Buying aids and equipment from overseas

There are a number of things you need to think about before deciding to buy aids and equipment overseas.

Buying aids and equipment that suit your needs

Do you know what aids and equipment you need to buy, as well as the functional purpose it needs to serve? Speak to an expert, such as an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist, they will help you work out if the product you want to buy will really meet your needs.

Most aids and equipment purchased from overseas will need to be modified to meet an individual's requirements. Before you make a purchase, consider:

• can the aids and equipment can be modified and how long will it take to make the necessary changes.
• is there a qualified person is available to help you with any changes and ongoing maintenance support, including finding spare parts or performing repairs. If ongoing maintenance support isn't available, it may cause you inconvenience and cost you more money to find this support elsewhere. If the parts can't be sourced locally, you may be faced with additional costs and lengthy delays if your aids or equipment break down.
• what assembly will be required and is there a qualified person is available to help you with this after you receive your purchase. You also need to think about the likely cost that may be involved. A person who is qualified to help you with setting up aids and equipment can help to make sure that they are correctly—and safely—set up for ongoing use.

Questions to ask before you buy

Here are some questions you might like to ask before you buy:

• Do the aids or equipment meet Australian safety standards? These standards have been set to protect buyers from purchasing products that can be faulty or stop working properly.
• Are the aids or equipment covered by Australian Consumer Law? You should check terms and conditions before you buy. Consumer guarantees that apply if you buy from an Australian-based online seller do not necessarily apply if you buy from an overseas-based online seller. If you'd like to find out more, you can read the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's booklet, Consumer guarantees: a guide for consumers.
• Is the seller reputable? If something looks ‘too-good-to-be-true', it often is. If you are still unsure, get a second opinion from a person that you trust.
• Is the price right, and do you know about any hidden costs? You can ‘shop around' online to work out if you are getting a fair deal from a genuine seller. Make sure that you know the details of what you intend to buy—size, colour, value and safety. Read any fine print about the purchase, including any hidden costs that you might not know about that relate to currency, postage, handling or any other charges.
• Does the seller offer a guarantee or warranty and, if so, do they still apply if the aids or equipment is used in another country? What about a trial of the product before you buy? If these additional services are available, will they be practical for you to use? Is it likely they might involve additional costs or delays that you can't afford—or that will cause you an inconvenience or affect how you meet your needs?

When you decide to buy

Exchanging money online can be tricky, and you need to make sure that your privacy and security are protected. The Australian Government's Cyber Security Centre website helps you with safe online shopping methods.

The Australian Federal Police website also has comprehensive information about identity crime and how you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim.