A good, rainy afternoon to all Hubbers, Hope no one slipped and slid this morning! I am on the market for a few new thing for my baie-sukkel, and I was prompted by a fellow cyclist to approach the Chinese (AE) and English (CRC) online shops. Having done exhaustive research over the last few weeks, it has proven to be cheaper to buy from these trusty nations. However, I am aware that the price listed does not include our VAT, nor does it include any customs/import duties. Could someone more versed in the cycling imports hobby please be so kind as to give me a breakdown of how it works? Using an example of excellent Chinese carbon wheels, at a selling price of $300 and an exchange rate of R14 = $1.00, what would the grand total be? Does the country of origin of the goods have an effect on these extra costs? Also, I do not pay the kind Chinese man/woman the VAT or duties, who does that get paid to, and at what stage of the supply chain?
