in the 12v

and dont be afraid to buy local, ask for a discount you might just be suprised ? keeps oz in biz ???

my 2c worth of wisdom

Edited April 9, 2011 by sapphiregraphics

[bigkevracer]

If I have a factory NTSC screen, how do I get on with buying an Australian unit? I want a region 4 DVD player, but it has to work on my NTSC screen...

[Chris Rogers]

then you need a JVC KD V4506 that will do it.