What did you try and order kite brand wise and why didn't you just get one locally
did you pay them and not receive goods, some brands have made it so Charlie owner of KOWS
carnt sell to AUS, all Aus branded wetsuits have stopped him doing so
this is a load of w..k imho,I've never bothered with ripcurl, O'Neil, billabong etc but some locals used to buy the latest greatest Aus brands 1/2 price compared to here from KOWS in the uk
That didn't look good an Australian brand costing you half price in the uk, damn it almost looks like they've been ripping you of over here for years, so they put a block on him exporting,

I've done ok with them - fins were missing from a twintip but got them a week later at no cost. They can have very good prices on run out gear.

We get asked to price match them a fair bit, with the current exchange rate Australian pricing is pretty even on current model equipment. Clearance gear can be a whole different story though, sometimes we can match, sometimes we can get close... other times it's just too good a deal and they should buy from KOW immediately haha.

Nutdip said..
My last transaction with them I ordered a 2017 neo on sale, like $400 off. They delivered 2018 model, freeshipping with an apology note for upgrading the order.

Weird as they don't sell north
you did well there

I'm not sure if people check their bank accounts after paying for goods from overseas, you will always find it is more than what that website displays as the "converted" AUD price. You should always use a tool like

www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html your bank fee will usually be around 3% (CBA for example - www.commbank.com.au/support.credit-cards.what-is-an-international-transaction-fee.html)

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.

They seriously have a kite shop called www.you-love-it.eu ?

Kitepower Australia said..
I'm not sure if people check their bank accounts after paying for goods from overseas, you will always find it is more than what that website displays as the "converted" AUD price. You should always use a tool like

www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html your bank fee will usually be around 3% (CBA for example - www.commbank.com.au/support.credit-cards.what-is-an-international-transaction-fee.html)

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.

Not quite right there KP, the 10 % gst was already in for buys over $1000, an extra little bonus is that KOWS deduct the british version of gst - VAT at checkout so its a win win and my bank didnt charge a currency conversion, last kite I bought from KOWS was $950 less than here and that was the latest model upgrade surprise I mentioned previously so in reality probably $1500 less, I tried a few oz retailers in 3 states selling the particular kite before buying from KOWS and no movement on price.

Honestly up to 3 grand for a product with no moving parts, really ? Bar humbug the R & D bull****, every product has it done. The oz dealers need to push back on the kite company cash grab, but our oz market is nothing compared to the rest of the world so we need to be buyer savvy.

In the last 11 years or so ive bought a lot of kites and boards from oz retailers, including KP, probably 95 % of my hard earned kite cash has gone to local and interstate retailers but if I see a bargain I'll take it.

Kite businesses complaining about us buying overseas is like greenies whining about global warming whilst driving around in ****e boxes guzzling fuel and blowing smoke contributing to the mess.

Kitepower Australia said..

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.

For what I know this is only partially correct.

It applies to businesses exporting to Oz in excess of $70k/yearly . Not sure how they'd enforce this to a company like KOWS though...

I import a fair bit from a photography megastore located in the US and haven't got hit by the 10% gst on import yet. Last 2 orders were just short of $1k, both after 01/07/18.

Righto
if it's over $1000 you will pay gst, kows deduct the current vat rate uk, if you have any dramas ie warranty good luck, most shops will tell you to kiss it and rightfully so, if you have an issue your liable to pay freight both ways on products
back in the day I used to use surface tension uk for my early ozone and shinn gear as nobody sold it here, I'd dealt with them for years and built a great relationship , Times are better now for choice and especially price in Australia, I've been buying all my equipment in Aus apart from my mystic wetsuits for 6/7 years, just done a reference on price with my latest kites, I paid less here than they can sell for, tbh I take more satisfaction knowing I'm keeping a local or state buisness going than making a small saving back in the uk speak to your retailers , make a deal and start a friendship, they appreciate it,

Livit said..

Kitepower Australia said..

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.

For what I know this is only partially correct.

It applies to businesses exporting to Oz in excess of $70k/yearly . Not sure how they'd enforce this to a company like KOWS though...

I import a fair bit from a photography megastore located in the US and haven't got hit by the 10% gst on import yet. Last 2 orders were just short of $1k, both after 01/07/18.

Yep you are right, it actually only applies to businesses that are importing on behalf of their customers.... they have only released a "recommendation" on an enquiry to capture the 10% GST on all other "low value" imports in an economical/affordable way...

So basically its currently the same until the government pulls their finger out and figures how to collect it on sub 1k consumer imports.