Buying online / Cost of gear in Australia

[Drifting]

thanks Rucksack!

[flatfoot]

I'm waiting for quite a few items to be delivered (fedex tracking indicates it is in country now). These were ordered from suppliers in the USA via priceusa.com.au. You can see the type of items that people are buying via shipping agents at their last 100 orders page. I paid for return insurance for additional piece of mind.

I looked at using shipito.com. This is a mail forwarding service. I had problems given that most suppliers require a contact number for shipping. The online stores sometimes have formatting rules for the phone number that prevent the entry of a number with an international prefix. Getting a virtual US phone number is not an ideal solution.

What forwarding services and techniques have you used for placing orders with overseas suppliers? Have you had any problems or disasters (like faulty items or warranty issues)?

[Drifting]

I've had a recent run of problems with sizing of women's clothes from one of my most tried and true sources- llbean.com . They just can't seem to get it right. They are fine with men's stuff. Shipping back to the US is too expensive to bother with; I've just given stuff away, and not used them since for women's things.

[Ent]

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[Jellybean]

I looked at using shipito.com. This is a mail forwarding service. I had problems given that most suppliers require a contact number for shipping. The online stores sometimes have formatting rules for the phone number that prevent the entry of a number with an international prefix. Getting a virtual US phone number is not an ideal solution.

The phone number to provide to the supplier if you are using shipitto.com is their office number: 702-871-8678. I've never had any problems using that. (Generally, the only reason the supplier wants a phone number is to provide it to the agent shipping to shipitto.com, in case they have any delivery issues - no point trying to give them your number if they're shipping to shipitto.com! If the supplier needs to contract you about your order they'll use the email address you've provided.

[Drifting]

I've gotten excellent service from Hilleberg, Rock Creek, Moontrail and Backcountry.com, but have only placed one order with each.

[Franco]

I have problems buying clothing in the shops here in Melbourne, let alone trying to do that on line.
Of course it does not help that I usually do not remember my own size; still when I do that is not necessarily the "right" size.
For some obscure reason my wife was able to buy stuff for me that fitted the first time (?) I suspect witchcraft.
Franco

[randal]

Your Wife sounds like a goodly woman Franco - strange how they do that eh!
Randal.

[etrangere]

If wholesale in Aus is more than retail in the US, why don't local stores just buy from US retailers instead.

Last week: Asolo Flame in Tassie = $369, from US (including delivery and in AUD) = $211 - same boots.

Firestone Coil-rite air bag suspension thingys >$350 here, $<100 in the USA.

I won't buy footwear, a pack or small stuff like sporks etc. online, but otherwise I'm almost always going online these days.

I just bought some Asolo Flames at Main Peak here in Perth reduced from $400 to $199, if you are quick you might be able to order a pair online if you know your size. Comfy straight out of the box.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

In an effort to support our Australian companies when they are competitive, Paddy Pallin has 20% off for the next four days if you are a member.

I have been looking at getting the 120cm Black Diamond Ultra Distance hiking poles, but they have been $150 online and $200+ in Australia.

The sales brings them down to $160, so only $10 more than online - and no waiting, no warranty dramas, and supporting Australian business.

I might pull the trigger (anyone interested in buying one of the poles from me, because I only use one!).

A good example of where realistic prices will see people buy locally.

[Mandy]

Online shopping is not that bad actually. In addition to that I bought here a tent and outdoor gazebo, and for what I paid I got more than I expected! Fantastic quality and very fast service at a very reasonable price! I do not know whether you are agree, but the fact is that there are many satisfied online customers, as myself.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Hi Mandy.

I'm an absolute supporter of online shopping, and have bought the majority of my hiking gear online from overseas.

I just posted the above because there have been comments on this topic that people would support Australian retailers if the pricing was reasonable - so I thought this a good opportunity for people to do so - as the Paddy Pallin prices on the sale seem much more reasonable.

[Dale]

Online shopping is not that bad actually. In addition to that I bought here a tent and outdoor gazebo, and for what I paid I got more than I expected! Fantastic quality and very fast service at a very reasonable price! I do not know whether you are agree, but the fact is that there are many satisfied online customers, as myself.

Thanks for the link to the outdoor gazebo Mandy. It's only now that I've seen this that I realise something was missing from my gear list, and at 18kg it has little impact on my base weight

[Son of a Beach]

Actually, that outdoor gazebo looks pretty good for our car camping, with the extra walls added. Pity you can't get fly-screen versions of the walls. Maybe that will be a job for Evan at 'Terra Rosa Gear'.

[Mandy]

@ South_Aussie_Hiker - I know what you meant. I've just wanted to share and give an example of how you can buy quality equipment online for a reasonable price.
@ Dale - Well, I am sure 18kg is a piece of cake for you. Even I can take it on my back from my car to the site and you can't imagine how small and thin I am. Maybe, I can thank a gym for it

[ninjapuppet]

I want to share my experience with basegear.com.
They get my full thumbs up!

All my emails to them in the past have been answered promptly within 1 hour during their working hours. I forgot about their 20% off code when i made my recent order and they actually applied it retrospectively for me and refunded 20% back. Most of the goods were MSR and black diamond! I cant imagine other online stores doing that, or even allowing MSR/BD discounts. All orders from to them are shipped within 1 day. Their 20% off is supposed to be for first time customers only but it seems that they dont enforce that rule.

The only thing that peeved me was that there was no phone number to contact basegear, as I wanted to make ammendments to my order, but luckily they reply to their emails very quickly. I hope they keep their email customer service up.
Campsaver have screwed up many of my orders and ignored emails but thank god they have a phone number which rectifies problems when talking over the phone.

[Nuts]

Iv'e used basegear for several years. Great bunch, unfortunately I see they have started a list of brands excluded from the discounts (perhaps manufacturers watching forum posts?) they also always have a lot of gear 'out of stock'. Otherwise, yer good shoppies!