Has anyone compared U.S. vs Australia prices for motorcycle gear? Have a GS500 on order and have to buy jacket, wet gear, tank and other bags.  Going to Hawaii in September and have chance to buy gear there.  Any advice?

no

Obviously the currency exchange rate will vary by the time you travel, but I always figure for rough estimates add on 25%. So if it's $100US it'll work out to $125A.

Depending on what you get you'll have excess baggage charges - and - the ever present threat of Duty/Taxes/Levies "to protect Australian jobs". Don't believe the govt abolished it all to have simple GST. The import taxes are still there. And depending on the category of the goods you could pay a 30% tax on top of what you already paid ($125 becomes $162.50 with the $37.5 tax added to it). You might not get charged anything - but - you could.

Eg. Generally speaking, if something it sent to Oz and is less than $1000 and comes via Aust Post, it should get to you without additional taxes. BUT, if it comes in via Fed Ex or any other non-govt service they will add taxes onto it if it's value is above $250 (they keep it in their own bonded area and collect the taxes on behalf of the govt).

Also, if customs think the material is questionable they will not release it to you until it has been Treated. There goes another $50++. Chances are bike gear won't be subjected to this treatment. But it's good to know this is a possible charge that may or may not be inflicted upon you.

If it's coming back on the plane with you then use the bags as normal bags and store your gear in it - jacket & wet gear in tank bag for instance. But speak to your airline beforehand about number of allowable bags so you can know how much "bag inside of bag" you'll have to do. And remove the sales tags so airport staff will think it was stuff you took with you for a ride you do OS 

Michael

man, where is the OP? It is really rude not to respond when people post answers to your questions.

The short answer is buy your stuff from the states if your prepared to wait a week or two for what you want. It is usually cheaper due to the US buying power and watch the exchange rate any 2nd hand parts you buy should not attract tax costs, if its new say like an exhaust system try and get the shop to mark it as warranty again no tax (thats how I got my Jardine system).
As an example of costs Staintune would sell me a muffler in Aust for the GS for about $650 the jardine full system from the states was $560 to my door.
I priced a full staintune exhaust for a mates DR650 in the states and delivered to Aust was cheaper then buying in Aust (try and work that out )
Prices for parts in Australia are a rort but having said that it again comes down to buying power and the greed of the shops.
I would recomend though you buy clothing here as US clothing sizes and Aust sizes are different and sending back for an exchange would be difficult and a pain.
Hope that helps
PS I bought all my stuff when the OZ $ was high but when I look now the prices are still a bit better then here.

Quote from: dohabee on June 17, 2009, 10:37:12 PM
man, where is the OP? It is really rude not to respond when people post answers to your questions.

Everybody gets an answer here on GStwin , I love this site 

Quote from: Affschnozel on June 18, 2009, 01:32:06 AM
Everybody gets an answer here on GStwin , I love this site 

hehe, sometimes it just takes a WHILE...

I work at a motorcycle shop and I get a TON of orders from Austrailia  Seems that about 60% of my over seas orders are from Australia

My observation is that the poor buggers in Hawaii pay way more for stuff in general than we mainlanders do.  It may be a bit better on The Big Island.

prs

Quote from: dohabee on June 17, 2009, 10:37:12 PM
man, where is the OP? It is really rude not to respond when people post answers to your questions.

uhhh... from 6 years ago... check the date from the original post ---> July 07, 2003 

Probably already been to Hawaii by now.   

Quote from: dgyver on June 18, 2009, 11:42:06 AM

uhhh... from 6 years ago... check the date from the original post ---> July 07, 2003 

And these newer answer still apply to anyone else thinking of getting gear from outside of Oz. So even though the OP might not be helped, other people will be.

Michael

Wow, 6 years!  This one must have been lurking on page 75!

Hawaii is a tourist trap so prices are high.  If I were a foreign vacationer wanting to buy gear, I would place an online order to California as soon as I got there.

Quote from: mister on June 18, 2009, 05:56:30 PM

Quote from: dgyver on June 18, 2009, 11:42:06 AM

uhhh... from 6 years ago... check the date from the original post ---> July 07, 2003 

And these newer answer still apply to anyone else thinking of getting gear from outside of Oz. So even though the OP might not be helped, other people will be.

Michael

You missed quoting the reason of my comment.

Poor Buggar took six years for anyone to even answer his question. Wonder why he didn't post back!

Ouch I would have given up to or at least bumped it LOL!

Mary

Name:  wadoyle
Posts:  2 (0.001 per day)
Position:  Local Club Racer
 
Date Registered:  July 06, 2003, 08:22:11 PM
Last Active:  July 10, 2003, 06:23:03 PM


Oh yea he posted on july 06 03 and was last here on July 10th. Nice.
Cool.
Buddha.