Rhys, that would be the second Bongo that I know of in Oz. A guy by the name of Scott in Melbourne bought one a coupla week back.
As for your import procedure question, here's a cut and paste from some info I've written up for other bass forums on importing basses to Australia ....
FACTS:
The standard tariff listing shows basses as being liable for import duty of 5%, however this is not the case, provided you can quote the correct information. When Maton stopped making electric basses in 1993 the import duty on solid body basses was dropped.
You or your customs broker (or your freight company) need to quote the following Tariff Concession -
TC 9305368
Tariff 9207.90.00
Electric Bass Guitar, solid body
Operative date 23/4/93
Declaration date 1/10/93
This TCO is eligible for Item 50A
Link to tariff concession info ...
http://www.customs.gov.au/resources/tariff_docs/TC 92.pdf
The above Tariff Concession is a customs ruling that overrides the original 5% duty rate.
When talking to your freight company or customs broker (see below), you might need to specifically refer them to the above info, since they will probably just check the standard listing and assume it's 5%.
So, if you are importing a bass into Australia, you don't pay any import duty, however you are still up for the following costs -
* GST: 10% of the total purchase price + shipping cost. You'll need to provide an invoice or receipt so they can calculate this.
* Customs clearance fees: NB. Only required if the total purchase price + shipping is AU$1000 or more. A customs broker will charge around $100 for this. If you ship using Fedex or most other large freight companies they will do the customs clearance paperwork for you, usually for less than a customs broker will charge.
Don't be scared. It's not a complex process - it just sounds complex.
Example A: Bass shipped using EMS international post. Price AU$700 + shipping AU$150. You will receive a card in your letter box telling you to front up to your post office with ID and proof of purchase. You pay AU$85 and they give you the bass.
Example B: Bass shipped using EMS international post. Price AU$1200 + shipping AU$150. You will receive a card in your letter box telling you that because the total value of the "consignment" exceeds $1000, you will need to arrange customs clearance. Look in the Yellow Pages and speak to a customs broker. You fax them the card from Australia Post plus your invoice/receipt. The customs broker will phone you when they've calculated how much you owe (in this case $135 + their fee). You deposit the total into the customs broker's bank account or pay by credit card over the phone, then the customs broker submits the customs clearance electronically. You then go to your local customs office (or post office) and pick up the bass. Getting a customs clearance is a fast same day process, depending on how quick you pay the customs broker.
Example C: Bass shipped using Fedex or UPS. Price AU$2000 + shipping AU$350. If you have the tracking number you can view the progress of your bass online. Phone Fedex, quote your tracking number, and they will tell you how much you owe, which will be GST of $235, plus customs processing fees, which will be up to $100. This includes a quarantine fee. You pay Fedex with your credit card over the phone, and they deliver the bass to you overnight.
IMPORTANT: For a bass with a bolt on neck, it's FAR cheaper to unbolt the neck and ship it in two separate packages, since it will then be able to be shipped via USPS Air Mail, for less than US$100. A bass in a case exceeds the size limits, and must be sent via Fedex or UPS, for around US$250.
WHY I KNOW THIS STUFF: So far, I've imported 7 basses from overseas. I had a Greco Rick copy, a Greco Thunderbird copy and an Orville EB3 copy shipped from Japan via EMS international post, which is very good value. For some reason, Japan is the only country that will allow something as long as a bass to be shipped via EMS post.
I bought an Gibson EB-4L in hard case from the US, which came via Fedex nice and cheap (US$100) because the buyer used his company account. A few weeks ago I shipped a Gibson Ripper in hard case from the US via UPS, and it cost US$250 for shipping. A Fender '54 Precision reissue came unbolted via USPS Air Mail in two packages for US$70, and I've got a Stingray on the way at the moment unbolted in two packages via USPS for US$80 shipping.
