• GST and import duties explained for everyday purchases
• When Australian Consumer Law applies — and when it doesn’t
• Platform buyer protection: your actual safety net

Buying from an overseas seller — whether through AliExpress, eBay, or even Amazon — can save you serious money. But it also means different rules apply compared to buying from an Australian retailer. Here’s what to understand before you click buy.

GST: what you’ll pay at checkout

Since 2018, most online purchases from overseas retailers include GST at the point of sale. If you’re buying through a major platform like Amazon, eBay, or AliExpress, GST is typically calculated and added at checkout — you shouldn’t get a surprise bill when the package arrives.

For smaller or independent overseas retailers not using a major platform, GST may not be collected. In practice, most Australian shoppers won’t encounter this — the big marketplaces handle it automatically.

Import duties: when they apply (and when they don’t)

For most everyday purchases, import duties are a non-issue. Goods valued under $1,000 AUD generally don’t attract customs duties or additional fees. If you’re buying something expensive — a high-end laptop, luxury goods, or bulk commercial quantities — duties may apply above that threshold.

For the typical Dealiroo shopper buying electronics, clothing, or home goods, you’re very unlikely to ever encounter a customs charge.

Australian Consumer Law: when it protects you (and when it doesn’t)

This is the one that catches people out. Australian Consumer Law (ACL) gives you strong protections when you buy from an Australian-registered business — refunds for faulty products, guarantees that products match their description, and remedies when things go wrong.

When you buy from an overseas seller, the ACL may not apply — or may be extremely difficult to enforce. If your $50 AliExpress gadget arrives broken, you’re relying on the platform’s own buyer protection (AliExpress disputes, eBay Money Back Guarantee, Amazon A-to-Z Guarantee) rather than Australian law. These protections are generally solid, but they’re not the same as walking into a local store and demanding a refund.

Payment protection: your actual safety net

The good news is that the major platforms all offer some form of buyer protection:

• AliExpress: Holds payment in escrow until you confirm delivery. Dispute window stays open for 15 days after delivery is confirmed.
• eBay: Money Back Guarantee covers items that don’t arrive or don’t match the description.
• Amazon: A-to-Z Guarantee covers purchases from third-party sellers on Amazon’s marketplace.

Pay with PayPal or credit card where possible — both offer additional dispute resolution if the platform’s own protection falls short.

Tips for safer overseas buying

• Stick to sellers with high ratings and a solid sales history — a brand-new store with zero feedback is always a risk
• Read the listing description carefully, not just the title — “genuine” and “genuine quality” mean very different things
• Check recent reviews, not just the overall rating — a seller with 95% positive feedback but a pattern of recent complaints about non-delivery is a red flag
• If the price is dramatically lower than every other listing on the internet, it’s probably not a legitimate offer
• Screenshot the listing when you buy — if the seller changes the description after your purchase, you have a record of what was promised

Bottom line

Buying from overseas sellers is generally safe and often much cheaper than buying locally — as long as you understand that you’re relying on the platform’s protection, not Australian law. Stick to the major marketplaces, check seller ratings, and treat “too good to be true” pricing with healthy scepticism.