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This is something which may appeal to Aussie gamers:

Australia Post has set up an official mail forwarding service from the US.
https://shopmate.auspost.com.au/

Similar to services like MyUS or ReShip, this service allows you to provide a US shipping address to stores/companies which won't ship to Australia, and they will forward the package on to you.

This isn't overly cheap ($25 per package plus $6 per 500g) but the rates are competitive with other mail forwarding. They will hold packages and bundle them together, at $15 per package after the first instead of $25 There are no additional fees or subscriptions; and it gives you a reliable, easily contacted company in cast anything does go awry.
Plus - get 20% off shipping until the end of November.

This seems like a great, reliable way to get packages past the blockade; especially because it comes from a friendly brand your partners/parents will be happy to ship through.

The problem now is outside of books (which are heavy and will cost more to use this service) US prices are getting close enough to AU prices that after the forwarding costs you might as well order from somewhere like Combat Company or Underground Wargames and just get it faster.

Combat Company lists the Toxicrene for $83 (AU RRP $100), Discount Games Store in the US is selling it for $55 (US RRP $73). Even on just one you're saving by getting it in the US, let alone if you buy in bulk.

Thanks for the link Trasvi, could be handy!

I'd like it if they offered a service where I could send multiple parcels to them, and have them repack it into one big box rather than send them separately at a $10 discount. If that's an option I can't see it anywhere.

 Yonan wrote:
Combat Company lists the Toxicrene for $83 (AU RRP $100), Discount Games Store in the US is selling it for $55 (US RRP $73)

So once you add on Aust Post's $25, that puts the US one up to at least $80... I'd be surprised if the package comes in under 500g, so it would actually be at least $86. Cheaper to just get it from the Combat Company.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Having said that, it would potentially be handy for codexes, as the price difference on GW's books is still ridiculous. Would have to do the maths on weights to check for sure.

 insaniak wrote:

 Yonan wrote:
Combat Company lists the Toxicrene for $83 (AU RRP $100), Discount Games Store in the US is selling it for $55 (US RRP $73)

So once you add on Aust Post's $25, that puts the US one up to at least $80... I'd be surprised if the package comes in under 500g, so it would actually be at least $86. Cheaper to just get it from the Combat Company.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Having said that, it would potentially be handy for codexes, as the price difference on GW's books is still ridiculous. Would have to do the maths on weights to check for sure.

I just weighed my 6th Ed. Dark Angels codex on cooking scales at 1lb 6.3oz which is around 630g I think. Dark Angels was one of the lighter codex tho if I remember correctly. Still tho thats another $6 on top.

It does sound too expensive to be really useful for miniatures. Especially at the moment as the AUD has slipped a bit, it's down at 86 cents at the moment... so you'll be paying $117AUD for every $100USD + $25 + $6 per 500g.

It still only sounds worthwhile ordering from the US if the place you're ordering from offers shipping directly to Australia for a reasonably low price.

I've mostly given up buying GW stuff now anyway... other companies DO ship internationally and/or have decent local prices anyway. I'll support them before burning money trying to support a company which is actively trying to screw me.

Would it be cheaper to have a contact in the US send you stuff directly?

 Snrub wrote:
Would it be cheaper to have a contact in the US send you stuff directly?

Depends on what it is and how they send it, I suspect. International post from the US has jumped up fairly significantly in the last couple of years.


The rates that Aust Post are charging aren't out of line with what many of the US websites that post internationally are charging... and are considerably lower than some.

Anyone done the math in regards to Kickstarters? Maybe some backers can be US domestic, have it sent to this service and get something faster and cheaper than the RoW rates and hassle the KSs offer?

It does seem expensive, but alternatives for people can't be a bad thing... I would think there is a business model there.

It could be, but with KS taking so long to deliver (usually) you might well need to pay whatever next years (or even the year after that's fees),

assuming the service isn't dropped which would leave you with no US shipping address at all

 insaniak wrote:

 Yonan wrote:
Combat Company lists the Toxicrene for $83 (AU RRP $100), Discount Games Store in the US is selling it for $55 (US RRP $73)

So once you add on Aust Post's $25, that puts the US one up to at least $80... I'd be surprised if the package comes in under 500g, so it would actually be at least $86. Cheaper to just get it from the Combat Company.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Having said that, it would potentially be handy for codexes, as the price difference on GW's books is still ridiculous. Would have to do the maths on weights to check for sure.

DGS standard shipping is: First-class with tracking (total weight under 4lbs.) $19.50 + $3 each additional item. Over 4lbs is $45, up to about $70 for a $1000 order in my experience - which also gets you an extra discount.
So $75. And yeah, scales really well the more you get. All my DGS orders are $800 or so so shipping adds an extra 5-10% which still substantially beats local prices.

This Aussie post (or similar) service is more for companies that don't offer int'l shipping at all, or just ones with very bad rates. DGS shipping rates are good comparatively still I think.

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
It could be, but with KS taking so long to deliver (usually) you might well need to pay whatever next years (or even the year after that's fees),

assuming the service isn't dropped which would leave you with no US shipping address at all

Hahah that could suck, though most of us know a few yanks to prevail upon in such emergencies.

 Yonan wrote:

 insaniak wrote:

 Yonan wrote:
Combat Company lists the Toxicrene for $83 (AU RRP $100), Discount Games Store in the US is selling it for $55 (US RRP $73)

So once you add on Aust Post's $25, that puts the US one up to at least $80... I'd be surprised if the package comes in under 500g, so it would actually be at least $86. Cheaper to just get it from the Combat Company.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Having said that, it would potentially be handy for codexes, as the price difference on GW's books is still ridiculous. Would have to do the maths on weights to check for sure.

DGS standard shipping is: First-class with tracking (total weight under 4lbs.) $19.50 + $3 each additional item. Over 4lbs is $45, up to about $70 for a $1000 order in my experience - which also gets you an extra discount.
So $75. And yeah, scales really well the more you get. All my DGS orders are $800 or so so shipping adds an extra 5-10% which still substantially beats local prices.

This Aussie post (or similar) service is more for companies that don't offer int'l shipping at all, or just ones with very bad rates. DGS shipping rates are good comparatively still I think.

On the ebay price list for DGS the Toxicrene is $61US, which comes to $70AUD, + $19US shipping or $22AUD. So it actually comes to $92AUD compared to $83 from The Combat Company (which isn't actually the cheapest anyway, though I usually use them because I end up buying paints and non-GW stuff at the same time). Do DGS have another store front with lower prices?

They charge a higher price on ebay due to ebay fees. You can email them for their price list, or grab it off facebook too maybe. On their facebook they announce pre orders and other deals. Pre orders come with an additional 3% discount.

Ah yes, I see the Toxicrene price on their FB page.

Still, it's $57USD which is actually $66AUD, plus their $22AUD (at current rates) shipping is $88 total, so The Combat Company is still cheaper. You'd have to order a lot before it's really worth bothering with (given The Combat Company delivers within a few days most the time, DGS is estimating 2-5 weeks just to fill orders, let alone the shipping time ).

If the exchange rate recovers it might become worth while again. Or it might be worth while on older models that were priced higher in Oz before GW started adjusting for the closer exchange rate.

Oh jebus it's down to 0.86. It's been trending down steadily for a year or 2 now? Damn you Abbott! Last time I bought a few months ago it was 0.92 iirc and it was glorious at 1.12! There's also an additional 3% off that $57 so down to $55 for preordering it.

You don't have to buy much, buying a second toxicrene would mean $22.50 shipping so $11 each rather than $19 which would put it under even with this shocking ABBOTT exchange rate. I may be dirty about Abbott ; p