Motorama.it

[smithyithy]

Looking at buying a load of Alpinestars gear, and even with shipping from Italy it works out like 20% cheaper buying from there..

2 questions: has anyone heard of or used this site or bought from a European site? And am I right in thinking I won't have to pay any import duty or anything like that?

[Moo.]

Nope, no import or anything, but you still pay VAT
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Nexus Icon]

Have you tried buying direct from alpinestars in Italy? They sold me some fastlane boots over the phone and I paid by credit card. Delivery wasn't cheap, around £20, but they were still cheaper (in the nice black) than megastore type "fill the shelves" shops were selling the awful luminous green/yellow ones in the uk. I spoke to two people on the phone to buy them and both spoke perfect English. That was actually a little annoying because I'd prepared a page of Italian ready to wow them with.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[MuffinMenace]

[smithyithy]

I'll give A stars a ring then, cheers though guys good to know!

[nelmo]

I bought a Nolan helmet (Italian) from a German website (moto.de or something) and very straightforward - just paid the price on the website and didn't have to pay anything else on delivery.

I believe the price you pay always includes VAT in the country where the website is based (or their equivalent), so you don't pay it again when it comes to the UK.

[smithyithy]

Ah that's sound then, cheers.

[Mario_Kempes]

[smithyithy]

Okay so for instance a 1-piece suit is £600 including VAT over here, on that site it's the equivalent of around £480 including VAT at Italy's 22% rate.

So because we're both EU countries, that's all I have to pay, apart from shipping?

[iooi]

[UrbanRacer]

I've used them, I bought a pair of Rukka Argosaurus gloves from them, fairly quick delivery for a reasonable price. Would use them again no problem

[smithyithy]

[iooi]

Well if you use a Visa card Look here
Just ask your card provider for their currency conversion fees.

MasterCard & amex should have the same somewhere on the net

Also remember that rate is calculated on date of debit, NOT date you made the transaction.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[weasley]

The pound is at a long time high against the Euro right now, which makes it worth looking abroad (so long as your card provider doesn't cash in on exchange fees).
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[smithyithy]

I'll have a look at the rates in the morning then, see who charges what.

I've got my Barclays Visa debit, Visa Barclaycard credit card, and Tesco Mastercard credit card, so will need to compare them and see which would be best.. Ideally a credit card

[MuffinMenace]

I'd always recommend a CC for purchases, it offers more protection and insurance. Then just pay off in full, happy days
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'96 DC2 & K5 650 Blandit

[iooi]

[MuffinMenace]

[iooi]

[MuffinMenace]

[Tamsin]

[MuffinMenace]

[iooi]

[smithyithy]

Just a quick update guys.. Haven't ordered yet as I'm still trying stuff on and choosing sizes..

But my 1-piece, boots and gloves would cost around £980 delivered from a couple of the main online UK stores.

I spoke to Visa and Mastercard about their charges, the former is 2.9%, the latter is 2.75%, and both of their daily conversion rates are on their websites.

The same basket on the Italian site bought via Mastercard would cost £796 so definitely a saving to be had there!

[TheCatSatOnTh...]

Can I recommend trying to haggle a little with UK suppliers? I got my SMX6 Goretex A* boots reduced by £40 just by stating how much it would cost from importing it instead of buying from the UK.

Most companies want the business, even if its a reduced profit.