Shipping to Australia: A Fact Sheet

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

**********s just quoted me $428.09 shipping for an Injen CAI that costs $398.95. They also will only ship to the nearest airport (I assume this means there would be a broker involved) and insist on payment via Wire Transfer.

You can guess what I told them...

Here's a copy of the PM I sent back to **********s:

Thanks but I have managed to source this elsewhere for $360 + $85 shipping - door to door. No customs brokers and no requirement for a wire transfer.

That puts your shipping cost at 503% of the other vendor - not including the several hundred dollars in extra "brokerage and handling fees" that I would no doubt be up for at this end because you do not ship door to door.

I realise that your shipping is probably faster but it seems that your pricing is designed to discourage international sales.

If this is not the case and you actually do want to do business with Australian buyers then you should probably have a read of these two threads and revise your shipping practices:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539711

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544408

Thanks anyway,

Angus.

[130iguy]

brilliant when you get a response can you post it in here and quote this post so i get a notification, would love to see what they have to say

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by 130iguy

brilliant when you get a response can you post it in here and quote this post so i get a notification, would love to see what they have to say

Here ya go:

Originally Posted by **********s.com

Hello,

Thank you for your reply and for sending me the links. We defintiely do not discourage international sales and are open to international inquires. However, we do have certain policies and procedures set in place and I have to follow them. Before sending you over the quote from Pilot Freight, I did attempt to work it up via USPS which is typically cheaper. However, due to the weight and dimensions of the box, USPS did not have a priority shipment choice available. I had to of course then, send you over the rate quote from Pilot Freight.

I'm glad that you were able to find a rate that was much cheaper. However, that is not something that I would be able to match for you. Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with and I'd be more than happy to help out. Looking forward to hearing from you again soon.

Best Regards,

Have to add: Tischer were able to send me 4 wheels in ENORMOUS boxes via USPS and it only took 10 days. The price was more than this but it was a lot bigger cubic volume... and the point is that they HAD NO PROBLEM SENDING VIA USPS.

[130iguy]

like i said elsewhere the flaws in the system really have only just begun to become apparent when we hit parity, hopefully we can find vendors who actually care

[BiMou]

I think we should work together, perhaps updating the first post in this thread, to create a 'blacklist' of sellers that use shipping services which involve customs brokers etc. and sting you (steal) with ridiculous extra fees. That would be pretty handy.

[MrBlonde]

That **********s reply is a load of bullshit. Typical US crap.

[Dr Stig 2]

"Hmmm, the computer says no." Carol Beer, Little Britain.

[mcmn]

Originally Posted by BiMou

I think we should work together, perhaps updating the first post in this thread, to create a 'blacklist' of sellers that use shipping services which involve customs brokers etc. and sting you (steal) with ridiculous extra fees. That would be pretty handy.

I agree with this, we should look to put either a new post/sticky or alter this one for a list of good websites, good forum businesses, ebay sellers etc that welcome aussie buyers, been good to deal with, etc.

Paul

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by mcmn

I agree with this, we should look to put either a new post/sticky or alter this one for a list of good websites, good forum businesses, ebay sellers etc that welcome aussie buyers, been good to deal with, etc.

Paul

I'll do a mass edit tomorrow and put the vendor reports in.

Probably good to keep everything central

[Harlequin]

To be added:

**********s: Bad - use Pilot Freight
Echelon Autosports: Good - use Postal Services
Tischer: Good - use Postal Services
Burger Motorsports: Good - use Postal Service
Schmeidemann: Good - use Courier (door to door)
United BMW: Good - use Courier (door to door)

(just my own experiences so far...)

[-satanic-]

Kerscher = Bad, uses DB Schenker

[timbo_3101]

Thanks Harlequin, this is certainly useful and eye-opening!

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by timbo_3101

Thanks Harlequin, this is certainly useful and eye-opening!

Welcome... Scared me a little when I realised how many different vendors I had personal experience of - and therefore bought from - and how much I've bought...

Hello, my name's Angus and I'm a BMW-a-holic

[Unkie]

Just an update for this thread -
I ordered a set of rims and tyres through BarvarianX, door-to-door via UPS.

