Thread: Importing a Proxxon PD 400 Lathe

I am thinking about getting one of these. The price is about $3750.00 and about $165.00 shipping. Retail price in Australia is around $6450.00 so quite a difference. What would I be up for regarding import duty and GST on something like this?

I relocated my mini lathe and mini mill along with other stuff under a transfer of residence that is exempt from any import taxes since I owned the equipment for more than 12 months.

It was a simple declaration on the import documents that the relocation agent was managing.

I will say, that is a lot of money for a mini lathe especially when you are importing it.

Proxxon is not really a brand name associated with metal working equipment.

90% of their products are no longer actually made in Germany, but simply assembled to some extent in Germany.

Their most famous product used to be the IBS/E rotary grinder and there was a period when we heard so many horror stories of 110v motors and boards being packaged into a 220v rated model.

My previous comment is more focused around warranty claims which is something I will want with a variable speed controller driven lathe.

99% sure there is no import duty on machine tools, as we have no industry to protect. GST is 10% of purchase price + shipping. that shipping cost seems very cheap for a item that size.

If you have your heart set on the PD400 then you may want to consider this:

Proxon mini lathe PD400 and Shield | Miscellaneous Goods | Gumtree Australia Goulburn City - Goulburn | 1322845283

$2800 @NSW

Appears to be in mint condition with a range of tooling.

Check whether the $165 delivery fee is air freight or sea freight.
If it’s airfreight (unlikely given the size and weight but you could get lucky) you are only up for GST.
If it’s sea freight you then need to know whether the delivery is to your residence or to Port of Brisbane.
If it’s to your residence you are only up for GST.
If it’s to PoB talk to a customs agent (you will need one anyway if you go ahead) re probable landing costs, it could easily run to $1000 +GST.
BTDT.

Over $1000 imported, you have to pay GST, any duty (may be zero, look up tariff exemption and find the right code if there is an exemption) and a processing fee.

Processing fee on my recent shipments was about $88 which is bloody annoying

$999 import ends up being 1,098.9 with GST
(Note if less than $1000, GST is collected by the seller or marketplace if registered. So GST may not apply
Over $1000, GST is collected at the border)

$1001 import ends up being 1,189.1 with GST and processing fee (plus any duty)

Originally Posted by kafie1980

If you have your heart set on the PD400 then you may want to consider this:

Not a bad price with all the extras but too far from me to consider.

I came across this site while searching for Proxxon lathes -

https://shopping.mercatos.com/en/pro...delivery_to=AU

Is this a legitimate site? The price is good. Maybe too good to be true.

Axminster Tools in the UK will supply the PD400 for $5750.00 which includes all taxes and duties. My Tool Store here in Australia will only come down to $6200.00. I'm very tempted to get it from them. They even air freight which will take about six days.

Axminster has been in the business for a fairly long time and I have been visiting their website for over a decade now. They are safe to deal with in that they are a legit business.

Having sad that I have seen a fair few companies change their work ethics recently and they no longer stand by their products especially in cases where this involves a customer that simply cannot walk back in with their defective product (I have been pushed under the bus by 2 vendors in the past year and prefer to keep their names and products anonymous for now).

For a substantial purchase, my preference and advice is to buy locally. At the least for warranty/replacement/return you are protected.

As I mentioned earlier, Proxxon is not a big name in the machining industry.

I have seen a fair few Proxxon tools in the flesh and they are very light duty for the most part even if they claim precision.

Hobby grade is how I will describe it.

And that is a lot of money for a hobby grade lathe.

Just because they are made in Germany, it doesn’t place them at the same level as Deckel or Schaublin or Emco or Weiler.

Think of it as comparing a Metabo drill chuck with a Rohm chuck or let’s take it to the next level with a Albrecht chuck thinking they are all made in Germany.

Nev you've gotta be bonkers $450 difference from local to imported on a $6000 machine plus you'll have no warranty and need to change the plug, i have looked at the Praxxon machines never in person but online and they come across as toy'ish

That $6200 will get you this beast

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/k008

Or even this 300mm lathe mill machine this thing is wicked and will machine more than plastic..


https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/k149

Buy once as they say..

Originally Posted by gazza2009au

Nev you've gotta be bonkers

I am. Not getting a Proxxon now. Just thought I wanted a smallish quality lathe, but these just cost too much.

Yeah i don't know what makes the Praxxon so expensive

Originally Posted by kafie1980

Axminster has been in the business for a fairly long time and I have been visiting their website for over a decade now. They are safe to deal with in that they are a legit business.

Having sad that I have seen a fair few companies change their work ethics recently and they no longer stand by their products especially in cases where this involves a customer that simply cannot walk back in with their defective product (I have been pushed under the bus by 2 vendors in the past year and prefer to keep their names and products anonymous for now).

For a substantial purchase, my preference and advice is to buy locally. At the least for warranty/replacement/return you are protected.

As I mentioned earlier, Proxxon is not a big name in the machining industry.

I have seen a fair few Proxxon tools in the flesh and they are very light duty for the most part even if they claim precision.

Hobby grade is how I will describe it.

And that is a lot of money for a hobby grade lathe.

Just because they are made in Germany, it doesn’t place them at the same level as Deckel or Schaublin or Emco or Weiler.

Think of it as comparing a Metabo drill chuck with a Rohm chuck or let’s take it to the next level with a Albrecht chuck thinking they are all made in Germany.

Made in Germany?

Originally Posted by LexD

Made in Germany?

Hard to believe that a mini lathe is made in Germany? I think it’s obvious from the price tag.

Yes, most of the old Proxxon tools were made in Germany.

My latest Proxxon IBS/E rotary tool which is one of their flagship products has a made in the EU label on it and costs double what a Dremel in the same size range costs.

Here is a full catalog of their products product line for reference clearly stating that Lathes and Mills are made in Germany and other power tools are made in the EU:

https://www.proxxon.com/pdf/download...k&reqsrc=hlink