Buying a Bike in the US

kaiserrussel

Hi All

sorry now if this type of question has been asked many times. I have never owned a decent mountain Bike for use off roads, All I have ever had were basic machines that look like a mountain bike!

I live in an area with plenty of off road trails so I was hoping to get one. prices are expensive and as I am a complete novice I wouldn't know where to start specification wise?

I guess the trails I would be traveling would be forest paths/fire paths etc.

As we are heading for the winter conceivably I will only get to use it in daylight (unless I really get into it).

I don't want to spend too much money in case I don't like it etc

I am due to go on holidays to the US and was wondering is it cheaper or lets say more cost effective to buy over there? I have plenty of family over there so getting it delivered to them would not be an issue, I could then bring home on the plane with me or else one of them could on their next visit.

A friend of mine had an orbea 29er bike (not sure of the model, I think he got it on the BTW scheme that is run) so not sure of the price he paid.

any advice would be greatly appreciated

again my apologies if this question has been asked before

Cheers

Brian?

It's a hell of a lot cheaper. Check out colorado cyclist, they tend to have great deals.

Beasty

You need to factor in duties and VAT which are due on import

cdaly_

But you run the risk of having to pay import duties and VAT when you bring it back to Ireland. Such duties are charged on the entire cost of bringing the bike to Ireland so they might charge import duties on the bike and the flight before charging VAT on top of all that.


OTOH, they might not notice...

kaiserrussel

Brian? wrote: »

It's a hell of a lot cheaper. Check out colorado cyclist, they tend to have great deals.

Thanks Brian, I checked this site out but it seems that anything on here is way above my budget at the moment. I checked with my fiend and it seems the bike he has is an MASTER ALMA H 29 2013 from Orbea.

I know he bought it on the BTW scheme. i think that spec will be more than enough for me for now.

would you recommend any other make s and models that would compare to this?

07Lapierre

cdaly_ wrote: »

But you run the risk of having to pay import duties and VAT when you bring it back to Ireland. Such duties are charged on the entire cost of bringing the bike to Ireland so they might charge import duties on the bike and the flight before charging VAT on top of all that.


OTOH, they might not notice...

+1 and the OP will have to make a decision when coming back to Dublin. Which channel to walk thru, Blue (no), Green or Red.

Stone Deaf 4evr

If a cousin / relative was to buy a bike in the US, then decide that they love you so much that they would like to give you that bike as a gift, I assume that import duties do not apply?

Beasty

Stone Deaf 4evr wrote: »

If a cousin / relative was to buy a bike in the US, then decide that they love you so much that they would like to give you that bike as a gift, I assume that import duties do not apply?

That assumption is incorrect

Please do not turn this into a "how to avoid/evade tax" thread - it is due on import - whether it's actually collected or remitted is not for discussion

Thanks

kaiserrussel

Beasty wrote: »

That assumption is incorrect

Please do not turn this into a "how to avoid/evade tax" thread - it is due on import - whether it's actually collected or remitted is not for discussion

Thanks

Cheers, I am not trying to make this thread into a tax/import charge evasion thread. I am just trying to get some advice on a decent entry level/mid range bike that might be worth buying in the Us vs here

thanks

Beasty

kaiserrussel wrote: »

Cheers, I am not trying to make this thread into a tax/import charge evasion thread. I am just trying to get some advice on a decent entry level/mid range bike that might be worth buying in the Us vs here

thanks

I appreciate that and I was the one that raised the topic of duty and VAT - it's just I don't want other posters chipping in with "smart ideas" on this

Stone Deaf 4evr

Beasty wrote: »

That assumption is incorrect

Please do not turn this into a "how to avoid/evade tax" thread - it is due on import - whether it's actually collected or remitted is not for discussion

Thanks[/QUOTE

Theres a difference between evading and avoiding - evading is a crime, and not to be condoned. I'm just genuinely curious as to what is the story in a case like that and was posing an hypothetical scenario. I understand that you have to pay inheritance tax in Ireland, but I dont know what the story is in relation to gifts, and again the fact that you're dealing with a gift from a different country probably makes it fall under a different category again.

anyways, its off topic and apologies to the OP for the semi hijack.

Beasty

I know the difference, and I know the rules on gifts - if above a certain de-minimis (€45 - see here) then VAT and Duty is due on import from the US

kaiserrussel

Stone Deaf 4evr wrote: »

Beasty wrote: »

That assumption is incorrect

Please do not turn this into a "how to avoid/evade tax" thread - it is due on import - whether it's actually collected or remitted is not for discussion

Thanks[/QUOTE

Theres a difference between evading and avoiding - evading is a crime, and not to be condoned. I'm just genuinely curious as to what is the story in a case like that and was posing an hypothetical scenario. I understand that you have to pay inheritance tax in Ireland, but I dont know what the story is in relation to gifts, and again the fact that you're dealing with a gift from a different country probably makes it fall under a different category again.

anyways, its off topic and apologies to the OP for the semi hijack.

No its completely ok, I was in the US many moons ago for a summer and I brought back a Bike on the plane with me, this was a Bike from "The Sports Authority" for about a 150 dollars!!, did me fine for college. SO I do know your right about coming through customs.

