ok, simple. u sign up for vpostusa.they will gif u a vpost number and an address. u happily go shop on opt. when filling up the shipping details, u enter ur name as per given by vpost, then ur address as per the vpost address. pay for ur stuff as usual.
next, u email ur invoice to vpost, so that they can match ur order and fill up the performa invoice. then wait for ur stuff to reach vpost. once it reach vpost, gif them 3-7 days to match ur order. once matched, go make payment for the shipping and gst. once payment is made, wait another 3-7 days for the items to be shipped to u.
vpost charges abt 13.24 bucks and then 9.16 bucks per kg thereafter. the weight is based on both volume and actual weight, whichever is higher. dun worry too much abt ur scope, it's mostly actual weight. gif and take, estimate at least 30kg worth of stuff to be shipped. plan accordingly.
also gst is chargable on the CIF value. in which in ur case there's little u can do to avoid that. gst is chargable on items worth more than SGD$400. so if ur buying small items, plan accordingly. it may actually be cheaper to split up orders and pay the 13.24 over and over than to pay 7% on 400, which is 28 bucks. of course, there are other ways to avoid paying the gst, but that's for u to figure out.
~MooEy~
Celestron sale on OPT
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codenamejag
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:51 am
- Location: Bishan
hmmm.... lets say i order a scope for USD$999 which i'll convert to SGD by $1.42 which is = $1418.58
the item weighs about 30kgs...so $9.16x30= $274.80 +$13.24 = $288.04
price of scope + shipment = $1706.62
plus GST = $119.46 + $1706.62 = S$1826.08
this is the approximate price i get.... is the way i calculate correct??
do i hav to make any additional payments for OPT to send the items to Vpost? for saving about S$380 is it worth a try? has anyone tried buying through Vpost?
the item weighs about 30kgs...so $9.16x30= $274.80 +$13.24 = $288.04
price of scope + shipment = $1706.62
plus GST = $119.46 + $1706.62 = S$1826.08
this is the approximate price i get.... is the way i calculate correct??
do i hav to make any additional payments for OPT to send the items to Vpost? for saving about S$380 is it worth a try? has anyone tried buying through Vpost?
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Airconvent
- Super Moderator
- Posts: 5803
- Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:49 pm
- Location: United Federation of the Planets
yes. you need to pay the unit and shipping cost of the item to vpost, which in this case is their US shipping cost.codenamejag wrote:hmmm.... lets say i order a scope for USD$999 which i'll convert to SGD by $1.42 which is = $1418.58
the item weighs about 30kgs...so $9.16x30= $274.80 +$13.24 = $288.04
price of scope + shipment = $1706.62
plus GST = $119.46 + $1706.62 = S$1826.08
this is the approximate price i get.... is the way i calculate correct??
do i hav to make any additional payments for OPT to send the items to Vpost? for saving about S$380 is it worth a try? has anyone tried buying through Vpost?
The Boldly Go Where No Meade Has Gone Before
Captain, RSS Enterprise NCC1701R
United Federation of the Planets
Captain, RSS Enterprise NCC1701R
United Federation of the Planets
i have used vpost quite a few times. sometimes gd, sometimes bad. do note a few things.
if u gonan order alot of different items, make sure u tell ur merchant to only ship when all items are ready. i once got a big prob with split shipment. vpost somehow messed it up and double charge me on the gst part. and it took forever to get it resolved.
u can buy from multiple vendors, but make sure they ship out at roughly the same time, or else u may run into holding charges.
always severly overestimate the cost. add in 10-20% before u buy. u might run into issues such as online merchant prefers to be paid thru TT instead of card. also, 30kg is only a rough estimate of ur package. the online merchant may pack in even bigger boxes and ur shipping cost may skyrocket.
remember to send the invoice to vpost, and do state clearly which vendor it is. it's pretty hard for them to guess wat is the name of ur vendor.
do not send multiple invoices of the same purchases, esp if they are somehow different. they have the tendacy to screw up.
do check that ur card can actually make such purchases. somehow one of my card have a problem with payment due to some funny bank restriction. u dowan to have items holding and part of ur items unable to ship out due to payment problems.
