Haro Extremem X3 pricing

[Candt]

Hi there,

I've read all the reviews, and looked at the amazing spec on the Haro Extreme X3
- and now really want one - bad... The problem is - here in the UK - it's 1200 GBP - thats about
1900 USD !!!!

Now - in the US - its 600 USD's less. So - is there an online bike retailer for Haro which will ship
from the US to the UK? What would the import duty be on this, if I found one, and got caught? Is it
a good idea? Does anyone know of any UK/EUR places that have a good price for this bike?

Sorry - I ask too many questions ;-)

And before anyone asks - no, I won't send you the money for you to get one for
me....

Cheers

CandT

 

[Tony Raven]

CandT <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I've read all the reviews, and looked at the amazing spec on the Haro Extreme X3
> - and now really want one - bad... The problem is - here in the UK - it's 1200 GBP - thats about
> 1900 USD !!!!
>
> Now - in the US - its 600 USD's less. So - is there an online bike retailer for Haro which will
> ship from the US to the UK? What would the import duty be on this, if I found one, and got caught?
> Is it a good idea? Does anyone know of any UK/EUR places that have a good price for this bike?
>

The reality is you will not save money. To the US price add $150-200 shipping then add duty at 14.8%
then add VAT at 17.5%. On that basis the $1200 US price becomes $1800 delivered here. Then what
happens when you discover its arrived with a dented top tube? You will not avoid duty and VAT
because you won't want to take the risk of it being uninsured in transit which means it goes via a
reputable courier which means they go through the correct channels.

You could spend the difference on a holiday in the US and bring one back but you would have to
smuggle it through customs and bikes are not that small to hide. You may or may not get away with it
but remember the customs officers are experts at the smuggling game and you are an amateur ( I
hope). If you do buy in the US remember you have to add state taxes to the price shown - typically
10% - and there are few shops that are geared up to deal with tax free export. Some states like
Vermont have zero sales tax but most don't.

You might think from the above I work for Customs and Excise but I don't. I have bought back a lot
of bikes over the years from business trips so have a fair bit of experience of how it works

Tony

--
http://www.raven-family.com

"I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them
their job."

Samuel Goldwyn

 

[Candt]

On Thu, 13 Mar 2003 16:52:20 -0000, "Tony Raven" <[email protected]> wrote:

>The reality is you will not save money. To the US price add $150-200 shipping then add duty at
>14.8% then add VAT at 17.5%. On that basis the $1200 US price becomes $1800 delivered here. Then
>what happens when you discover its arrived with a dented top tube? You will not avoid duty and VAT
>because you won't want to take the risk of it being uninsured in transit which means it goes via a
>reputable courier which means they go through the correct channels.
>
>You could spend the difference on a holiday in the US and bring one back but you would have to
>smuggle it through customs and bikes are not that small to hide. You may or may not get away with
>it but remember the customs officers are experts at the smuggling game and you are an amateur ( I
>hope). If you do buy in the US remember you have to add state taxes to the price shown - typically
>10% - and there are few shops that are geared up to deal with tax free export. Some states like
>Vermont have zero sales tax but most don't.
>
>You might think from the above I work for Customs and Excise but I don't. I have bought back a lot
>of bikes over the years from business trips so have a fair bit of experience of how it works
>
>Tony

Well and truly blows that idea out of the water eh!

Thanks for a full and frank reply... Still begs the question why there is a $600 difference though -
can't image Haro have to go through all of that to ship the bikes accross - and in Oz - its still
sub 1000 GBP.. Not another case of rip-off Britain surely?

CandT

 

[Daniel Parry]

In article <[email protected]>, Tony Raven wrote:
> I have bought back a lot of bikes over the years from business trips so have a fair bit of
> experience of how it works

So, you'd class yourself as an expert at the smuggling game, then? ^_-

Jus' kiddin'

Dan

 

[Tony Raven]

Daniel Parry <[email protected]> wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Tony Raven wrote:
>> I have bought back a lot of bikes over the years from business trips so have a fair bit of
>> experience of how it works
>
> So, you'd class yourself as an expert at the smuggling game, then? ^_-
>

Only past my significant other - but compared to her eagle eye I'm still an amateur

Tony

--
http://www.raven-family.com

"I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them
their job."

Samuel Goldwyn

 

[Tony Raven]

CandT <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Well and truly blows that idea out of the water eh!
>
> Thanks for a full and frank reply... Still begs the question why there is a $600 difference though
> - can't image Haro have to go through all of that to ship the bikes accross - and in Oz - its
> still sub 1000 GBP.. Not another case of rip-off Britain surely?
>

I think I answered that question. Its almost all down to the differences in government tax and duty.
There is small misleading effect from the way things are priced. In the US they price without tax
and add the taxes on at the shop till. So if a bike is priced at $1000 you will actually pay around
$1100. It varies from state to state and some have zero tax and out of state mail order can be tax
free in some cases. Most of your $600 though is going into Gordon Brown's coffers so he can afford
to bomb ChIraq. Funny that when the government castigated rip off Britain it was actually the
government doing the ripping off.

Tony
--
http://www.raven-family.com

"I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them
their job."

Samuel Goldwyn

 

[Albert]

"CandT" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well and truly blows that idea out of the water eh!
>
> Thanks for a full and frank reply... Still begs the question why there is a $600 difference though
> - can't image Haro have to go through all of that to ship the bikes accross - and in Oz - its
> still sub 1000 GBP.. Not another case of rip-off Britain surely?
>
> CandT

first off, congratulations on your choice of Haro ... Top make, (I have one) top guy, a hero of mine
since I was a wee bmx'er.

second, if I was going to buy a £1200 bike I would want a minimum £200 discount off the shop price.
minimum (for cash) and I'd want a bunch of free stuff like pumps and lights and a back rub.

if you can, wait six months and the price *will* come down and if you can wait 12 months I'd be
surprised if you didn't get it for £700.

bikes are waaay overpriced, imho.

good luck

Albert

 

[Candt]

On Thu, 13 Mar 2003 20:15:32 -0000, "Albert" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>second, if I was going to buy a £1200 bike I would want a minimum £200 discount off the shop price.
>minimum (for cash) and I'd want a bunch of free stuff like pumps and lights and a back rub.
>
>if you can, wait six months and the price *will* come down and if you can wait 12 months I'd be
>surprised if you didn't get it for £700.
>
>bikes are waaay overpriced, imho.
>
>
>good luck
>
>
>
>Albert
>

I probably will be waiting a while, due to the amount I've spent on upgrading the components on my
current hardtail ('But dearset, and XT rear mech will probably save my life one day', 'but these
tires aren't safe, my sweet', 'Ooh, my **** is a bit sore love, think I might need another saddle' -
you get the jist) !!!

Your LBS point seems to imply that they will give hefty discounts? Do they all so this if you pay
cash? Does that apply to debit cards (as good as cash). I can also only find a couple of Haro
dealers online, and certainly have not heard of any local ones, other than for BMX bikes (South
Wales), any ideas for a good source then?

Cheers,

CandT

 

[Candt]

On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 12:51:53 GMT, CandT <[email protected]> wrote:

New Flash!

Just found it on http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk for £899 - 300 notes off the RRP???? Is this right,
and legit?

Cheers

CandT

 

[Call Me Bob]

On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 13:03:42 GMT, CandT <[email protected]> wrote:

>New Flash!
>
>Just found it on http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk for £899 - 300 notes off the RRP???? Is this
>right, and legit?

Never dealt with them myself but Bonthrone are a well established dealer who seem to specialise in
discounted models. I'd be happy placing that sort of order with them. Fill yer boots. )

Bob
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