Buying gear online can be handy if you are after something that is not readily available in NZ. However you need to consider a few things.

1. You can't "try before you buy." So you need to be sure that you are really ordering what you want. This is OK if you are after something specific such as, say, a particular set of bass strings. But less OK if you are after an effects unit that you think might be what you want. If the box is not quite what you thought it wa your chances of returning it for a credit or refund are not that good ... buyer beware and all that.

2. Make sure that you are dealing with a reputable trader. Not always easy but you can check out warious forums etc to see if the trader has a good rep etc.

3. Make sure that the site you are ordering from is secure. For online purchasing you will more than likely need a credit card. CC transactions are secure provided that the site itself is secure. A simple, though not necessarily foolproof check is to look at the URL of the site before you submit your CC details. If the URL begins with https AND there is a little padlock showing in the bottom status bar of your browser then chances are that the connection to the site is encrypted. This reduces the chances of your details being read by someone else. Once again you need to rely on the reputation of the trader.

4. Don't expect to save money. Once you tale into account exchange rates and postage costs you are unlikely to save any real money on many things. Though if the trader is in a big market there may be a small saving. Also, you may not be able to purchase things if the manufacturer has distributers or dealers operating under certain types of agreements. For example it is not possible to purchase Rickenbacker parts from US dealers as there agreement with Rickenbacker forbids them trading outside the US where there is an official distributor/dealer for NZ.

5. Expect to wait a couple of weeks depending on the delivery method. From the states US Post is the cheapest but can take a while. UPS is quicker but can be pricy.

6. A lot of smaller traders and some bigger ones accept payment via PayPal. This is convenient and reasonably safe. I have used it myself for a few things. You can also check the credentials of the trader to a certain degree.

I have successfully prurchased items online and have been happy so far. These have been for things I cannot get here. Things like decent earplugs, electronic components and so on. It is realtively easy but it pays to do some research first and be sure of what you are after.

try www.musiciansfriend.com

loads of stuff on there.