Importing health supplements or protein powders
Hidden traps a customs broker can help you with How much will that bottle of vitamins with super special ingredients or protein powders end up costing you at Customs? That depends, and therein lies the complexity and need for a customs broker. If you don’t get it...
Off-Road Imports are On The Move
A large range of off-road vehicles can be imported into Australia without the need for a Vehicle Import Approval. However, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service will usually require confirmation that your import doesn't come under the category of a...
Chinese book printers a boon to Australian importers
Book printing is back in vogue, with Chinese printing the low cost alternative to locally produced materials. The quality of book printing in China has improved dramatically, and when coupled with the services of a reliable freight management company, book...
Driving a convertible Cadillac to Australia: how to ensure a smooth road through Customs
Importing classic cars has its reward, but if you get hit by huge import costs, you might find yourself facing thousands of dollars in unexpected storage fees and or quarantine cleaning costs. That’s where Platinum® Freight Management’s customs brokering services can...
Aussies returning home hit with thousands of dollars in wharf storage and shipping line detention fees
If you have lived overseas for more than a year, you can take advantage of the duty and GST free threshold for personal belongings (excluding but not limited to such things as motor vehicles and motor cycles) that you have owned for at least the previous 12 months....
You can get rich importing, but don’t spend your profits with unnecessary fees!
The internet is awash with training programs promising to make you rich by discovering the inside secrets about importing. But they can’t help you find what port your product arrived at, and how to process your paperwork within 24 hours to save storage fees. These...
Avoid getting slugged with unnecessary importing costs for gym equipment
Fitness enthusiasts and gym owners importing equipment might be paying thousands of dollars more than they need to because they don’t know the possible avenues to reduce their import and GST costs. People importing gym and weightlifting equipment think they are saving...
Importing a secondhand car from Japan: what are the potential hiccups at Customs?
You will have heard the stories of a young chap driving around in a near new Nissan Skyline that cost him less than $10,000 in Japan, and next to nothing to import. The advantage of Japan over most other Asian countries is that they drive on the left hand side of the...
Cyclists on a winning track: post Tour de France glow
Australia can expect a surge in bicycle imports after the success of our home grown Orica GreenEDGE team at the Tour de France trial this year. Importers including individuals, retailers, online and wholesale businesses and sporting teams should be on top of the...
New Fees for Importers: Happy New Year…
Importing businesses are being hit with a double whammy (1) the dollar dropping and (2) an increase in the Customs Import Processing Charge [IPC] effective 01 January 2014. Platinum® Freight Management Customs Broker Peter McRae says that if you have a business...
Eight tips to save you thousands when importing by sea freight
With the growth of eBay shops and other online stores, thousands of home-based businesses are becoming significant importers. Here are eight top tips from Peter McRae, a senior lecturer on customs broking, and one of Australia’s leading customs brokers at Platinum®...
The Story of Mr Dang’s Camera Customs Clearance
Or How to Save Time and Frustration When Vu Dang imported a camera from overseas this month, he thought he would receive a letter from Customs saying that it had arrived and how much money he would need to pay. But that is not what happened, and his problems were not...