Importing LW's

[Stolichnaya]

I spoke via email with Gypzybikz about Lightweight wheels and importing them to the States. They were nice enough to point me to the US Customs website to investigate customs duties that might apply to the order. It appears that none would apply if the wheels were sent in two seperate packages. Anyone ever order a set of LW's from Gypzybike and know the duties that can be expected?
Thanks,
Stolichnaya

[Racing Aardvark]

Have you talked to Javelin bikes? They're the US Importers for Lightweight.

[Rogue_M3]

I got my Lightweights last month from starbikes. There were no taxes or duties that I had to pay. I've ordered several items from Europe including frames and components and I have yet to pay any import taxes.

[bikeguy101]

[Edit by Frankie => unsolicited advertising]

[Rogue_M3]

There are going to be a lot of places in the states that sell Lightweight wheels but they all have to go through the same importer. More than likely the standard price in the US will be about $3,700.

If you go through starbikes you can get them for $2,581.90.

[mises]

I have never been charged duties on stuff sent via a postal service and I must have gotten over 50 shipments by now so the odds are very favorable they will get through free. The maximum rate on any bike part is 8% and it seems like wheels and parts of wheels were in that category but I haven't looked them up lately.

Private carriers charge duties every time, many times even on things that are 0 rated, plus they will ding you for customs facilitation.

[bikemesenger]

There are going to be a lot of places in the states that sell Lightweight wheels but they all have to go through the same importer. More than likely the standard price in the US will be about $3,700.

If you go through starbikes you can get them for $2,581.90.

I am a Lightweight dealer and can't compete with the prices that Starbike sells them for.

[smallfish101]

There are going to be a lot of places in the states that sell Lightweight wheels but they all have to go through the same importer. More than likely the standard price in the US will be about $3,700.

If you go through starbikes you can get them for $2,581.90.

I am a Lightweight dealer and can't compete with the prices that Starbike sells them for.

bikemesenger, I feel for you. The situation is the same here in Australia. I am a consumer rather than retailer, and I would like to support good friends of mine who run the LBS. However, I am not Rockefeller. I can import Lightweight wheels and a Scott frame for the same price as the Lightweights here in Oz. The Scott frame is prohibitive, with the result that guys who don't wish to risk internet buying or importing are set to ride junk like Merida. It is the importer / middleman who scores.

[smallfish101]

There are going to be a lot of places in the states that sell Lightweight wheels but they all have to go through the same importer. More than likely the standard price in the US will be about $3,700.

If you go through starbikes you can get them for $2,581.90.

I am a Lightweight dealer and can't compete with the prices that Starbike sells them for.

bikemesenger, I feel for you. The situation is the same here in Australia. I am a consumer rather than retailer, and I would like to support good friends of mine who run the LBS. However, I am not Rockefeller. I can import Lightweight wheels and a Scott frame for the same price as the Lightweights here in Oz. The Scott frame is prohibitive, with the result that guys who don't wish to risk internet buying or importing are set to ride junk like Merida. It is the importer / middleman who scores.

[Stolichnaya]

Thanks all for your input. I prefer to go through a LBS for my bike gear, but the price differential (for a grad student) is way too great here.