Confusion when living in the states and buying parts from Australia

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Michael Harrington

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I have been in email communication with a legitimate business in Australia. I'm in the US- Michigan. The total comes to 1850 AUSTRALIAN dollars. The exchange rate as of 5-20-25 comes to 1,186.96 US Dollars. My confusion is how much of my money I need to send (or make available for electronic debit.) I did ask the business this same question and his answer confuses me. This man is very busy, and my emails take a few days for him to reply. But here is his answer to my question:

"The total would be $1850.00 AUD. Our dollar changes a lot with the USD.
If you buy AUD and send it $1850.00 it is 100% correct."

This is not a complaint or bash. I'm truly confused on what my cost is.
 
Michael Harrington said:
I have been in email communication with a legitimate business in Australia. I'm in the US- Michigan. The total comes to 1850 AUSTRALIAN dollars. The exchange rate as of 5-20-25 comes to 1,186.96 US Dollars. My confusion is how much of my money I need to send (or make available for electronic debit.) I did ask the business this same question and his answer confuses me. This man is very busy, and my emails take a few days for him to reply. But here is his answer to my question:

"The total would be $1850.00 AUD. Our dollar changes a lot with the USD.
If you buy AUD and send it $1850.00 it is 100% correct."

This is not a complaint or bash. I'm truly confused on what my cost is.
Click to expand...
Hey mate who is it with? How are you paying them. As i buy heaps from the usa and send to Melbourne as building a duster. Uusally the bank just converts it. Or if using credit card makes no difference.
 
Ozyduster said:
Hey mate who is it with? How are you paying them. As i buy heaps from the usa and send to Melbourne as building a duster. Uusally the bank just converts it. Or if using credit card makes no difference.
Click to expand...
I'm considering a Supercharger manifold from Max Wedge Performance. If his total cost is $1850 Australian dollars does that mean I will be spending $1850 United States dollars? I do not know how I would be paying him as I've never purchased like this. Can I mail a check issued from my bank?
 

Michael Harrington said:
I'm considering a Supercharger manifold from Max Wedge Performance. If his total cost is $1850 Australian dollars does that mean I will be spending $1850 United States dollars? I do not know how I would be paying him as I've never purchased like this. Can I mail a check issued from my bank?
Click to expand...
1850 australian is 1186.61 usa. You could just pay with credit card and it will just do it automatically for you, i have purchased stuff from the usa same way. Or do a bank transfer, may get a fee for international transfer tho.
 
You will simply need to pay via credit card or PayPal, the conversion will be calculated at the time of transaction based on the exchange rate at that time for the type of card being used. You will only pay AUD1850 but be debited the USD equivalent (circa USD1200) according to this exchange rate. This form of payment / conversion / debit is what we Australians go through on a daily basis when purchasing parts from the USA.
 
I just did the same ordering some slant 6 parts from Australia to the US. It was easy, the conversion was done automatically
 
Pay by credit card. it is not a supplier you have used before. You don’t have much recourse with sending a wire, if the vendor does not send you the parts. With a credit card, you can get your money back. You will pay a fee of like 10-25 bucks on the CC, a wire depending on the bank is 50-100 bucks. You will also have import duties, most of the time UPS or DHL or the sort will cover the duty and bill you for it.
 
Exactly right. I’ve had no problems dealing with Mr Laney. Very stand up guy. Reply’s do take a few days sometimes via email.
Post pictures of that manifold when ya get it. I would love to get another just to have it. Maybe a W-2 port or Indy Head Oval port, but I think he’d need the heads to make it happen.
 
Scody21 said:
Pay by credit card. it is not a supplier you have used before. You don’t have much recourse with sending a wire, if the vendor does not send you the parts. With a credit card, you can get your money back. You will pay a fee of like 10-25 bucks on the CC, a wire depending on the bank is 50-100 bucks. You will also have import duties, most of the time UPS or DHL or the sort will cover the duty and bill you for it.
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And brokerage and handling charges. Either way the banks will also give you an unfavourable exchange rate. Ask me how I know
 
1MeanA said:
And brokerage and handling charges. Either way the banks will also give you an unfavourable exchange rate. Ask me how I know
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Probably should also point out that while you guys in the USA used to enjoy 0% tariff on Aus imports (thanks to our long standing Free Trade Agreement) Trumps new tariffs are likely to add another 10% to the bill!
 
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I do not anticipate any problems with purchasing a manifold from him. I hope I didn't annoy him with what seemed like unnecessary questions. Im just trying to make sure I'm communicating clearly as to what I need. I have a manifold for a 144 Weiand blower. But I really want a manifold with the abundant sealing face surface to bolt to 340/360 heads without the extra care needed - as opposed to mounting a manifold designed for a 273 with it's minimal sealing material- at least minimal when mounting to 340/360 heads.
 
I have not heard back from Mr Laney via email I'm over a week. I'm ready to pay in full and place and order. Does anyone here know the best way to place an order/ contact him? Current phone number? I do not see a website.
 
I called a number listed on this site from over a decade ago. A very nice lady answered with a simple "Hello?" She said she would pass along my request and my contact info to Anthony. She also gave me his cell phone #. I attempted to call that number, but my call will not go thru. Hopefully I can purchase from him. Otherwise, I will see about having my existing manifold modified locally.
 
When calling Aus mobile / cell phones, dial for international access (011) then the country code for Aus (61) and drop the leading zero from the mobile number she gave you, e.g. if number she provided was something like 0412 345 678 then the correct format to dial is 011 61 412 345 678 - hope this helps.
Michael Harrington said:
I called a number listed on this site from over a decade ago. A very nice lady answered with a simple "Hello?" She said she would pass along my request and my contact info to Anthony. She also gave me his cell phone #. I attempted to call that number, but my call will not go thru. Hopefully I can purchase from him. Otherwise, I will see about having my existing manifold modified locally.
Click to expand...
 
Cal Tonsley said:
When calling Aus mobile / cell phones, dial for international access (011) then the country code for Aus (61) and drop the leading zero from the mobile number she gave you, e.g. if number she provided was something like 0412 345 678 then the correct format to dial is 011 61 412 345 678 - hope this helps.
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Thanks, I believe that's it! I have too many numbers. By dropping the 0 I believe I'm on track. I will try next week week he is back at work.
 
Michael Harrington said:
"The total would be $1850.00 AUD. Our dollar changes a lot with the USD.
If you buy AUD and send it $1850.00 it is 100% correct."
Click to expand...

Sorry if this particular language was already covered. As someone who has lived abroad and visited Austrailia a few times, they are telling you if you bought $1850 AUD using USD, for which you will pay in USD base on the exchange rate, senidng them the $1850 AUD is all that's needed.

We used to have to "buy" UAD at the exchange if we wanted cash and had to pay crazy fees. As others have already said, using a CC will fix it all for you automagically. You'll see $1,186.96 USD go away and they'll see $1850 AUD show up.
 
Cuda416 said:
Sorry if this particular language was already covered. As someone who has lived abroad and visited Austrailia a few times, they are telling you if you bought $1850 AUD using USD, for which you will pay in USD base on the exchange rate, senidng them the $1850 AUD is all that's needed.

We used to have to "buy" UAD at the exchange if we wanted cash and had to pay crazy fees. As others have already said, using a CC will fix it all for you automagically. You'll see $1,186.96 USD go away and they'll see $1850 AUD show up.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I've had the money in my account ready to transfer for two weeks. Just awaiting his correspondence. His manifold looks so much better than the one I currently have.
 
UPDATE. Received my new supercharger manifold today 8/06/25. She's a beauty!!!!

IMG_20250806_115204094.jpg
 
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