Buying from the US?
- Thread starter polar964
- Start date
Dave Wilkinson
New member
Paul,
Yes - I had a very good experience with Pelican. Their sales service was, IMHO, second to none. I bought a set of Bilstein HD shocks from them back in November and couldn't fault them. The price was very good ($765), the shipping not unreasonable ($123), they shipped via USPS which was delivered here by Parcel Force and, no, they didn't charge VAT or import duty. Total landed price was £446 - compared to £650 + VAT I was quoted by a UK supplier. IIRC delivery took about 5 days.
I think it's a bit of pot luck whether you get charged the VAT & duty - you can't guarantee being lucky!! If you DO get charged I think duty is 3% of the value and VAT is, obviously 17.5% but of the WHOLE value, including the shipping charge. Pelican won't do specials like marking the package as a gift which is the usual get-around so you're just dependent on the inefficiences of HMC&E and the Post Office I'm afraid.
Regards
Dave
Yes - I had a very good experience with Pelican. Their sales service was, IMHO, second to none. I bought a set of Bilstein HD shocks from them back in November and couldn't fault them. The price was very good ($765), the shipping not unreasonable ($123), they shipped via USPS which was delivered here by Parcel Force and, no, they didn't charge VAT or import duty. Total landed price was £446 - compared to £650 + VAT I was quoted by a UK supplier. IIRC delivery took about 5 days.
I think it's a bit of pot luck whether you get charged the VAT & duty - you can't guarantee being lucky!! If you DO get charged I think duty is 3% of the value and VAT is, obviously 17.5% but of the WHOLE value, including the shipping charge. Pelican won't do specials like marking the package as a gift which is the usual get-around so you're just dependent on the inefficiences of HMC&E and the Post Office I'm afraid.
Regards
Dave
smallspeed
New member
DHL are the worst for delivery; I've never heard of anything shipped by them which doesn't incurr landing, VAT and duty charges!..
Beware with Parcel force, if they do charge you they also have a special "handling fee" which they refer to as a customs clearance fee. This is what they charge you for having paid your customs fee's for you upfront and its a flat rate of about £17 or £20.. I think its terrible, but there's no getting around it; I've argued till im blue in the face with them over it.. My main line of attack is that £20 is a bit much to a) not deliver the package to me like they were paid to, and b) put said package on a shelf overnight, but it doesn't work.. (arguing makes me feel better though [
] )
Its usually (and esp. at the moment) well worth buying from the states though; I paid £32 landing/vat/duty on a set of new alloy wheels for my other car last week, which with shipping came to a grand total of £340. Best price I could find in the UK was £120 a wheel excl. delivery!..
ben
Beware with Parcel force, if they do charge you they also have a special "handling fee" which they refer to as a customs clearance fee. This is what they charge you for having paid your customs fee's for you upfront and its a flat rate of about £17 or £20.. I think its terrible, but there's no getting around it; I've argued till im blue in the face with them over it.. My main line of attack is that £20 is a bit much to a) not deliver the package to me like they were paid to, and b) put said package on a shelf overnight, but it doesn't work.. (arguing makes me feel better though [
] )Its usually (and esp. at the moment) well worth buying from the states though; I paid £32 landing/vat/duty on a set of new alloy wheels for my other car last week, which with shipping came to a grand total of £340. Best price I could find in the UK was £120 a wheel excl. delivery!..
ben
Hi Dave / Ben,
Thanks for the replies. I'm under no illussions regarding import charges. It would make things easier if you knew exactly what they were likely to be, at least that way you would not be in for any surprises. What would be bad if the order ended up costing more than purchased in the UK. My order too, comes to $765.50 with a shipping cost of $222 which currently equates to £504 which is pretty good. If I get hit with 17.5% plus 3% duty then this equates £610. If that is the maximum then i'll still be happy, of course better still if it's £504 : )
Is the duty dependant upon the product Dave or is that a flat rate?
Cheers
Thanks for the replies. I'm under no illussions regarding import charges. It would make things easier if you knew exactly what they were likely to be, at least that way you would not be in for any surprises. What would be bad if the order ended up costing more than purchased in the UK. My order too, comes to $765.50 with a shipping cost of $222 which currently equates to £504 which is pretty good. If I get hit with 17.5% plus 3% duty then this equates £610. If that is the maximum then i'll still be happy, of course better still if it's £504 : )
Is the duty dependant upon the product Dave or is that a flat rate?
Cheers
Alan Woods
New member
Duty varies on the goods. This is handy. As Dave says USPS use Parcel Force for UK delivery and nowadays they always charge duty plus VAT on the goods and the duty plus clearance charge (which may have VAT on that as well). Their latest policy is they dont even deliver the goods that need charges collected now - they send you a letter to say they have an item holding, you post in a chq then they deliver it. Get the USPS tracking number from Pelican then you can track it at parcelforce.com so at least you know when it's in the country/at your depot.
