The Camaro Club (UK)

Just wondering if you good folks on here import your parts direct from the likes of NPD/Ricks etc or get them via suppliers over here? I priced up a pair of rear springs & front seat covers from Ricks & the carriage was horrendous,plus they said they couldnt confirm import duty/vat payable. I checked on http://www.dutycalculator.com/ to try & work this out & ended up well confused. I bought the springs via USAutoparts (who sourced them from Summit in the US)because it looked cheaper. I assume their carriage is sensible as they fill a container & split the cost over the load. As Ricks keep emailing me with discount offers I would like to buy direct-what are your experiences? I will just say that my son bought a £300 tonneau cover for his truck from Summit racing in the US & got a bill afterwards for £38 import tax/vat which wasnt too bad,and was a fraction of what the import duty calculator suggested.

Incidentally the springs had stickers on saying Made In India (& the fitting kit Taiwan). I thought the yanks were suppoesed to be patriotic! They are as bad as us lot over here letting all our industry go abroad......

Oops ; just seen earlier post about Rock Auto being a fave supplier. No-one had extra charged levied for import duty/vat then?

Hi

Yes - I've used Rock Auto. Only very small item but delivery was very quick, only 48hrs. They have different carriage options on their site when you order. Cost of carriage & tax will depend on what you're buying of course.

In the uk i have used usautomotive, they provide a good and quick service. They get discount from the likes of NPD etc, ( but not from Ricks ) This is how it can seem cheaper from the Uk.
I have used Ricks afew times, as they stock some good items that NPD don't. Normally only small items, were i have had i pay import tax and afew times i got away with it .
And yes ive also noticed that most parts are made in china etc

Ditto the above, a UK based firm - very helpful and quick.

Rock auto tell you what the VAT is at checkout and you pay it straight to them. I don't think I've ever placed a big enough order with them to get hit for import duty.

I've always found NPD (National Parts Depot) to be the best US supplier of parts. You need to speak to JT as he deals with the export side of things.

If you're concerned about how to get the parts into this country at a sensible price with virtually no hassle, give Russ Pepper of R & R Hotrod Imports a shout as he imports a lot of stuff for the hot rod boys in his containers. You buy your parts from your chosen supplier, they send it to R & R in the US & he will containerise it & ship it to you over here. He will also organise all of the duties etc for you.

here's a link to his web site

http://www.randrhotrodimports.co.uk/

Hope that helps, tell him Nige (aka evilzee28) sent you to him & he'll sort things out & give you advice on what to do.

cheers...Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

Thanks folks, all interesting gen.Will refer back to this when next ordering...
PS/ Nice aray of Camaros at the Ace Hot Rod night last week-nearly outnumbered the rest of the stuff!