Buying Bose QC2 noise cancelling headphones - any suggestions for the best price?

[tinky]

Hello all,

I'm looking at buying some of the Bose QC2 noise cancelling headphones. Could anyone suggest the best/cheapest place to buy them?

I have seen them for $299 USD on amazon.com but unfortunately they won't deliver these to Austraila. The retail price in Australia is $499 and i'm not really keen on paying over $150 more if I don't have to.

No international travel planned for me for at least a year (I just got back from overseas and couldn't believe that Las Vegas, LA or Sydney did not sell the Bose headphones in the airport )

thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[NM]

US$299 is about as cheap as they get. You could look on ebay. Of do you know someone in the USA who can ship them to you?

 

[simongr]

Have you considered other options than active noise cancelling? I knwo NM raves about the Shures but I use Ultimate Ears which ar eavailable from the Apple store for about $150 (how convenient ). They are in ear and block external noise rather than cancelling. The advantage of the Ultimate ears is that the cables are replaceable.

 

[tinky]

Have you considered other options than active noise cancelling? I knwo NM raves about the Shures but I use Ultimate Ears which ar eavailable from the Apple store for about $150 (how convenient ). They are in ear and block external noise rather than cancelling. The advantage of the Ultimate ears is that the cables are replaceable.

Thanks for the suggestion and information (I love how helpful this forum is)but I'm not really a fan of the in ear headphones, I find them too uncomfortable (especially on a long flight).

 

[tinky]

US$299 is about as cheap as they get. You could look on ebay. Of do you know someone in the USA who can ship them to you?

Do I have to worry about paying duty when they come through customs?

 

[opusman]

There's an (unwritten - I think) rule that customs won't collect GST less than $50, so anything up to at least $500 should be safe (possibly even more). No duty would apply on something like this.

 

[simongr]

I believe you can bring up to $900 worth of goods without paying GST.

duty free concession

 

[simongr]

Thanks for the suggestion and information (I love how helpful this forum is)but I'm not really a fan of the in ear headphones, I find them too uncomfortable (especially on a long flight).

Not a problem - I like teh smallness of the in ear as I use for everyday use on the iPod as well.

 

[NM]

Do I have to worry about paying duty when they come through customs?

In my experience, so long as the declared value is less than about A$500, there is no GST collected when importing via post.

Do note that some freight companies include the GST payment in their shipping fee using the excuse that they pay it for you when the goods come into Australia. This can be a great little earner for them since they collect it from you and don't have to pay it to Australian Customs.

For this reason I normally request that people use the US Postal Service (USPS) when sending things to me from the USA. USPS does not pre-collect the GST and they postage rates are generally lower than options like FedEx and UPS.

 

[NM]

Thanks for the suggestion and information (I love how helpful this forum is)but I'm not really a fan of the in ear headphones, I find them too uncomfortable (especially on a long flight).

Evreyone is different (thankfully). I find it is the other way around for me.

 

[serfty]

There's an (unwritten - I think) rule that customs won't collect GST less than $50, so anything up to at least $500 should be safe (possibly even more). No duty would apply on something like this.

No, this changed in February 2005.

If an allowance for any category is exceeded, the full amount of duty becomes payable on that cetegory(i.e. The Categories' allowance is effectively revoked).

More here:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/changes-to-duty-free-allowances-5236.html
• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/warning-duty-free-allowance-into-5426.html

 

[opusman]

But is there any duty on noise-cancelling headphones? Only certain items are dutiable (duty is distinct from GST).

 

[serfty]

In reality, for headphones there would only be TAX as in (GST).

Other type of goods may have applicable Duties/Excises (e.g. Most Beverages containing Alcohol).

 

[opusman]

In reality, for headphones there would only be TAX as in (GST).

Other type of goods may have applicable Duties/Excises (e.g. Most Beverages containing Alcohol).

Ok, so since we're talking about headphones, why is anything that I said wrong?

Not having a go, just confused...

 

[tinky]

I just realised I need to add sales tax on if delivering to the US from the Bose site directly. I assume this applies to any amazon orders too? Does anyone know for sure?

I've never bought from amazon before but have friends who have.

thanks again

 

[serfty]

... why is anything that I said wrong? ...

Never indicated anything was wrong; I just answer your question:

But is there any duty on noise-cancelling headphones?

Cheers ...

 

[simongr]

I just realised I need to add sales tax on if delivering to the US from the Bose site directly. I assume this applies to any amazon orders too? Does anyone know for sure?

I've never bought from amazon before but have friends who have.

thanks again

As Amazon don't have a retail outlet at the point of delivery no US sales tax will be due. E.g. if you want to buy a mac get it on line at Amazon and have it delivered to NY.

 

[Chucksta]

Has anyone here upgraded their pair of QC2 to the new QC3?

How does it compare? Is it more/less comfortable?

 

[NM]

Has anyone here upgraded their pair of QC2 to the new QC3?

How does it compare? Is it more/less comfortable?

The QC3 is not really an "upgrade" from the QC2. The real difference is that the QC2 are "over the ear" style, while the QC3 are "on the ear" style. The noise cancelling technology and audio characteristics are the same. So it comes down to the style you personally find most comfortable. Some prefer the QC2 style and some prefer the QC3 style.

 

[beardoc]

In my experience, so long as the declared value is less than about A$500, there is no GST collected when importing via post.

It's actually less than AUD1000, not AUD500.

When buying over the internet