import or buy local?

[cheesey]

Hi, I'm just looking for some expert input.

 

I'm in SA for c. 18 months and "need" to buy a 29er. I'm debating between importing this:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO29RACEFRM/on-one-carbon-29er-frm-race

Which I reckon would be in the region of R18k after duties. Though it isn't available until the end of March...

 

From my casual browsing (cyclelab) it seems that an equivalent/similar spec bike would be R25k + - do you agree?

 

Or 1) am I looking in the wrong place - shop recommendations in northern Jo'burg? 2) is there make/model that I should take a look at in that price bracket?

 

Many thanks for your input!

[yeboabe]

I, would check with Kiwi (wayne) www.planet-x-bikes.co.za he has the best 29er options

 

Hi, I'm just looking for some expert input.

 

I'm in SA for c. 18 months and "need" to buy a 29er. I'm debating between importing this:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO29RACEFRM/on-one-carbon-29er-frm-race

Which I reckon would be in the region of R18k after duties. Though it isn't available until the end of March...

 

From my casual browsing (cyclelab) it seems that an equivalent/similar spec bike would be R25k + - do you agree?

 

Or 1) am I looking in the wrong place - shop recommendations in northern Jo'burg? 2) is there make/model that I should take a look at in that price bracket?

 

Many thanks for your input!

[MoreTrails]

Wrong Place - Cyclelab - answer is yes.

 

Check with Kiwi, he is sure to have far better deals for you. And his company is super easy to deal with...drop him a PM, he is your man!

[Eldron]

Giant's XTC 1 is between R14 and R16K depending where you look. Mostly 10spd SLX and Giant components. Wheels are a bit heavy.

 

Not bad value...

[amasendeinja]

As per other Hubbers, go to Kiwi @ planet-x.co.za.

 

No import duties on frames to SA, VAT only. 15% if you buy an entire bike though, or 9.45% from the EU.

[cheesey]

As per other Hubbers, go to Kiwi @ planet-x.co.za.

 

No import duties on frames to SA, VAT only. 15% if you buy an entire bike though, or 9.45% from the EU.

 

I thought I would update on what I did.

 

So I bought an On-One ScandAL 29er from the UK. XT throughout, Fulcrum Red Metal wheels, upgraded the chainset to an FSA K Force. ScandAL comes with a carbon fork by default, so upgraded to the Reba Air forks. Now I have a UK bank account - so I'm not subject to exchange rate issues, so that was also a factor in my thinking. I also used the calculations elsewhere on this forum for determining the likely duty - it still looked like a good bet even with the duty to me.

 

On-One/Planet X used TNT ParcelPak to send the bike. I was expecting it to be delivered to the door. On Friday I had a phone call from Leaping Frog post office saying "there is a very large parcel for you, please come and get it". Proactive service from SAPO??? Obviously it was in the way.... I was told there was R1700 to be paid. This was a lot less than I was expecting...

 

So I picked up the bike - and looked at the customs calculation and only VAT has been levied - no import duty. So it all worked out very well....maybe the delivery to SAPO rather than a courier played to my benefit on this occasion.

 

I mentioned to On-One that using a service that uses SAPO for the last mile is a bit dodgy and that the box had taken a hammering in transit (though they had wrapped it very well). They are in the process of changing courier/service. On-One were very good in turning the order around - I wanted the bike for next weekend and they built it up the next day, following a phone call (normally 7 working days from order to despatch for complete bikes).

[Seeker911]

I have bought some stuff from CRC and too a large extent have never paid duties. VAT only. I think though this may change in the future if SA gets more local bicycle manufacturers like Raleigh. I have found generally that the pricing from other suppliers like CWC to be very competitive if not better than importing from CRC.