Ordering parts directly from England.

4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
I have never ordered something from another country and was wondering what to expect. Tariffs, fees and wait times and such. I would be ordering from companies like Paddock and ACT. No really from private parties. Thanks for any advice.
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
I have ordered from LRDirect many times. Great prices, shipping is not expensive for some reason and very fast delivery, faster than it should be considering where it comes from. The only issue I have ever had was needing to tell my credit card company that I was placing an international order so the fraud protection did not kick in. Everything was direct, done online and even the support was timely, don't forget about the time difference though.
 

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,617
838
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
I have ordered from LRDirect many times. Great prices, shipping is not expensive for some reason and very fast delivery, faster than it should be considering where it comes from. The only issue I have ever had was needing to tell my credit card company that I was placing an international order so the fraud protection did not kick in. Everything was direct, done online and even the support was timely, don't forget about the time difference though.
+1
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
I've ordered from LRDirect a few times. Great prices and great selection. Stupid fast shipping and they show the prices in USD, including shipping.
My CC always has an issue processing the order from the UK so I just use PayPal.
 

alpinacsi

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2011
139
0
Atlanta
I buy and sell a lot of parts into Europe and the UK. I have not dealt with Paddock but have dealt with John Craddock LTD. Back at thanksgiving I was trying to get a Mantec Intake and was coming up empty handed by domestic sources and was able to secure one from Craddock. At the same time I ordered some BMW parts from a company in CA and the parts from the U.K. were delivered before the ones from CA. I have found that it is cheaper to ship into the US than it is to ship out of. And the shipping across the US is about the same time as to ship across the Atlantic.
 

the deputy

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2017
86
0
michigan
Besides the CC issue, which was cured when l applied for a Amazon card...no more questions (even with first purchase overseas with Amazon card).

Anyhow...

Something I've noticed...whenever purchasing something from England or Europe...they always demand a signiture upon delivery. Which can be a bit of a bugger, if you work late.

Most times, shipping time frame is acceptable. Granted, during the holidays...a couple items showed up after Christmas.

Brian.
 

helievacpilot

Well-known member
Mar 29, 2007
960
0
Denver CO
Besides the CC issue, which was cured when l applied for a Amazon card...no more questions (even with first purchase overseas with Amazon card).

Anyhow...

Something I've noticed...whenever purchasing something from England or Europe...they always demand a signiture upon delivery. Which can be a bit of a bugger, if you work late.

Most times, shipping time frame is acceptable. Granted, during the holidays...a couple items showed up after Christmas.

Brian.

Never had a signature required. Ever.
 

Leadvagas

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2010
232
2
Leadville CO
Same issues with CC, I started using paypal credit. Works better than my Wells Fargo card. I have ordered from several vendors. Craddock, Paddock and Island 4X4, all ship slowly but once it gets in the shipping company's hands I have it in 3 days or so. LRDirect and Bearmach have the closest to American customer service, If I order it on Sunday night, I almost always have it by Friday.
 

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
Just out of curiosity. Are you not able to source the parts in the States?

That's a valid question.
I buy overseas for a variety of reasons. Sometimes its that their prices are substantially lower, even with shipping. Sometimes they will have a part that is incredibly difficult or impossible to find stateside. Sometimes I appreciate having a larger selection of the same part. Take RTC5870, LHT TRE for a D1. One buying option from Atlantic British. 5 buying options from Lucky8(though I can't really tell the difference between any of them), 2 options from Rovers North, 3 options from RovahFarm. 10 options from LRDirect ranging from $5 to $59.

I love my US suppliers but depending on the part and other variables buying from the UK just makes sense sometimes.
 

4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
I am looking at these items. Still thinking about the carbon trumpets. Plus some gaskets for the sunroof in my LWB.
 

alpinacsi

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2011
139
0
Atlanta
I have not had card issues but I have a business account and generally make purchases and use my card internationally. But when accepting cards there are often issues with my international customers and even my domestic ones for amounts over what their bank may have set. And now that we have gone into a new year: it seems that even my repeat customers have issues with their cards the first time of the year. They typically have to call their bank and reset allowences.

I do not remember having signatures required but packages go into the receiving dept and we will typically sign once for all packages delivered that day. We have started requiring signatures on higher value delivers that are going to a residence to guantee receipt unless the customer opts out of that. Reason being is if the package is delivered to a door step and removed/stolen: who is responsible? UPS and FEDEX will not assume responsibility.
 

The Fourth Amigo

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2009
641
2
There seems to be less import fees ordering from the UK if shipping to Canada and often times the shipping is cheaper. I can't figure out why but have compared prices many times. However, I do buy from D-web vendors when possible. For example, Tillery's prices are so good that all in its the same. Just got all materials for an HG job from him.
 

MNinWI

Well-known member
Dec 19, 2007
83
2
My comments are specific to delivery to USA from Europe.

As noted above, verify that they are not charging you VAT when you order.

Some credit cards have 3 percent currency transaction fees, some 1 percent and some zero.

I had one credit card shut down for fraud, I called them and they said I should have called first, I said I did and they checked and said, oops it looks like you did but go ahead and try again. Fraud alert again. Ended up having someone in the fraud department on the phone with me while I placed the on line order so that she could make sure it went through.

I have not ordered Land Rover parts from Europe, but have ordered lots of bicycle parts from the UK, Germany and France. I had to pay customs duty to US Post Office when one bike frame was delivered. That was the only time I had to pay customs duty. That transaction was a bit under $2000. Other orders that I had that were below $1000, did not have to pay customs duty.

If you have a chance to ask for a tracking number for your shipment, you should do so.
 

4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
Thanks. They did not have the manual seat diaphragms. Still waiting for an email on the exhaust. Thanks for the advice.