hey Guys
anyone got any experience importing boards from USA?
shipping packing....avoiding taxes etc.
looking at both new and private used boards.
thanks in advance!

sa and mac have got heaps of boards from the states

Don't try avoid customs taxes unless it's by means of negotiating a fair price for the item to get under the threshold

Select to expand quote

laceys lane said..
sa and mac have got heaps of boards from the states

Oh dear why do I find I need to correct you once again.

I've never imported a board from the US.


YES,you can lie and try and cheat the system but be warned the penalties are huge and if found out you
will be under the taxation department eyes for years to come.The fines are huge.

Would just like to add to Glides question for other peeps also interested. I'm going to Hawaii end of next year & was hoping to buy one of the big Waikikikikikii epic logs 10 or preferably closer to 11 foot long...question is, is it possible to get them back to Australia as "sporting goods"...please recommend an airline to go with, not really any point of buying something in the lower 9's coz they're a dime a dozen at home almost. Looking for something different

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..

laceys lane said..
sa and mac have got heaps of boards from the states

Oh dear why do I find I need to correct you once again.

I've never imported a board from the US.

Now on the tax, you will get hit and hit hard,I was looking at importing car parts from the US but the tax was huge.

YES,you can lie and try and cheat the system but be warned the penalties are huge and if found out you
will be under the taxation department eyes for years to come.The fines are huge.

Same deal ex-Great Britain - unreal shipping costs & the piss poor conversion rate just like Seppoland kills any enthusiasm

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..

laceys lane said..
sa and mac have got heaps of boards from the states

Oh dear why do I find I need to correct you once again.

I've never imported a board from the US.

Now on the tax, you will get hit and hit hard,I was looking at importing car parts from the US but the tax was huge.

YES,you can lie and try and cheat the system but be warned the penalties are huge and if found out you
will be under the taxation department eyes for years to come.The fines are huge.

bloody hell. I thought that's where real McTavish boards come from. doh

Surely if your bringing something home you have bought on holiday, your purchase will not attract a tax, just a matter of difficulty in bringing it home. Money/sizeregs issues?

Select to expand quote

MickPC said..
Would just like to add to Glides question for other peeps also interested. I'm going to Hawaii end of next year & was hoping to buy one of the big Waikikikikikii epic logs 10 or preferably closer to 11 foot long...question is, is it possible to get them back to Australia as "sporting goods"...please recommend an airline to go with, not really any point of buying something in the lower 9's coz they're a dime a dozen at home almost. Looking for something different

Real Hawaiian boards are not a dim a dozen imo.

You can air freight them home mate, ask Hawaiian airlines or better still ask the people in the sup forum many of them have taken 12 foot ace boards over there.

It is what it is - the info is freely available at the Oz Customs website

Select to expand quote

MickPC said..
Surely if your bringing something home you have bought on holiday, your purchase will not attract a tax, just a matter of difficulty in bringing it home. Money/sizeregs issues?

take one with you, leave it there. no one checks your bag. A snapped whalebone perhaps..

Glide, send Pieter a message. He freights boards everywhere so might know who to use.

Thanks guys, I have heard before Hawaiian Airlines are the go...wasn't saying real Hawaiian boards are a dime a dozen, just meant 9 foot something boards are not so hard to come by here where I live, I want a 10 to 11 foot log which is not so common where I live...cheers

Select to expand quote

SP said..

MickPC said..
Surely if your bringing something home you have bought on holiday, your purchase will not attract a tax, just a matter of difficulty in bringing it home. Money/sizeregs issues?

take one with you, leave it there. no one checks your bag. A snapped whalebone perhaps..

Glide, send Pieter a message. He freights boards everywhere so might know who to use.

Fixing that in Bali next Jan, will be on sale on Bali boards buy & sell..if not sold I will bring it back & sell it...$250 in Bali or $350 at home.

Select to expand quote

SP said..

Yeah they do ex-USA - terrorism shizz , anything different you got Feds both sides interested in playing with your buttocks in nasty sordid ways you never thought possible , then they punish
Easy & Cheap ex-Oz because of the shizz conversion rate in our shekels

Select to expand quote

MickPC said..
Thanks guys, I have heard before Hawaiian Airlines are the go...wasn't saying real Hawaiian boards are a dime a dozen, just meant 9 foot something boards are not so hard to come by here where I live, I want a 10 to 11 foot log which is not so common where I live...cheers

I looked and didnt see much in that size range and a lot of them were Taks which you can get here anyway.
Maybe order a custom or line it up before you go. Plenty of stuff in the shorter size range you'd bring back. we flew Hawaiian and they were really good. I didn't take a board, plenty of decent hire boards. I tried about 4 or 5 different ones.

