PACKAGING

IMPORTANT: These prices are all based on the value of the Australian dollar on the day of the transaction. As an indication only, on the 16th November 2007 the exchange rates were:

$AUD1.00 = US88.57c
$AUD1.00 = 0.6060 EUR

For billing purposes, all product, shipping and insurance costs are specified in Australian Dollars. All the freight and postage rates detailed below include a flat $AUD20 one-off charge (approx US$17.70 or 12.12 EUR) covering Packaging and Handling.  This means you need not make separate allowance for this.

INSURANCE

After receiving your order we'll contact you by email to both confirm your order and to discuss the insurance option with you.

There is also then opportunity to address any other concerns you may wish to raise.  Note that specifying an insurance value may attract the attention of Customs and Excise officers; naturally we cannot take responsibility for this as Customs is completely outside our control.  However, we do welcome your input and feedback, and always strive to give prompt, effective service.

We understand if you should wish to avoid purchasing insurance.  However, know that by this decision you waive any financial responsibility on our part should the package go missing.   We mention this because this has in fact happened, and it is NOT in our interest to lose substantial money on our exports and/or upset our customers.  Thus,
 
NO INSURANCE, NO RESPONSIBILITY ON OUR PART.  YOU MAKE GOOD ANY REPLACEMENT. SOME COUNTRIES SUCH AS GERMANY DO NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE. BE MINDFUL OF THIS WHEN YOU ORDER.

International insurance cost is typically $AUD2 per $AUD100 of value, plus $AUD12. On a stock 55W AKSA, the insurance fee is thus $AUD22. A portion is formally insured and certificated, with Aspen Amplifiers underwriting the balance to full value.

We take this step for three reasons;  it simplifies our paperwork, it ensures a swift response should your package go missing, and it gives Aspen access to funds for immediate replacement.  Once a reasonable period has elapsed and we have confirmed the package is definitely lost (and we ask your complete honesty in this matter, of course!) we take prompt steps to send you another.  Of course if your package does arrive (and please note that we normally wait one month from date of despatch), we ask you respectfully to send it back to us, or perhaps on to another customer who might be located close to you.

Many countries impose harsh customs limits on incoming parcels, often based on a value of $US100.  As a matter of policy we do not mark down the value of the package, and where insurance is specified this is difficult anyway. Many Customs authorities check the value from the website, and so any under-invoicing is frequently discovered. However, if there are special circumstances, you are prepared to forego insurance and you are prepared to indemnify us against any loss, we will discuss the issues.  We may be able to accommodate your wishes.

 
POSTAGE

Select Your Appropriate Postal Zone:  We ship using economical and reliable means; Australia Post, Air Mail, with a transit time of 10-14 days and often much faster. You need to select the appropriate postal zone to identify the shipping cost correctly before your order can be dispatched.  At this time we have only had one shipment go astray - and it was across Melbourne, to another suburb!!  The international service is very reliable, and in September 2001 we shipped an AKSA to Lithuania in just 5 days!

Our shipping costs are based on a full 100W AKSA weighing 3.25 Kgs, a full 55W AKSA at 1.74 Kgs, and a complete GK-1R at 2.6Kgs unless otherwise stated. Add a further 250 grams for the Lifeforce versions of these amplifiers. If you add non-standard parts to these packages, weight, and therefore postage, will sharply increase.

We have carefully examined all the available options, and on parcels up to 20 Kgs there is just no carrier cheaper or more reliable than Australia Post.  We've tried them all;  UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.  So Australia Post it will be...!

POSTAL ZONES AND P&P COST:

Select your postal zone by country, using this guide (amended Nov 2005):