importing wheels from japan?

I think Mike D might have some experience.

*waves*

got a few sets via yahoo.

shipping wise you have 2 options:

by boat: cheap, takes a long time, no track & trace so you have NO idea where they are
by air: less cheap, takes about a week or 2 to come to you, track & trace.

My experience is, look at a set of wheels, and think that price x2 or x3 to have an idea where it's going to end moneywise when you have them in your hands.

I don't know about the UK bordercontrol, but overhere, the tax is payed only when the customs check the package. A percentage (sp?) of the packages arriving each day gets checked. Sometimes you pay tax (hence the price x3) sometimes you're lucky and you don't (then the price x2 rule comes in to play).

small example:

set of 4 (expensive) wheels: 80.000 yen
sent in 2 packages inside japan: 2x 2000 yen (2x 14kg)
bid commision: 2500 yen
paypal fee: 400 yen
international shipping (by plane): 2x 15.375 yen

That is 117.700 yen (~500 pound for the wheels, 730 in total).
And then come the customs in to play.

You see, when the stuff gets more expensive, the rule x2 or x3 doesn't really work, but in my head i always do the x2 rule and see if i'm really wanting to pay that for that item.

Stuff seems cheap, but gets very expensive pretty quick!
I only use Yahoo Auctions for stuff i really CAN'T get overhere.

Sometimes you can really score a bargain, my 2 13x9 SSR MKII wheels where 75 euro (yey for 4x110 pcd and no scene etc. etc. etc.) which where with me for 185 euro in total.
But on the other hand, i've seen wheels go for 110.000 yen a pair...

4x114,3 is dirt cheap over here.. so keep in mind that you'll never sell them for the price you paid..

lot's and lot's is still available brand new over here...

Hello

Now isn't the best time to be buying from Japan unfortunately, when i brought the Phantoms, Hayashi's and Work Equip 03's over last year they worked out between about 250 and 400 a set, you're looking at double that now with the exchange rates how they are!
don't buy wheels with tyres on either, as the shipping will be crippling, I believe Rinkya now offer tyre removal however for a small fee, so it isn't as bad as it used to be.

Import tax is hit and miss, i got stung on about half my sets, must just be the luck of the draw!

Cheers,
Mike