Yet UPS is still demanding customs brokerage fees despite paying for Door-to-Door delivery:
Customs Brokerage charge = $125.00 (if you elect to utilise UPS brokerage service)
Terminal Transfer on Airport = $110.00
Import Service Fee = $99.00

This is before CV duties and such.

So it seems door-to-door delivery does not always spare you from Customs rapage fees.

[Superdaws]

My CF diffuser came from United BMW with door to door shipping via Fedex. Still got done on customs as well...

Door to door doesnt mean its necessarily free of duties, check with the vendor first.

[RaihaX]

Originally Posted by Superdaws

My CF diffuser came from United BMW with door to door shipping via Fedex. Still got done on customs as well...

Door to door doesnt mean its necessarily free of duties, check with the vendor first.

are you referring to import tax? If so even with door to door shipping custom will still hit you up on it

[Attuale]

Originally Posted by RaihaX

are you referring to import tax? If so even with door to door shipping custom will still hit you up on it

Exactly. If it's over a $1000.00, you're going to have to pay customs duties even if it's door to door. There is no escaping the government!

Also a little off topic , but I did some research, the USA have 2.5% import duty for cars. 2.5%!! We have to pay 5% duty AND 10% GST. No wonder their cars are so much cheaper there...then we have to pay the LCT, Stamp duty etc.

[Harlequin]

I know a few of you guys have bought from the Tire Rack before.... I'm talking with them about placing an order but they insist on Wire Transfer.

Never done one before and don't want to start now... I want to pay with my credit card so that I get purchase protection and insurance. Also don't want to get stung on transfer fees...

Has anyone here run into this? Suggestions?

[JB4135]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

I know a few of you guys have bought from the Tire Rack before.... I'm talking with them about placing an order but they insist on Wire Transfer.

Never done one before and don't want to start now... I want to pay with my credit card so that I get purchase protection and insurance. Also don't want to get stung on transfer fees...

Has anyone here run into this? Suggestions?

Hey Angus, It was kind of the deal breaker for me too. I don't like wire transfer's (bad experience long time ago) especially when there's other more easier ways to pay such as CC or Paypal. I never completed my order with them cause I wanted to pay by Paypal. It takes 1 less than a minute to do.

[RaihaX]

Originally Posted by JB4135

Hey Angus, It was kind of the deal breaker for me too. I don't like wire transfer's (bad experience long time ago) especially when there's other more easier ways to pay such as CC or Paypal. I never completed my order with them cause I wanted to pay by Paypal. It takes 1 less than a minute to do.

I didnt like how they only wanted wire transfer but I did it anyway and everything went through fine. Was kinda scary though!

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

I know a few of you guys have bought from the Tire Rack before.... I'm talking with them about placing an order but they insist on Wire Transfer.

Never done one before and don't want to start now... I want to pay with my credit card so that I get purchase protection and insurance. Also don't want to get stung on transfer fees...

Has anyone here run into this? Suggestions?

I was against the idea as well but I've completed about 5 transactions with Tirerack and about to make another order. They are 100% legit. As for buying anything else, I would only recommend paying by CC and paypal so that you are protected in some way.

FYI, you can do international bank wire transfers online now so it only takes a few minutes too. The associated fees are also cheaper too.

[radrat]

Originally Posted by dh58

hmmm....

i would offer to help but I don't know the legal situations etc surrounding it..

dh58,

There's a number of companies that can provide you with a US address and then you just have your goods shipped there and they will on-ship to you in Australia (or anywhere).

I have used shipito for a number of years and they have been very good. Some of the higher volume retailers can get lower rates so it pays to check both the price of the item you're buying plus their shipping rate.

Big items / awkward sized items can be expensive. They shipped 4 wheels to me for about $540 including insurance, they arrived in 5 days, no other fees except their fees which are low (maybe <$20, can't remember).

The package for 2 wheels worked out to be;

51.10 lbs (23.17 kg)
23"×23"×23" (59×59×59 cm)

The wheels weighed less than 20lb each, but they were packed really well!

www.shipito.com