buying new sails in US from Europe

mirkodeboer

New Member
Hi,

Thinking about replacing my old sail for a new one. Since $/euro rate buying a sail in US and shipping it to europe seems cheaper then buying a sails in europe.

Anyone has experience with this?

Regards,

Mirko
 
It is common practice in Australia to buy sails from APS etc.

Doesn't seem to be any problem for us, but check your country's import laws, you may have to pay extra duties etc
 
Hi,

Thinking about replacing my old sail for a new one. Since $/euro rate buying a sail in US and shipping it to europe seems cheaper then buying a sails in europe.

Anyone has experience with this?

Regards,

Mirko

I tried to buy a north sail form APS a few mounths ago, see this post http://www.laserforum.org/hyde-north-sail-t8699.html?p=46853&highlight=north+hyde

APS answered they can't sell in europe due to market zone agreements. Then I wrote a few emails to my friends in the US, asking them to buy the sail for me, and then mail it to Spain.

In that time I found a new pre-owned sail, and canceled the "US operation"
 
APS answered they can't sell in europe due to market zone agreements.

i.e. Price "fixing" in our industry. Nice business practices Laser or North or whoever.....
 
You really need to watch the import charges when getting stuff from the US sent to Europe. Cheap stuff in the normal post is fine and ignored. However anything more than e.g 100 € (or something around that price point) and you get stung for import duty and, when I did it before the carrier also tried to make loads of additional charges (in addition to their standard US to France) charges – that, had I paid them would have added over 50% to the cost !!!

No idea if all carriers do this but my experience with the biggest (?) main carrier would have been expensive (except I argued for quite some time and …).

Ian
 
You can ship items to Europe very cheaply VIA the US Postal Service. Have a US friend buy what you want and send it as a "gift".
 

Back
Top