Parts from the USofA

[neels]

I've had car and bike parts out of the US, for the bike parts the tracking on USPS only goes as far as leaving the states which takes about 2 days, after that it's around another week to arrive at my place via god knows where.

Car parts that I bought were tracked all the way, through about 4 places in the states then hawaii, australia, aucks and eventually to chch. The longest wait of the trip was from aucks to chch.

[imdying]

Give me a PM and I'll put you on to somebody cheap, reputable, and reliable.

USPS and UPS are both fine (speed-wise). If the items are 'in transit' after reaching a NZ port, then customs probably have them. In my experience you might as well ring them and have it processed; delaying that in the hope they might 'slip through' is futile.

Always allow longer for non consumable OEM hard parts on old motorcycles (yes, your bike is 'old' in the USA ).

[gammaguy]

she only takes cash and I have to wear protection ...

Stephen

if you got her to accept paypal,you could ask for a refund under the clause of"goods significantly not as described"

[gammaguy]

It was paid via PayPal.

The supplier didn't loose the item, USPS did. Paypal will indemnify against supplier failure, but I doubt if they will carry the can for USPS

open up a case with paypal,you have 65 days from payment as far as I know

it doesnt matter whose fault it is,opening a case will suddenly make it the suppliers problem,not yours

[R6_kid:Me]

Are the parts coming via USPS? Not too long ago I bought a Honda (car) ECU which was shipped by USPS.
Tracking number shows left some place in Texas in early July.

This. Except for me it was 'Miami'. Complained to seller, got told to wait a few more days, left it for over a week then complained again. Got home and it was on the table under some junk mail, missus had neglected to tell me that it arrived about a week before I originally complained to the seller.

[pete376403]

I wish. I did the same - enquire of the seller, they took it up with USPS locally came back with "it's in customs" I contacted customs NZ, they said nothing to do with them, try nz post parcels. NZ post said that no record of that tracking number entering the country. Back to USPS, found a e-mail address where I could enter a lost parcel claim. USPS came back to me with standard excuse about "it's a big country, we handle a lot of items, occasionally we loose one, so sorry"

On the other hand another item which I bought off E-bay on the 4/10 arrived here today, also by USPS.

[DEATH_INC.]

I buy lotsa shit from the US, usually here in about 2 weeks.
For parts try the guy in my sig (prospeed - he's a kiwi even), recommended by someone here and has been bloody good the times I've used him.

[slofox]

Well, the camshaft has finally departed the shores of good ole USofA in an aeroplane destined for New Zild, courtesy of dear sister in Denver.

The tappet is still floating around in US cyberspace - or a junkyard - or in the back of some stoners mail van...who knows? It ain't arrived anyway.

I shoulda got both of 'em from the camshaft dude. But then he seemed real slow at the time.

Hindsight is 20/20, innit.

[ducatilover]

That's some impressively bad service Slofox, I've never had any bad luck like that

[slofox]

That's some impressively bad service Slofox, I've never had any bad luck like that

All of my luck seems to be that colour of late. Ever noticed how, when things are tough, the shit is always hitting the fan?

[ducatilover]

I've always wondered how poo would look hitting a fan. Could be worse mate, you could be a woman!

[slofox]

I've always wondered how poo would look hitting a fan. Could be worse mate, you could be a woman!

Last time I looked I was still a him...

[Brian d marge]

bought some electrical parts , supplied credit card , all quiet on the western front ......not good

Stephen

[vifferman]

I've had very good service with buying parts from overseas, using a variety of means - buying via user forum's group buys, using forum members for drop-off/forwarding addresses, buying stuff directly from companies that recognised there were people beyond their borders, even ordering stuff, having it shipped to a hotel in LA and picking it up from there myself. The only exceptions to this were a hugger I bought from a forum member, who was quitting VFRs. I paid him promptly, heard nothing for ages, sent him several PMs, asked other members to check him out, and after weeks he sent it off. Just bunged it in a box, no wrapping or cushioning, and he threw his empty milkshake container and straw in it when he's finished. Dick.
Years ago, I broke my throttle position sensor, which meant my bike was ferkt. I rang around NZ to see what I could get; the dealers didn't one listed, or else it was mega$$$. Secondhand was doable, but only if I bought the whole carbs+fittings+TPS, at around $1k or more. On the UK Fahrsturm forum, I posted a "help!" and a guy on their sold me a TPS, plus brand-new in packets APE manual camchain tensioners, for less than the cost of just the tensioners retail here, including postage.
Another buy was Elka rear shock, via a group buy. It was $750, compared with $1250 for an Ohlins here. However, the company would only send it as tracked with full insurance, which added $250 to the price. In hindsight, an Ohlins customised to my bike and to me would've been a much better buy, as with recent refettling, the total cost for the Elka-Ohlins was nearly $1500, plus gas and accommodation (more fun though!)
Another example was some footpeg brackets; one of mine was bent when I got the bike, and a Canadian 'friend' on the VFR forum was offering his old ones for free (apart from freight). I said I'd take them, but asked him to send them by the cheapest freight as they were a little weighty. Cost me $NZ28, but they were almost literally sent on a slow boat via China, and took over four months to arrive. No big deal, as the old ones still worked in the interim.

I'd like to buy locally, but sometimes it just doesn't add up. In the case of Honda parts, they all come through BlueWing Honda (the importers), and they're almost never in stock, and have to be ordered on indent, paid up-front. AND the prices are inflated: $85 for VFR800 cush rubbers, vs. $27 from the US dealers. The people in charge or ordering stock are eejits too: they don't bother stocking things that are virtually consumables, like brake piston seals, fairing bolts and fasteners, indicators and mirrors, etc. Then there's mark-up. I'm looking for replacement brake rotors (and NOT OEM, as no doubt they'd be $1k or more each). I found some, but they were $400 each, yet their Aussie source was only $200. Bizarre... Still, the interweb-thingie is your friend, and I found some that looked indentical for $400/pair, with a 1-year, no conditions guarantee.

[slofox]

Well, the lost package has finally turned up in Denver - only two weeks late...

So as soon as it finds its way to my sister's house, it will be on the way to me. At last.

I might get another ride on me bike before I die after all...