BarbTherese Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Does anyone know if shopping via comgateway for Australian customers buying overseas, largely the USA, is cheaper shipping to Australia than buying direct from the website? Is the comgateway website reliable? Sometimes a USA site will not ship to Australia and apparently one can get comgateway to buy for one but I don't know how reliable the site may be, or if it is a cheap method............ or better just to stay away from the site altogether. http://www.comgateway.com Thanks heaps..........Barb:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spem in alium Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I've never heard of comgateway, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything - I don't do much online shopping at all. I guess it depends what you're buying and where from, as rates can vary. Usually when I've bought something from the US, standard shipping to Australia has been at least $15 on its own (and sometimes more expensive than the item I'm purchasing). Generally, I only purchase international stuff if I need it or definitely can't get it here. If you want to get the best deal, it would probably be worthwhile to look in a few places and try to find the cheapest shipping rates for the item you wish to buy, though I don't think you'll get much below $10. I just looked on the comgateway site, and though their shipment times are good, their rates seem quite steep - for the first 0.5kg they charge US$ 24.00 (seen here : http://www.comgateway.com/ship-to-Australia/) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Don't forget potential customs fees. Those always killed all the discount in Israel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) Talking about improting from the united states of america otherwise known as central america because there is a northern third of the continent and a southern 3rd of the continent, it reflects the holy trinity lol. GO GO AMERICAS. So now i have plugged i wan't to know if i can order phatmass clothing and cd's from australia and as to whether or not there is a shipping and posting option or is it just a u.s. only thing. I know i can donate. You thought you could hide from us for ever phatmass, NO! LOL. P.s I also know nothing of comgateway, please explain, what is it ? Edited November 10, 2013 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) hey there fellow australian catholic christians, Howzit goin'? Edited November 10, 2013 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) Thank you all, very much. :)......... ....Tab, this Aussie Catholic Christian is cruising along normally all thanks be to The Lord as I am absolutely lousy and remiss in carrying the cross as much as I keep trying - thanks for asking. Incidentally, I was talking to a priest years ago and I said that I might get an A for effort with luck, but a Fminus for success. Father replied "Oh The Lord loves 'the effort-ers', never mind the success that's in His Hands anyway" That set me thinking and his statement became a big consolation in my daily struggles. Re comgateway: Tab, if you open the link in my opening post, it will explain all about the comgateway site. It is a bit complex to explain when the site is quite comprehensive and simple seemingly in explanation, or seems so on face value. I noticed too that on this site the first 5kg are $24 odd dollars and this is probably (after a bit of research) more expensive than buying direct. The site, if it is reliable, might be handy however if the site from which one is purchasing does not supply Australia. In this case, comgateway will purchase it for one in the USA for example and then on forward. Orders over 5kg may be cheaper through comgateway also. My primary problem is if the site is reputable and reliable before using it. In the main I am interested in Catholic books. I can buy on Amazon and today a book priced on Amazon at $1.50 for a used copy, by the time postage was added, it would have cost around $26.00. New Catholic books here in Australia are terribly expensive for my pocket. I am in Sth Aust and it seems that our diocesan Catholic Lending Library in the main no longer exists, we have a resource site, but most of the books are teacher and student resources..........sometimes they can be of interest, most of the times they are not. Once upon a time, our lending library was very comprehensive in the books one could borrow, not so nowadays. I first borrowed Thomas Merton from our lending library and other more theological type books that were easy to understand, except "The Men and Message of The Old Testament" which gave me a real headache. :) Edited November 10, 2013 by BarbaraTherese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spem in alium Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 So now i have plugged i wan't to know if i can order phatmass clothing and cd's from australia and as to whether or not there is a shipping and posting option or is it just a u.s. only thing. I know i can donate. You thought you could hide from us for ever phatmass, NO! LOL. Hey, Tab! You can. There is a shipping charge but from memory it's not significant. In the main I am interested in Catholic books. I can buy on Amazon and today a book priced on Amazon at $1.50 for a used copy, by the time postage was added, it would have cost around $26.00. New Catholic books here in Australia are terribly expensive for my pocket. I am in Sth Aust and it seems that our diocesan Catholic Lending Library in the main no longer exists, we have a resource site, but most of the books are teacher and student resources..........sometimes they can be of interest, most of the times they are not. Once upon a time, our lending library was very comprehensive in the books one could borrow, not so nowadays. I first borrowed Thomas Merton from our lending library and other more theological type books that were easy to understand, except "The Men and Message of The Old Testament" which gave me a real headache. :) Barb, have you ever visited Book Depository? (http://www.bookdepository.com/). I