Andre,
A fascinating account, and much valuable information on a delivery method of which I was totally unaware. Well worth my keeping in mind; thanks!
As OP and in my last post to this thread, I promised to do an update with timeline and costs, so...
As it happened though I inquired directly, no other shipping method from Thorn was available to me at time of purchase last August, neither a two-box shipment or any less-expensive, non-tracked rate. In direct answer to my query, there was one available shipping method -- Tuffnells/TNT (who according to the stamps and bills of lading on the box, handed off to FedEx in Texas, with final curbside delivery by UPS) -- and I was advised by Thorn that...
Unfortunately Tuffnells do not provide tracking numbers for third parties such as yourself as technically we are their customer and not you!
I sweat bullets, and arranged for other people to be here at all times over the course of a week so it would not be missed. As it happened, the bike arrived with a wealth of assembly problems that rendered it unridable for sometime after arrival, but that was unrelated to the shipping method or carrier handling.
The good news was the duties bill came to a bit less than I had expected from a careful reading of the US tariff schedule (there is a premium charged for bikes with this wheel size), and was correctly based on the net cost of the bike alone and not the total including shipping, as is sometimes the case. There is an appeals process to US Customs to contest excess duties levied, but it is lengthy and convoluted and takes up to 90 days for a determination
after the duties have been paid by the recipient. No one from the shipper or US Customs phoned me or told me when to expect delivery, and I was never asked for my SSN.
Before delving into prices and costs, it is useful for US buyers to remember: Costs are determined by Thorn's published rates at the time of purchase, by the options selected for a particular build, and by the prevailing exchange rate at the time. They are further affected by shipping rates and associated costs (direct and as a function of exchange rate), by individual customs duties levied (based on cost of the bike and whether they are levied on the net cost of the bike or overall purchase price including shipping), and by the foreign transaction fees/conversion rate of the credit card used for payment at the time of purchase.
I paid for my bike in full when I placed my order, to lock-in the price against fluctuations in the exchange rate (the US congress was deadlocked over a budget-funding bill at the time and the dollar was falling against the pound). In retrospect, I would not do this again. With the options selected and the exchange rate at the time, my Sherpa
and shipping totaled USD$2,610.83. Of that, shipping accounted for USD$627 at the exchange rate in effect then. The foreign transaction fee added USD$78.32. The Tuffnells Customs Duty Invoice totaled USD$139.73, including a USD$15 handling service fee for TNT to clear and confirm the shipment with US Customs and another USD$15 whose code I cannot determine. So, for those who are curious, it cost USD$845.05 beyond the base price of the bike to get it to my front door. Total for
everything, Sherpa delivered and with all debts settled was USD$2828.88.
The main thing I am wondering from all of you is if anyone else was asked to pay the duty taxes up front before the package was released?
No, I was not. Christine, in regard to timing...
- I scanned and sent my order form 25 July.
- I confirmed the quote and paid for the bike in full 2 August, starting the order/build process.
- I received email notice it was finished 7 September.
- It was dispatched 9 September.
- It arrived 23 September via UPS curbside delivery (standard brown truck).
- The TNT Customs Duty Invoice was made out 24 September, due 24 October.
- The TNT Customs Duty Invoice arrived by post 4 October.
- I paid the TNT Customs Duty Invoice online at tntbillpay.com 10 October.
In talking and corresponding with Robin late last September, he told me Thorn would like to reduce their overseas shipping costs, had not found a less expensive carrier for overseas shipment, and was not particularly eager to greatly expand US sales. Thorn already pay a special extra charge to export to the Americas; if business in that market grew to more than a bare minimum of total turnover, the increase in charges would cause them to reconsider sales to this market. The US market is a particularly litigious one, resulting in increased costs for overseas firms to conduct business stateside. This is not the first time I have heard this from offshore firms pondering the advisability and ultimate profitability of increased sales here. Yes, other bicycle firms have negotiated better US shipping rates on their frames and complete bikes, but their situations appear different. This is often seen in large US firms with enormous sales volume like Nashbar and Performance Bikes negotiating unusually low shipping rates with major carriers. For example, I once purchased a Brooks saddle from Nashbar and it cost USD$5.95 to ship to me; the best price available for returning it when it proved defective came to USD$16.95. It is true for large UK firms like Wiggle, as well, judging by their posted shipping rates to the US at the time I purchased my Sherpa.
I'm sorry you had to experience a different angst (or any!). JimK had kindly clued me in on what I might expect, and when it didn't come to pass, I was a bit apprehensive, worrying another bill might arrive. It turned out well in the end, and we each got our beloved bikes -- yay! It is fair to say a US buyer has to be motivated to buy a Thorn over other bicycles available domestically. It requires extra work and cost, but for me and my own needs, a suitable substitute was unavailable among the offerings available stateside; Thorn was my choice and I am happy with the end result in my Sherpa. I do believe by sharing our experiences in this thread, we can ease the way for future US buyers by giving them a range of outcomes to expect. That certainly would have helped me, and was what I was seeking when I started this topic. At the time, JimK was the only American to answer my questions regarding US purchase of an entire bike and I remain grateful for his efforts; thanks again, Jim!
Best,
Dan.
