US supplier only allow international collections

cormie

Hey folks,
I'm trying to buy 3 of an item worth $108 each from a US site.

The total shipping dimensions and weight for 3x should be around 24x18x18 inches and weigh just under 70lbs.

The problem is, they won't ship to Ireland direct themselves but have no problem with the likes of TnT or DHL collecting for account holders, but I don't have an account with any shipping company.

They also suggested a freight forwarder or shipping broker so I won't have to collect from the airport and deal with customs myself if TnT collect it for example.

I'm just looking for the best way to get these items to me in Ireland. There's a UK company who quoted what will work out to be €825 with no VAT shipped to my door.

That's €500/165% more than what it would cost to get them to a door in the US, but perhaps after shipping, import duties etc, it won't be possible to get it cheaper any other way? I also want convenience.

I'm VAT registered and this is a purchase for the business.

If anyone has any suggestions, please share!

snubbleste

Loads of services out there like myus.com, reship.com usa2me.com etc

rubadub

Have you also checked european sites? I have gotten a few things from germany which were far cheaper than the UK. This is one site which can check EU sites
https://skinflint.co.uk

Can you share what the items are?

Remember that VAT is on the shipping too, so if you get expensive couriers it will add a lot more.

cormie

Thanks for the replies folks.

The problem with ordering to the likes of myus etc is that I want to be able to know exactly how much it's going to cost to my door, customs, VAT and everything taken care of and it's not really clear with these from what I can see.

I'm VAT registered so I believe I can claim the VAT back either way, but of course to keep the cost low is best.

I've searched all over Google.co.uk, Google.de etc and it doesn't appear to be available at all unfortunately

A few sites have the manufacturers items in, like Amazon.co.uk, but not the exact model I want. If Amazon could stock it, it would be great, considering the VAT can be claimed back like a regular Irish sale.

Victor

cormie wrote: »

The total shipping dimensions and weight for 3x should be around 24x18x18 inches and weigh just under 70lbs.

That's a lot to lift.

What if you send it as three separate packages?

cormie

Yeah it'd be about 33kg all packed up probably and it's big enough too.

I was trying to check if any friends were flying back from the US with spare baggage allowance

I think sending as 3 separate packages would work out a lot more complicated nad probably costly too though?

Each individual piece is 18x24x6 inches and 23lbs.

Victor

cormie wrote: »

I think sending as 3 separate packages would work out a lot more complicated nad probably costly too though?

Not necessarily. Packages up to a certain size can be delivered by hand, up to another size by van and if you want a pallet load, its a truck and forklift.

In this case, as a single package, you may be looking at a 2-man crew, which most courier don't use.

VincePP

Everyone querying shipping parcels seems to think dhl/FedEx /ups are the only people in the world that do this. They are express couriers. Unless the goods are time dependant, they will normally be pricey.

Simply key in "air freight usa Ireland" into google and call a couple of the names that come up.

Get the seller to ship to the freight company's agent and its your responsibility thereafter.

Ask for quote for goods to be delivered to dublin airport and collect from freight counter yourself.

Cost will be about €250 + €50 clearance. Vat and duty will be about 23%-30% of your total cost including freight.


You could contact tnt or FedEx and also check their expedited cost to collect and deliver. Talk nicely to the agent and you may get a discount.

kupus

you could place an ad in an irish paper in new york for somebody that has space in their shipping container. There is people all the time sending stuff over so you might get lucky. but THese containers do get stopped regularly. so if anything in the container is considered iffy then you may not get it at all!!

dreamers75

Use a freight forwarder ask the seller to place it on a pallet, get a price from FF for a pallet to ireland.

Prolly about 300 if you dont mind waiting a bit.

cormie

Thanks folks, it seems like it might not be too much of a saving given the hassle to go these routes. It's unfamiliar territory for me so I'd be a bit apprehensive as to the actual end price after duty, if the package isn't packed at the expected dimensions etc.

So I think these are my options (again, I'm VAT registered):

1) Order from UK distributor. 3 week lead time, price in GBP is to my door with no VAT and works out at €830.

2) Hold out for what could be weeks or months for Amazon to get them in stock. Based on similar models they have stocked, could work out around €680 +23% Irish VAT reclaimable. Saving of €150.

3) Freight Forwarder/Pallet service - $324 product price, shipping probably $300 - so a total of around €600 plus VAT and duty on €600. Unsure how much duty would be. Maximum saving of €230. VAT reclaimable.

4) Get somebody to use their luggage allowance on a flight $324 product price + shipping to person, maybe $350 so far, plus $50 say for being a few kg over 30kg allowance, throw them €100 or so and hope they avoid customs. Maximum saving of about €330. - I got my friend to do this for a similar item years ago and it worked out fine

BattleReady

Try the guys at Parcel direct ie. Could be useful

cormie

I put in the dimensions and weight and it's coming back around €400+ vat with parcel direct

cormie

I put in a haggle with the UK provider and they are willing to do 3x for £160 per unit plus £93 shipping to my door so I think I'll just go with this. It works out at about €730, so about €95 cheaper than they initially quoted. Still a lot more expensive than $108 each, but I can't see me getting them any other way much cheaper any time soon and there's a slight urgency on them.

If anyone happens to be coming back from the US with some baggage allowance and fancies a few quid though, let me know