Shipping CPAP from the US to Australia

[sionghua]

Hi, I live in Australia and I found that cpap.com really has some very cheap machines compared to Australia. I am wondering has anyone actually bought a CPAP machine from them and shipped to Australia? What are the charges - freight, tax & duties? Thanks.

[billbolton]

Hi, I live in Australia and I found that cpap.com really has some very cheap machines compared to Australia. I am wondering has anyone actually bought a CPAP machine from them and shipped to Australia? What are the charges - freight, tax & duties? Thanks.

Keep in mind that if you buy a CPAP machine from the US, you may not have any warranty coverage on it in Australia. Since the two largest CPAP manufacturers have both had recalls on some of their machines over recent times, this is a non-trivial issue.

I don't know what the fully loaded commercial cost of shipping from a commercial supplier is likely to be (as it would probably have some costs for packing and handling), but the USPS postal service charge for Expedited Air Mail from Los Angeles to Sydney for a ~15lb package was about USD $87, which included $750 insurance cover.

If an incoming postal item to Australia has a declared value of less than AUD $1000, then it will usually not attract Australian Customs Duty and Australian Sales tax. Customs does do random checks on incoming postal items, so if they inspect a package and think the declared value has been set artificially low to avoid the duty threshold, they will usually hit you with duty, tax and a fine..... so it is essential that you have a commercial invoice from the supplier which indicates its actual sale price.

Cheers,

Bill

[GreenIce]

Hi, I live in Australia and I found that cpap.com really has some very cheap machines compared to Australia. I am wondering has anyone actually bought a CPAP machine from them and shipped to Australia? What are the charges - freight, tax & duties? Thanks.

I have no idea, what Australia custom tax & duties charges since I am from Malaysia. If you intend to buy from cpap.com, they will only send via UPS international for outside US purchase. To find out roughly how much the shipping charges, go to the UPS website, register and find the page that's calculate the shipping charges (web page titled : Calculate Time and cost). cpap.com is located in Houston, get the zip code (post code) for calculation.

http://www.ups.com

https://www.cpap.com/contact.php

For example, I have purchase M Series AFLEX APAP + Optilife, weigh about 8.5 pounds cost me about USD$163 from US to Malaysia.

Hope this helps.

[sionghua]

Hi,

I am also originally from Malaysia. I had only came to Australia last year. I did checked UPS and Australian custom and found that I don't have to pay tax and the freight is about US$100. Thanks for all the help. I wish I hadn't done so many surgeries in Malaysia (septoplasty+partial turbinectomy and UP3), I could had easily used those money to buy a cpap machine from cpap.com last time and they don't even cost as much as the surgeries. By the way does it comes with a voltage converter that you can simply plug into a socket with an socket adapter?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, cpap.com

[blarg]

Send a PM to the forum member DSM. He's been through the process multiple times. He might be able to give you a better idea of the specifics involved in the process.

[GreenIce]

Hi,

I am also originally from Malaysia. I had only came to Australia last year. I did checked UPS and Australian custom and found that I don't have to pay tax and the freight is about US$100. Thanks for all the help. I wish I hadn't done so many surgeries in Malaysia (septoplasty+partial turbinectomy and UP3), I could had easily used those money to buy a cpap machine from cpap.com last time and they don't even cost as much as the surgeries. By the way does it comes with a voltage converter that you can simply plug into a socket with an socket adapter?

It's good to know some one from Malaysia on the forum. My doctor advise me to use xPAP, since surgery is not going to help me. According to him, I have a short chin, "born to be sleep apnea". However the xPAP & mask price here is double or triple compare to US, that's why I buy from cpap.com .

If you are referring to M Series AFLEX, the power adaptor is voltage switchable from 110 V to 240 V. It should work in Australia (it work in Malaysia). You have to get an socket adaptor since Australia socket is different from the rest of the world. Most CPAP have voltage switchable supply for travelling purposes.

[billbolton]

Australia socket is different from the rest of the world.

Its one of the more widely used power connectors in world terms, being deployed throughout much of the Oceania region and in China.

Cheers,

Bill

[GreenIce]

Australia socket is different from the rest of the world.

Its one of the more widely used power connectors in world terms, being deployed throughout much of the Oceania region and in China.

Cheers,

Bill

Maybe I got it wrong, Bill. The last time I was in Sydney, more 10 years ago, I remember the electrical sockets and plugs were different.

