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Mon Jun 03, 2024 4:30 am

Hey there.

Been looking for a Paulchen 2-bike rack for my ‘90 T3 close to home in California for a couple of years to no avail. I am teaching a course in France and can have Paulchen ship a brand new one to the institution where I am teaching, then I can have it shipped home.

They wont’ ship to the US because, I believe, import costs.

I’ve never shipped parts from Europe - any idea of the kind of customs/duties I am in for with this plan?

Thank you.
Esteban
San Diego, Calif.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 6:41 am

Call t2 detectives, in the UK, or simon butty at buttysbits, or BUSSES UK, and ask what importing looks like. BusOK or justcampers may be able to ship it over for you.

Shipping depends on each country. Best bet is to find a shipping store (like a UPS or FEDEX, and walk in and ask. Bring size and weight and they can talk you through a lot.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 9:20 am

I would suggest you also ask DHL. They seem to be the carrier of choice when I order big stuff from European vendors. As for duties and such, seems to vary depending on random chance. I have incurred significant fees and later no fees on what were essentially identical shipments.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 11:09 am

I just had a Paulchen rear ladder shipped to me in WA. It came by DHL.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 2:02 pm

So the seller is trying to illegally avoid import duties, and you are a co-conspirator in that crime?

Id not be publishing that info on the interweb.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 2:04 pm

I bought an Alfa Romeo gas tank from England shipped by DHL. Got to my door in three days. Faster and cheaper than if I bought it in the states.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 3:28 pm

What about flying it home as the box as a checked bag? If the rack is under $800 then you won't have to pay duty on it. Might be cheaper to get it home like this depending on size/weight than shipping it.

Mon Jun 03, 2024 6:59 pm

Just off the top of my head I'm thinking that if you can keep the parcel under 62" (L+W+H) and under 50 lbs it'll check as regular baggage.

Tue Jun 04, 2024 8:57 am

I regularly purchase parts from a German supplier for my Suzuki LJ80. The list pricing in Germany includes a 19% Value Added Tax (VAT). For parts that are exported outside of the EU, the VAT is not added. Shipping is by DHL. The cost of shipping and export duties is really not that bad, even for larger items. The 19% savings off the list price helps a lot. Shipping by DHL is a mixed bag, but it always arrives at some point. Sometimes it is here in a week, sometimes it has taken 2 months.

Tue Jun 04, 2024 11:07 am

I bring stuff all the time from France/Europe, hell, my Syncro TDi was almost entirely mail-in-order built with parts shipped directly to the US or flown from France :lol:
Never paid a cent.

The European company doesn't want to deal with custom paperwork, that's all, understandably so. Some companies do ship and the import fees are collected by the shipping company, with their own fees :?

If it's shipped by a private party, declare 1 euro value, that's all. Send by Colissimo (La Poste) if possible. If it's too big to go via postal service, it's gonna cost you a LOT of money to ship using DHL (usually the cheapest).

Best is to fly it in next time you go to France or you know somebody flying. I had my late Syncro TD skidplate flown in by my cousin with two 60L plastic tanks, this thing is massive :lol:

Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:24 pm

ALIKA T3 wrote:

Best is to fly it in next time you go to France or you know somebody flying. I had my late Syncro TD skidplate flown in by my cousin with two 60L plastic tanks, this thing is massive :lol:

Hi Alika, do you mean check the part as luggage?

Tue Jun 04, 2024 1:52 pm

tjet wrote: ALIKA T3 wrote:

Best is to fly it in next time you go to France or you know somebody flying. I had my late Syncro TD skidplate flown in by my cousin with two 60L plastic tanks, this thing is massive :lol:

Hi Alika, do you mean check the part as luggage?

Yes! Sometimes worth it to even pay for a 3rd bag.

In 2019 we brought all our check luggage full of wine, 50 Lbs x4 :P
Just got a carry-on for clothing (summer travels).

Tue Jun 04, 2024 11:13 pm

termuehlen wrote: I regularly purchase parts from a German supplier for my Suzuki LJ80. The list pricing in Germany includes a 19% Value Added Tax (VAT). For parts that are exported outside of the EU, the VAT is not added. Shipping is by DHL. The cost of shipping and export duties is really not that bad, even for larger items. The 19% savings off the list price helps a lot. Shipping by DHL is a mixed bag, but it always arrives at some point. Sometimes it is here in a week, sometimes it has taken 2 months.

Hey fellow Suzuki owner, though mine is a bit newer, I have a 1996 JA22 Jimny.

I also purchase parts from Europe often, though mainly Land Rover,shipping is pretty reasonable and DHL usually arrives in less than a week.