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Any good cycling components on ali express?

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  • 04-10-2020 7:29pm
    #1
    Arequipa
    Registered Users Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭


    Good evening!
    I hope you are all well.
    I am researching building an economical, road bike with 2nd hand parts or Chinese home brands... not necessarily copies of legit big brands.

    I am looking at cvr cranks & the sensah empire groupset on ali express and a deng fu carbon frame....

    Have any of you bought components on ali express?
    How were they in terms of quality, value, reliability?

    Just one last question... at what price point will i have to pay import tax?
    If so it might be cheaper to buy components in smaller transactions, over a period of time...

    I appreciate any feedback!
    A


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    #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,575 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    you've to pay import tax on anything bought from outside the EU, i thought?
    and not just the value of the item, you also pay it on the cost of the shipping. in which case it'd be the opposite, that buying in bulk and reducing overall shipping charges would make things cheaper.

    however, this is from someone who buys physical items online probably less than once per year so i may be talking nonsense.


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    #3
    con747
    Registered Users Posts: 5,913 ✭✭✭con747


    https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/buying-of-goods-online-for-personal-use/buying-goods-from-outside-the-eu.aspx The post office charge €10 on top I think. Aliexpress is taking from 4 to 10 weeks delivery for me now.
    I always keep goods below €33 to avoid charges on small items.

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.



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    #4
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,894 ✭✭✭cletus


    Once the value is over €21 (maybe €23), technically you pay tax on it. Whether customs actually check this and charge you is a different matter, although I understand that they've been more stringent as of late.

    An option to look out for is where the company will ship from, say, the Netherlands, in which case the tax won't apply.

    Regarding quality, no idea, but there's a guy on YouTube who did an entire carbon bike build from Chinese components, worth a look


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    #5
    con747
    Registered Users Posts: 5,913 ✭✭✭con747


    cletus wrote: »
    Once the value is over €21 (maybe €23), technically you pay tax on it. Whether customs actually check this and charge you is a different matter, although I understand that they've been more stringent as of late.

    An option to look out for is where the company will ship from, say, the Netherlands, in which case the tax won't apply.

    Regarding quality, no idea, but there's a guy on YouTube who did an entire carbon bike build from Chinese components, worth a look

    They only charge vat if the vat content is over €6.

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.



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    #6
    Arequipa
    Registered Users Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭Arequipa


    Thanks for the replies...
    Yea, i saw that youtube video..the bike looked cool!

    Re the shipping.. given covid and life at the moment..i am not worried about a long wait!

    I have watched a few videos on the sensah empire groupset, including one by 'China Cycling', it gets a good review, except for the front der. ...which seems a bit painful to set up properly...
    It could be a good choice for a x1 chainset for a gravel bike...


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    #7
    Arequipa
    Registered Users Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭Arequipa


    From memory.. i have bought a few things on ali express... sunglasses, bibshorts, cycling jerseys.. and i have never been charged vat or import duties...

    I think ever order less than €30....


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    #8
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,894 ✭✭✭cletus


    con747 wrote: »
    They only charge vat if the vat content is over €6.

    I wasn't aware of that, thanks


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    #9
    Plastik
    Registered Users Posts: 2,967 ✭✭✭Plastik


    From January 2021 that sub-€x threshold is no longer and vat/duty will be charged on all imports irrespective of price. Send your thanks to Brexit.


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    #10
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,894 ✭✭✭cletus


    Plastik wrote: »
    From January 2021 that sub-€x threshold is no longer and vat/duty will be charged on all imports irrespective of price. Send your thanks to Brexit.

    Where did you see that?


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    #11
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,167 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    cletus wrote: »
    Where did you see that?

    Theres a revenue PDF on it posted in the Online Shopping forum.


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    #12
    Plastik
    Registered Users Posts: 2,967 ✭✭✭Plastik


    Revenue https://www.revenue.ie/en/importing-vehicles-duty-free-allowances/buying-of-goods-online-for-personal-use/buying-goods-from-outside-the-eu.aspx

    July, not January, maybe not the Brits fault after all!
    Note
    From 1 July 2021 import VAT will:
    be payable on all goods entering the EU, irrespective of their value
    and
    always be collected, irrespective of the amount due.


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    #13
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,894 ✭✭✭cletus


    Well. That's pretty shïte


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    #14
    TheDocMan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭TheDocMan


    Bought and built bike with Sensah 11sp Empire groupset. Overall excellent. Shifters and mechs especially good ( Sram type shifting). No prob setting up front mech and there was a issue with L front shifter on early groupsets but sorted now with replacing a few plastic parts with metal. Faultless and crisp.
    Brakeset is a copy of 105 Shimano
    Chainset especially impressive - "Rotor like" . Plenty stiff and good shifting. Hollotech design - 24mm axle
    Chain and cassette - cheap and only fair quality
    B/B - BSA and seems fine.
    Took an age - nearly 3 months for delivery. No tax or duty requested.


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    #15
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,205 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    TheDocMan wrote: »
    Bought and built bike with Sensah 11sp Empire groupset. Overall excellent. Shifters and mechs especially good ( Sram type shifting). No prob setting up front mech and there was a issue with L front shifter on early groupsets but sorted now with replacing a few plastic parts with metal. Faultless and crisp.
    Brakeset is a copy of 105 Shimano
    Chainset especially impressive - "Rotor like" . Plenty stiff and good shifting. Hollotech design - 24mm axle
    Chain and cassette - cheap and only fair quality
    B/B - BSA and seems fine.
    Took an age - nearly 3 months for delivery. No tax or duty requested.

    any links to that?


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    #16
    Arequipa
    Registered Users Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭Arequipa


    Thank you Docman!
    The whole group set us between €100 -€200..
    Did they not charge you any duty on this?
    I thought they would....

    A


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    #17
    TheDocMan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭TheDocMan


    No, everthing- 11sp shifters, shifter inner cables, front mech ,rear mech, brakeset, chainset 52/36, b/b , chain and cassette cost me 272e.
    Got it via Ali Express - Holle Bike Store
    No duty paid ,arrived by An Post


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    #18
    Arequipa
    Registered Users Posts: 1,010 ✭✭✭Arequipa


    Wow.. that is a great deal then..
    Having to pay the import tax on top, would definitely tarnish the purchase..


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    #19
    TheDocMan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭TheDocMan


    Only got it as a stop gap- was waiting to get a full 9000 Dura Ace groupset. Was very pleasantly surprised. Even though I've got the D/Ace stuff, I was in no rush to strip it off and rebuild. Im considering keeping it rather then selling it on tbh.


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    #20
    cletus
    Registered Users Posts: 7,894 ✭✭✭cletus


    Arequipa wrote: »
    Wow.. that is a great deal then..
    Having to pay the import tax on top, would definitely tarnish the purchase..

    Just be aware, it's not that he was exempt from import duties, just that he wasn't 'caught', as such.

    There is no guarantee that you, or anyone else, would not have to pay
    It's a risk you take, but one you should budget for


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    #21
    TheDocMan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭TheDocMan


    cletus wrote: »
    Just be aware, it's not that he was exempt from import duties, just that he wasn't 'caught', as such.

    There is no guarantee that you, or anyone else, would not have to pay
    It's a risk you take, but one you should budget for


    Agreed.
    Maybe they judged by the box- if its fancy packaging and an unveiling experience youre after- not here!! Basic cardboard box, small,crammed but well bubble wrapped in box


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