CRC hidden costs??

[Minion]

The Import duties on cycling goods sitcky thread is a good place to start.

 

You will need to add 62% to CRC's price for shoes to cover VAT and duties (ignoring the 2.75% currency conversion charge from you credit card provider).

 

You will need to ad 15.4% to the cost of normal bike parts (ignoring currency charges).

 

There's a reasonable chance that if you bring in shoes and parts in the same package that they will add 62% to everything. You'll then need to get a clearing agent to sort out the mess.

[Berry]

make it about 15-16% to be sure

is the 15-16% the normal vat +10%

[Irvin]

I bought in a pair of shoes for a friend of mine with a lot of parts. the shoes was R800 on the hub and ended up paying R1300 for it. It was still alot cheaper than what the shoes cost at any local bike shop! R2800 for the shoes in sa!

[DirtBag]

CRC also messed up a recent order of mine:

I purchased about R3k's worth of bike bits that was sent in 3 boxes.

CRC then put invoices showing the total cost of the purchase on all 3 boxes.

Customs then thought there was R3k worth of goodies in EACH BOX!!!

Ended up paying a monkey load extra, and customs said I would have to come up to them and prove the value of the items in the box if I did not want to pay.

Paying the additional customs duty was cheaper than flight tickets from PE!!!

CRC say they will reimburse me..... how I do not know yet!!

[T-girl]

So is it worth buying from them or do the admin issues cancel out any saving?

[The Saint]

For what you want to purchase I would rather purchase locally. Stay away from clothing items import duties are 45%. As for the rest you would maybe save a few bucks but it is hardly worth the stress of the off chance that your parcel will get lost or re-distributed to the needy.

[Minion]

It depends what you're buying.

 

If you're just buying clothes or if you're just buying gear, and it all comes in one parcel (which is what happens most of the time) the admin is simple and you just have to watch out for duties.

 

Most of the stuff I've bought from them has either been unavailable locally (or would have taken a long time for the supplier to source it) or has been significantly (20% or more on around R4000) cheaper.

[Minion]

off chance that your parcel will get lost or re-distributed to the needy.

I would say that if they send it via Parcel Force and definitely if they send it via UPS, this is extremely unlikely to happen and they will probably replace the items if it does.

[T-girl]

Just going to buy pedals and a bike computer as I can spend what I would spend locally but get much better stuff!

[AndreZA]

I would say that if they send it via Parcel Force and definitely if they send it via UPS, this is extremely unlikely to happen and they will probably replace the items if it does.

 

I've only ever used Royal Mail/Parcel force. From an order the size of a bike box to my last order which was just a pair of grips. Nothing ever got lost and the longest it has ever taken was 6 working days.

[T-girl]

So I'm gonna do it then! Pity I don't have more stuff to buy...

[T-girl]

Have just placed an order for CRC and buycycle!

Watch this space for updates on charges recieved etc!

Hope it arrives!

Ordered some shoes for just over R800, even if they charge me an extra 60% they will still be cheaper than if purchased here!! Sweet

[Capricorn]

T-girl: I understand your apprehension, but dont stress too much. Collectively, hubbers spend a huge amount on CRC. THere are always exceptions, but as a rule, CRC is safe and reliable.

[T-girl]

Ok thanks that is good to know

[Tiny K]

Surely if I try on a pair of Shimanos here I can get the size correct?

 

It's not about the size. It's about the price you will have to pay to get them into SA. So if you are really set on replacing your shoes with the exact model that you can get from CRC, you will end up paying the necessary taxes and will possibly cost more than if you bought a different pair of shoes locally.

[weekendrider]

what ever you buy,send it to a friend in the UKi f u have...get them to repack it and send as a gift and you dont pay any duties.i got my stuff exact same price as what was on the site,maybe R200 for them to send it on dhl or whatever you choose.