Duty Free TIPS / Discounts / Questions

[drewbles]

Sorry to drag up an old thread... did anyone have any for SYD duty free? I usually leave from MEL but have to do an SFO trip tomorrow from SYD. They're all owned by the same people anyway, but no skybus vouchers up there obviously

 

[serfty]

Sorry to drag up an old thread... did anyone have any for SYD duty free? ...

No problem with dragging this thread up - it's an ongoing thread with current discount information noted in the OP.

We'll try to keep post #1 up to date with new information.

 

[drewbles]

No problem with dragging this thread up - it's an ongoing thread with current discount information noted in the OP.

We'll try to keep post #1 up to date with new information.

I should know by now to read the whole thread when it's short before I post

FYI, SYD duty free has a $20 "gift voucher" when you spend $200 or more online.

http://www.syddutyfree.com/108-bonus-$20-online-gift-voucher !

Not much but better than nothing.

 

[Flashback]

F1RST Tax & Duty Free - $20 voucher

Purchase online in November, and receive a $20 off voucher for your next purchase over $80.

F1RST Tax & Duty Free - BONUS $20 online voucher!

 

[serfty]

New code for 1st Duty Free - $10 off purchases $100+ good to June 30th.

See post #1: The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - View Single Post - Duty Free TIPS / Discounts / Questions

 

[tuapekastar]

A friend reported a disappointing absence of the 'Skybus' duty-free discount dockets at MEL the other day when she loooked for them. The last lot that I saw had an expiry date of 28 Feb 2010, but if her report is correct that may have been the last of them.

Anyone else noticed this?

 

[serfty]

I was going to post this, but I grabbed a handful earlier this month - expiry date 31st August 2010.

 

[JohnK]

Did you grab enough for yourself only?

Need to work out how to get a hold of these vouchers as I will be arriving into MEL from SIN end of June.

 

[serfty]

Did you grab enough for yourself only?

Need to work out how to get a hold of these vouchers as I will be arriving into MEL from SIN end of June.

More than enough, I'll have some with me next time you see me.

FWIW, I only use them when not returning from NZ as the D/F ex AKL generally works out much cheaper than OZ.

 

[bits]

I'll be taking a short trip to NZ soon and planning to buy a laptop in Aus and claiming GST back through TRS. The trip is for 4 days and will return to Aus with the laptop. Here are my questions:

1. Re showing the laptop to Customs TRS to claim the GST back, do I need to show it with original packaging and all? I'm assuming no, since the website says I can use the item before departure anyway.

2. Upon return, is the laptop (now 4 days old and therefore second hand):
(i) considered part of my personal belongings (hence free of duty and tax) or
(ii) is it covered by the general goods category (and therefore subject to $900 limit)?

So, say I buy a laptop for $1500, claim GST back on departure. What is the value of the laptop upon return to Aus? Surely it can't be $1500 since it is now used? (I would say all electronics immediately lose 50% of their purchase price as soon as you take it out of box). Do I or don't I tick the box that says I have more than $900 of duty free goods?

Thanks.

 

[JohnK]

More than enough, I'll have some with me next time you see me.

Great. I have a few MEL-SIN and MEL-SIN flights later this year so will need to sort that one as well.

So, say I buy a laptop for $1500, claim GST back on departure. What is the value of the laptop upon return to Aus? Surely it can't be $1500 since it is now used? (I would say all electronics immediately lose 50% of their purchase price as soon as you take it out of box). Do I or don't I tick the box that says I have more than $900 of duty free goods?

I seem to recall posts on AFF mentioning depreciation of 20% is used for goods returning back to Australia

 

[serfty]

Claiming the GST back on a $1500 purchase would net ~$137 leaving a value of $1363 - a depreciation of 20% would give an assessable value of $1090, so the full GST of $109 may need to be paid.

- remember, if you go over the allowance for any of the three categories, then Duty is assessable on the whole value of your goods in that category.

 

[tuapekastar]

More than enough, I'll have some with me next time you see me.

FWIW, I only use them when not returning from NZ as the D/F ex AKL generally works out much cheaper than OZ.

Thanks for advising they're still available and valid. - that's good news!