I guess my question is still the same is the value to be had in buying a bike over there, that would be a similar type bike to the Orbea Bike I mentioned above. Or even a Bike that can get me through the wood and fire path trails of our forestries

Lumen

If you want more bike for your money, buy used from a local club.

A couple of the Dublin-based ones have websites where stuff gets advertised.

Also, AFAIK you could buy a used on in the US and bring it back without paying duty or VAT, but I claim no expertise on this.

Since used bikes depreciate much slower, you'll also lose less money if you don't like it and sell it on.

OTOH if you can afford to pay new prices and don't know what you're doing, buy from a local shop and lean on their advice/servicing.

kaiserrussel

Lumen wrote: »

If you want more bike for your money, buy used from a local club.

A couple of the Dublin-based ones have websites where stuff gets advertised.

Also, AFAIK you could buy a used on in the US and bring it back without paying duty or VAT, but I claim no expertise on this.

Since used bikes depreciate much slower, you'll also lose less money if you don't like it and sell it on.

OTOH if you can afford to pay new prices and don't know what you're doing, buy from a local shop and lean on their advice/servicing.

Thanks Lumen, do you mean from the local Mountain Bike Clubs?

shaka

How much you planning to spend ? What's not too much money ? My LBS has some class BMC and BH mountain bikes from last year greatly reduced

FISMA

kaiserrussel,
Alongside the cost of VAT, don't forget shipping or the second case/oversized airline fees.

Check out bikesDirect.com, they tend to have some good deals.

Also, my two favorite for all things bike related

nashbar.com
performancebike.com

Tenzor07

As you are not sure what bike you want, and not even sure you will use it, then why bother going through all of this hassle? :rolleyes:

I would not even consider what you are thinking of doing unless I was buying something really expensive and specialist, i.e. it could not be purchased in IRL/UK.

Just browse adverts and pick up a 2nd hand bike for around €250 or whatever your budget is..

Joxer_S

I bought a new Trek 2.1 in the US while living here, as I owned it and used for for a year while living in the US I was not required to pay VAT or duty when returning to Ireland. In fact the customs officer in Dublin had a nice chat with me about what cycling I'd been doing.

I'm not certain on this, and I offer this advice in good faith and not as a tax avoidance measure. If you were to get a deal on a second hand bike over in the US, you would then be bringing a used item back, I was asked at customs in Dublin, "Is it new?", not "When did you buy it?". So potentially a massive double saving to be made. I'd recommend craigslist.org, I'm back living in Boston again and there doesn't seem to be any dedicated bike forums.

Joxer_S

Alongside the cost of VAT, don't forget shipping or the second case/oversized airline fees.

I brought two bikes home with Aer Lingus for $50. I squeezed them in to an extended bike box, and kept it on the nose of the weight limit. Could get stung with other companies though.

kaiserrussel

shaka wrote: »

How much you planning to spend ? What's not too much money ? My LBS has some class BMC and BH mountain bikes from last year greatly reduced

A friend of mine has this bike, http://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/range-2013/master-alma-h-29/#specifications

I like it and he paid I think a grand or so with the BTW scheme. SO I was thinking that if this was cheaper to buy straight up in the US then I would consider that.

Cheers

kaiserrussel

Joxer_S wrote: »

I brought two bikes home with Aer Lingus for $50. I squeezed them in to an extended bike box, and kept it on the nose of the weight limit. Could get stung with other companies though.

I travel with Aerlingus all the time

Lumen

kaiserrussel wrote: »

do you mean from the local Mountain Bike Clubs?

Yes, e.g. for Dublin: Epic and Mad.

slap/dash

Joxer_S wrote: »

I bought a new Trek 2.1 in the US while living here, as I owned it and used for for a year while living in the US I was not required to pay VAT or duty when returning to Ireland. In fact the customs officer in Dublin had a nice chat with me about what cycling I'd been doing.

I'm not certain on this, and I offer this advice in good faith and not as a tax avoidance measure. If you were to get a deal on a second hand bike over in the US, you would then be bringing a used item back, I was asked at customs in Dublin, "Is it new?", not "When did you buy it?". So potentially a massive double saving to be made. I'd recommend craigslist.org, I'm back living in Boston again and there doesn't seem to be any dedicated bike forums.

This is good, or used to be when I lived there
http://bostonfixed.us/forum/

Not only fixed gear related. Some real nice people on there

Joxer_S

slap/dash wrote: »

This is good, or used to be when I lived there
http://bostonfixed.us/forum/

Not only fixed gear related. Some real nice people on there

Cheers!

kaiserrussel

Hi All

so i have decided to buy a Bike from my LBS in the end on the BTW scheme, Its a mountain bike as I outlined in my first post. I am just wondering what should I include in my "to get ASAP" list. I have a helmet and cycling short already. I bought some long winter pants form aldi with some winter gloves. I am just wondering is there anything that a LBS will normally include with your purchase when you use the BTW scheme?

looking forward to getting it and getting out on the mountain trials near my home

thanks