If I can avoid the import duties by bringing a personal item into Australia...

Nice idea, but....

I may well be wrong - it's a while since I worked in the UK, but unless the VAT rules have changed, you'd have to pay VAT and fill in a form to claim it back. Of course, the action of claiming it back may well alert the Australian tax people to the fact that you imported it. They could then bill you accordingly.

Shame really, cos it would be cheaper for me to fly to England from Switzerland, pick the unit up there and smuggle it back rather than pay the import duties here.

It's also a shame that the Empeg boys have shown us how nice they are - I can't insult them by asking them to fiddle the export paperwork now. :-(

Ah well, all's fair, I suppose. When it comes it comes and what it costs it costs.

Nick.