PSA - Buying UK from USA how to save with current exchange rates

[tmoe]

If you're in the market for auto parts and you want to save a little money but take a risk on warranty claims if one happens the exchange rate between the British sterling (pound) and the US dollar makes for some interesting savings potentials. If you planned on the purchase of KW, Bilstein, Vbox parts anyway (non-US) manufacture the savings are real. Much of the EU and UK products currently in the USA are priced using $1.40 - $1.60 pound exchange rates.

A couple of important points
- all transactions will have a conversion rate no matter if you use paypal or your credit card. Meaning if the pound is currently $1.22 using paypal you would pay a currency conversion fee of about 3.4% so the pound would be $1.26, this is considerable less than just 2 years ago when the pound was $1.70. Your credit card will also have an currency conversion fee check before you buy.
- you will pay a duty tax, for auto parts this is around 6%, for any amount over $800, first $800 is duty free. So if you have multiple items it could be cheaper to purchase a couple of times than one big purchase as you save $48 for the first $800 but shipping is also a factor.
- UPS global shipping has been a reliable shipper for me, just received my last order in 2 days from the UK, bilstein PSS10, shipping $100.
- most warranty coverage is via your original supplier so if you have a warranty claim it would go back to your uk supplier. They will do it but you would have to coordinate shipping back to them, this could be a hassle.
- sometimes matching part numbers can be a challenge as the EU/UK have so many more products but KW/Bilstein/Milltek and other many times use the same part numbers for both continents. An example of where this doesn't work is EBC brakes, the part numbers are different and EBC does its supply chain/manufacture from the country they sell so there isn't any saving opportunities.

Just picked up a Vbox sport for $349 shipped, same model purchased from racelogic usa $463 a nice savings

Also picked up Bilstein PSS10 coilovers for my MK6 golf r - for $1448, includes shipping and duty. Depending on US vendor they're $1875 - $2100 shipped.

Two suppliers I've used.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/ they have better shipping rates and a larger selection online.

Contact: [email protected]

and

https://www.awesomegti.com/

Not for everyone but if you're looking to save a little bit its something to think about.

[jpsjr]

You my friend are dead on! Just bought a bunch of euro parts and saved big $$$

Jose

[SQ57]

Www.Cheap-coilovers.com has some killer deals on KW,etc..

[eastbayrae]

OEM wheels don't seem any cheaper. I am looking for RS6 Performance wheels for my SQ5 and they are high.


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[tmoe]

OEM wheels don't seem any cheaper. I am looking for RS6 Performance wheels for my SQ5 and they are high.


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You're right, doesn't work for all products. Lower volume items can be difficult to find a supplier, As a last resort sometimes I look at ebay.co.uk, for me the search will return different results than my search ebay from the us.