and yes, richard is right, u have to pay opt to ship the items to ur vpost address. and that amt is gst chargable as well. u may wan to take advantage of items with free shipping.
do note, if u buy from multiple vendor, u can order up to SGD$400 from each merchant without paying gst. so go ahead and buy the scope from maybe orion/opt, then wack the accessories from other online merchant. as long as u dun exceed SGD$400 on each merchant, u can save quite abit of gst. So far i have luck with scopestuff, opt and orion. u might wan try other merchants as well.
another note, it might be nice to ordering stuff online together with someone else, so that u guys can ship together and split the 13.24, esp when it's small items, big items forget abt it, have to pay gst.
anyway, before u make the order, do check with astrobargains to see if they can offer u the same item for roughly the same price. sometimes it's nice to support our local dealers.
~MooEy~
if u gonan order alot of different items, make sure u tell ur merchant to only ship when all items are ready. i once got a big prob with split shipment. vpost somehow messed it up and double charge me on the gst part. and it took forever to get it resolved.
u can buy from multiple vendors, but make sure they ship out at roughly the same time, or else u may run into holding charges.
always severly overestimate the cost. add in 10-20% before u buy. u might run into issues such as online merchant prefers to be paid thru TT instead of card. also, 30kg is only a rough estimate of ur package. the online merchant may pack in even bigger boxes and ur shipping cost may skyrocket.
remember to send the invoice to vpost, and do state clearly which vendor it is. it's pretty hard for them to guess wat is the name of ur vendor.
do not send multiple invoices of the same purchases, esp if they are somehow different. they have the tendacy to screw up.
do check that ur card can actually make such purchases. somehow one of my card have a problem with payment due to some funny bank restriction. u dowan to have items holding and part of ur items unable to ship out due to payment problems.
and yes, richard is right, u have to pay opt to ship the items to ur vpost address. and that amt is gst chargable as well. u may wan to take advantage of items with free shipping.
do note, if u buy from multiple vendor, u can order up to SGD$400 from each merchant without paying gst. so go ahead and buy the scope from maybe orion/opt, then wack the accessories from other online merchant. as long as u dun exceed SGD$400 on each merchant, u can save quite abit of gst. So far i have luck with scopestuff, opt and orion. u might wan try other merchants as well.
another note, it might be nice to ordering stuff online together with someone else, so that u guys can ship together and split the 13.24, esp when it's small items, big items forget abt it, have to pay gst.
anyway, before u make the order, do check with astrobargains to see if they can offer u the same item for roughly the same price. sometimes it's nice to support our local dealers.
~MooEy~
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codenamejag
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:51 am
- Location: Bishan
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Fuzzball
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 5:30 pm
- Favourite scope: Celestron SCT Scopes
- Location: Singapore
- Contact:
Hi all
I recent ordered a Stanley Mobile Tool Box as I understand (in a thread in cloudy nights) that the box can fit my CPC 9.25. The cost of the product cost USD 89 (app. SGD$126). Lo and behold! the delivery charges quoted to me without the base charges was SGD524! I have since request that the goods be return to amazon. I feel the delivery charges are ridiculous!! 4.2 times!
I recent ordered a Stanley Mobile Tool Box as I understand (in a thread in cloudy nights) that the box can fit my CPC 9.25. The cost of the product cost USD 89 (app. SGD$126). Lo and behold! the delivery charges quoted to me without the base charges was SGD524! I have since request that the goods be return to amazon. I feel the delivery charges are ridiculous!! 4.2 times!
Welcome to the world of "volumetric weight"!Fuzzball wrote:Hi all
I recent ordered a Stanley Mobile Tool Box as I understand (in a thread in cloudy nights) that the box can fit my CPC 9.25. The cost of the product cost USD 89 (app. SGD$126). Lo and behold! the delivery charges quoted to me without the base charges was SGD524! I have since request that the goods be return to amazon. I feel the delivery charges are ridiculous!! 4.2 times!
[80% Steve, 20% Alfred] ------- Probability of Clear Skies = (Age of newest equipment in days) / [(Number of observers) * (Total Aperture of all telescopes present in mm)]