Take care when buying 'cheap' stuff from abroad! here my most recent experience

I have just recieved a carbon fiber frame protector for my bike. Bought it from America as I couldn’t find a decent one here. Anyway,

The price of the goods was $190

the shipping $ 45

total of $235

But the customs in UK did charge me another £18.73 as import duty and the Royal Mail clearance.

So the product went from $190 up to $269.65 on my door.

My intention with this post is not to say that what I have paid too much for my stuff or not. The frame protector is of a fantastic quality and I’m very happy with it, plus the delivery time was great too. I bought it from OPP in Canada. http://www.oppracing.com/main.php and I recommend them for your bike mods. My intention is to warn you guys to make your accounts up to the final price of anything you get from aborad as it can be decieptive.

An alternative to avoid the customs charge is avaliable. All you have to do is to contact the seller and ask them to sent it declared as ‘gift’ when they fill in the customs declaration. Some will do that for you, some don’t!

hope it can be of use to you!

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The gift trick doesn’t always work either, it’s up to Her Majesties Customs & Excise whether or not to take any investigation further, and if they suspect it’s new goods you paid for, they can charge you, it’s very silly. Having the sender mark the package down in cost to $80 or so can also help, but then you limit your insurance options and if they open the pacakge and see an obviously expensive product in there, you’ll get stuffed still.

Buying brand-new items from the states is rarely as good a deal as it seems on the face of it. You can often end up paying as much as a UK item would cost, and have to wait longer for it. On the other-hand, buying second-hand items from the states is often a very good idea because of the lower asking price and very favourable currency conversion rate!

I want to see the items installed on the bike as well Cezar!

Your wish is my command Jay!

here goes the pics:

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Ah the protectors look amazing! They really compliment the work you’ve done to the bike, I’m really happy they’ve turned out well, I know you wanted them to turn up quicker and have better fittings, but it looks superb. I want some now :expressionless:

Thanks jay! I’m really pleased with the result, started to like the bike all in black now…lol

Now I have to wait for the dash carbon fiber covers… Funny it, the stuff from america turns up in my door earlier than the british one…??? Pyramid…

Y’ALL COULD ALSO FIND A FRIENDLY PERSON STATE SIDE TO SEND THE STUFF TO YOU.

I SENT A FULL YOSHI ZAUST SYSTEM TO CANADA, MARKED IT AS A GIFT, WORTH $200, AND I INSURED IT FOR $600.

DIDN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, NO FEES PAYED, CUSTOMS DID KEEP IT FOR A WHILE THOUGH.

I’M SURE THERES A BIT OF DIFFERENCE FROM SENDING STUFF TO CANADA, BUT IF YOU SNAG SOMETHING OFF E-BAY—> FIND A STATESMAN TO SEND IT TO YOU PERSONALLY.

I’M SURE THE PACKAGE COMING FROM AN INDIVIDUAL INSTEAD OF A COMPANY HELPS TOO

I tried it mate but OPP doesnt do that! They said that they are a bussiness and they won’t send it as a gift…