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Buying parts from America ballbagbagins
@ballbagbagins
Club Retro Rides Member 164
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Hi, I want to buy a part from America but the company doesn't send items to the UK. I'm not sure why this is and if it's always been the case.
The part is only made by this company and I really want it.
I have a vague recollection someone on here might have mentioned American companies that allow you to get items delivered to their address and then they send it to the UK. Anyone ever done this?
My motive isn't to avoid any import taxes, just to get the part.
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bricol
Part of things
Posts: 284 
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I can't help much with your question (I just use mates over there to forward on stuff) but it might be worth checking that whoever you want to buy from will accept your UK credit card, if that's how you want to pay - I have had problems where some won't, due to European/UK GDPR rules.
Got around it by using paypal - but of course you lose the protection you would have had if you use a credit card.
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mylittletony
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,341
Club RR Member Number: 84
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Buying parts from America mylittletony
@mylittletony
Club Retro Rides Member 84
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I have used a chap on facebook who brings in containers 3 times a year. He shipped a carpet for me.
There are bigger companies who do the same thing, at more of a premium.
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Ritchie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 765
Club RR Member Number: 12
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Buying parts from America Ritchie
@ritchie
Club Retro Rides Member 12
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Stackry is the company that a few have used, I’ve heard they are good but have never used them personally.
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Some American businesses never shipped to the UK. Some did but now don't. The main standard for credit card processing is PCI not GDPR but that does apply as well, but sort of not, but anyway... Long/short version, I have never had a problem paying with a UK credit card in the US, in person or over the phone or online. The issue with shipping is more that since Brexit it has been a lot more complex for US companies to ship direct to the UK because we are now not covered by the EU trade agreement with the US and we haven't yet got the same level of deal in place. There was an initial deal done in 2020 but the full thing isn't even up to be negotiated until 2025. Part of this complexity is because some forms of sales taxes are managed on a state by state basis not a national one in the US. Effectively for some US businesses it means a lot more paperwork which they can't be bothered with. Some US companies can ship to the UK again now, but "proving" it to the IRS or whoever is more trouble than its worth, so they don't. Some just think they can't even though they can. Anyway There are a few ways round this. 1. Buy on eBay - the Global Shipping Programme handles everything. Several companies I know "do not ship to UK" if you buy direct but will ship worldwide on their eBay store. This is the easiest all round 2. Get a mate in the USA. This I have actually found the worst because you just end up falling out with your mate when he is a slack bastad at sending your parts on for you. 3. Use a service like MyUS. www.myus.com - this is good for small items, to medium size, they handle everything for you, but be aware you need a subscription so you pay every month and do you order parts every month? hmm. They also add fees on top for EVERYTHING so it gets super expensive. 4. Ship to someone who imports parts. I find this better for larger items as smaller items sometimes get lost in containers. You probably won't get your stuff very quick if its coming via sea freight but its usually cheap. I have a chap I'd recommend, there are a few out there. 5. Take a holiday in the US. You have to ensure your stuff will arrive at your hotel while you are actually there, but.... 6. Courier services. I have used one which was super good when I bought some headers from the US. Damned if I can recall the name of them now, they popped in an picked up just fine. Similar to using Parcel2go here. EDIT: they are called Netparcel and I was super impressed with them. |
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Last Edit: Jul 9, 2023 19:35:21 GMT by akku
1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Buying parts from America Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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1. Buy on eBay - the Global Shipping Programme handles everything. Several companies I know "do not ship to UK" if you buy direct but will ship worldwide on their eBay store. This is the easiest all round EBay global shipping has been an absolute game changer for me, both buying and selling. It’s actually a really cheap way of shipping internationally when compared like for like with any other service. I have in the past listed stuff on eBay for a buyer I already had to take advantage of it, cos even with their 20% fees added it was still cheaper than sending it with a normal courier! I’ve brought in 30kg of 1950s American pig iron bellhousing with it, not to mention many other larger and heavy items. At least 75% of the stuff I buy through it is cheaper than using suppliers direct as the shipping price is that much lower. It works the other way too, I’ve now got a sideline flogging vintage mtb stuff on eBay, more than half of what I sell goes overseas. I’ve done at least half a dozen frames to frace, Canada, aus and the US, and I’ve got a complete bike going out to Aus this week. This was not previously possible so they seem to be upping the game on what size/weight they’re willing to carry. |
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braaap
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,596
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Does anybody know how Ebay GSP can be so much cheaper? Do You have to wait months for the parts?
