why are minelabs cheaper in usa

hi , its mike again. well i am about to purchase an m.l 5000 and have set up the 4x4 and trail bike to hunt with so its only the 5000 to go. checking prices has brought up an interesting fact. how can an aussie article be exported to the states and be sent back as a sale at a cheaper price than one purchased here? i was [because of the price] under the impression they must have been american but an australian supplier, whom i shall no doubt use has put me right on this,but the question still remains. WHY DOES IT COST MORE? come on gurus, i bet you must have gone through this also.

Hi Mike, this topic has been discussed over and over again and all I will say is it's just that way, cheaper there dearer here. I wouldn't think about it to much and just buy your machine here with your full ML warranty. Your not that far from me I live in Bundy.

Cheers Brian.

yes brian, i have come to accept that already. m.l is probably looking for a big market in the usa and is going in boots and all. doesnt matter. love the modern prospector. well done.

Before you purchase overseas do your sums, for example: GPX Minelab offered at usd$5,500

Value of item (say) 5,500
Customs duty " 5% 275
Transport and Insurance 150
GST on CVal + T&I 565

Landed Cost 6,490

Even if you can factor in a windfall on currency exchange rates on the commercial value (only) it still doesn't look that good when you add it all up..

These were the numbers that were around when I bought my 5K last year and I ended up buying local for $6,250 inc free delivery to Darwin! with full minelab warranty, a free hat, and a key ring fob!!

The sale price may have changed recently but whatever it is do the sums, weigh up the Warranty issue, and then make the judgement call.

The GPX5000 is not made in Australia,just designed here..they are made in Penang Malaysia by USA Company Plexis Corp USA......so why would anyone expect them to be cheaper in Australia.....likely made in U.S. Dollars...shipped in U.S. Dollars....any conversions may be back to Au $.......who besides the Banks etc have ever won on a Currency Conversion... certainly not the consumer..might even be an import to Australia with attendant import costs........logic of course would be that they should actually be cheaper than they are everywhere, with the cheaper offshore labour costs and overheads.. but dont hold your breath waiting...not where Shareholders are concerned.....Hoo Roo

If you look carefully for a ML GPX5000 from Malaysia you will find they are only a fraction of the cost here OR in USA.

The problem is, even though they offer warranty etc., do we want to support Malaysia or Australia? Is the warranty transport etc problem worth the risk?

Guess it's up to the individual

Well I for one paid full price for my made in Malaysia from one of Australia's biggest Minelab Dealers...are you stating that the Malaysian product is somehow less in price here in Australia ,or USA?.....I suggest you get your facts 100% right before making that assertion. Is this your assumption or known fact? As I understand it ALL GPX 5000's are now made in Malaysia, so can you confirm otherwise? Hoo Roo

G'day Mikeagain.

Mike even if you could pick up a Minelab GPX 5000 from an overseas retailer,here's what it will cost you.Say you buy it for $5500 including delivery charges,when it lands here,your up for another 5% duty + 10% GST = $6325 Aus.So it really isn't that much cheaper buying it from overseas.Better package deal maybe,but not cheap.If your seriously interested in buying a 5000 from here,I've known of dealers that will match or even better that price.
As for your initial question,why are Minelabs so much cheaper overseas than here,well,considering their produced overseas at probably a much cheaper rate than what they can be manufactured here,is the same as asking why does a pair of Nike runners cost say $150 here,when made for say $10 in China or Taiwan.The answer is Company & shareholder profit.The more cheaper a company can get a product made,the more profit there is to be made.We'd have to be totally naive if we were to believe that companies go out of their way to source out things cheaper so that they can pass on the so called cost savings to us the consumer.The only good or product that is past on cheap is rubbish and even that is getting expensive.Who cares about the consumer except the consumer themselves(no where to run,no where to hide).The consumer is,was and always will be,what I call,the ar*e end of the stick,the guarantor of society,paying for every loss,or mistake or mismanagement made by Governments or companies.

Cheers kon61.

No use beating round the bush Kon, tell us what you really think.

Buy some Codan shares and then support your company!!

I purchased my GPX 5000 from the USA late last year when the aust dollar was buying $109.00 $US .I paid $5100.00 aust dollars that included postage.Now there was no import TAX,and paid through paypal that covered insurance ,i had the serial Numbers checked with Minelab Australia b4 handing over my hard earnt and they all checked out,warranty is valid here also.the box says designed in Australia made in Australia,my mate also bought a GPX 5000 from the same dealer at the same time and got the same deal.This is just my 2 cents worth as i have gone through the process as there seems to be so much speculation.

So are are you stating that you were able to import an item for over $1,000 with CORRECT value documentation and you paid no GST?...and no customs clearance required?....and Au$5100 was your landed and total cost...sorry I can't accept that as fact, or more correctly legal, if everything was done correctly..
Diggindeeper states he bought his GPX4500 from Australian dealerand it had Made In Malaysia on the box..and many of us including me, have their GPX 5000 's purchased from major Australian dealers with Made in Malaysia on the box, then its a pretty good indication at least the GPX 5000's and possibly later 4500's were ALL made in Malaysia notwithstanding what is actually written on the box....our Trade Practices Act would dictate that correct manufacture details be shown, which gives rise to a reasonable assumption that it is only the correct wording that changed on the box's..i.e. Made in Malaysia....no official response from Minelab to all the speculation raised in this thread from its beginning, would also indicate ALL GPX 5000's were made in Malaysia to Australian design etc. etc...I bought my 5000 made in Malaysia from leading Australian dealer over 18 months ago now...so its hardly a recent change IMO...Hoo Roo

G'day guys.

I'm not here to debate Who's paid or not paid or not required to pay,import Taxes on any particular Item,but to state and point out that,when one Google's "eBay Australia Guides,The A-Z of Importing into Australia,Duty/GST/Customs".please refer to Section 11-Import Duty GST/Import Tax & Custom Charges,before making any commitment to purchase any International/overseas order of any Item/Goods,that exceed $1000 Australian,or confirm the intended purchase with customs themselves,prior to the exchanging of any $bucks,over the $1000 mark.

Cheers kon61.

Hi larry303 ",Au$5100 was your landed and total cost...sorry I can't accept that as fact or more correctly legal, if everything was done correctly.." sorry if you cant accept that mate,it is what it is,im not lying about the price,or doing anything dodgey!!!! it was stated on the parcle what it was and the price when sent by post .when picking it up i was expecting to pay a tax,as was my mate when he picked his up!, i was just sharing my experience of buying from overseas.love it or leave it ,just saying

I can't say that I've imported a GPX (as yet) but I HAVE imported several saddles from both the USA and India (who, incidentally, now make some beautiful & quality saddles ... even the top UK brands under licence!)

I have only once paid any import duty .... and I can assure you that at least 2 of the saddles that I had mailed in to me were of a similar price to a GPX5000

It seems to pretty much be a case of 'luck of the draw' when it comes to customs!!

thankyou Kate for your comment,it is luck off the draw ,shame larry303 cant accept it But having said that a few years back i bought $12000.worth off fishing gear from the states a shop went broke and bulk sold all the stock,18 large box's ,now customs went through it all and only charged me tax on half of it ,and that was all legit as well.Hoo Roo

Hmmmmmm, Matt .... another of my favourite passtimes!!