Having shopped for a new ,used fork, and having been a fan of Marzocchi (ruined my last ones in ham fisted service, otherwise there was nothing wrong with them) I found Marzocchi 55R's new at Jenson for £170 including Fedex Priority shipping.
Two days later the forks are at my door. From california. Bonkers.
Theyve got loads of carbon loveliness dirt cheap too....(though I know crashing with such is fatal 😉
And was the price on their website the price you paid - an tax added?
I too am interested in if you got taxed, if not then it would be rude not to buy them at that price!
Fedex usually invoice you later for the duty etc.
I've had stuff off Jenson before. Turns up quickly, good service and (so far) no tax.
I didn't think Jenson delivered to the UK. Did you just do it through the website or did you have to arrange things (by phone or email) with them?
I've used Wheelworld a couple of times for silly cheap stuff from the US with no problems.
Googled Marz 55, jensonusa came up as first hit under "shopping for...", shipping was USD$23, total price paid was £169 and some pence, including postage, didnt get taxed VAT or import duty. Tracked it on fedex from California to tennessee to UK to home in 2 days.
Surprised to hear a company would release/deliver a parcel and then invoice for tax (parcelforce hold on to it), had no suggestion I will be taxed, but even if I get 4% Import + VAT (from other importing from US thread) theyll still come in at £200 which is what a pair are going for used on fleabay.
I used to buy from Jenson, cambriabike, supergo, speedgoat etc 10yrs ago when I lived there and was a right bike tart, so its odd to use them again.
I've definitely had stuff from Jenson in the past via Fedex & the tax was a separate invoice - you may get lucky - I've no idea what percentage they do the full works on for tax
Although I think personal import limits have gone up a bit recently so maybe it falls into that category?
I've bought from Jenson and not been taxed via fedex,bought from others who used ups and got hammered
oh don't get me started on UPS, absolutely useless, on the other hand fedex have been a pleasure to use.
ups are rubbish,won't buy from anyone again who uses them
i'm hoping you used the word (is in infact a word?) "props" in an ironic way
*goes of to Jenson's website for a browse*
I've been at one of their shops last year to buy a roadbike, I was living North of LA at that time. I seem to remember them telling me that they are not allowed to ship e.g. Fox forks abroad as Fox keeps an eye on the prices which are loads cheaper over there, Marzocchi does not seem to be a problem...
Yeah they won't post Fox forks to UK, shame as I spotted some F120's for abour £260 including shipping on their website!
Now who do I know in the States?
Wouldn't sell me an Intense frame either. Bit of a bummer as even with taxes worked out almost 50% cheaper than UK prices.
rocketdog, it is an american website and when I lived out there and rode, all the guys I rode with used to talk ironically in cliche extreme twang, so you got phat props for cleaning a gnarly trail, dude.
Although the funniest one ive ever heard was on here, said ironically, and from memory it was "lets slay this trail Ive got my gnarl adjusted to the max". Which is frankly, brilliant.
Will post follow up if I get taxed in case anyones interested.
To get around the shipping issue, get yourself a US mail forwarding box. I use the aeropost service in Miami, not sure if they'll forward to the UK but it works for me here. You get all your stuff shipped to the box and then they forward to you wherever you are.
I regularly buy stuff from Jenson that gets delivered to the BVI next day by FedEx. You can set up multiple delivery addresses with them as well.
follow-up: invoiced a total of £22.78 by fedex; £15.98 taxes on a £170 value transaction, plus £6.80 handling fee.
So all in still cost me less than £200 for the forks which as I said previously is what a shop was asking for a used pair on fleabay.
The exchange rate has moved further in our favour since I bought them, the basic price for the forks now is £140 🙄
Oh and a friend living in the US has just told us theyre coming visiting, is there anything we want bringing over 🙄
Oh and a friend living in the US has just told us theyre coming visiting, is there anything we want bringing over
some of that A1 steak sauce would be good - I quite like it on BBQ stuff
😀
oh - you mean bike stuff? 🙄
Got charged £23.55 by UPS for my 55Rs (paid £229 including postage back in June - from Nomade ebay shop in Canada). Pretty happy with that - iirc Parcelforce Worldwide have in the past added a pretty hefty handling charge on top of the tax bill.
Jenson have some good deals on Yeti ASR's a the moment 38% off the 2009's.
I guess it depends on your luck if you get taxed or not - ie import duty. I've had a few items from US of A & only got to pay import once.
Aspire Velo was really quick too - i paid a bit extra for some CK hubs for expidited shipping - got 'em within a couple o' days - fantastic!!
Customer service from them is first rate too - as most US companies.
Are there any issues with warranties on kit bought from USA?
Just bought some clothes and a tyre to cheer myself up (and because they're cheap as chips).
Was tempted to order a Yeti ASX frame for £530, but then remembered I'm on quite strong painkillers and might not be thinking very clearly.
Props from me as well.
Ordered five items Friday night and arrived Monday morning, from the US!
And I got some padded DH undershorts, gloves, two jerseys and a tyre all for about £80 I think.
No mention of tax yet. If Fed Ex didn't invoice me already, am I in the clear?
Yeah I ordered some Revelations from there on a tuesday night. On my door Friday Morning.
Letter came through the following wednesday with tax. £25 i think it was. Still miles cheaper than anywhere in Britain.
Chakaping - you are not in the clear just yet! Wait a few days!
cha****ng, at about £80 I think your under the personal import tax limit, but might still be invoiced for VAT?