gjm

Received this from YouShop. I might disagree with the bit about 'competitive disadvantage' but I understand where they're coming from. Of course, if we weren't sometimes so thoroughly price-gouged we'd probably not be looking overseas for stuff anyway! As a YouShop customer, we want to keep you up to date about some upcoming policy changes from the New Zealand Government that will affect your YouShop experience.What’s changing?From 1 December 2019, all items purchased from overseas and shipped to your YouShop address will have 15% Goods & Services Tax (GST) applied. GST will be charged on the total value of the goods and YouShop services purchased. What does this mean to me if I’m using YouShop?If you’re buying from overseas retailers and shipping to your YouShop address, the retailer will not charge GST at the point of purchase (as they will not be aware that the items’ final destination is NZ). Instead, NZ Post will collect the GST on all purchases (irrespective of value) on behalf of the New Zealand Government, when you pay for your shipping to NZ through YouShop. If the value of your consignment* is over $1,000 then Customs may also collect duty (and GST on the amount of that duty) at the border. *A consignment is one or more parcels that have arrived together in New Zealand addressed to the same address/person. Why are these GST changes being made?With the growth of eCommerce, NZ businesses are at a competitive disadvantage compared to offshore suppliers, as they are required to collect GST on all sales, while overseas retailers don’t. These changes will help level the playing field for local businesses. Want more information?The New Zealand Government has released a comprehensive Q&A that explains these changes and the rationale behind them in greater detail. You can read this here.YouShop allows you to shop from any retailer in the U.S. and Europe and have it sent to your unique U.S. and U.K. address. So, even if the retailer doesn’t ship to New Zealand, YouShop will have you covered. It may even be cheaper to have your item shipped through YouShop over the retailer’s international shipping rates, so it’s always a good idea to check.

Same true of one or two Land Rover specialists down there, asking 2-3x what the vehicles are worth.

Alpina (had) manufactured (by Ronal) something very similar, but these are not Alpina or Ronal rims. They were available in 13, 14 and 15" diameters, typically in 6, 6.5 and 7" width. If they are for a 2002, I'd expect (offs)et to be 15 or so for the 7" rim, and 20-25 for the others.

Daily driver. Gotta be. I drive a 1989 5 litre V8 Mercedes every day - a 50km round trip of twisty rural roads, and decent highways. What's that? A BMW V12 wouldn't survive...? Seriously - this needs to be driven.

If I had that money to throw at that type of car, I'd be looking for a Mercedes W124 500E. And I'd be getting a lot of change... Buy carefully out of Japan (for example) and you'd be getting towards having a pair of cars for that price.

My issue is that a buyer needs to pre-empt an order by completing a form, and so on. If you're on eBay and see an auction ending in 20 minutes for a widget that you've been after forever, most people will bid. In every other country I've lived in that works - item is bought, shipped, possibly held at border for duty payment, and delivered. But not in NZ. Here you have to apply for a number before you can buy something! C'mon. WTF is that about? Why????

I know about the form, thresholds and so on, but only by originally having stumbled across it. I suspect the majority of people are surprised to be hit for duties on anything and won't have the faintest idea that you're supposed to register before buying anything of value. What purpose does this serve, other than to feed an already over-bureaucratic process? What is the different end result? Duties are still paid, but now there is more effort for everyone (other than the sender, but that's coming!) involved.

Most frustrating thing for me was the whole NZCS224 form that (apparently) must be used when purchasing anything with value over $1000. How is Joe Average supposed to know about this, and what happens if (s)he orders something with higher value, without completing the form ❓ And then the palaver about "Who is your customs agent?" comes into play. Why would I need a customs agent? I accept I'm being reamed for tax - just let me pay it!

The saddest thing is I suspect there are more people who don't want PG or JT (collectively) than do. But the significant number of Mayoral candidates will dilute the voting sufficiently that one or other is most likely to win. CL has made some excellent points, but he's certainly struggling to get the media representation that the big 2 receive. Talking to someone who was visiting Hawke's Bay from Auckland, they'd not heard of him. Whether he'd be a better prospect is another matter.

Our E46 320d could well be available... OK, 4 cylinders and automatic, but it'll do the around town bit very economically. Well within budget. Needs a WoF as it's not been used for a while. One of those 'I'll get around to it things' but until it's needed, it's not happened.

Offset difference doesn't appear to be a problem. (et35 for bottlecaps; et45 for the MX5.)

There's a black automatic 4-door on FB now, with peeling paint and mismatched wheels. $4200...

And this is the problem. So many E30s advertised are at least as bad as this one, and often at higher prices.

I think they're awesome. M3 junior. A pity (in my opinion) that BMW didn't make a lot more of them.

It was a nice idea, but seems unlikely to fit Miss M. Looks like a lovely jacket. GLWS.

@Miss M - probably fit you?

I like it.

Do excuse me, but I believe the word you were looking for is 'rassus'. Aint ne'er gonna bin nah racin' rarn hair. Fo shizzle. (Whatever that means.)