What Buying Sneakers and Collectibles Online Really Costs in Australia: GST, Duties and Currency (2026)

What does it really cost to buy sneakers and collectibles online in Australia? The same formula applies to a pair, a sealed Pokémon box or a hoodie: the item, plus shipping, plus 10% GST, plus any currency conversion and card fees, plus duty and border charges if an order from overseas is valued above A$1,000. On PUSHAS, Australian buyers see prices in AUD and GST and duties are calculated at checkout, so the total you approve is the total you pay in almost every case.

The sticker price is the least reliable number in online shopping.

A pair, a jacket or a booster box that looks cheaper on a site priced in US dollars can land at your door for more once the exchange rate, your bank and the border have each taken a share. The only number that matters is the landed cost: everything you pay before the item is in your hands.

Our view is simple. The cheapest sticker price loses to the clearest checkout, every time.

The landed cost formula

Component	What it is	When it applies
Item price	The listed price for your size or edition	Always
Shipping	Delivery to your address	Almost always; varies by platform and speed
GST	10% goods and services tax	On goods sold to Australian consumers, including most imports
Currency conversion	The exchange rate your bank applies	When you're charged in a currency other than AUD
Card fees	Foreign transaction fees charged by many Australian cards	When the merchant processes the payment overseas or in another currency
Duty and border charges	Customs duty, GST and processing charges collected at the border	When an imported order is valued above A$1,000

GST on sneakers, streetwear and collectibles bought from overseas

Since 1 July 2018, GST applies to low-value goods (a customs value of A$1,000 or less) sold to Australian consumers by overseas businesses. Overseas merchants, marketplaces and parcel forwarders above the registration threshold collect that GST at the point of sale and remit it to the Australian Taxation Office.

In practice, most overseas sites selling to Australians either add GST at checkout or build it into the price. So the GST is rarely avoidable.

What changes from one platform to the next is whether you see it before you pay.

Orders above A$1,000

The point-of-sale system only covers goods valued at A$1,000 or less. Above that, imported goods are cleared at the border, where duty, GST and import processing charges can be assessed before delivery.

For a grail pair, a high-grade slab or a sealed vintage booster box, that can mean a bill from the courier after you've already paid in full, and a parcel held until it's settled.

Buying above A$1,000? Check two things before paying: where the order ships from, and whether the platform says who pays border charges.

The currency gap

Pay in another currency and two costs appear that never show on the product page: the exchange rate your bank uses, usually less favourable than the rate quoted online, and a foreign transaction fee charged by many Australian cards.

Neither is visible until your statement arrives. Paying in AUD removes both.

If the total is not on the screen before you pay, you are the one doing the border's arithmetic.

What buying sneakers and collectibles online in Australia costs on PUSHAS

The same rules apply across sneakers, collectibles and streetwear.

• Prices in AUD. PUSHAS shows prices in local currency in every market we serve, so Australian buyers are charged in Australian dollars.
• GST and duties at checkout. For Australian customers, GST and duties are calculated at checkout. The one exception is an order above A$1,000 that ships from overseas, which may be charged on arrival.
• Shipping shown before you pay. Calculated at checkout from your address, before you confirm.
• Pay your way. Afterpay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay and cards. See payment methods.
• Authenticated by hand. Every item is authenticated by a trained PUSHAS authenticator at our facilities in Sydney, Hong Kong or Los Angeles before dispatch, and covered by our Authenticity & Legitimacy Guarantee.

Items marked FASTEST are already at a PUSHAS facility and dispatch within 2 business days. Other items are sent to us by the seller and authenticated before dispatch, which takes 8 to 26 business days. Read the estimate on the item you're buying.

A quick checkout checklist

1. Is the total shown in AUD?
2. Is GST included or added before payment?
3. Is shipping shown before payment?
4. If the order is above A$1,000, could duty and border charges be collected on delivery?
5. Will my card add a foreign transaction fee?
6. If something's wrong, what do the returns and authenticity policies cover?

If you can't answer all six before paying, the cheapest-looking price may not be the cheapest.

For a wider look at where to shop, read where to buy authentic sneakers online in Australia, see how PUSHAS stacks up on Compare marketplaces, or browse what's trending on PUSHAS now.

Frequently asked questions

Do you pay GST on sneakers bought online from overseas?

Usually, yes. Since 1 July 2018, overseas businesses and marketplaces that sell low-value goods (A$1,000 or less) to Australian consumers collect 10% GST at the point of sale. The same applies to streetwear and collectibles.

Do you pay customs duty on sneakers in Australia?

For imported orders valued above A$1,000, duty, GST and import processing charges can be collected at the border before delivery. Orders of A$1,000 or less are generally covered by GST collected at checkout instead.

Does PUSHAS charge GST and duties at checkout?

Yes. For Australian customers, GST and duties are calculated at checkout. The exception is an order above A$1,000 that ships from overseas, which may be charged on arrival.

Why does an item cost more than the price shown on an overseas site?

Because the listed price often excludes shipping, GST, currency conversion and card fees, and for orders above A$1,000, border charges. Compare the total at checkout in AUD, not the sticker price.

Can I use Afterpay on PUSHAS?

Yes. Afterpay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay and cards are available at checkout.