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Suggestions for UK suppliers

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losmorob

losmorob

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Just got me thinking with the previous post regarding the current exchange rate.

Any suggestion with companies you've done business with?

Any special suspension/5-speed/speciality parts that are available across the pond that might be somewhat affordable at this time?

Just a thought...
 
Shipping is the killer, and also keep in mind you will pay at higher exchange rate then you see published, banks get a bump in the exchange rate to do that for you. We're in the process of buying some Titan roller rocker arms for the UK for a MGB race engine, we can save a bunch there, because the few US companies that sell them here are quite expensive, but even the 5 lbs or less package will cost 200.00 to ship UPS express to the US. There are other cheaper shipping methods but as listed here in the forum in another thread not always reliable.

Also I would say be careful when dealing in the UK, stick to large well known companies (Mini Spares, Peter May, Moss UK, etc.) lots of folks have been ripped off from some of the smaller companies. I had a buddy who got alot of so-called trick stuff for a 1380 build in the UK, pistons aftermarket rods, they had some pretty killer prices, but most of the stuff he got from them was junk. The rods he got from the UK company were a total joke, it cost him nearly as much for me and another machinist to make those rods work as he paid for them and then at the end of the day, they were only 30 grams lighter than stock rods, he could have bitten the bullit bought rods from a US company like Pauter or Carillo and truely got a quailty made piece that was 100+ grams lighter than stock. The piston set he bought from the same company with the rods he also bought had no provisions for the floating pin in the rods they sold him, he had to get teflon botton machined, how could someone sell you a piston set and rod set with no pin retaining device, slack and ignorant is being nice in this case. Be careful over there, there are sharks in those waters.
 
Also, another thing to keep in mind if you are not in this business. After 9/11, and the Homeland Security Act, the US customs was made to report any international orders to the state of the person receiving them. I guess it was about 2004 or so I made a $5000 order with company in the Australia to buy a good bit of quanity on harmonic blancers and vernier timing gear sets for A series engines. I guess it was about 2008 when I got a notice form the South Carolina Dept. of Revenue, where this international order was being questioned, it stated that I had not declared SC sales tax for this order and I now owe that plus a rather hefty penalty. Ok I didn't have to pay any of that because I had a business license, but had I just been a indivdual who brought spridget goodies from a foriegn country, then I would have been hit with about $700 in back sales taxes and penalties. Heres't the deal most of us have never paid any attention to, anytime you order some thing internationally or even out of state, you don't pay state sales taxes on the time when you buy it, well if you say order from Moss, and don't live in the VA or CA, then there is really no way for the IRS to track those transactions, but now with the new Homeland Security Act, international tranactions are turned over to the states by US customs, so if you do not delcare those puschases on your state tax return you could be trouble. Now this all got my attention, so I talked in detail to the lady at SC dept of Revenue about this, turns out they were grossly under staffed, so they simply had a purchase amount that if the order exceeded that amount, then it was pegged for back taxes and penalty in the case of SC, it was excess of $3000, and because of their being understaffed they worked on a backlog of aprox 3 years, but of course that did not excuse you for not paying sales taxes to begin with. She also told me that 48 states in the union were doing this.

So what I got from all this was the states now with this new found information will come after you for unpaid sales taxes, and over time will become more efficent at doing it. So I'm sure you will hear people here say nothing like that has happen to them, but it did infact happen to me, thank goodness I don't have to pay sales taxes on my purschases because of my buisines, but for some unsuspecting fellow making a large purchase outside the US, you may be well advised to delcare the sales tax on your state tax return, becauxse if they call you a few years later, it will be very costly. There is still money to be saved importing, just be aware of this and what could happen to you, if you ignore this.
 
"use tax", comming to a state near you...

They are trying to do it here.

Sharpen your pitch forks and light the torches boys and girls...
 
I would second all that Hap has stated. You can easily and efficiently purchase items from the long time and major sellers in the UK. Mini Spares UK is my favorite. Stevie Toner is a very responsive and capable person to deal with from an export perspective. Gary on the counter has a good working knowledge of A series engines, albeit the ones turned 90 degrees from in-line. I've personally met them both. Bottom line is know what you want, and if not find out what you need from someone with real experience and order from a reputable company. Solicit feedback from various sources such as this forum. Hap doesn't do hatchet jobs on others, and I don't ether, we try to be fair and have a pragmatic perspective. Everybody in a business situation has difficult transactions with customers that didn't go well. And, likewise customers with their perspective.

Be prepared to pay both a customs fee and a broker fee if using UPS. These usually are COD. Sometimes I've been billed at a later date for the broker fees. The customs fees are US Goverment taxes and the broker fee is what UPS charges to handle your transaction and paperwork in addition to the shipping. My recommendation is be honest and straightforward in all aspects of your transaction and don't try to nickel and dime anywhere. The UK suppliers should have a clearly identified price and know what their component is and is not and can and cannot do. Everything UPS is going to go by air from the UK unless you specify by another method and that one is only by ship. Not worth the delay and any savings in my book. The UPS air price is reasonable given the volatility in fuel costs. Any shipper can give you a shipping price for a given weight. If they can't, they are just lazy. I don't like it being as high as it is, but when it is all said and done, I can buy somethings cheaper from across the pond than what I can buy here in the US. Just remember the caveate of knowing what you are buying. I know exactly what I want before hand and rarely have any surprizes. When I do, Stevie has made sure I get treated fairly. I spend $2-$5K a year with them, so why not.

Play straight with the tax situation in your particular state. If small orders, they will likely fly under the radar and you can deal with any taxes in however the manner you currently deal with your out of state purchases. Be sure that a big order will get sent to the state tax people and they will sooner or later get around to the "Low Hanging Fruit" with respect to income for the state cofers.

FWIW,
Mike Miller
 
AH Spares has been very good for myself and a few others here.
I've never heard bad about them, my last order was about $500 inclusive of shipping and I was very pleased with the transaction, the shipping and most importantly the products.
Their staff is helpful as well, so for instance if you want a quote before buying and including shipping they will handle that by email.
 
I've used AHSpares over the years: https://www.ahspares.co.uk/ and purchased one item (again, no complaints) from Peter May a month ago.

Work up your AH Spares order and ask them for the shipping costs so there's no surprises (the order form has a check box for you to select 'dang the cost! ship them now!', vs 'contact me with delivery costs before despatch'. I've had no problems with my expectations being met or shipping - except a few weeks ago when Iceland had their volcano emissions difficulty....

Doug
 
I've used AH Spares and Moss-Europe many times. Shipping cost is reasonable especially if you plan your orders well. It's not unusual to receive a package within four days of the order. I've paid customs on only one order, a trim and panel kit from AH Spares. I was told by the USPS, when I picked up the package, that customs is applied if the declared value is over $400.
 
I order from both Rimmer Bros and Canley Classics every couple of months or so. When I was a frequent traveler to London, I used to have stuff shipped to the office and check it as baggage. I'd take a nearly empty extra suitcase.
 
I have a 3.7 now I snagged at ajunkyard for 40 bucks a year ago. Alas, it's developing quite a whine. If I can get new parts for it for around $300, I'm tempted.
 
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