The BritishV8 Pub

I know some of you are much more familiar with import/export than I am. What is the best way to get a part into the country where the seller will not ship to the US?

I used a modular relay and fuse module in my wiring which came from Furneaux Riddall & Co Ltd in Portsmount, UK and now with the upgrade I need to add another relay module for my electric radiator fans. I thought this would be easy as I had bought from them before but oddly enough, their insurance now prevents them from shipping to the US (how strange...) or so they say.

So I need a straw man to buy the part for me and send it to me, maybe someone in the UK so it won't have to go through Customs twice, but I don't know how the VAT figures into that. I'm willing to compensate you for your efforts. The part costs 15.38 pounds, or $24.72 US. It is called a 4 way relay holder and is part number: RB4U and comes with a snap on gasketed plastic cover. Really a very nice piece if somewhat expensive for what it is. But it matches what I already have and simplifies the wiring a bit. They show shipping as 6 pounds and VAT as 4.28 which brings it to 25.66 and that brings the total to $41.24, a very high price indeed for a relay holder, but I'm still willing to pay it.

So in Canada do you have to pay the VAT to UK suppliers?

Jim

Here's another vendor with what looks like the same part. They appear to ship to the States

[www.altecautomotive.co.uk]

Hope that helps,

John

Thanks John, just what I needed. It's on order, we'll see if this works better.

Jim

If that doesn't work I'd be happy to order it and send it out to you Jim.
As far as the VAT. It's a bit of a grey area. Some suppliers insist on it others do not. You can apply to have it refunded.
The English firm is probably just doing a little "tit for tat". As many US companies won't sell anywhere outside of the US.
Being Canadian is very frustrating when it comes to ordering parts from the states. Often suppliers flat out refuse to sell to me once they realize that I'm not in the US. Even when I use my Seattle address. And don't get me started on restaurants in Bellingham. They won't serve Canadians.
What gives?
Cheers
Fred

Thanks Fred, I appreciate it. It's bad enough the governments make it difficult, I can understand that since in a way at least they are just doing their job. But independent businessmen? Since when is insurance an excuse for anything and everything?

Jim

My Nephew did up a Spitfire this year and ordered lots of stuff from England. it always came by air and then Canada Post delivered it to his mail box at the end of his driveway . Simple as that.Shipping was cheap too.No duty on this side and no vat on that side as far as I know.