[CR]Rant on Int.payments, shipping and $5 gal. gas

Hi Crew, Plenty of things to be put in an Antipodean perspective. I have to agree with my mafioso partner in crime - Ben aka bici-pimp that restrictions, conditions of sale, payment and massive plus contradictory shipping fees only make the market smaller for desirable collectables. Please read on and you will see by an experience I had a year ago that while the journey can be rough - its worth it for the ride. Purchased on Ebay a bike from Switzerland. Bad photo - cell phone job. Poor description - 'Colner' and 'used'. Listed in Pounds and only attracted a few Pommie bidders.I photoshopped the image and it appeared to be a C35 Colnago with gold group 35th C Record Cobalto.(Sorry Dale OT?) Bagged it for equivalent of $1000US. Patting myself on the back was informed that postage (Swiss Postal Service) to this wide brown land (Oztralia) was a mere $950US. This is where it gets interesting. Had the guy send it in two boxes to a friend in Holland for $40US. Turned it around to Oz for a further $120US. Whole deal $1160. Had some interesting tax/vat issues in Holland that were fixed with a carton of smokes and had the whole bike sent to me as my 'own property' and came straight to the post office box I use. To see the actual bike - check http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/gts753/my_photos and while your at it check the recent ebay auction for a bike not half of its pedigree that finished at $9950 ebay item # 7230359108 - definately worth the hassle and glad that everyone thought the process too difficult to wade through. Point of the story - think laterally, have friends help you and you help them in return. Frames from the US to Oztralia, by the book should cost $400 + in postage. I had my 72 SC sent for $125 (two boxes) as well as a frame that Ray Dobbins packed that was around the $130 mark. Its all in the packing. Cut a light box into a diamond shape to suit the frame angles, and the averages in measurements at the PO are reduced dramatically. Also, use your Mum & Dad franchise style post office if you can - they are more willing to get the package posted. Payments - Western Union will always be a relatively cheap and safe option if paypal isnt. You can even send a map to them where the agencies are and if you are really keen wire the $ thru WU. Most of my international aquisitions have a story attached where goodwill, trust, mutual appreciation for fine steel and a united front against the forces of corporate greed is the main thread. Just about all vendors are keen to see a sale finalised and generally pull out all stops to see it happen (thanks again Steve and Matteo) $5 a gallon for gas - I wish it was so cheap here. $6.30 gallon for diesel, $5.80 gallon for gas at the moment. $AU to $US yeah around $5 a gallon - just get used to driving Japanese 4 cylinder cars - or get on yer bike. Fuel is so expensive here that even the lowlife cant afford to sniff it any more and are going back to high end drugs. BTW, aquired up a first edition '83 Data Book - any idea of the rarity?
Greg Softley
Crisp Autumn (fall) day
Coffs Harbour
Australia