[Guest]

Buy from your local authorized (key word) Respironics dealer or homecare company.

[dsm]

Send a PM to the forum member DSM. He's been through the process multiple times. He might be able to give you a better idea of the specifics involved in the process.

Blarg,

Got the PM - will respond here for the benefit of others in a similar boat.

Over the past 2.5 years, I have used UPS, Fedex, & USPS to bring various xPap machines (& other items) to Australia.

Everyone of the xPAPs (all brands) including some antiques, run on 120-240 volts. All that takes to get working is a local power cord. Cost of them varies between free to $A15.

As for who provides the cheapest & best service to Australia. Without any doubt that is USPS using GEM but cpap.com use either UPS or Fedex (can't recall which) and they take days longer than USPS and charge up to twice the cost. They are the worst services I have used & I avoid them anytime I can.

USPS GEM link
http://www.usps.com/international/globa ... anteed.htm

But if you buy from cpap.com you have to stick with the carrier they use & the service that carrier provides.

USPS with GEM Guaranteed delivery will get your package to Australia in 3 working days & in over 20 deliveries this past 2 years have not missed that quite incredible feat.

CUSTOMS
If the shipper writes that it is 'Medical equipment - CPAP' on the box, there are no taxes or duty.

But, if you are not known to the customs inspectors, they may want to look in your package, they stopped doing that to mine mid last year.

So my advice is, ask cpap,com if they will ship via USPS GEM postage as this has been pointed out as the best & lowest cost service as experienced by other cpapers & their tracking information is about the best as well.

If they won't, then you are stuck with the higher charges & poorer service of their preferred carrier.

Good luck.

DSM

#2 PS

Thought I would add more detail re my experience using cpap.com's preferred carrier. I bought a Remstar Auto in mid 2005. Was given a price for shipping the item (about $120 (USPS would have been about $70-80)) Then when it arrived (after about 8 days compared to USPS's 3-5) the carrier demanded I pay customs clearance fees. I said that they were not quoted to me and this was a mail delivery. Then for 3 months I got threatening debt recovery letters until I wrote to the local MD of the company telling him that what I paid was what was agreed & even that was expensive. They then dropped the debt recovery threats.

So again I say, insist they use USPS GEM - fast, well tracked, best cost, reliable, no fights over hidden charges
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap.com, CPAP, Power

[sionghua]

I contacted cpap.com and they insists on using UPS, does anyone knows of other reputable online cpap discounter from the States? If they are willing to ship by USPS then I can save $100 on postage and it may cover the price difference. Anyone tried cpapwholesale.com?

Hi DSM, how much did UPS demand of the extra payment from you?

[cpapernewbie]

sionghua
glad to meet somebody from Malaysia

I frequently visited Malaka to visit family

UPS is the worst shipper when it comes to out of ZUS. They charged customs clearance cost of about $50 for items that has no market value

I have bought item from several on line CPAP sho[ps and am very happy with these 2:

1.
Andrew Senske
http://www.cpap-supply.com
888-955-CPAP

ypu can chat first with Andrew or one of his staff before buying. Last time, I requested shipment by USPS and they comply. A happy buying expereince and have bought twice for my supplies

2.

Cpap Supplies Plus/Direct
http://www.cpapplus.com


10481 164th Place
Orland Park, IL 60467
877-791-3195 toll free
708-364-0166 fax

I bough masks from this compnay at a very good price. Due to some mistake, they made special calls to me and made special effort to rectify problems and then communicate continously

[sionghua]

cpap-supply.com also has price matching and accept paypal. Not bad.

[(guest) greenice]

sionghua
glad to meet somebody from Malaysia

I frequently visited Malaka to visit family

Hello cpapernewbie ! Glad to know another "cpaper" from Malaysia. I have no troubles with UPS. The only problem was there was no description on the invoice, so UPS (KLIA) contact me for details. I just declared it as "Medical device" and no custom/duty was imposed in Malaysia.

I have already made three purchases from cpap.com, so far so good. I think UPS service is OK. In the past I have some experience with other courier services such Fedex or DHL. Most of the time is the custom problem, just make sure the goods are declared properly.

I am unable to login since last night, temporary login as guest for now.

[sionghua]

I found that USPS
Priority Mail® International
Priority Mail® Flat Rate Box
are much more cheaper, anyone used it before?