I just meant they don't check its the same board Pup but maybe your right. They are pretty strict over there.

Select to expand quote

SP said..

MickPC said..
Thanks guys, I have heard before Hawaiian Airlines are the go...wasn't saying real Hawaiian boards are a dime a dozen, just meant 9 foot something boards are not so hard to come by here where I live, I want a 10 to 11 foot log which is not so common where I live...cheers

I looked and didnt see much in that size range and a lot of them were Taks which you can get here anyway.
Maybe order a custom or line it up before you go. Plenty of stuff in the shorter size range you'd bring back. we flew Hawaiian and they were really good. I didn't take a board, plenty of decent hire boards. I tried about 4 or 5 different ones.

I just meant they don't check its the same board Pup but maybe your right. They are pretty strict over there.

When you say here you mean over your side of the best country in the world...I should probably just head over there for something, the options over here are far less...but I do hope to find one of those big cruiser glider logs you see on vids from there the other there haha

Now where are those pics & write up on your trip mate, did I miss it...I do remember you sayng you were headed over

Whatever happened to free trade!
I think u should be sweet if it was a private sale of a used (mint) board.
if the seller put the value under$1k aud.
however would probably be too much to ask if u bought new from a shop I spose.
surfboards should fall under some UN exemption, as they spread stoke not war!

Yeah I'd be hoping to find a fun 2nd hand log in decent condition, maybe couple of professional fixed dings for about 5 or 6 hundred, otherwise it would not be worth it

"surfboards should fall under some UN exemption, as they spread stoke not war!"

LOL so true

Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Select to expand quote

Mates answer is:
Up to 10'4" on Hawaiin Airlines is free as personal luggage.

"on Hawaiian it's free international. If travelling inter island its $50USD per board. Book inter island flight as part of your international flight out and it's free"

If you want to go longer than 10'4" another carrier is Matzen Cargo but expensive.
Save the hassle..go to RG..Tolly..McT..Thomas..etc etc..

Select to expand quote

surfbroker said..
Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Bang on Jimmy give that man a cigar & Monica with it

Select to expand quote

surfbroker said..

Mates answer is:
Up to 10'4" on Hawaiin Airlines is free as personal luggage.

"on Hawaiian it's free international. If travelling inter island its $50USD per board. Book inter island flight as part of your international flight out and it's free"

If you want to go longer than 10'4" another carrier is Matzen Cargo but expensive.
Save the hassle..go to RG..Tolly..McT..Thomas..etc etc..

And again ... two cigars to that man

Select to expand quote

thePup said..

surfbroker said..
Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Bang on Jimmy give that man a cigar & Monica with it

I'd still love a BING or ALMOND one day sure probably made the same quality as a Mct but I would still love one.

Select to expand quote

surfbroker said..

Mates answer is:
Up to 10'4" on Hawaiin Airlines is free as personal luggage.

"on Hawaiian it's free international. If travelling inter island its $50USD per board. Book inter island flight as part of your international flight out and it's free"

If you want to go longer than 10'4" another carrier is Matzen Cargo but expensive.
Save the hassle..go to RG..Tolly..McT..Thomas..etc etc..

I'd go to SDR mate & will do many times over time...like I said, I just want something different & I can't think of a better souvenir than a surfboard

Thanks for grabbing that info from your mate, appreciate it

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..

thePup said..

surfbroker said..
Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Bang on Jimmy give that man a cigar & Monica with it

I'd still love a BING or ALMOND one day sure probably made the same quality as a Mct but I would still love one.

Bings have been imported to Oz for years. Heaps around Newcastle. The importer lives near here.

And Almonds are imported too.

Select to expand quote

MickPC said..

SP said..

MickPC said..
Thanks guys, I have heard before Hawaiian Airlines are the go...wasn't saying real Hawaiian boards are a dime a dozen, just meant 9 foot something boards are not so hard to come by here where I live, I want a 10 to 11 foot log which is not so common where I live...cheers

I looked and didnt see much in that size range and a lot of them were Taks which you can get here anyway.
Maybe order a custom or line it up before you go. Plenty of stuff in the shorter size range you'd bring back. we flew Hawaiian and they were really good. I didn't take a board, plenty of decent hire boards. I tried about 4 or 5 different ones.

I just meant they don't check its the same board Pup but maybe your right. They are pretty strict over there.

