Last Updated: 28th March, 2018
Aetherworks provides services to help with logistics and fulfilment in the Asia Pacific region for your crowdfunding projects. We can help with quotes and logistics options during your planning stage, right up to freight, warehousing and fulfilment of the final products. Furthermore, we can handle additional distribution into local gaming stores of extra or additional stock.
Shipping from Origin
The project owner can organise freight from origin to Sydney, Australia, or we can organise it. The project owner is responsible for all costs associated with transportation of the goods to Australia and to our warehouse. Please contact us for a quote if you would like us to arrange freight and delivery – we can cater for pretty much anywhere in the world, particularly from China (e.g. Shanghai, Ningbo or Shenzen), the US, or the EU.
- We recommend a conservative estimate of $3AUD/kg (~$1.10USD/lb) for shipping from China by sea-freight.
- We recommend a conservative estimate of $5AUD/kg (~$1.85USD/lb) for shipping from US (West Coast) by sea-freight.
If you would like to air-freight your goods to us, then we can provide quotations using a courier service (such as DHL or UPS). In general, if your goods are going to consume less than 0.6 cubic meters (24 cubic inches) and is less than 50kg (110lb) then we recommend going with a courier service as it will end up the cheaper option.
- We recommend a conservative estimate of $12AUD/kg (~$4.20USD/lb) for shipping for couriered air-freight.
Surplus Stock
We recommend a surplus of 5 to 10%. This allows replacement of missing items or components and damaged stock. We have channels to on-sell these once fulfilment is complete to recover costs back to the project owner. See Retail Distribution and Retail Launch for more information. Surplus can also be returned to an overseas destination (at project owner’s expense). For small shipments (less than a pallet) we do not charge warehousing costs. Larger shipments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Import Duties
Most board games and table top miniature games are exempt from duties. We can provide the broker used with the required information on the project owner’s behalf. Worst case scenario is to factor in an additional 5% for duties. The project owner is responsible for paying all duties, though we expect the majority of products to be exempt. Our recommendation is to build this into the shipping cost when planning the campaign.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Bulk Shipments
Project owners are responsible for paying all taxes levied on shipments. Our recommendation is to factor this cost into the backing structure for this region when planning the campaign. Australian GST is 10%. We distribute from Sydney, Australia, and as such, bulk shipment of goods to our warehouse will be evaluated for taxes payable for goods into Australia.
- You will be responsible for paying all GST charges levied on the import.
- We can act as the importer on your behalf and charge you the levied amount.
- Shipments valued below $1000AUD (~$800USD) are GST free. You can value this as the cost of manufacturer. Note that this value needs to be inclusive of the shipping costs.
Relevant resources:
- Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection: http://www.customs.gov.au/faq/DutyGST.asp
Customs and Quarantine Processing Charges
Regardless of whether GST or duties are charged on the goods, please allow about $70USD for paperwork clearance. This is a fixed cost regardless of the volume (unless you are very large quantities (500kg+), in which case we can quote you a more refined value).
Fumigation Certificates and Packing Certificates
We recommend that you ship your goods on plastic pallets. Australia has strict quarantine requirements surrounding the importation of organic material, this includes wooden pallets the goods may be shipped on. If you are unable to do so and need to use wooden pallets, you will need a Fumigation Certificate.
If you have your goods on plastic pallets, then you will only require a Packing Certificate. The Packing Certificate is a declaration by the shipper that the goods do not contain materials untreated organic material. We can provide blank packing certificates that you can fill out.
Relevant resources:
- Fumigation Certificates: http://howtoimporttoaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/file/Fumigation%20Certificate%20Info.pdf
- Australian Department of Agriculture: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/timber/approved-treatments-timber/daff-requirements-for-compliance
Local Shipping Rate Table
Rate Table+
| Weight (kg)* | Weight (lb)* | Australia** | New Zealand** |
| 0.49kg | 1.08lb | $8.00USD | $10.00USD |
| 0.99kg | 2.18lb | $12.00USD | $12.00USD |
| 1.99kg | 4.38lb | $12.50USD | $16.00USD |
| 2.99kg | 6.58lb | $13.50USD | $20.00USD |
| 3.99kg | 8.78lb | $14.50USD | $24.00USD |
| 4.99kg | 10.98lb | $15.50USD | $28.00USD |
| 5.99kg | 13.18lb | $16.50USD | $32.00USD |
| 6.99kg | 15.38lb | $17.50USD | $37.00USD |
| 7.99kg | 17.58lb | $18.50USD | $42.50USD |
| 8.99kg | 19.78lb | $19.50USD | $48.50USD |
| 9.99kg | 21.98lb | $20.50USD | $54.50USD |
| 10.99kg | 24.18lb | $21.50USD | $60.50USD |
| 11.99kg | 26.38lb | $22.50USD | $66.50USD |
| 12.99kg | 28.58lb | $23.50USD | $72.50USD |
| 13.99kg | 30.78lb | $24.50USD | $78.50USD |
| 14.99kg | 32.98lb | $25.50USD | $84.50USD |
| 15.99kg | 35.18lb | $26.50USD | $90.50USD |
| 16.99kg | 37.38lb | $27.50USD | $96.50USD |
| 17.99kg | 39.58lb | $28.50USD | $102.50USD |
| 18.99kg | 41.78lb | $29.50USD | $108.50USD |
| 19.99kg | 43.98lb | $30.50USD | $114.50USD |
| 20.99kg | 46.18lb | $31.50USD | (Max 20kg/44.00lb) |
| 21.99kg | 48.38lb | $32.50USD | |
| (Max 22kg/48.40lb) |
- Australia Post Dangerous and Prohibited Goods Guide: https://auspost.com.au/content/dam/auspost_corp/media/documents/dangerous-and-prohibited-goods-guide-nov2015.pdf
Logistics and Processing Charges
We can provide unloading of un-palletised containers at a rate of:
- $250.00AUD for a 20′ Container
- $500.00AUD for a 40′ Container
This fee will be waived if the goods are palletised and wrapped – this cost is to cover additional labour hours required and additional logistics and safety requirements.
Picking and Packing
If your project contains loose items and require picking and packing, we will require an additional week to source packaging consumables such as mailing cartons and schedule in additional staff to handle picking and packing. We will charge you back for the consumables, and labour will be at $0.50AUD per pick. This charges will be on top of the mailing rates as specified in the above link.
Consignment Data
Ideally, project owners would forward us a spreadsheet of backer information (name, address, backer or packing slip id) before the date of arrive to our warehouse of the product to allow us to pre-load onto our systems. Postal tracking also requires email addresses and phone numbers for the consignee, this information must be supplied so we can provide this data to Australia Post and fill out the proper paperwork for international consignments. If picking and packing is required, then this data can also be provided via a spreadsheet.
Turnaround Time
Payment
- Payment to cover the cost of fulfilment can be made via Wire Transfer ($15AUD fee), Paypal (2% fee) or we can, at our discretion, be reimbursed by sales of floored or surplus stock at distribution pricing.
- Payment can be made in USD or we may convert the USD amount to an AUD amount based on the daily exchange rate, depending on your preferred payment method.
- If subsequent Kickstarter campaigns are planned, we can accrue credit from the sale of floored stock towards fulfilment of future projects.
Retail Distribution and Flooring Options
Trade Show and Convention Exposure
Our Previous Fulfilments
Please email kickstarter@aetherworks.com.au for more information if you would like us to partner with you for Asia-Pacific logistics and fulfilment.