Official Luthiers Forum!

I am thinking about starting with a LMII standard kit as a first project... I'm thinking this might be a wise way to go to get jigs and some of the tools sorted out....
Just wondering if anyone has ordered a kit and whether there is any customs issues and costs associated with bringing them into Australia.

Also wondering what the import, quarentine , customs duty or any costs associated with buying timber from the states and bringing it into australia.
cheers   

gratay38930.3149884259

It"s only happened to me once that I can recall that I had to fork out for customs duty and also 10% Australian G.S.T. . That, and the exchange rate , made it an expensive package . That was a couple of years ago from L.M.I. as I recall. Since then , I have had no duty and no G.S.T. Go figure !

Cheers , Kiwi

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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maybe its because of the new free trade agreements with the US....I think I'll give it a go since the dollar is looking good
cheers

I have also found that a number of suppliers have been sympathetic to us Australians and packaged the goods in such a way as to not attract duty.
Very much appreciated too !

Cheers Kiwi

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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I've never had a problem getting wood sent through the mail to oz. I don't think they've ever even opened a package that was all wood and nothing else. They have opened packages that had jars of hide glue or anything wrapped in foil, basically anything that looks a bit suss when they xray it. They open it, put in a leaflet saying they inspected it, but have never given me grief over anything. Nor have they ever asked for customs duties on stuff sent through the mail. Which brings me to my next point:

Don't ever have ANYTHING shipped via courier to Australia (see the UPS brokerage fee thread), they will ensure you pay customs duty so that they can charge you a fee for handling this on your behalf. It can almost double the cost of your order when all is said and done. Always ask for stuff to be shipped with USPS (United States Postal Service).

The USPS shipping times are stated as being longer than a courier, but by the time your package has sat in the courier's warehouse for a few days while they "broker" it through customs for you, then they take another day or two to send you a ransom letter through the regular post asking you pay these fees prior to delivery, meanwhile your USPS delivery will have arrived without fees in about the same time or less.

Grant,

I frequently ship in wood and other items from Stewmac and LMI and have
never had to pay GST or customs duty. With Stewmac I ship via DHL...stuff
gets to Adelaide from US faster than from Sydney! DHL have a tracking
facility too which is handy.

I also buy in wood from Timeless Instruments in Canada and have never had
problems.

Cheers

thats what i want to hear ....thanks guys

I have priced everything i need to make a rosewood dreadnought from 3 places in oz.....gilet, guitar aust and australia luthiers and prices are all around $400 for everything I need ...this is not the top shelf quality timber though...but ok and machined up to spec....not to bad but i was just wondering whether there is a substantial saving getting stuff from overseas.
I think i will join a woodwork club to be able to buy billets and machine it up myself eventually but for now i have to look at other options
cheers

[QUOTE=gratay] thats what i want to hear ....thanks guys

I have priced everything i need to make a rosewood dreadnought from 3
places in oz.....gilet, guitar aust and australia luthiers and prices are all
around $400 for everything I need ...this is not the top shelf quality
timber though...but ok and machined up to spec....not to bad but i was
just wondering whether there is a substantial saving getting stuff from
overseas.
I think i will join a woodwork club to be able to buy billets and machine it
up myself eventually but for now i have to look at other options
cheers[/QUOTE]

Grant,

Two other sources of wood: Scott Wise in Margaret River and Tim Spittle
also in WA. Tim is one of OLF's sponsors and hes great to deal with.

Gilet are good but they deliver COD and it takes a bit of time for stuff to
get to you....Australia Post seem to drag the chain with COD for some
reason. If youre over in Adelaide then theres Ottos but theyre generally
pricey and their tonewoods are often poorly stored on their shelves.
Occasionally I spy some reasonably priced wood and buy it.

Also check out Barry Kerr at Woodtone guitars. He's down your way somewhere (in Hamilton VIC). He sells a bit of tonewood on ebay, I've bought a ton of stuff from him, he's a good guy. If you sent him an email at woodtone guitars he might be able to put something together for you. Here's that link: woodtone guitars