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New Parts Purchase Direct From UK

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Blueghost

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Does anyone have experience with purchasing new parts directly from England? Specifically, is there any import duties/fees charged above purchase/shipping price? Mini Spares has some 1275 engine parts favorably priced. I contacted them and they said they do not charge VAT to US customers, but they said they couldn’t say what US Customs may do. Parts are just under $200 USD and shipping is reasonable. If no import costs, it is significantly better than purchase in U.S. of A. Am I missing something?
 
I've bought parts from Moss UK before without issue. Not had US customs do anything with my orders, but don't know if that is normal.
 
I think Gerard's issue was with the shipper, not the company he bought from. I purchase items from the UK, Germany, etc. and shipping is reasonable if the package is not too large or heavy. Sometime I receive items quicker from the UK faster than I do from domestic sources.
Rut
 
Remember folks...we have the great and glorious "free market". Our borders are open, jobs are gone, and treasury is empty but, fortunately, for us guys needing parts from oversea's, its hassle free!

Kurt.
 
There is some limit as to when you get customs fees. I have no received them for small orders but at other times, I have received them. Customs fees are not large, IE: for a $200 order, it could be less than $20 customs. It really depends on the shipping. If you request and get it shipped by UK postal to USPS, there is usually no customs. But if UPS or DHL does the shipping, there is always a customs fee. The large places like UPS have in-house customs.
Jerry
 
smaceng said:
Gerard of this forum has had the bad, I recall, experiences on buying from England........
Click to expand...

I have been buying from the UK since around 2000, but that's primarily due to the fact that I also own Morris Minors, and that parts for Morris are much ore limited in the US. The recent (and still unresolved issue) is not with the seller or the shipper, but with the carrier (FedEx). Technically, duty is not charged on vintage auto parts, but much of that depends on the shipper labeling them properly, and the shipper/carrier knowing this. Some carriage companies know this, but still charge duty erroneously. No one will "guarantee" you not being charged duty, but except for certain carriers, it doesn't happen.

FedEx lost my $2000 box of parts, not once, but twice in the same facility. Maybe I'm cynical, but I believe it was either a case of extreme neglect/indifference or flat out theft. I have seen photos of the box, contents and shipping receipt sent to me by FedEx for verification, and upon confirmation, was promptly lost again before leaving the facility. The fact that it was never scanned after being received in Memphis makes me all the more suspicious.

As of today, I have been asked for 4 different iterations of the shipping contents receipt, each time FedEx finding fault with some minor details such as how the receipt is labeled. For example, yesterday they requested a new set to be labeled "Replacement Cost Invoice". This request comes 6 weeks after the last set of invoices (3rd time) supplied directly from the seller in the UK.
 
Just to clarify, I buy RHD parts from the UK along with other goodies that are not available in the US...I'm looking for a RHD dash at the moment, but like to use the vendors that support us on this forum whenever possible. I also buy antique scopes and optics from Germany for the same reason. Kurt's comments stung a little and I'm very protective of my home peeps and will do what I can, within reason, to support them.
Sensitive in AL, Rut
 
I know from a fair amount of personal experience (living and working overseas, Nam, Mexico, Costa Rico, Ethiopia, Togo,) that , going either way, if you can claim "used" or "personal property of" that it absolutely minimizes any charges. However that is not what we are talking about. The reality is that most Real world countries play fair. And many/most less than Real world countries have unpredictable import/export fees. My question was about the UK. I believe the UK to be a Real world country. I just placed the order and fully expect the outcome to be as expected. If other than expected, I'll let you know. Thanks a bunch. Bluegoost.
 
Please excuse my post....just a little cynical about the direction this country has taken over the last 30 years and politics in general. Watched a Frontline show on insider trading and its still bugging me!! Off topic!

Kurt.
 
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