Best
for Birding...
FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Hi
Thanks
for your confirmation of dispatch. You've been really
helpful -
once again - thank you.
Maureen |
Can
I shop in person?
Absolutely.
Our shop is open to Birds Australia members and the general public.
Give us a call if you've seen something in our on-line catalogue
to confirm it's in stock before you come down to see us. Check
our opening hours and address details on the About Us page by
clicking on the tab above.
If
you take into account the generally weak state of the Australian
dollar you can save by shopping on-line through us and using the
exchange rate to your advantage! Visit the live currency
converter to check your currency against the AUD.
How
do I place an order on-line?
Visit
the on-line catalogue or download in pdf format. Jot down the
item ID number followed by a short description of the item, and
size/colour if applicable - then go to the order page. You
can fill in the on-line form and click on send or you can download
the order form in .doc format (Microsoft Word required for this)
fill it in and email back as an attachment. We also have
the secure site Pay pal that you can pay securely through - just
click on the buttons on the order page. We'll reply to confirm
receipt of these e-mail's.
What
about the GST?
Our
listed prices are in Australian dollars (AUD) and include the
Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10%. The GST is a broad based
consumption tax introduced by the Australian Government in July
2000. It replaced a whole range of wholesale sales taxes
and ensures that pretty much everything with the exception of
food products is taxed at 10%.
Australian
Shoppers: If items are being delivered to an Australian address
the GST is due and payable on all items available at The Birding
Shop.
Travelling
overseas?
The
Tourist Refund Scheme allows overseas tourists leaving Australia,
as well as Australian's travelling overseas, to claim a refund
of the GST portion of certain purchases. Purchases must be made
within 30 days of travel, must be over $300 in total and the item
must be carried in your hand luggage when travelling. Please contact
us for more details.
Overseas
shoppers: If you're from an address outside Australia you
do not pay the GST. If we are sending items to an overseas address
you are able to purchase without the GST.
To
work out our prices without the GST, simply divide the price of
the item by 1.1. GST will be automatically deducted when processing
international orders. It's that easy to shop tax free from
Australia.
Can
I pay you through a secure site?
We've
been actively reviewing and researching available 'secure server'
facilities for a number of months now. We have found Paypal is
secure and is being used by thousands of people around the world.
Our
top tips for shopping on-line with a credit card:
1.
Only shop with reputable companies. If they won't tell you their
address somewhere on their site they don't want to be traced.
2.
Arrange a low credit-limit card with your bank for use exclusively
on-line so that if somebody unscrupulous attains your card details
they can only run up a small debt in your name.
3.
Check your card statement carefully and report any irregularities
to your bank immediately.
Do
you sell nest boxes?
No
we don't sell these at the present moment. The nest boxes are
too bulky for mailing and need to be quite species-specific
to encourage breeding.
Can
I buy a parrot or other Australian native bird from you?
Definitely
not! The Birding Shop strongly discourages the illegal trade of
Australian native birds and we also discourage the keeping of
caged birds - the best place for our magnificent bird life is
the Australian bush, beach, mangrove or other natural environment.
Captive-bred birds are expensive overseas for a reason -
the risk taken to attain the initial breeding stock by illegal
means must be reimbursed somehow.
It
is against the law to export live Australian native flora and
fauna without a dedicated approval/permit.
How
long until I receive my order?
For
Australian orders we stockpile our mail and despatch once or twice
a week depending on how busy we are. For overseas orders, we send
the item as soon as payment has been verified. From there, it
can take 3-10 business days for full rate Airmail, and 2-4 weeks
for Economy Airmail, depending on Australia Post and your local
country's postal service. Please state if the order is urgent.
Express
Post is available upon request, (within Australia only). This
Australia Post service guarantee's overnight delivery to certain
locations within Australia.
How
come I don't receive a reply to my e-mail straight away?
Usually,
the reason you don't receive a reply to your e-mail straight away
is related to the time zone. We check our e-mails four to five
times a day during business hours, but, if you've placed your
order on-line from the US on a Friday it's already Saturday in
Australia so we won't check our e-mail until Monday. Also, European
and US customers should note that when it's daytime in your part
of the world we're sound asleep in Australia and vice versa so
this can sometimes cause delays in our response time. If you have
not heard from us within 3-5 days, please send us a quick email
to confirm that we've received your order.
Ph +61 (0)3 9813 5488 / Fax +61 (0)3 9813 1744