Amazon to the antipodes
July 5, 2013 4:07 AM Subscribe
Well-meant $400 Amazon voucher expires soon. Shipping is prohibitive to Australia. What small but expensive item/s can I buy to make this worthwhile? (I don't need or want a kindle or more books, already own a Leatherman, electrical appliances are out because of voltage issues).
You could order a tablet or other piece of consumer electronics & buy a local charger separately?
posted by pharm at 4:30 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by pharm at 4:30 AM on July 5, 2013
I was going to suggest jewelry or a watch as well. Amazon has a pretty nice selection of higher-end fashion watches.
posted by devinemissk at 4:34 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by devinemissk at 4:34 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Shipping is prohibitive to Australia
You may have to pay tax as well depending on how much you spend all at once.
Take a look at box sets and things like that, being particularly careful to look at how they are classified for shipping. For example, my husband bought a huge, heavy David Attenborough box set of DVDs and the shipping to NZ was calculated based on a single DVD so was really cheap. Same goes for a big Monty Python box set. Whereas he tried to buy an audio book that really was a single CD but it was listed as a book with high shipping to match. It can take a bit of time but you may find something you want that way.
Another way to look at it is: the money didn't cost you anything and is going to disappear regardless so just buy things with high shipping. Yeah you get less value for the money but you'll get something you want. I'm assuming it's a gift, so free either way, and even if it's not, the voucher is going to vanish so you're out the money anyway.
posted by shelleycat at 4:37 AM on July 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
You may have to pay tax as well depending on how much you spend all at once.
Take a look at box sets and things like that, being particularly careful to look at how they are classified for shipping. For example, my husband bought a huge, heavy David Attenborough box set of DVDs and the shipping to NZ was calculated based on a single DVD so was really cheap. Same goes for a big Monty Python box set. Whereas he tried to buy an audio book that really was a single CD but it was listed as a book with high shipping to match. It can take a bit of time but you may find something you want that way.
Another way to look at it is: the money didn't cost you anything and is going to disappear regardless so just buy things with high shipping. Yeah you get less value for the money but you'll get something you want. I'm assuming it's a gift, so free either way, and even if it's not, the voucher is going to vanish so you're out the money anyway.
posted by shelleycat at 4:37 AM on July 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
How about a nice digital camera? This Panasonic G5 with kit lens is $399. It's a pretty nice model, less than half a year old. Gets excellent reviews, and the price has come way down since it was released not too long ago at $699.
There are plenty of camera options to choose from, if that's at all interesting to you.
posted by syzygy at 4:58 AM on July 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
There are plenty of camera options to choose from, if that's at all interesting to you.
posted by syzygy at 4:58 AM on July 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
Kitchen knives? Not all ship to Australia, but some do ship (sometimes you just need to pick the right version of the product), and they are much better value for money than Australia, e.g. Wusthof 8" Classic Chef 's Knife.
posted by AnnaRat at 5:12 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by AnnaRat at 5:12 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I believe many electronics include their own step-up/down converters now, so you might just need a plug adapter (my powerboards are littered with them). Or you can buy a converter for ~$10 (although they are bigger).
Aside from that, how about clothes? Shoes, shirts, jeans... whatever. It's all MUCH cheaper over there. Not really "small", but not necessarily heavy, so maybe shipping won't be too prohibitive? Just beware of the difference between US and Australian sizes :)
posted by Diag at 5:20 AM on July 5, 2013
Aside from that, how about clothes? Shoes, shirts, jeans... whatever. It's all MUCH cheaper over there. Not really "small", but not necessarily heavy, so maybe shipping won't be too prohibitive? Just beware of the difference between US and Australian sizes :)
posted by Diag at 5:20 AM on July 5, 2013
Many items listed on Amazon.com Do NOT ship internationally.
However, all is not lost.
To help you on your shopping quest, input "amazon global eligible" in the Amazon search bar. Then click "Go". This will take you to a new page. There, you will see a list of product categories that contain items that can be shipped 'internationally' (Grocery & Gourmet Food, Health & Personal Care, Home & Kitchen, Beauty, Electronics, Books, Sports & Outdoors, Tools & Home Improvement, Video Games, Musical Instrument).
I don't know why cds or dvds aren't on that list. But you already know you can buy Amazon cds and dvds (?) in Oz. Sadly, cameras are an excluded category, worldwide
Hope that helps you.
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:31 AM on July 5, 2013 [6 favorites]
However, all is not lost.
To help you on your shopping quest, input "amazon global eligible" in the Amazon search bar. Then click "Go". This will take you to a new page. There, you will see a list of product categories that contain items that can be shipped 'internationally' (Grocery & Gourmet Food, Health & Personal Care, Home & Kitchen, Beauty, Electronics, Books, Sports & Outdoors, Tools & Home Improvement, Video Games, Musical Instrument).
I don't know why cds or dvds aren't on that list. But you already know you can buy Amazon cds and dvds (?) in Oz. Sadly, cameras are an excluded category, worldwide
Hope that helps you.
