king_solom0n

I'm interested in buying Fulcrum Racing Zero Carbon wheels from Merlin Cycles. I remember seeing somewhere that a duty has to be paid for anything over $800. I've been trying to find about how much the duty would be but I seem to have no luck.

Has anyone recently bought wheels from overseas? If you had to pay import duties, how much was it?

Sy Reene

I'm trying to figure out what some of the UK dealers have come up with as a solution.. Eg. my last Merlin order had a whole tracking history that showed package going to JFK and in customs (makes sense right since I'm in NYC?). Sits there supposedly (per tracking) for a few days, then goes to a USPS sort facility in long Island. Delivers a day or two after going local.
However, the package shows up, with only a 1-day USPS Priority overnight shipping label affixed to it, with a return address and company name that I haven't heard of, in Miami Florida?

Ogsarg

The Florida company was likely a freight forwarder. They will arrange for the pick up at origin (or the package can be shipped to the local forwarder's office), put it on a ship or plane to a U.S. City, get it cleared through customs and then sent to the recipient via local service, truck, or whatever is needed. They essentially manage it point to point so you don't have to hassle trying to figure out the requirements for international shipping.

Sy Reene

So was my package shipped as a box within a box or something? I received a pristine looking box, that to all appearances looked like it had traveled like it was labeled via priority overnight... not taken 8 days overseas and sitting in customs for 3 days. My Merlin tracking history has about 25 scans/steps in the process. Arriving in country in NY, Not Miami, and delivered. I don't see how a sealed box goes thru Customs and comes with no labelling from the shipper in the UK whatsoever

Noctilux.95

I've bought a ton of high end carbon wheels and Dura Ace di2 groupset from UK and Germany and have never been hit with import duties. Places I've shopped are Merlin, Chain reaction, Bike24, and Starbike.

king_solom0n

Just what I was looking for. Thank you!

WhyFi

Just to be clear, you should be prepared to take a dutyhit. You probably won't, I didn't when I bought a wheelset overseas, but it does happen.

king_solom0n

Ok thanks.. I wish I knew how much it could be ahead to time so I could budget for it

Quiglesnbits

5% for wheels, 10% more for wheels from china.

king_solom0n

Thank you!!