Inpd

As much as I want to buy from an LBS or even US stores the price difference is too big when specing my full bike list.

So which overseas vendor is best for returns, avoiding duty and other hidden fees and for solid packaging?

Also which has the lowest fees for larger packages like wheelsets?

springs

There is no "best" vendor.

cny-bikeman

All of those are items you can research for yourself. I would guess that very few here have ordered enough items from enough overseas vendors to give you a valid opinion, and things can change wildly in the overseas market.

AnkleWork

Welcome to the Personal Shopping Service and Research Forum. I'll get right on your request. Please stand by.

DOS

I havent ordered wheels but I have been very pleased with a slew of UK sellers. PBK, Wiggle, Ribble, Chainreaction to name a few. Also I have had good spexperience with xxcycle, which I think is French. Usually I can get free shipping from the Brits but as I recall I paid shipping, but reasonable, from xxcycle.

Inpd

Wonderful! Wo said good service is dead ...

Story if I came over as a bit demanding. Perhaps a better phrase would be "favorite" rather than "best".

Inpd

Wonderful! Who said good service is dead ...

Sorry if I came over as a bit demanding. Perhaps a better phrase would be "favorite" rather than "best".

I've also found that bike wagon isn't too more expensive on wheel sets and is in Utah.

Bill Kapaun

Since you don't specify your location, WHICH "overseas"?

mark2810

I think he means to find a Taiwan based supplier that will give him "faulty" $200 cranksets/brifters at $50 from the manufacturing factory.
Oh, wouldn't we all love to find that guy.

Unfortunately, Shimano parts are probably the most monitored and price protected parts ever. Only licensed dealers are allowed to buy from Shimano. And those dealers only ship to licensed bike shop owners. Mind you, in order to receive these marked up prices from the middleman, you have to have "an actual storefront bikeshop with a sign out front that offers bike repairs"
So no, web based stores such as my tiny ebay account don't count. Unless you're big... aka Bikewagon.


If you're really looking for the cheap. Buy from eBay from Taiwan suppliers. If you send them a message asking if you can buy in bulk, they probably will say yes.

Sucks waiting for it to ship and arrive but hey,
Sacrifices.

Inpd

Thanks Bill.

It seems to be most of the shops are in UK.

One caught my eye (RaceView Cycles in Northern Ireland) prices are 20% cheaper than Wiggle.

As to what to ship I will be shipping:

1) Wheelset and
2) possibly Groupset


My first order will be the the Campagnolo Khamsin Asymmetric wheelset (its not sold much in the US). Since it cost under $200 it should not have any duty on them.

ypsetihw

ebay ebay ebay . . . most things have free shipping, and customer service is usually impeccable because people are so concerned with seller ratings. I have bought all manner of parts from the US, UK, and China directly, at incredibly cheap prices, and the only issue I ever had was a chain breaker tool ($5) that failed after dozens of uses.

CliffordK

I certainly am not tied to any single vendor.

I've had good luck with a few purchases from Ribble. About once a month they'll have an 8% to 11% off sale. Keep checking back, or join their mailing list. I've only ordered small items, and got free shipping.

One of the issues is that each vendor has slightly different inventory, and regularly sell out of certain items. So, I consider more of what vendor carries the part I need and has it in stock at the moment.

My last tire purchase was split between XXCYCLE in France, and BikeTiresDirect, here in the USA? I picked up some pretty unique tires from XXCYCLE that I couldn't have easily acquired here in the USA for a reasonable price, although shipping was a bit high, but still less than full price domestic.

As mentioned, E-Bay is good for snagging obscure items, or just Google searches. Even Amazon.

It is extremely rare that I'll return an item, so I don't consider return policies as a primary driver for my purchases. Things like chains, cassettes, tires, and etc are all wear items. If I have an installation error or an adjustment error, I wouldn't return the item. And, I'm not riding on thousand dollar wheels.

Leebo

Without listing what seas you live on in your bio notes, how are we to know what seas you live near? I live in MA, USA so overseas would the left coast, like CA or sometin'

noglider 

Britney Spears once referred to Canada as overseas.

CliffordK

The OP might be from Hawaii... in which case, anyplace, even Hawaii could be overseas.

Phloom

She actually heard of Canada? I still tell some Americans that I eat whale blubber, live in an igloo and drive a dog sled. When I drive in the United States, some Americans see my license plate (tag) and ask me, "Alberta, what state is that?"

noglider 

Oy. A friend of mine moved back to New Jersey after living in Alaska. She was stopped on the highway by a cop for some infraction. The cop saw her Alaska license and asked where her visa was.

squirtdad

Kinda like what you guys think of Newfies?? But that is Seal fin and Screech


ps: Do they still make Old Dutch Potato Chips?

dtrain

Here are some 'reviews':
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...er-thread.html

I've ordered from ribble and merlin without any issues. Wheelsets are a bit more likely to see a customs-type issue. Vueltas from Nashbar might be better if you can grab a sale + coupon.

Phloom

I used to work in the second largest Newfie city in Canada. It is called Fort McMurray, Alberta. I loved working with the Newfies. I found their particular accent very charming.

Yes, they still make Old Dutch Potato Chips. Salt and Vinegar are my favorite.

squirtdad

I spent a lot of time in St. Johns..... (looking for ice bergs for the uscg) great people

I may have to make a trip to Alberta just for the chips.....salt and vinegar were the best. used to be one of reasons my siblings and I would push the parents for trips across the border from Montana to Elkwater, Alberta