darkelven Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 I'm astounded at all the prices you guys are quoting for shisha. I've only got 3, maybe 4 places in Perth (Western Australia) that I know about that sell shisha. What we pay.. 250g Afzal, $55. And we usually buy a few boxes at a time. I've seen people complain about paying $15 for 250g, near a quarter of the price I'm asked to pay. So my solution is to get some shipped over, but I have no idea about customs laws and tabacco taxes. I would think that the tax couldn't be nearly as much as the mark-up that our stores have put on their shisha. In any case, I'd like some input on whether other people in Australia have ordered goods in, how much things were, where to buy from, and whatever other details I should know about.A solution that one shop owner gave me was to just get the herbal stuff shipped, but from reports I've seen, it's bad (like woodchips, one person said). So I'll not be going down that path. Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm a little desperate as my supplies are running low. I'm sure you know how it is.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKammenzind Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 I'm in the states, but from what I've heard, they tax by weight... so shisha gets owned. Could be wrong, but I've heard such from several aussies on this forum and others. One solution would be to buy pipe tobacco if it's cheaper, and make your own shisha. Boil the tobacco, then drain/squeeze dry, add glycerine, honey, and some flavored oils. It's a bit of work but it may prove to be worth looking into if you're a DIY type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelven Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) QUOTE (AKammenzind @ Oct 15 2008, 07:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>One solution would be to buy pipe tobacco if it's cheaper, and make your own shisha. Boil the tobacco, then drain/squeeze dry, add glycerine, honey, and some flavored oils. It's a bit of work but it may prove to be worth looking into if you're a DIY type.That's actually a decent suggestion I'll have a look at what pipe tobacco costs here and see what can be done. Cheers for the advice.Edit: Seems that pipe tobacco here is about as expensive as the shisha we have here, so the cost would be roughly the same, less the effort. Edited October 14, 2008 by darkelven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kapten Kanel Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 (edited) Its exactly the same in Sweden, shisha get taxed like it was only made of pure tobacco, i dont know the actual tobacco amount in shisha and it probably differs alot from brand to brand but its FAR less than 100% of the weight Probably more like 20-30% You may have seen my recent thread about importing shisha, im about to try it soon, aiming at about 1,5kg of shisha. It seem like at least in Sweden its possible to slip through customs without getting hit by apocalyptic taxes, should be possible in Australia too. Edited October 15, 2008 by Kapten Kanel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelven Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 QUOTE (Kapten Kanel @ Oct 15 2008, 08:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You may have seen my recent thread about importing shisha, im about to try it soon, aiming at about 1,5kg of shisha. It seem like at least in Sweden its possible to slip through customs without getting hit by apocalyptic taxes, should be possible in Australia too.I've had one person message me saying that smaller packages are more likely to slip through customs; 250g sizes. I've been messaging several shisha companies with requests for details on taxes and shipping costs. I'll be sure to post what details I find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelven Posted October 17, 2008 Author Share Posted October 17, 2008 I've had to post a message to our customs department here in Australia. No one else seems to know how much tax gets charged, nor anything on weight limits, or likelihood of packages being tagged for inspection. In any case.. I'll post what I find here when I get a response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steeeeeeve Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 i Order to the uk, we have insane strict customs and as long as "gift" or "personal items" is used then generally customs dont even bother, my last order had a 40 inch hookah a razan and a 50g sample and it didnt even stay in customs a day, just talk to the shop you want to order from im sure they will help you outi personally recommend mn hookah for importing as they far as i know dont get custom raped too often and they will be honest on the shipping price from my experienceSteve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelven Posted October 17, 2008 Author Share Posted October 17, 2008 (edited) QUOTE (steeeeeeve @ Oct 17 2008, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>i personally recommend mn hookah for importing as they far as i know dont get custom raped too often and they will be honest on the shipping price from my experienceI've given them an email but haven't received a response yet. I did get an enthusiastic reply from Neal.. but I'm a little bit dubious. I got a quick reply form customs who had some disappointing news. Now I know what 'taxed to hell' means... I'll quote part of their reply to me below:QUOTE All imported tobacco products attract duty and GST when they arrive in Australia. From 24 June 2008 the duty on Molasses tobacco is now on the total weight of the tobacco. the duty is A$318.14 per kilo of tobacco. 