I suspected there would be a variable duty. Thanks for the link Alan..... very useful []. The only shocks i want are the ones going on the car !! pardon the pun. It would appear that the price hasn't changed since you ordered yours Dave albeit only the shipping has increased a bit (fuel charges no doubt!!). Cheers
]. The only shocks i want are the ones going on the car !! pardon the pun. It would appear that the price hasn't changed since you ordered yours Dave albeit only the shipping has increased a bit (fuel charges no doubt!!). Cheers
smallspeed
New member
The post office/parcel force hold the package, but you can collect it from the office and pay the duty at that time if you're in a rush for it.. Beware though, I think you can only pay by cheque or food stamps or something; I seem to remember they don't take a card atleast
DHL are buggers too; they will let you have your package and then send you a customs invoice about a month later!.. At least with that one you can pay over the internet with a card []
Good luck
ben
DHL are buggers too; they will let you have your package and then send you a customs invoice about a month later!.. At least with that one you can pay over the internet with a card [
]Good luck
ben
appletonn
New member
I have bought lots of bits over the last month from the States - mainly from Paragon products. All came via USPS and thus Royal Mail or Parcelforce and they will write to you telling you how much you owe them before they will deliver it - you can ring up and pay with card over the phone.
Even allowing for the additional charges, I have still saved roughly 25% of the cost compared to buying in the UK.
Got to say that Paragon products have superb customer service too.
Just don't have a look at the Lindsay Racing site, otherwise you will be selling kidneys and kids on Ebay shortly afterwards to fund various enhancements...[]
Have fun!
Even allowing for the additional charges, I have still saved roughly 25% of the cost compared to buying in the UK.
Got to say that Paragon products have superb customer service too.
Just don't have a look at the Lindsay Racing site, otherwise you will be selling kidneys and kids on Ebay shortly afterwards to fund various enhancements...[
]Have fun!
Thanks folks for the replies. Sign of the times, there's always someone ready to make a buck or two on the back of someone else. I suspect if they see the word Porsche or Porsche Symbol on the package thats's another excuss to inflate the handling costs and charges too!
Just been in touch with HM Revenue & Customs. The duty on car parts (shocks in this case) is 4.5% then 17.5% on top ... effectively compound charges including the shipping costs. Will have to do me sums now and check whether the purchase is still viable. And of course like you have already said Parcel force will take a handling change as well.
Well folks, done the deed, i've ordered them. Checked out two prices here in the UK, the cheapest i could find was £770 the other £950 some difference i know! both included vat and postage. Anyway, will wait for delivery and see what the final cost is...... "yer pay's yer money, yer takes yer chance".
Thanks again for your relpies and help. []
Thanks again for your relpies and help. [
]
Alan Woods
New member
Dave Wilkinson
New member
I initially ordered the parts on-line on Monday 15 October. Pelican e-mailed me to say that, as it was my first order, they wanted me to fax them some ID along with a copy of the credit card. This I did on Tuesday. I believe they charged the card on Wednesday and shipped the goods on Friday. They arrived with me on the following Thursday. I was quoting the 5 days from memory - so I wasn't far out!!
Some of these acronyms get me going too - if you participate in these forums you'll gradually get to know them. Google is a great source - not only for these sort of things!! At least we haven't started using "textspeak" yet!!!
TTBoMK you should get your goods pretty quickly -but then, YMMV. Work that one out!!
Regards
Dave
smallspeed
New member
you should try working for an american company.. the buggers love TLA's and FLA's; first they start leaving a few letters out here and there like "aluminium", and "colour", and now they have started leaving all the vowels out!! []
]
Thanks again for the replies. TBH I should be used to abrevs! the company i work for are using them ATT.
That's enough abrevs for now ......
The reason i asked about the time of delivery Dave, was that i had heard nothing from Pelican having sent the order Friday, only the automated reply with tracking number, which i have checked and which confirms my order was received and has been checked into their system. Anyway have sent them an email to check that everything is ok. Notice in the mean time on there FAQ's that first time international buyers are requested to send ID, exaclt as you have done. I suspect that this is what they are waiting for, although they haven't requested it yet.
Cheers 4 now
That's enough abrevs for now ......
The reason i asked about the time of delivery Dave, was that i had heard nothing from Pelican having sent the order Friday, only the automated reply with tracking number, which i have checked and which confirms my order was received and has been checked into their system. Anyway have sent them an email to check that everything is ok. Notice in the mean time on there FAQ's that first time international buyers are requested to send ID, exaclt as you have done. I suspect that this is what they are waiting for, although they haven't requested it yet.
Cheers 4 now
Update: Having placed my order online a week last Friday there had been no progress. After a few emails, a phone call! and to cut a long story short, being a first time buyer! from Pelican they wanted payment by 'wire transfer'. Why it should be any different from when Dave bought his in October, is any ones guess!
Yep you guessed it £20 bank charge for the privilege. !
I await delivery .....
Yep you guessed it £20 bank charge for the privilege. !
I await delivery .....
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