Shop Local in New Zealand

We've created this page to help inform New Zealanders and anybody looking to ship gifts into New Zealand from overseas about the things to lookout for when shopping online, and how to tell if an online store/business is actually in New Zealand.

It is now becoming more and more common for overseas companies and online stores to create multiple versions of their website. Whilst they may have a .co.nz website name, a local New Zealand phone number and email address that are specifically targeted towards New Zealand, these businesses are not necessarily located or operating in New Zealand and do not ship directly from within New Zealand.

Example Scenario

For our example scenario, let’s use a fictitious business named "ABC Cool Gifts" and pretend this business is an Australia business targeting New Zealand customers that want their gifts delivering in New Zealand:

ABC Cool Gifts have a main website www.abc-cool-gift.co.au and they ship to New Zealand. To increase sales in New Zealand and give NZ customers the perception that the business is in New Zealand, they create a duplicate website and name it www.abc-cool-gifts.co.nz. They then set up a local Auckland (09) landline number that can be used in any location globally.

As a potential customer, you enter a search term in Google such as "Cool gifts in New Zealand". Google now shows you a list of results, with some ‘paid’ advertising listings at the top of the page and organic ‘free’ links below.

The Australian company "ABC Cool Gifts" have paid for advertising with Google that targets people in New Zealand and sends these users i.e. you, to the New Zealand version of their website www.abc-cool-gift.co.nz.

In many cases the website you land on after clicking the listings in Google (or any other search engine or social media ad) will be very targeted and make it very clear the company ships to New Zealand. The website will also give the impression they are in New Zealand as they have a .co.nz website, an Auckland phone number, a .co.nz email addresses and banners stating “we ship to New Zealand”.

You are now under the impression you are shopping locally, in New Zealand and happy to make a purchase, not fully understanding that there could be additional costs and/or shipping delays that you need to consider.

So, what's the answer to this potential problem and how do you avoid making this common mistake? Please read on…

How to Check a Business Location

There are several easy ways to confirm exactly where a business is located and if they ship from within New Zealand and we would recommend you carry out at least 2-3 of the checks below:

• Check the websites "Contact Us" page and see if they have a physical New Zealand store address. If so, make sure it's not a PO Box or forwarding company. You can also do a Google map search for the address and see if it exists and if it's in a residential area or commercial premises.

• If the website has a "Live Chat" function, simply ask them. Are you a New Zealand business? Do you ship your products from inside New Zealand?

• Check their "Shipping Information" page and "Returns" page. These pages should give you the information on where the item is shipped from and the expected timeframes for delivery.

• Check their "About Us" page, does it mention New Zealand? Was the business started in New Zealand?

• Type the full business name into Google Maps, this will show you the physical address for the store and if they are a Google address verified store.

• Do they offer a “Click & Collect” service? If so, there will be a location and address listed for that service.

• You can search the New Zealand government "Companies Office" website and enter the business name to see if they are a registered NZ business.

• You can search the New Zealand government www.nzbn.govt.nz website and enter the business name to see if they have a registered New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).

Potential Issues & Costs For You

There are several facts you should be fully aware of before purchasing from a store that is not actually located in New Zealand and not shipping direct from New Zealand:

Additional Import Fees

All goods arriving from overseas by post or courier services are liable for Customs duties and charges with GST of 15% applied to all imported items, including anything you buy online. In some cases, the company sending the item/s to New Zealand will cover these costs for you, but you should check this.

Some items such as food products, untreated wood etc. may be prohibited from entering New Zealand and they would be destroyed or returned to sender by customs. Most reputable companies would fully understand these restrictions and should not allow you to purchase these items, but we strongly advise you check first if shopping overseas and shipping into New Zealand.

Shipping Timeframes & Delays

If purchasing items from a website or business that's not in New Zealand, there will be longer delivery times and possible delays due to customs processing and courier company delivery timeframes. Be sure to fully check and understand the shipping times and more importantly terms and conditions before you make any purchase from overseas or New Zealand.

Returns & Refunds

All businesses will at some stage have issues with damage and breakages when shipping items. The chances of damage to your items increases when you ship items overseas, due to the increased handling, this is another factor to consider when choosing which company to purchase from.

If your item is damaged in any way during its journey, or faulty, you may be required to return the item to the sender for inspection before they will issue a replacement or refund. If the company you purchase from is overseas, these costs will be considerably more than returning it to a local New Zealand business. You may also be required to pay additional shipping fees if receiving a replacement, and again this can be costly if shipping from overseas.

Consumer Guarantees Act, New Zealand

When shop online and making a purchase from a New Zealand retail business, all your usual consumer rights apply and you are fully covered by the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act. Those rights may also apply when you buy from an overseas online business, although you might find it difficult to get a repair, replacement or refund because the business is not based in New Zealand.

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for taking the time to read the information on this page and we hope it has been both informative and helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contacts us.