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Buying parts from America ChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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In essence, it's down to what Alistair said. I know of alot of UK companies who dealt with US ones. They either don't anymore as: -The goods are perishable, and a form cockup will scrap the goods (i.e craft beer) -The pain will mean the suppliers charge more to ship it. After all, time is money. Ive had the latter happen with some US parts I grabbed for my M3. I saved a small fortune on shipping them to myself. Previously, UK folks could buy direct from the company. They now only deal via 1 agent in the UK. When we left the EU, essentially, we also left an agreement that they had with the US. We are now, to quote one of the chaps involved in the above scenarios, no different to shipping goods to Africa, Pakistan, you name it. Does anybody know how Ebay GSP can be so much cheaper? Do You have to wait months for the parts? I suspect it's because eBay is VAT registered. I think this is how Autodoc also get around the taxation issue. |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,192
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Buying parts from America ChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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1. Buy on eBay - the Global Shipping Programme handles everything. Several companies I know "do not ship to UK" if you buy direct but will ship worldwide on their eBay store. This is the easiest all round EBay global shipping has been an absolute game changer for me, both buying and selling. It’s actually a really cheap way of shipping internationally when compared like for like with any other service. I have in the past listed stuff on eBay for a buyer I already had to take advantage of it, cos even with their 20% fees added it was still cheaper than sending it with a normal courier! I’ve brought in 30kg of 1950s American pig iron bellhousing with it, not to mention many other larger and heavy items. At least 75% of the stuff I buy through it is cheaper than using suppliers direct as the shipping price is that much lower. It works the other way too, I’ve now got a sideline flogging vintage mtb stuff on eBay, more than half of what I sell goes overseas. I’ve done at least half a dozen frames to frace, Canada, aus and the US, and I’ve got a complete bike going out to Aus this week. This was not previously possible so they seem to be upping the game on what size/weight they’re willing to carry. I did wonder why a Escort RS Turbo clock sold well to someone abroad. Like you say, even with the fees, it worked out brilliantly for shipping outside of the UK. In the UK, I was faced with folks saying: -You can't guarantee it came out of an RST - "It's Shark Grey, and I owned the car, pretty conclusive" - But you can't -That much? I paid £5 back in the day for one - "Move on? Don't like the price, jog on" After 3 weeks of messers on Marketplace, the clock sold abroad within 2 days on eBay. |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Buying parts from America Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Does anybody know how Ebay GSP can be so much cheaper? Do You have to wait months for the parts? Not especially. It’s usually about two weeks. I think it’s just down to the scale of their operation. If I’m just one guy selling second hand bits of old pushbikes and at least 50% of my stuff is going overseas, scale that up and the amount of things they’re shipping internationally must be immense. |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Buying parts from America Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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EBay global shipping has been an absolute game changer for me, both buying and selling. It’s actually a really cheap way of shipping internationally when compared like for like with any other service. I have in the past listed stuff on eBay for a buyer I already had to take advantage of it, cos even with their 20% fees added it was still cheaper than sending it with a normal courier! I’ve brought in 30kg of 1950s American pig iron bellhousing with it, not to mention many other larger and heavy items. At least 75% of the stuff I buy through it is cheaper than using suppliers direct as the shipping price is that much lower. It works the other way too, I’ve now got a sideline flogging vintage mtb stuff on eBay, more than half of what I sell goes overseas. I’ve done at least half a dozen frames to frace, Canada, aus and the US, and I’ve got a complete bike going out to Aus this week. This was not previously possible so they seem to be upping the game on what size/weight they’re willing to carry. I did wonder why a Escort RS Turbo clock sold well to someone abroad. Like you say, even with the fees, it worked out brilliantly for shipping outside of the UK. In the UK, I was faced with folks saying: -You can't guarantee it came out of an RST - "It's Shark Grey, and I owned the car, pretty conclusive" - But you can't -That much? I paid £5 back in the day for one - "Move on? Don't like the price, jog on" After 3 weeks of messers on Marketplace, the clock sold abroad within 2 days on eBay. Yup that’s pretty much my experience. I tend to buy locally on marketplace then clean the parts/bikes, write a good description and list on eBay. Everything always sells for considerably more than uk buyers are usually willing to pay. |
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Jul 10, 2023 13:58:34 GMT
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eBay GSP is all abut volume
eBay must be shipping an absolute fuckton of stuff daily, I bet not far behind Amazon. They ship 100% though Pitney Bowes as I recall and probably got a best rates anyone is going to get.
I CBA listing stuff on eBay now but if they set up a side gig as a courier service I'd be all over that.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Buying parts from America Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Jul 10, 2023 14:26:30 GMT
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The other thing about GSP is their insurance/liability is really fair. Much more so than any courier service.
I bought a ww2 bomber oxygen tank on US eBay through GSP. When it turned up the end was dented- it had obviously been dropped on end and knocked the threaded fitting in, denting it. I complained and eBay held their hands up and said ‘it’s our fault’. They refunded me the whole amount plus shipping and didn’t take a penny back off the seller (because I messaged them and asked them). I ended up making a slide hammer fitting up on the lathe to extract the dent in the end which worked out ok, so I got that one gratis (well, the price of my time and skill to fix it) thanks to eBay.
A friend also had an odd experience recently posting a vintage r/c car. They sold it though GSP, off to the US. At no point during the shipping process was he asked if it had batteries in it. When it got to the shipping hub somehow they found out it did (I guess they X-ray stuff?) and because they said ‘we didn’t ask you if it had a batteries in it so that’s our fault’. They refused to send it on or return it, but compensated the buyer fully and let the seller keep the proceeds too.
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Last Edit: Jul 10, 2023 14:27:20 GMT by Dez
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Jul 10, 2023 17:37:49 GMT
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One further option make friends with someone on one of the American airbases over here, and get it sent to them, postage is the same as domestic US same as sending to a BFPO address from here
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