Questions about importing DVD's

[thinklink]

Hi everyone!
I have a few questions about importing DVD's from the United States and I hope someone can answer them.
Before you say anything.....Yes I do have a region free DVD player.
My questions are....What are import duties and taxes? Do they occur in Australia? How do I pay for them? and what do customs do to my imported DVD's before I receive them?
For example, here is an excerpt of Shipping Customs, Duties and Taxes from Amazon.com: "The recipient of an international shipment may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once a shipment reaches your country. Additional charges for customs clearance must be borne by the recipient; we have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they may be. Customs policies vary widely from country to country" - What does that all mean?

These may be stupid questions but I am absolutely clueless and am prepared to wear the "dumb" tag. If someone could help me answer these questions then it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys and gals!

[Idol Australian]

If I remember correctly, you will get a bill or some thing of the sort and have to pay that before you can pick up your imported items. You will be taxed depending on what it is and how much it costs.

I am not sure, as some friends of mine have imported before and I have a vague memory of them telling me about what they had to do to pick it up.

[·]

The importing duties and taxes are really only relevant if you are importing for commercial reasons or if you are importing things such as plants, medicine etc. etc.

For DVDs, books, video games, CDs etc. you don't really have to worry about it. I've imported many things over the years and I've never paid any sort of import tax nor have I ever received a letter telling me to do so.

[TheChimp]

Check out the customs website. I believe anything under $1000 AUD is the limit before you pay fees/tax/money of any sort.

[bigsim]

Check out the customs website. I believe anything under $1000 AUD is the limit before you pay fees/tax/money of any sort.

Yep, that's spot on. I've imported loads of stuff and never had any problems.

[thinklink]

Thanks so much guys! I felt like a dick asking but I guess they weren't stupid questions after all.........To a degree...........LOL