When you say here you mean over your side of the best country in the world...I should probably just head over there for something, the options over here are far less...but I do hope to find one of those big cruiser glider logs you see on vids from there the other there haha

Now where are those pics & write up on your trip mate, did I miss it...I do remember you sayng you were headed over

Yeah WA is a bloody long way away.

Not much to tell from our trip. It was last year.
I did post something when I came back but hardly took many photos other then family snaps. Was a family holiday / wedding.
If you wanna know about the night life in Honolulu then I'm your man, we partied harder then surfed.

Surf wise I only surfed one place, usually really early (thanks TB for the tip) before the missus and kid work up, it was knee to just over head high and good fun.
People were friendly and loved a chat.. But during peak hours it was a cluster **** of kookery.

Did the north shore trip but it was flat. Still good to see and the board shops in Haleiwa are amazing..
There was a really good topic with heaps of hints and tips from the boys on here before I went that is worth looking up before you book.

Great spot to visit would love to go back when my boy is a bit older.

Select to expand quote

SP said..

Macaha said..

thePup said..

surfbroker said..
Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Bang on Jimmy give that man a cigar & Monica with it

I'd still love a BING or ALMOND one day sure probably made the same quality as a Mct but I would still love one.

Bings have been imported to Oz for years. Heaps around Newcastle. The importer lives near here.

And Almonds are imported too.

Yeah I know my comment was I'd still love one of those US boards even though you can buy a local product.

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..

SP said..

Macaha said..

thePup said..

surfbroker said..
Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Bang on Jimmy give that man a cigar & Monica with it

I'd still love a BING or ALMOND one day sure probably made the same quality as a Mct but I would still love one.

Bings have been imported to Oz for years. Heaps around Newcastle. The importer lives near here.

And Almonds are imported too.

Yeah I know my comment was I'd still love one of those US boards even though you can buy a local product.

The Bing's are really really nice.. Well made.

And I was eyeing of an Almond for a while but ended up with a different US board I'd wanted for years.

Just do it.. Change is as good as a holiday. How's the knee going? You got some movement back?

Select to expand quote

SP said..

Macaha said..

SP said..

Macaha said..

thePup said..

surfbroker said..
Australian manufacturers make boards equal to and better than OS makers, it's just that they don't have "the name" but built for our conditions..

Simple easy fix is buy local...


But I'll ask a guy who has done it several times and let you know.

Bang on Jimmy give that man a cigar & Monica with it

I'd still love a BING or ALMOND one day sure probably made the same quality as a Mct but I would still love one.

Bings have been imported to Oz for years. Heaps around Newcastle. The importer lives near here.

And Almonds are imported too.

Yeah I know my comment was I'd still love one of those US boards even though you can buy a local product.

The Bing's are really really nice.. Well made.

And I was eyeing of an Almond for a while but ended up with a different US board I'd wanted for years.

Just do it.. Change is as good as a holiday. How's the knee going? You got some movement back?

Yeah I love the cut laps they do, the tints are amazing.
I was going to PM you about the number of boards, question was, how many is too many,I have 2 that are stunning and I havent surfed them in a year both new.I just keep surfing my favourite.The knee has come along however I've been training it hard of advice and it pulls up sore and if I walk a long distance it flares up as well but I think its good to go surfing again just working on the elbow at the moment.
Hows your knee SP,post operation,I'm thinking of getting a Plasma injection the Doc thinks they are well worth a try.

I think if you buy second hand under a certain theshold you are all good...Hawaiian airlines take up to 11'...

I've imported a Bing in the past. Did it when the US/AUS Dollar was on parity about 5-6 years ago.

The trick is to find a couple of people who want to purchase a board also and place two or three boards into one shipping box. Therefore, all purchasers share the freight costs etc two or three ways.

So for interests sake I had a 7'6" Bing Bonzer custom built by Matt Calvani and it was delivered to Sydney in a box containing three boards. The cost from memory was around AU$850 all up plus another $120 freight from Sydney to regional South Oz.
Super good quality board, still have it - never getting rid of it...

On a different note - placed a custom order for an 11' Christenson Chris Craft early 2016 when Chris did a shaping stint here in Oz for the first time in 2016. I was quoted $1,400 so I jumped at it - thought to myself "Gee, that's cheap"!!! Anyway, they misquoted me in US Dollars but upon payment honored the price in AUS Dollars. HUGE SAVING but one of those moments I took advantage of upon the initial quote that was presented to me. Think the RRP is about AUS$2,400 for an 11' Chris Craft...