If u employ a Shipping Broker or Freight Fowarding Agent, they usually try to rip u off blind by doubling or trippling the fees. This can add a minimum of $500 to $1000.
Freight Forwarders are out to make as much money as they can. You sign all your rights away when u employ one and they have u by the balls. They can add any amount of money they want, and if u dont pay it, you dont get your property. Just read their contracts and u will see they have a open cheque book.
I have never found one I could trust. My brother was in freight forwarding for many years and told me not to use one but to do all the paperwork myself, and get my stuff cleared by my own hand. He was too lazy to give me any info, so I went to the local Customs and Quarrantine Dept and asked lots of questions.
Your local government dept - Customs House, and Aust Quarrantine, are extremely helpful and will direct you to their helpful websites which have many great printouts which spell everything out, incl which forms u need to fill in etc. I was amazed at just how helpful the govt people were, and they didnt mind spending decent time with me explaining everything.
Rule No 1 - Dont purchase anything, before doing all the above legwork.
Rule No 2 - Make sure the overseas seller accepts the various requirements u will have/ask for as part of the sale, before paying, and get an agreement as part of the sale. example - that he will use a heat treated plastic pallet. that he will provide all the relevant declarations Aust Customs/Aust Quarrantine will require and so on.
If u dont have exactly what is required before the item is sent, u will never get it cleared or may have to pay huge fees.
JUST BUY FROM AUSTRALIA. If its only one machine. Less headaches.
