Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I'm ordering some fairly small stuff (grommets, letters, seals) from Paul Matty. And the additional shipping cost is over ?70 - almost half the cost of the goods. !!!

Before I call and ask stupid questions about how this is possible, does anyone have experience with the shipping topic? The best carriers, rates, etc?

Thanks

Keith
(afraid, anymore, to look up the $ conversion rate)

Are you sure it's not 7? I've bought a bunch of stuff from GB over the years and rates are a little high but NOTHING like that. I'd think you could mail an engine block for that amount.

Hello
I live in France and regulaly buy items from the UK. PM & CN do charge alot for shipping but I try to use Susan Miller where ever possible as she charges the shipping at cost. http://www.mickmillerlotus.com/intro.html

Best Regards

Terry

It might depend on what sort of shipping is being offered. One UK Lotus Parts outlet provides an excellent service, the goods are literally in your hands within 2-3 days (that's to Sydney), but he flatly refuses to use a standard cheaper airmail option. I appreciate his position, but it has put his parts out of my financial reach at times.....

Robert

Keith that seems excessive i ship stag parts to US/Canada/Aus/NZ & it is not cheap but these are heavy parts eg sending 7kg to NZ which is more expensive than US & cost is ?82 try Sue Miller & send post office Global priority which is a tracked service
Ian

In past i have used the postal service. Took around 4 or 5 working days and "reasonably" priced.

Bob

Keith

Over the last couple of years I have been buying minor parts from Uk and most light ones ship by either mail or by DHL. Both very reasonable cost. I have only paid the kind of cost you have noted for large items, seat kits with many small parts. Box was about 36"x20"x10". Most arrived in a couple weeks.
I would ask questions

Mark

I have to check my records before I name names or exact costs. However, costs (UK to US) have ranged from surprisingly reasonable (about $15 for a lock mechanism from an ebay seller) to utterly outlandish ($200?? can I be remembering that correctly?) for perhaps 15-20 lbs of parts from a highly respected specialist. Sometimes I pay duty, sometimes not. It's hard to predict, so ask first.

In the outlandish case, I thought I was saving a lot of money by buying direct from the UK instead of going through a US dealer who re-sells the same parts. I ended up not saving anything and regret not buying from the US dealer.

In my experience companies which ship using Royal Mail or Parcel Force are a lot cheaper, and are also cheaper clearing customs, than the ones using private courier services. For whatever reason some companies will only use a courier.

Hi Keith,
I would seriously consider using Susan Miller for your parts.
Just my two cents worth.
Regards
Jeff.

I can not help you with the shipping costs and different couriers between the US and the UK but speaking from my own experience I do find the US lotus suppliers excellent. They often supply innovative and superior quality parts than the parts sourced from the UK. And everything is so easy, ordering, shipping etc... Typical of the US society. Everything is possible their customer service is superior. I love it!
cheers
Robin ( Euroboy living in New Zealand)

I can not help you with the shipping costs and different couriers between the US and the UK but speaking from my own experience I do find the US lotus suppliers excellent. They often supply innovative and superior quality parts than the parts sourced from the UK. And everything is so easy, ordering, shipping etc... Typical of the US society. Everything is possible their customer service is superior. I love it!
cheers
Robin ( Euroboy living in New Zealand)

Haven't shipped stuff from the UK to Canada yet, but really appreciate the comments above on preferable suppliers regarding shipping.

I also have found the suppliers who only use courier type shipping to be much more expensive from the US to Canada. UPS is particularly bad, charging a flat customs brokerage fee of $35 to $50, even on trivial stuff like an antique brochure from eBay. Similar shipments through US Postal Service (USPS) only charge $3.50 brokerage, no matter the size and weight of the parcel. I therefore always try to find a supplier that ships through the mail.

I understand Purolator and FedEx are much lower on the brokerage fee if this is an option.

I don't know if it is similar coming IN to the US, but I imagine it may be. Perhaps your supplier has included the brokerage in your quote?

Cheers!

You should check with Matty's, I think there is a mistake somewhere. I had 2 ext. door handles, 2 boot hinges, 2 lock sets & a clutch slave cyl. total 166GBP & the shipping was an additional 24.55

From California I ship my spinner tools to the UK in a 6x6x6 box that weighs about 4.2 lbs for about $12.80 USD, using US Postal Service USPS. You would think the reverse would be about the same or better with the exchange rate.
Sarto