Shipping from USA best way?

[Factorycol]

I have a MyUS account for this stuff.
Stuff gets shipped to a Florida warehouse with my account numbers as part of the address. They consolidate orders into one shipment and handle the customs stuff required at that end when I upload an invoice to show the value.
Of course there's the VAT, duty and handling same as any other method, but the shipping rates are pretty good.

They ship so much on their account around the world that they have very good shipping rates.
At the moment 10Kg door-to-door via FedEx Economy 2-5 days = $86, FedEx Priority 1-3 days $91, DHL Express 1-4 days $112.
Cheapest is unnamed Budget Economy 5-10 days at $80, which last time I used it was FedEx anyway, but just less priority, so they fit it in when they have space available, so a little bit cheaper.

Volume surcharges don't seem to kick in for bike sized stuff, only 2.3m + and pallets, 150 Lbs + etc.

All the best,

Sounds great if you’re shipping bulk but it’s just one f&f I need to get to the uk!

My company imports quite a bit from the US, so to help a fellow Fat Fan out I can get a collection quote for you if you'd like?

Just email me... col@flidistribution.co.uk

I'll need the address details, email, phone etc etc and then exact dimensions of box and weight.

Col.

 

[Tc]

I have a MyUS account for this stuff.
Stuff gets shipped to a Florida warehouse with my account numbers as part of the address. They consolidate orders into one shipment and handle the customs stuff required at that end when I upload an invoice to show the value.
Of course there's the VAT, duty and handling same as any other method, but the shipping rates are pretty good.

They ship so much on their account around the world that they have very good shipping rates.
At the moment 10Kg door-to-door via FedEx Economy 2-5 days = $86, FedEx Priority 1-3 days $91, DHL Express 1-4 days $112.
Cheapest is unnamed Budget Economy 5-10 days at $80, which last time I used it was FedEx anyway, but just less priority, so they fit it in when they have space available, so a little bit cheaper.

Volume surcharges don't seem to kick in for bike sized stuff, only 2.3m + and pallets, 150 Lbs + etc.

All the best,

Sounds great if you’re shipping bulk but it’s just one f&f I need to get to the uk!

My company imports quite a bit from the US, so to help a fellow Fat Fan out I can get a collection quote for you if you'd like?

Just email me... col@flidistribution.co.uk

I'll need the address details, email, phone etc etc and then exact dimensions of box and weight.

Col.

Thanks Col I’ll pm you when the seller has stripped it & boxed it

Tony

 

[Factorycol]

Thanks Col I’ll pm you when the seller has stripped it & boxed it

Tony

nice one... it'll have to come to us first... so unless you're local to Yorkshore, they'll be a bit of shipping to get it from us to you, but that's dead easy. I can get you a quote for shipping, and we'll do our best to minimise any extra charges for you. But as you'll have seen above its a bit of a lottery. Currently lots is coming in unchecked because the border guys are too busy.

 

[Factorycol]

Thanks Col I’ll pm you when the seller has stripped it & boxed it

Tony

Hi Tony, for some reason I can't reply to your message in my inbox.... can you email me. I'll need to know box dimensions | weight | value and what it is, so I can give you an accurate price. cheers col. (col@flidistribution.co.uk)

 

[uno-speedo]

When receiving an item in the UK from overseas and duty etc is requested to be paid, is it common to be asked to provide evidence of the sales transaction/receipt? Asking for a friend.

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

It's around US$85 to ship a frame and fork to the UK from the US...perhaps a tad more because they just had an increase. Have shipped hundreds of them over since 2004 back then it was around US$52. It has gotten nots. Sent a complete bike over a few months ago and it was US$164 in two boxes.

 

[eightyeight]

Is there a difference importing f+f vs bike?
I did have a brief look the other day (import from EU to UK) and it was 14% duty and 20% vat. 36.8% total, i think royal mail adds costs for handling the import duty too IIRC.

 

[danson67]

Is there a difference importing f+f vs bike?
I did have a brief look the other day (import from EU to UK) and it was 14% duty and 20% vat. 36.8% total, i think royal mail adds costs for handling the import duty too IIRC.

I don't think there should be any duty charged on bikes from the EU at the moment (Whole Bikes: HS code 8712.0030, F&F HS code 8714.9100), just the VAT and handling charge.
There is 14% duty from the US currently, though.
This is a useful cost calculator site: https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/
VAT and Duty charges (where due) are both just proportionate to the value of the goods, no tariff/tax difference between F&F and whole bike.

No distinction is made between new and 2nd hand goods for VAT or Duty, since, as it's an export, local VAT is not charged on the sale either way, just UK 20% VAT on the import to the UK plus any Duty due.

Under the Brexit agreement, if the value is under £135, it should be possible to import private sale 2nd hand stuff from the EU without being charged VAT, as collection of VAT is then the responsibility of the EU seller (not UK HMRC at point of import) and none would have been be due locally.

The biggest cost difference between F&F and whole bike is probably on package size. EU to UK is probably road freight, so not too bad (under 1m longest dimension is good if possible, more options and it can be machine handled), but air freight from the US will be volumised if it's under around 60kg/m3 (which anything bike related will likely be).
If the seller is willing to do the work (paid or not), and you trust them to do it properly, it's worth a huge amount on shipping to get the box packed as small and tightly as possible...wheels off, forks turned, pedals off, bars off, saddle and pin off at least.

All the best,

 

[eightyeight]

Thanks, useful info there especially the sub £135 for VAT collection.