Shipping rates going through the roof

[Yves Thaens]

Hi,

I need some suggestions on shipping parts from the US to Europe. Reason : I had a shipment in today and the shipment rate was some 60 % higher than what I had to pay one year ago. For example I ordered a urethane front bumper (Ecklers) for a C3 along with some small parts totalling 629 US$, shipment came up to 321 $ and then I had to pay duties 3,5% and VAT 21 %. Total sum was the double of the US price, where in the past I had to pay at a rate of about 1,5.

Lucky for me, most of my parts are in, but I still have some parts of 1500 $ to order from the US. At current rates this would cost me another 1500 $ to get the parts in my hands.

Are there any alternatives ? I was also thinking of making a trip to the US and somehow bringing the parts with me. For 1500 $ it seems that I would easily get to the US and back ... Any suggestions ?

Sorry for this long tread but right now I'm really pissed about this.

Thanks

Yves

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: Shipping rates going through the roof

Yves, it is probably easier for you to check than I, but what about non-EU countries. They may have different VAT or TVA depending on antique car parts. Some may have no import. As I recall there is no tax here for imports from the Czech Republic.

Try asking your international friend in Europe.

Harry

[Jack H.]

Re: Shipping rates going through the roof

As far as VAT and duties go, that's a local tax issue. It sounds trite, "Change your government" but we did it back in 1776 and taxation was one of the root causes!

On reducing freight, that's 'curable'... The catalog houses typically insist on using commercial carriers (FedEx, UPS, Etc.) for a couple of reasons:

(1) They've been burned by shipping via the post office, customers saying they didn't receive the items (whether true or not) and having no way to verify proof of delivery...

(2) Until recently, the post office only picked up when they made drop-off rounds (typically mid-day) and since most business folks work to a close of business (4-6 PM) that meant sending a clerk with the goods to the post office to stand in queue...wasteful use of labor.

Next, the commercial carriers aren't government subsidized and all base their rates on air freight with mark-up for using their own customs clearing brokers. If you're NOT in a hurry for this/that, the US post office WILL ship via 'surface' which means ocean freight. Yep, it takes 4-6 weeks, but the price drops like a rock, especially on large or heavy items.

So, consider doing what some in the UK and Australia do. Get to know a Yank, and maybe join their Chapter. Once you've got a friendly relationship, use your Stateside 'buddy' as a 'drop point' and have him re-package items and send them via USPS.

Another alternative, although NOT street legal, is to know a Yank in your country who's got a military connection. They receive mail via APO's meaning the US government absorbs the difference in domestic vs. international freight to keep the troops happy. What I mean by not 'street legal' is it's not lawful for those with APO privildges to use them for others and 'compete' against the US post office or your local PTT... But, a one-time here/there event simply isn't policed.

[Yves Thaens]

Re: Shipping rates going through the roof

Thanks Jack,

Haven't checked out those routes either. Some here suggest going to the US, buying some wrecked/scrap car and putting the trunk full of parts, welding it shut and then shipping the whole car as a parts donor for low price over the ocean, only paying duties on the wreck. Afterward you have the wreck pressed (of coarse first the parts are removed :-) Only thing is, you need to move as much parts as possible at once.

Yves

[Wayne C.]

Re: Shipping rates going through the roof

A friend of mine has a business friend he visits in France who owns a Corvette and a Chevy Suburban. He frequently takes parts with him as carry-on or boxed and checked as luggage; for example, I think he took a set of brake calipers re-lined with stainless as carry-on one time. Obviously you can only do that with parts that aren't very large. I don't know how he handles immigration inspection in France, but I can ask him if you wish. Nor do I know how the most recent airport security rules may have affected this method.

And check pricing with various shippers, I know here in the US Fedex is probably the low-cost shipper currently, although the US Postal service is competitive on small items.

Perhaps you could find an importer who gets items from the US and piggy-back on his shipments somehow.