Import duties on cycling goods

[Capricorn]

Another question for the educated international spenders.

 

I have found the bike I want, but the bikeshop in Europe doesn't want to let me pay by credit card or PayPal due to the charges they incur.

 

I have queried the international EFT route with ABSA, but it requires a once off importers permit or some reserve bank permission (I can't remember details, they lost me at paperwork)

 

Does anyone know how to make this happen? What the options are? Possible out the box solutions.

 

Thanks again

which bike  shop is this? that's abit unusual. Only once have I come across a company that didn't offer credit card or paypal payment options, instead opting for SWIFT (urrgh, such a PITA via ABSA).

Edited September 27, 2018 by Capricorn

[Robbow]

which bike  shop is this? that's very unusual.

 

They let me pay the deposit by PayPal, but they get hit 5% of the amount in charges.

 

Its a large store in Italy and is legit, I think because they are doing me a really good deal there margin is probably pretty tight so they trying to make as much out of it as possible which I can understand and if it wasn't such a mission I would do the EFT route. But I really don't feel like fighting for a month to get the right paperwork in place.

 

That's why I'm querying if anyone has any bright ideas on how to do this and reduce the charges?

[Capricorn]

They let me pay the deposit by PayPal, but they get hit 5% of the amount in charges.

 

Its a large store in Italy and is legit, I think because they are doing me a really good deal there margin is probably pretty tight so they trying to make as much out of it as possible which I can understand and if it wasn't such a mission I would do the EFT route. But I really don't feel like fighting for a month to get the right paperwork in place.

 

That's why I'm querying if anyone has any bright ideas on how to do this and reduce the charges?

ok cool. funnily enough, that one company that uses swift was also Italian. They have to be so difficult ,it's like needing to take out a radiator just to change a fan belt on an alfa...oh wait...

[Hello Ruan]

Anyone know if there will be any extra costs duties / VAT on a fork and dropper post? Want to buy from CRC maybe. Thanks!

[Cippo]

Anyone know if there will be any extra costs duties / VAT on a fork and dropper post? Want to buy from CRC maybe. Thanks!

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/75887-import-duties-on-cycling-goods/page-1

[Trying2Tri]

sorry if this is the wrong thread , but has anyone sold A bike internationally ?

 

got an american keen , but how do i secure the money and how the hell do i ship it to him ?

Hi BaGearA

Make sure it is not a scam of sort, I’ve had it before where people for overseas want to buy your item after advertising on OLX, Gumtree etc. The potential buyer wants to make use of PayPal and a “shipping agent.”

I’ve never ended up doing one of these deals because I always got had a bad feeling about them.

[DarrenV]

pity i cant sticky this: but admin, would you be so kind?

 

Got this from UPS today:

 

Cycling shorts (classified as clothing): 45%

shoes: 30%

socks: 40 -45% depending on material used

bags: 30%

Gloves: 30%

Helmets (fullface or other): 25%

Knee pads and other protective equipment: 20%

plastic bottles: 15%

whole bicycles: 15%

Goggles, sunglasses: 0%

bike components: 0%

cycling electronics: 0%

 

Gels, powdered drinks: 20%

 

How to account for duties, VAT etc (thanks Myles). Note: item price depends upon ruling exchange rates at the time the transaction is completed with the retailer.

 

Please provide updates/corrections if you have any. Thanks I will update this post accordingly.

 

Thanks to Velouria for the find and Edman for bringing this to my attention:

Import Duty Calculator

Any idea what the duties would be on tools? 

[Thermophage]

Any idea what the duties would be on tools? 

only VAT

[CASSIE1975]

They let me pay the deposit by PayPal, but they get hit 5% of the amount in charges.

 

Its a large store in Italy and is legit, I think because they are doing me a really good deal there margin is probably pretty tight so they trying to make as much out of it as possible which I can understand and if it wasn't such a mission I would do the EFT route. But I really don't feel like fighting for a month to get the right paperwork in place.

 

That's why I'm querying if anyone has any bright ideas on how to do this and reduce the charges?

 

So what happened?

Might have been easier to ask them to add the 5% (or whatever their cost would be for CC) and then pay that amount via Credit Card ?   

Or was there another way out...

[Chavo]

Any idea what the duties would be on tools? 

 

 

only VAT

Maybe I was just unlucky, but I've previously been charged 20% duty on tools...

[johanpre44]

Does anyone know what the import duties are on electronics? Specifically looking at getting a Wrist based HRM, but not sure if this counts as cycling electronics or now (which according the threads on the hub does not have any levies/duties, just the regular Bought For price +10% (markup or such) +15% (Vat).

 

Seems like we are being ripped of big time in SA with these devices if you look at the international RRP in USD/EUR/GBP and ZAR, dont understand why we sometimes end up paying 40-50% more.

[DarrenV]

only VAT

 

Maybe I was just unlucky, but I've previously been charged 20% duty on tools...

 

Good to know thanks 

[Thermophage]

Maybe I was just unlucky, but I've previously been charged 20% duty on tools...

yeah, pretty sure you were unlucky or there was something in your tools they didn't think was a tool or something.

[rock]

yeah, pretty sure you were unlucky or there was something in your tools they didn't think was a tool or something.

 

 Most tools pay 20% duty.

[CJ Van]

yeah, pretty sure you were unlucky or there was something in your tools they didn't think was a tool or something.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that not all tool are VAT only.  Most woodworking and machining tools does not have a customs charge but there are a lot of cycling tools that attracts a 20% customs charge.  Best bet will be to download the Customs & Excise Tariff schedule off the SARS website and search for the specific tool you want to import.

[Dry Biltong]

If I buy a new bike in Europe and personally bring it back into SA by plane, what duty/charges can I expect to pay at Customs ? Would there be any difference if I only bring the frame back ?