UK vs USA prices.

[Eurovettes]

Many of you may not know that air freight costs from USA to UK during this pandemic are very volatile - in April last year (2020) the rates were 5 x my normal rate.....due to the airlines really hurting the rates still remain 2 x normal.

I air freight on passenger planes, control the documentation and importation process. This way I can quote and keep to it - landed UK cost.

Always remember if you buy direct from USA (which many do - I have no problem with that) when/if there is a problem with the part or it goes missing you have to deal with USA direct. Via me you just let me know and I deal with it.

I try to be upfront and communicative on parts supply, provide a competitive effective service and promise to sort problems as soon as is possible.

PS I don't just ship Corvette parts - I can supply almost any car/truck part once I know the supplier. Also non car stuff too - essentially I air freight in bulk, typically monthly where possible.

cheers
Keith
keef@eurovettes.com

 

[Emc]

As many C3 owners know I have been importing corvettes for over 35 years , parts are also now a very large part of my business, all of which are directly imported from the states , certainly due to lockdowns, as owners are working on their cars, my shipments are generally on a 7 -10 day rota , depending on customers still adding their orders, I do my best to be more competitive than other suppliers while still trying to make a living, which all suppliers deserve to do. Bulk buying and air freight discounts can always be welcome to any Corvette owners in these times.

https://m.facebook.com/emcperformanceuk/

 

[Daytona Vette]

You have to be comparing like with like and in most instances when there is a big difference it is because they are not the same, I had a frustrating issue trying to get a credit out of one of the main US suppliers, when they kept sending me the wrong part - I gave up in the end lost my money - the money was low value, it was the principle - I shall never use them again - although I have spent thousands with them over the years - that would not happen with Corvette Kingdom you are dealing with the owner not a faceless enterprise.

 

[Emc]

You have to be comparing like with like and in most instances when there is a big difference it is because they are not the same, I had a frustrating issue trying to get a credit out of one of the main US suppliers, when they kept sending me the wrong part - I gave up in the end lost my money - the money was low value, it was the principle - I shall never use them again - although I have spent thousands with them over the years - that would not happen with Corvette Kingdom you are dealing with the owner not a faceless enterprise.

Exactly ,dealing at home ,with the owner of a business is the best way to go and the reason my customers, and other suppliers customers stay with each, but to do this, price is the overriding factor, especially when the part is from the same suppliers in the states, price and a good attitude is always the best policy for customers.

 

[Nassau65]

The internet opened up the world for both buyers and sellers, and for many opened their eyes as to what they could buy the item for in say the USA compared with the UK supplier. We in the UK were ripped off ( to use a phrase) re prices for years and years. Most people didn’t know how to order from the USA direct, and had no idea as to the suppliers of same. This has changed somewhat as people became more aware of this and prices in the UK fell and became more reasonable. I’m talking here of the 1970’s upwards. Ordering from the US is easy now, but if something goes wrong it can be a headache to sort out. A home grown supplier is easier to sort out a problem, and of course quicker. Having ordered parts in the old days via catalogue/ telephone it was a different world. Mistakes did happen but were sorted out. It all boils down to the price thing.

 

[Daytona Vette]

It is the Internet and the prices thereon that has killed Retailers and High Streets in this Country - Shop Rents and Rates have not suddenly gone up, but their Sales and Profit Margins have gone down, there are so many Internet Entities out there selling at ridiculous margins to gain turnover, that they are struggling to actually make a profit and stay afloat

Look at Wayfair for example one of the largest and dominant Internet Sellers:

They are Trading at a loss going for Market Share - Their important metrics year on year are: Increase in Sales, Increase in Customer Acquisition and Increase in Repeat Customer Sales - They have to keep those indicators positive, to maintain the investors, the business is beyond the point of scalability to make a profit, it is based on knocking out the competition and once they have saturated a market, they have to open up their sales in another Country because they have to keep all three of the metrics positive or they are down.

Oh and by the way if they achieve their first objective and knock out the competition, they will then deploy their second objective of ramping up the prices and making a beano at our expense - so then where will their customers be with no choice?

Please no one tell me that the Retailers have gone because they have not moved with the times - Look at John Lewis, a really professional and up to date Retailer and with Internet presence that is struggling and was so pre - Covid.

Save your own economy - look after those you can - buy local - or if you don't need the convenience of that motor part shop you can have another coffee shop instead.

Wayfair reported a net loss of $285.87 million, or $3.04 a share, compared with a net loss of $200.39 million, or $2.20 per share, a year ago. Excluding one-time items, Wayfair lost $2.30 per share. Net revenue grew nearly 20% to $2.33 billion from $1.94 billion a year ago.5 May 2020

People also ask
How much money has wayfair lost?
Wayfair Inc. reported a loss of $330.2 million in the fourth quarter, bringing the tally for 2019 to nearly $1 billion. “Wayfair ends its fiscal year on a downbeat note, proving once again that it is incapable of operating its business profitably,” wrote Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail.3 Mar 2020
Wayfair's losses in 2019 were nearly $1 billion - MarketWatch
www.marketwatch.com › story › wayfairs-losses-in-2019-...

