Bakes
You were lucky, being in ADF prob helped you. When I got the notice about the brass I rang customs and told them I had the permit they said I should really use a customs agent to clear the goods and if I did it myself it would take 2 hours to fill out the paper work. Well I was not about to pay $90 for a customs agent as I was already up for GST, so I went out to Tullamarine to clear goods, turned out paperwork took less time to fill out than it did for them to find the box(about 15 mins). Customs were most unhelpfull on the phone but OK when I got there.

Smlekid
I don't think it applies to scopes just gun parts and ammo.

Don't forget that the wholesalers/shops may have got dollar conversion rate as low as .56 It was only in Sept 03 that it started to rise from .65 and in fact had been below .56 and as low as .48 for more than 2 years at the beginning of 2003
So if the stock has been in Aus for a year try your conversions at .56 and don't forget to add GST.

AUD Dollar To USD over last five years

I'm in the market for a couple of expensive scopes and with the exchange rate of our dollar at the moment, it would probably make sense (and save some) if I could find a reliable discount supplier in the U.S.

I haven't seen any prices drop for imported firearm accessories over here in the last six months even though our dollar has risen from below .48 to over .78 against The Greenback.

My brother buys stuff for his guitars and amps from the States over the internet and recieves the goods within 7 days at half the cost of what they sell the same stuff for here in OZ. That's after the exchange rate, fees and shipping.

Are local suppliers having a dead-set lend of us and or what?

Can anyone recommend a reliable, discount offshore supplier of scopes and other accessories.

Cheers....
Boof.

The suppliers here bought the stuff when the dollar was down.I don't think the dealers are turning over stock that quickly.

You are right they are sticking it up us.



I bought a scope for $190 here and found it on the internet for US$70 inc.rings!Even with postage it is still cheaper.

I showed the print out to my dealer and he can't buy it here for that.So i think it's the importers who are sticking it up everyone.



We have to buy guns here,less hassels but I will be looking around for scopes etc from now on.

My mate uses a debit card and just uses a fax for bits and pieces for his work stuff-10 days airmail mostly.



Let us know if you find a reliable dealer.



Try this mob,I have not dealt with them but I think they are the discount kings.See if they will sent to Oz.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/

Despite the dollar going up over 50% against the US dollar Winchester has generously told the retailers that there is no need to increase prices this year ! It would be nice if the ACCC looked at them.
Mark

Hi Boofhead
I have bought stuff direct from Lee, Williams and Sinclair International over the net with my credit card and have had no problems.

Delivery time is 7 to 10 days usually 7.

If your order is under $500 Australian you pay no GST. Customs have a $50 cut off, they only bother if it's $50 or more to collect. So if it's value plus shipping and insurance is $495 they don't collect GST.

It is important to note GST is calculated on the cost of the goods plus shipping and insurance.

Regards
Deafdog

Grafs are great to deal with, I have had two positive experiences with them.

I second Graffs there service is first class
I am currently waiting on a scope its a tasco world class 1.5-4.5x32 it cost $94 aussie dollars including postage you be the judge are we being shafted???
just be carefull with components I got a letter from customs with some unprimed brass you require a permit to import any ammo components and customs told me reloading dies and scopes also need a permit it is no big deal it is really only a background check to make sure you have a licence order away and wait and see if it arrives or you get a letter from customs if so get a permit send it to them and they send you the scope no worries

Hey Smelly,

How much of that was freight costs for the scope?

We are getting shafted all right,should spread the word with the wholesalers that unless they sharpen their pencils shooters will just get stuff sent from the US direct.

The dollers improved but we get no price drop.

Nitro
unprimed brass is definetley requires a permit.
I guess customs is like the police - they can't know all the laws.
I bought some unprimed brass from starline and had to get an import permit and send them the original so they could export it (USA gov requires export permit) the federal police told me no permit required, but when brass arrived customs had other ideas. They wanted an import permit within 21days I think it was, or the brass would be forfeit, this was early 2003

Permits for scopes there friggin tools our governement.

I know someone who ordered legal brass very recently and it was picked up by customs.



He next got a house visit from Detectives and also at his Next of kins address. It had been referred to them as 'suspected terrorism'.

All totally innocent but he never got his brass, and eventually he was happy to see the end of the whole matter



The 'T' word is like saying 'Heresy' or 'Treason' in the old days.

Opens a lot of doors real fast.

If someone is looking for a witch to burn people just shut up and hope it aint them.



The old days of "checking with the cop shop if its legal", and only filling out customs forms if they stop it on the way in, are gone.



Karl.

Permits for scopes! Shit!! I was just about to order one from the states. Surely it should only be treated the same as if it were binoculars.....Its not like the scope is the lethal part..I already think it bad enough i have to order stuff in from NSW rather than pay the Blown out prices here in Adelaide and sinse my Wife is American i thought i would get her old Lady to find out the prices in the US. We are getting screwed big time.

I recived some bullets from Kobus at Impala bullets in South Africa. I got a nastie gram from customs saying I need a permit , I rang the police licencing SGT and after telling him they were for my own use, he gave the OK to customs, who forwarded the bullets to me. Everyone involved were great about it.

Premier Reticles is about the cheapest source for Leupolds that I've found:

http://www.premierreticles.com/?uid=5465&page=1754

Thanks for the link.

Read what I found on their site.Good thing the bad guys can't get any mildots.
I feel much safer now.

Effective immediatly, US State Dept. regulations prohibit the export of any riflescope with a mil-dot reticle to non-NATO countries (excluding Japan, Australia and New Zealand) < !--color-->

For some of you Aussies, on here it should be easy to become " pen pals" ( for lack of any other word) to be able to purchase some of this stuff stateside and ship it to you privately thru the mail.

Such things as custom requirements would need to be checked out.

Some one mentioned Premier Reticle as the Cheapest place to buy Leupold Scopes. Living here in Oregon where they make them, or at least until recently. They are still based here. A Leupold 3 x9 VARI X 2 costs $220.00 locally the last several I purchased. Oregon is one of the few states that also does not have a sales tax.

As a fellow hunter, I would be more than happy to help out some of my fellow hunters in Australia. I have no desire to ever go to Africa to hunt, but if the opportunity and budget ever allowed me to go to Australia, I would go in a heart beat.

I knew a lot of Aussies when I was a kid living in England for 3 yrs when my dad was stationed there in the USAF. Actually we got along best with the Aussies and the Scots better than anyone. Aussie are great people. Sorry to hear that Australia is not immune to all the Anti Hunting, and Government ran Amuck that is plaguing the rest of the world.

Anyone on here can feel free to drop me an email if they are looking for a price on something like a Rifle Scope or BiNocs.
Would be more than happy to check out what it can be picked up for and maybe shipped privately to you.

As I loved the saying on a Canadian Show, " We are all in this together"/.
Cheers.