10% GST also applies. When the tobacco arrives in Australia you will be sent an assessment Notice stating that duty and taxes is applicable. Once you pay the applicable duty and taxes at the Post Office, Australia Post will deliver your tobacco in their usual way.This does make me wonder about a few things.. It means that the 250g of shisha I was expected to pay $55 for would have had a stamp duty of roughly $75, plus whatever the cost of the actual item is. So it's more likely that the goods were produced here, and they are just using the obscene duty prices to warrant their excessive prices. It seems that I may be forced to go the herbal option... despite several comments saying it isn't the best. I'll stay away from Suex (spelling?) as that's the worst, I hear. I may try to sneak a 250g pack of real shisha in the delivery.. but it seems my options are very limited. Edited October 17, 2008 by darkelven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erufiku Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Come on mate, you can't possibly believe that they check every package that goes into Australia? Baccy taxes in Canada are really prohibitive (40$/250g Nakhla) so I get all of my stuff online... Last order 2kg shisha from MNH, got to me within a week and a total of 0.00$ in taxes/duties. I'd bite the bullet and try before resorting to the herbal mo'assel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahwahoo2006 Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I seem to remember a Canadian member having success disputing the taxes with their Revenue Department based on the fact that it is not all tobacco. You might want to look into that and try the same thing with the Australian authorities.Otherwise, ifyou are willing to risk it, and can spare the cash, place several small orders and see if any of them make it through. If they get caught, just decline to pay the tax and don't accept delivery. Or you could see if there are US members who might ship you some in, um, creative, packaging (PM me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelven Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 Thanks for the advice guys I think I got a handle on things now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isis Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 i know im bringing up a dead thread but what ended up happening in the end ? would be nice to find out seeing as i want to do the same and mayb get some in from overseas? probably america seeing as thats the easiest way for me to convert money and pay by paypal (if they accept paypal that is)... Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelven Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 Not much has happened yet. I've made an online purchase but it hasn't arrived yet. Only 250g (or 5, 50g packs) so it should 'slip through' customs. Still.. with the exchange rate and the shipping they charge, the price worked out to be very close to what we pay here; about $3 difference.This means I either have to pay the asked $55 for 250g here, or risk larger packages being sent over and checked by customs. I hear some people getting away with 1.5kilo packs, so that may be worth a try.Recently I paid over $200 for three 250g al fahker boxes, plus a bag of coal and 50g of herbal (soex) to try. If the herbal is anywhere near decent, I'll have some of that shipped over, maybe.It just looks like we're at the rough end of the stick down under. Poor shipping, tax, and exchange rate. It all adds up to a pathetic deal when it comes to shisha. And there's not much we can do about it.Also, while I'm here.. I might as well ask if it's normal to charge $28 for shipping overseas. This was the cheapest option with others going up above $100. This may be where my problem lies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isis Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 (edited) Yea we get shafted here wildley, u summed it all up niceley with the shipping prices, and the exchange rate its not good, I baught 6 different soex flavs (taste like nothing and all smell exactly the same) from america and customs opend it up they jammed pamflets and stuff in it resealed it then sent it off to me. so who knows if it was random or they could smell it and thaught they would open it up(strong fruity smell). Where did u buy online? and how did u pay for it Edited October 26, 2008 by isis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 im toying with some of my own homemade shisha......Sofar the results have been near spectacular, bout to hit a session of apple to see how it smokes...may consider selling it to locals will definately be a cheaper alternative to buying al fakher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isis Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 QUOTE (benny @ Oct 26 2008, 03:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>im toying with some of my own homemade shisha......Sofar the results have been near spectacular, bout to hit a session of apple to see how it smokes...may consider selling it to locals will definately be a cheaper alternative to buying al fakher ahh yeah that would be good, i dont really have the time to go out looking for stuff to make my own and iv heard that it goes of fast compared to the properly made flav tobacco , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 define properly made, mine will be using proper ingredients the same as al fakher, or tangiers.....?Im not using nething stupid like jam, fruitjuice or jelly to flavour it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isis Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 ahh yeah , i was brain storming how we could get it cheaper in aus, i was wondering how we could set up a way for u guys over in america etc etc that get the tobbaco cheap and see how much it really costs u guys to send the stuff down to us plus a little ontop for your troubles? might be able to help us out instaid of companys etc ripping us aussies of with postage when trying to import stuff? just a idea but it could work, mayb sum1 thats trustworthy on the forum and we could send half or 3/4 of payment then send the rest once we recive the good? just for a little insurance but then again theres the trust factor with doing stuff like that and people dont know eachother and it could blow out but i guess you could only try? dunno just a idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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