get most of my stuff from there. They have quite a lot of Catholic material as far as I can see, they often have discounts and, to top it off, they have FREE SHIPPING! Check it out if you haven't already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Hey, Tab! You can. There is a shipping charge but from memory it's not significant. Barb, have you ever visited Book Depository? (http://www.bookdepository.com/). I get most of my stuff from there. They have quite a lot of Catholic material as far as I can see, they often have discounts and, to top it off, they have FREE SHIPPING! Check it out if you haven't already. Thank you SIA! I did get onto bookdepository via Amazon, but the book I was after was (for me) a quite expensive book and was I think full price. Thank you for the info on bookdepository, however, I will keep my eye on it. The books I am seeking via internet are always Catholic books (expensive to buy here in Australia). I can borrow secular reading and light reading matter from our local library, which is extensive and very helpful in acquiring if one is after a book and it is not in their immediate library. I have a local Catholic Pauline Media, but they are all new books and........expensive. :) About the best source of Catholic Books I have found shopping internet, often at reasonable anyway new prices is Ark Religious Supplies in Australia. Postage cost is often my decider. And sometimes my cheapest method is Pauline Media if they have the particular book I am after, or can acquire it. Rather often Pauline Media do not. I have heaps of Catholic books in my library and thought about asking Father if I could start a lending library in the parish using my books. But reason and common sense came into play and I just do not have the time necessary with almost daily commitments quite pressing. Expensive business being Catholic when one is on low income. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spem in alium Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 No worries :) It's a good site. Yeah, they are very expensive! I haven't purchased from Ark myself but have visited their site a few times. You may want to look at Portico Books too (http://www.portico.com.au/). The store is located in Sydney but they're currently in the process of going completely online. They specialise (I think) in Catholic books. I'm not sure how much they charge for delivery, but they're probably worth the look. You could also look at the Co-Op (http://www.coop.com.au/). From memory membership's not too expensive and gets you discounts. Expensive business being Catholic when one is on low income. :) Definitely is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Hey BT: Make sure you always check to see if there's (1) a free version online (if it's a very old book there almost always is) and (2) an ebook version. If none of those pans out, you could always have the book shipped to a friend in the US, and they can ship it to you the slowest way possible. That usually saves quite a bit of money, as the companies charge a fortune for quick overseas shipping when there are almost always cheaper, slower options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 No worries :) It's a good site. Yeah, they are very expensive! I haven't purchased from Ark myself but have visited their site a few times. You may want to look at Portico Books too (http://www.portico.com.au/). The store is located in Sydney but they're currently in the process of going completely online. They specialise (I think) in Catholic books. I'm not sure how much they charge for delivery, but they're probably worth the look. You could also look at the Co-Op (http://www.coop.com.au/). From memory membership's not too expensive and gets you discounts. Definitely is! Thanks heaps, SIA! Putting this thread into my files. Valuable information! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 Hey BT: Make sure you always check to see if there's (1) a free version online (if it's a very old book there almost always is) and (2) an ebook version. If none of those pans out, you could always have the book shipped to a friend in the US, and they can ship it to you the slowest way possible. That usually saves quite a bit of money, as the companies charge a fortune for quick overseas shipping when there are almost always cheaper, slower options. More great info! Thank you, curiousing. :) I do have a very good friend in the USA - an email gal penpal for many years now through CA. Your method above, is a real alternative. I have printed out quite a few of the older spiritual classics and kept the copies - largely through CCEL. As I posted to SIA, really valuable information in this thread and it is now recorded in my files. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbTherese Posted November 10, 2013 Author Share Posted November 10, 2013 hey there fellow australian catholic christians, Howzit goin'? Howdy Tab, I am taking it you are following this thread. Some really great info for us Aussies buying off the net, particularly books, which are so jolly expensive here. :) I have recorded the thread link into my files for future reference as I know the info will be invaluable. Much of what I know about quite a few things now, religious and secular, is due to Phatmass and asking questions and reading the threads, recording links to threads that I know might have future reference. Good ol' Phatmass! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spem in alium Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Hey BT: Make sure you always check to see if there's (1) a free version online (if it's a very old book there almost always is) and (2) an ebook version. Good advice. Google Books is great for that sort of thing. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spem in alium Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Thanks heaps, SIA! Putting this thread into my files. Valuable information! :) You're welcome! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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