Whenever I've done the comparison between ordering online from NZ DFS - 20% discount (picking up departing AKL) and using the voucher in MEL, the figures have always been so close to each other as to make the difference more or less negligible (one or two dollars), so it has come down to convenience.

I guess it may vary depending on what you're buying.

I remembered after posting my question that I'm returning from NZ next week via SYD (Doh!) so for this trip at least it's all ordered online from NZ DFS.

 

[serfty]

With the exchange rate giving a > 25% factor I make it out to be about 15% cheaper on sprits and cigarrettes (and you don't get 20% on the smokes ex AKL, you do in MEL with the Skybus vouchers).

 

[tuapekastar]

I'm bringing 2 x 1L bottles of Cointreau back from NZ, at a cost of ~AUD52 (including currency conversion fee on the CC)*

The same, bought at MEL with the 20% discount would be ~AUD64

*They have a special on (25% discount versus normal 20%), but even at 'normal' prices that would be ~AUD54 so the Kiwi prices work better for me.

No QF FF points on the Kiwi spend of course! And the ciggies became a non-issue for me ~12 years ago (though I do get asked to purchase them for other people from time to time).

So I guess its a case of YMMV depending on what you are purchasing. - nice to have the different options anyway.

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone know if the 20% off vouchers from Skybus need to be presented for discount to be applied or is there a code one can use when ordering online. Is there a minimum spend. (Is it noticeable I still do not have one of these vouchers? )

I am arriving back via MEL end of this month and looking for some discounts for duty free liquor.

Also has anyone realised you can no longer order tobacco products online? I wonder if they take orders over the phone as I do not want to risk them not having the tobacco in store (again) on arrival.

 

[notzac]

Does anyone know if the 20% off vouchers from Skybus need to be presented for discount to be applied or is there a code one can use when ordering online. Is there a minimum spend. (Is it noticeable I still do not have one of these vouchers? )

So far as I know, you need to present the voucher in person for the discount to be applied (which means no online purchasing)

That said, I actually copped some grief last week when I presented one - something about the discount no longer being valid?? I pointed out that the vouchers were still being actively distributed with an expiry date in August and was finally given the discount "just this once".

No idea if this was for real real or I just came across a staff member that got out of the wrong side of bed that morning.

 

[tuapekastar]

So far as I know, you need to present the voucher in person for the discount to be applied (which means no online purchasing)

That said, I actually copped some grief last week when I presented one - something about the discount no longer being valid?? I pointed out that the vouchers were still being actively distributed with an expiry date in August and was finally given the discount "just this once".

No idea if this was for real real or I just came across a staff member that got out of the wrong side of bed that morning.

Are they still being distributed? Last couple of times I've looked at the Skybus ticket office at MEL, they've been nowhere to be seen! serfty was kind enough to give me one with an end-August expiry date which I shall use (or attempt to) in mid-August...sounds like I may have a battle given your experience. I guess I can block the queue at the cashier long enough to cause them to want to get rid of me quickly and give me the discount.

 

[serfty]

I was once refused when trying to buy a camera already on special - so I declined to purchase.

John, I have a couple expiring August 2010 - PM me a mailing address and I will send them to you. (We were supposed to transfer last weekend).

You need to present them in person. They still are valid for 20% off tobacco as this is specially stated on them. (Note a carton of 250 Winnies Jumped $8 to $58 since the excise changes last month - pure profiteering (but, hey, that's business).

I have only ever used them on arrival into MEL. There has been one report of them being valid upstairs in departures.

Finally, there were plenty in the Skybus brochure racks 10 days ago.

 

[JohnK]

John, I have a couple expiring August 2010 - PM me a mailing address and I will send them to you. (We were supposed to transfer last weekend).

Done. Thanks.

You need to present them in person. They still are valid for 20% off tobacco as this is specially stated on them. (Note a carton of 250 Winnies Jumped $8 to $58 since the excise changes last month - pure profiteering (but, hey, that's business).

Champion Ruby went from $40 to $50 or $60 sometime last year and I would hate to think how much it has gone up since the new tax was introduced.

Still a significant saving on retail price but I am scared of waiting until I arrive in MEL just in case they do not have any in stock when I arrive.