Rusty: Hi from AU and question for buying from the US

Rusty

Hi,

I normally visit the site to just look at sets occasionally, and have never really visited the forums, so this is my first post... and typically, its to ask advice!

I'm in Australia, and my girlfriend is over in the states seeing her family, and I can get her to get me some Lego whilst she is there... seeing as it is a LOT more cheaper to buy in the states then it is here.

So... what are the most awesome / biggest lego sets I can get right now?

Just want to give her a list that she can grab from the local Toys'R'Us or something... Thinking about grabbing:

10210 Pirates Imperial Flagship
10211 Grand Emporium
10218 Pet Shop
10197 Fire Brigade
10185 Green Grocer

Any other recommendations?

Thanks!

adello25

Green Grocer is no longer available. If she can find one, 10188 Death Star is an amazing set! Also 10217 Diagon Alley is a great Harry Potter set if you are into HP. And also 10214 Tower Bridge is a beauty!

dougts

unless she is either de-boxing the sets, or has a ton of suitcase space, you are going to have to be a bit selective. All those sets are excellent - but all come in pretty large boxes. I'd guess you would get about 2 of these boxes in a normal size suitcase - 3 at best.

dlaw

Hello Rusty,
Do you have a price limit? I just got the Shuttle Expedition (10231) from TRU for $100. Also Barnes and Noble usually has a pretty decent selection of LEGO along with coupon code (A4N4M4V). If your girlfriend will be here more than a week she can order online and get free shipping.

Legogeek

Welome aboard Rusty!

As mentioned, the big box sets will take up a lot of room in any luggage. So either an extra suitcase will be required or I'd recommend deboxing them and packing the contents loose in any luggage.

What is available in store will really depend on the local situation. I'm in the Los Angeles/Orange County area of California, and my local TRU never has sets like the Grand Emporium or Pet Shop. Some other TRU's in the surronding local may carry them occasionaly. Fortunately there are several LEGO stores here, so big sets can easily be found. So, it'll all depend on where your girlfriend will be...

For the best deals, have your GF sign up for a TRU Rewards card using her families US address, then also sign up online to get their special offers. There probably isn't time to get good deals that way this time around, but if she or you come to the US again, it may work. Besides the BOGO50 deals TRU had going recently, they have email coupons. I just got one for $10 off.... might not be great for a big dollar item, but it'll be good for me to get some extra collectible minifigs!

Good luck!

StuBoy

You lucky bugger! I'm from New Zealand so feel your pain with the pricing. All those sets you mentioned look great. One set I had my eye on a while ago was 10212 Imperial Shuttle. Not sure about the availability of it though, someone over there will know. Also 7189 Mill Village Raid is on my to-get list, not released yet in NZ and probably not in Oz I'm guessing.

dougts

10212 can be had in any LEGO store. Highly unlikely any other retailer would stock it in store.

jadeirene

The sets that you listed are not stocked in regular retail stores (the larger flagship stores being the exception) besides the LEGO stores. If your girlfriend is not close to a LEGO store, then you might think about buying online from Amazon or [email protected] and having it shipped to her family's home.

MinifigsMe

How much do you guys have to pay at customs? Or rather - what is the limit that something can cost with no tax to pay? It sounds like if you can avoid customs, buying from bricklink and getting it shipped is going to be less than getting it at home? The UK doesn't often get deals like the US (though clearly we're in a better state than you guys!) but we do occasionally get good things. Mill raid was briefly around £40 - with out the box, it could to be shipped to you recorded for about £14...
Postage from here is pretty reasonable: Prices here for airmail:
ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/RMLT19_International_Wall_Chart.pdf

Surface mail is much cheaper, but takes about 2 months!

dougts

according to my research (I have been shipping a lot of sets to Australia), anything under $1000 is exempt from customs.

Even with shipping, my customers still pay significantly less than buying from LEGO direct, due to the ridiculous "Aussie upcharge"

Rusty

Firstly, appreciate all the replies.

I've been told a Motorized Excavator (8043) is on it's way to me. (postage)

:D

She is also going to NY... so may (or may not) go to the Lego store there.

I'm fine with them being posted to me, still works out a lot cheaper then buying here.

So, we'll see what happens.

according to my research (I have been shipping a lot of sets to Australia), anything under $1000 is exempt from customs.

AU$1,000 via postal service

AU$500 via a courier

Even with shipping, my customers still pay significantly less than buying from LEGO direct, due to the ridiculous "Aussie upcharge"

Ravenhook

AU$500 via a courier

As a concerned Australian who imports, can you please provide a link to back that up?

Tax law isn't meant to change based on the shipping method.

Aaron

According to customs there is no difference between AusPost and a Courier service

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5344.asp

Basically if the total for the cost of the item, the postage, insurance and any custom duties, is more than $1000, GST is payable. If it is under $1000, no GST is payable upon entry to the country.

Ravenhook

Thanks, Aaron! Someone got their wires crossed.

hewman

Just be careful of the exchange rate that customs use, they are a long way from current. I remember a month or two ago it was limited to $800 US (incl postage as well I think but may be wrong on that part) that they deemed to be $1000 AU.