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:31 AM on July 5, 2013 [6 favorites]
Do you have any friends or family in the US who would help you with this? You could order something with high resale value (like an iPod) and have it delivered to the US, then have your contact sell it on eBay. You'd recoup a decent amount of cash, though obviously not the full $400.
posted by telegraph at 5:43 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by telegraph at 5:43 AM on July 5, 2013
If available you could purchase a gift card for a store or service that you could more easily use.
posted by jmsta at 6:04 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by jmsta at 6:04 AM on July 5, 2013
High-end in-ear headphones? (I've no guess how quickly the shipping gets ghastly, but the over-ear headphones aren't too heavy.)
posted by ambient2 at 6:35 AM on July 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by ambient2 at 6:35 AM on July 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
Why don't you sell the Amazon voucher on Ebay?
posted by amf at 6:36 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by amf at 6:36 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Downloadable apps & stuff from their software section.
I don't know all the issues with software export and all that, but Amazon has fairly good pricing. Not the best (I have found better deals elsewhere) but certainly better than retail.
posted by lampshade at 7:04 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't know all the issues with software export and all that, but Amazon has fairly good pricing. Not the best (I have found better deals elsewhere) but certainly better than retail.
posted by lampshade at 7:04 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm an Aussie, who has a boss who thinks that everyone likes to get their Xmas bonus in Amazon gift card form. My last purchase was a Netgear ReadyNAS. No voltage issues because it uses an AC adapter. I had to replace the US power cable with an Aussie power cable, but that's no problem as I have literally 100s of these in my garage.
I know that the ReadyNAS can be had cheaper from an Aussie supplier, but it's a gift card, it's free money, and like you I didn't need a (or want) a Kindle. I also resent the absolutely ridiculous shipping charges placed by Amazon on physical books, so those were right out.
Another idea - how about a nice solid state drive for your laptop?
posted by humpy at 7:53 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I know that the ReadyNAS can be had cheaper from an Aussie supplier, but it's a gift card, it's free money, and like you I didn't need a (or want) a Kindle. I also resent the absolutely ridiculous shipping charges placed by Amazon on physical books, so those were right out.
Another idea - how about a nice solid state drive for your laptop?
posted by humpy at 7:53 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Software, RAM for a computer, USB keys, memory cards for cameras/phone, SSD hard drive & USB adapter for backup. It's pleasant to have really great windshield wipers, which i would never buy for myself, but might get with a gift card. They have music & movies, too. Or use it to buy gifts now to give later?
posted by theora55 at 8:02 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by theora55 at 8:02 AM on July 5, 2013
Isn't Breville an Australian company? Buy something of theirs.
posted by oceanjesse at 8:09 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by oceanjesse at 8:09 AM on July 5, 2013
Get yourself a nice set of keychain survival (a.k.a. EDC, or everyday carry) tools. Most of the things in my EDC can be bought on Amazon.
posted by limeonaire at 8:20 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by limeonaire at 8:20 AM on July 5, 2013
Some of the answers in this very recent (non-Amazon-specific) thread about what to buy in Australia could also be helpful.
posted by limeonaire at 8:23 AM on July 5, 2013
posted by limeonaire at 8:23 AM on July 5, 2013
Two thoughts:
1) Trad it on one of the many Gift Card Trading sites
2) Buy gifts for friends that Amazon ships to affordably
posted by jander03 at 11:42 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
1) Trad it on one of the many Gift Card Trading sites
2) Buy gifts for friends that Amazon ships to affordably
posted by jander03 at 11:42 AM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Might you have better luck with the shipping if you used the Amazon Japan site? Or Amazon India?
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:23 PM on July 5, 2013
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:23 PM on July 5, 2013
I don't know if you can do this internationally, but you can get magazine subscriptions on Amazon in the U.S.
What's the climate like in your neck of the woods? A nice winter coat/boots could eat up a lot of that $400.
Luggage is another good investment.
posted by elizeh at 6:26 PM on July 5, 2013
What's the climate like in your neck of the woods? A nice winter coat/boots could eat up a lot of that $400.
Luggage is another good investment.
posted by elizeh at 6:26 PM on July 5, 2013
I would spend this on good headphones and maybe an amp. If you've never had a really good pair before it may change your life; at the very least, it'll be a really enjoyable luxury item. Do your research, though, so as not to fall prey to marketing. Try the head-fi.org forums.
posted by a birds at 7:33 PM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by a birds at 7:33 PM on July 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Board games. They're twice the price here. Pandemic, Forbidden Island, Escape Curse of the Temple, Descent, Arkham Horror, Zombicide, Ticket to Ride, Mice and Mystics, Tokaido, Super Dungeon Explore...
Watches.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:57 AM on July 6, 2013
Watches.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 12:57 AM on July 6, 2013
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A watch? Jewellery? Small-ish leather goods? Some software? Or games/music that is digital?
Could you buy a new voucher with the old one? Or try to sell it on Ebay.com?
posted by travelwithcats at 4:28 AM on July 5, 2013