What Jim means is the tax increases on this end for items imported through an importer. In the past many of us have shipped items that would have cost too much to post via a third party importer, usually the same bloke we used to bring bikes in from the USA. In August the government decided it wanted more of the pie so they changed the way imported items were taxed. I still don't fully understand the new system but I learned the hard way a couple of weeks ago that it's probably now cheaper to mail small items. Like Jim I got hit a beauty......I imported two petrol tanks and a swing arm and got hit $340 for the pleasure. In the past I'd have paid $100 tops for the same shipment. On Monday I have to pick up part two of my shipment, a cylinder, another swingarm and a pair of Rickman hubs and I expect to be hit up a similar amount. Sadly, the cost savings of importing parts via an importer seem to be a thing of the past. Ironically, importing a bike isn't affected as much as long as the stated value is under $1000.