 

[Nassau65]

Just thought I would look to replace the cigarette lighter element on my 65. Had a look, the element is a reasonable £7.17, the postage to the UK is quoted at £19.96. Plus the dreaded tax £10.00 ish plus Royal Mail fee £8.00. All I can say is WOW.
Always been lucky about parts as I’m a regular traveller to Florida so am always able to bring back whatever I want. This not being allowed into the USA is a bloody nuisance.

 

[Oneball]

I bought an air filter from Amazon USA in Jan. Arrived in a week. Free postage and no additional charges.

 

[Adtheman]

Just thought I would look to replace the cigarette lighter element on my 65. Had a look, the element is a reasonable £7.17, the postage to the UK is quoted at £19.96. Plus the dreaded tax £10.00 ish plus Royal Mail fee £8.00. All I can say is WOW.
Always been lucky about parts as I’m a regular traveller to Florida so am always able to bring back whatever I want. This not being allowed into the USA is a bloody nuisance.

cigarette :: Corvette Kingdom £10.50 plus vat plus delivery probably around £20 ish all in and you'd get it in a day or 2.

 

[Nassau65]

Many thanks for the info. Was going to have a look on their site to see if they had it.

 

[SESH]

Just bought a new AC Delco Master Cylinder from Rock Auto. £33.00 plus delivery and UK Taxes paid, came to total of £54.00. Delivery by FedEx in 5 days. To buy in the UK will be around £100.00 plus delivery.
Some Corvette bits and pieces on Ebay are too expensive because of high shipping and ridiculous import duties/taxes added. They seem to add the duty/tax even for items under £15.00 which correct me if I'm wrong, don't apply, so who is collecting and pocketing the so called tax there? Buying stuff from the US via Ebay you can reckon on almost trebling the original purchase price by the time you add shipping and duty/tax.
Rock Auto seem to be very reasonable.

 

[Chuffer]

I know just what you mean about rip off prices at some sources , it really pays to shop around . But I had a new US part Brake Master Cylinder fitted by a local American Car specialist 4 years ago . The master cylinder was £79 and with fitting , bleed system and brake roller test + £5 for brake fluid and the dreaded VAT the total was £142 .86 which I thought was not bad . Couldn`t be arsed to get my hands dirty at that price . In fairness they spotted the problem when the C3 went in for other work that I couldn`t tackle myself at the time so let them do it .

 

[Nassau65]

I’ve found that the price difference between UK/US prices ( to include shipping/tax) can vary from item to item. Sometimes there’s not much in it , sometimes it’s very very considerable. I wouldn’t consider importing a set of spark plugs, or indeed most service items. I needed a servo for a 1977, UK suppliers were far more expensive than ordering from the US, and it arrived within a week. It does pay to consider all suppliers wherever they may be.

 

[Nassau65]

I haven’t bought many car parts through EBay.com/ global shipping programme, but those I have, I’ve found to be well priced. Im also a avid collector of Franklin/Danbury Mint diecast models and have bought hundreds through US eBay. The price through the global shipping centre as opposed to just USPS is roughly the same excluding the UK tax. Through eBay the model is covered against anything, USPS not so. Global shipping programme is a winner on that one as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Rich]

Im also a avid collector of Franklin/Danbury Mint diecast models and have bought hundreds through US eBay.......

I know of someone selling some Franklin Mint. Not sure how many or what, but probably some Corvette. If you are interested, email me with you contact details and I will put you in touch with him. Cambridgeshire based.

 

[Nassau65]

Hello, thanks for that. I have over 100 corvettes, I am after 2 specific ones, a 1966 Danbury Mint coupe in blue poly and the 1969 Astro ( Apollo ) vet in RiversideGold/Black produced by Franklin Mint. Both models never released for the UK. My mail is paul.edinburgh@btinternet.com

 

[Nas]

Hi to all I'm looking to get rear slave cylinders / shoes for my 1958 C1 vette who you suggest I contact to get these from I live in London?

 

[Emc]

I can suppy the parts you need

 

[Nas]

Emc here's my number 07956-503261 Nahim, I work nights will return your call in the afternoon many thanks,

 

[Steamoilking]

Many of you may not know that air freight costs from USA to UK during this pandemic are very volatile - in April last year (2020) the rates were 5 x my normal rate.....due to the airlines really hurting the rates still remain 2 x normal.

I air freight on passenger planes, control the documentation and importation process. This way I can quote and keep to it - landed UK cost.

Always remember if you buy direct from USA (which many do - I have no problem with that) when/if there is a problem with the part or it goes missing you have to deal with USA direct. Via me you just let me know and I deal with it.

I try to be upfront and communicative on parts supply, provide a competitive effective service and promise to sort problems as soon as is possible.

PS I don't just ship Corvette parts - I can supply almost any car/truck part once I know the supplier. Also non car stuff too - essentially I air freight in bulk, typically monthly where possible.

cheers
Keith
keef@eurovettes.com

And your service and communications are first class