and 
to Aussie Pinball !
20 years is a LONG TIME.. Anyway, the important thing is you are back in the game.
Yes, games are cheaper in the USA. But once you add shipping costs, fees, GST and every other expense that they make up, it ends up be far lesser of a saving unless you buy a container. Games such as Firepower do change hands, and there are lot of games still hidden in sheds and collections. Right time, right place. So really, it is which one is the lesser evil - Risks and costs of importing VS patiently waiting for one to become available ?
If it were only one game - I'd wait until you can actually SEE the machine in person.
+1 to this. Unless it is your all time greatest wish pin that you can't find here in Oz after a year or two of searching, I don't think I would do it again. If you have a good look through the forum you will probably find a fair bit of info about importing machines yourself, it is a regular question that gets asked. Realistically, you probably need to add anywhere from $800 plus to the cost of the machine and then just hope you haven't been dudded when the machine arrives. Everytime someone looks at it or touches it they whack on another fee.
Some examples of costs - packing and palletising - you should try to get a heat treated pallet in the hope of sneaking through customs without it being fumigated, shipping, wharf handling fees, GST if the machine is cost over $1000AUD with receipt to prove sale price, wharf handling fees, customs broker fees, quarantine inspection, fumigation and good chance of some more wharf handling fees. These are just some off the top of my head.
There are alot of machines coming into the country and chances are there will be a machine arrive that is on your wish list. I mean no offence by this but it would be a big call to buy a machine from overseas as your first machine just getting started again in the hobby.
Hope this helps a tad.
Oh, hello and welcome to AP as well.
You forgot some wharf fees... oh and dont forget the wharf fees that wharf fees attract.
If you are going to do it.. then employ a shipping broker.. they will handle it all for you, - ask around as some are better than others.
try and import yourself via sea freight and you do not know the procedure... every little paper delay will attract more fees and trust me - you will NOT have the right paperwork even if they tell you that you do on the phone. Its a closed shop business that is designed to keep it all in house.. they dont take kindly to outsiders bringing stuff in.. no unions anymore... just procedure that you are not privvy to.
Having said all that... welcome to the forum!!!!!
