Buy parts from overseas and dont get ripped off

[karlz]

First of all, I'm noty anti-aussie, Im not anti the economy or even anti Landrover. (OK, I admit it, sometimes I am).

I have 2 excuses:-
1. I have a P38 diesel import, I cant buy a lot of parts locally.
2. I hate being ripped off.

So, here is my input to how you can buy cheaper parts from overseas and not get ripped off. (Greed is not good!) Dealers take notice!


REASON
Generally cheaper than the homegrown counterparts.
Maybe its to do with Economies of scale, or just plane greed (theres a lot of "greed is good" going around at the moment). Now not just a little bit cheaper, a lot cheaper and includes postage. Postage costs can vary, whether the dealer uses standard postage or a courier.

DELAYS
The only problem is that you have to wait a week or 2 depending on your urgency for those parts. I have had parts arrive in 5 days from time of ordering.

EXCHANGE RATE
Aussie dollar has been good for some time, until recently.
Do your sums. Some sites give you aussie dollar equivalents. Saves using the calculator. By the way a good site for exchange rate calculation is Currency Calculator (http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html)

RETURNS
I have personally returned parts (at my own expense) to some of the dealers listed below.
Make sure you order exactly what you need.
(btw). I was refused a credit on parts I ordered locally from ULR in melboure.. Parts were never used. $140 down the drain :(


PARTS SUPPLIERS (I personally have used)
OK, heres a list of overseas dealers I have used that have been trustworthy and deliver to Aus. (not in ranking order)
(sometimes specific to P38)


Island 4x4 (http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/range-rover-9402-c-5.html)
Lrseries (http://www.lrseries.com/shop/category/listing/105/1/Range-Rover-P38-1995-.html)
British Parts (http://www.britishparts.co.uk/.sc/ms/cat/Range%20Rover%20P38A)
Brit-Car (http://www.brit-car.co.uk/)
Famous Four (http://www.famousfour.co.uk/new_parts/part_sects-veh-rr_p38a.html)
Rover Renovations (http://www.rover-renovations.com/)
Roverparts (http://www.roverparts.com/Model/RangeRover_40_46.cfm)
Ebay (http://www.ebay.com.au/)





Hope that all helps.

[V8Landy]

Thanks they will come in handy

[tasi devil]

thanks karlz just saved them to favourites will look at tonight ...daydream about till then. a couple of them price wise are very interesting

...................tasi

[simonl8353]

my 2 bob
I tend to agree with Karlz and the links will be useful.

However, I would also add that keeping the Dealers in business in in our favour, they do have the full technical support and backing that is often required.

I buy o'seas for straight replacement parts (sls airbags, compressor, air filter housing) and from the sites mentioned but have also bought over the counter at the Dealers for things like hoses and wipers and been able to talk a whole bunch of tech stuff with the guys in the process. A real bonus.

Repairs I mostly do myself, I figure if it can break in the "bush" I'd better know how to fix it (within my basic mechanical knowledge anyway).

But the Dealers do have a place. I would assume that most of their "spare parts" business is via the more "effluent" amongst us or company and warranty work.

[StuRR80]

But the Dealers do have a place. I would assume that most of their "spare parts" business is via the more "effluent" amongst us or company and warranty work.


"Effulent" or "affluent"?!! :angel: ;) Thought there was a funny smell everytime I got into the rangie!! :D

I've used Paddocks http://www.paddockspares.com (http://www.paddockspares.com/) (as most probably have) and John Craddocks John Craddock Ltd - Specialists in Land Rover Parts and Spares (http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk) and have never had any issues with them either.

[mike 90 RR]

my 2 bob
I tend to agree with Karlz and the links will be useful.

However, I would also add that keeping the Dealers in business in in our favour, they do have the full technical support and backing that is often required.

I buy o'seas for straight replacement parts (sls airbags, compressor, air filter housing) and from the sites mentioned but have also bought over the counter at the Dealers for things like hoses and wipers and been able to talk a whole bunch of tech stuff with the guys in the process. A real bonus.

Repairs I mostly do myself, I figure if it can break in the "bush" I'd better know how to fix it (within my basic mechanical knowledge anyway).

But the Dealers do have a place. I would assume that most of their "spare parts" business is via the more "effluent" amongst us or company and warranty work.

My thoughts also / Agree on the above




.... except the Effluent :p

[pomonastik]

i went to my local main dealers just once, to buy a dizzy cap and rotor arm (button) for a late 80's v8.
the news that the cap was $50+ was bearable but the rotor arm at $65, well that is simply a rip-off. as i actually work in the local motor trade occasionally i then asked if he could manage a discount to a trade order. he visibly blushed and admitted he'd been too embarrassed to quote his retail of $72 in the first place so he already reduced it as much as his authority allowed !
i paid up, walked out the door and will never go back as long as my ar$e still points to the floor.

[PaulP38a]

Nice list Karlz - thanks.

I've bought bits off a few of those listed and am currently waiting on a small truckload of stuff from Island4x4 that I ordered last month - starting to get a bit worried that Customs might be holding it.

Another useful link is Arnott Industries (http://www.arnottindustries.com/) for those of us who can't bear to part with our funky Air Suspension. I got a good deal on some Gen III Air Springs and Bilstein Shocks that the locals couldn't come close to.

Cheers, Paul.

[karlz]

Nice list Karlz - thanks.

I've bought bits off a few of those listed and am currently waiting on a small truckload of stuff from Island4x4 that I ordered last month - starting to get a bit worried that Customs might be holding it.


Cheers, Paul.

Me too. im desperatly waiting on an airon belt tensioner from island 4x4 that was dispatched 4/10. Im ringing them everyday now since last 3 days. They use royal mail and supposedly takes up to 21 days to arrive! Maybe the parts were on that plne that force landed in NW Aus?

[PaulP38a]

Me too. im desperatly waiting on an airon belt tensioner from island 4x4 that was dispatched 4/10. Im ringing them everyday now since last 3 days. They use royal mail and supposedly takes up to 21 days to arrive! Maybe the parts were on that plne that force landed in NW Aus?

Interesting... they told me they were using UPS but now that you mention it I'm sure my previous purchases were sent by Royal Mail.

I ordered a bunch of spare bits and a cargo/dog barrier on 15-Sep so I guess It has only been 5 weeks. Then again, when I ordered new air springs and shocks from the US they were here within a week.

[29dinosaur]

Well this is my experience:

Needed a mass air flow sensor for my D2V8.

Decided to order from Jaguar | Land Rover spare parts at British Parts UK (http://www.britishparts.co.uk) on last Friday afternoon. Received email on Saturday from them asking whether I wanted to conform shipping charge. Confirmed this on Sunday. Presumably part sent last Monday.

In mean time my D2 was really dying .... wondered whether part from UK would get here before I was pushing the beast... so decided to order from my supplier in northern NSW Tuesday. (Thought if ended up with double up order somone on here might want a MAF ERR7171... see ad in market section (http://www.aulro.com/apc/showproduct.php/product/73/cat/24)).

Today - Thursday went to PO - picked up MAF which was sent from Bellingen - installed - everything great.

1 hr later - post office courier delivered parcel from UK! Wow that was quick. Sent Monday - arrived Thursday.

[Bigbjorn]

I import machine shop supplies, engineer's cutting tools, and small precision tools. I now buy almost nothing from the UK and Europe. Not only are they too expensive by far, but their air-mail charges are horrendous. I buy mostly from the USA, and use air-mail, the United States Post Office. Usually takes 5-7 days from posting in NY to my door. I refuse to use FedEx or UPS after being charged US$125 by FedEx for two sealed beams from San Jose to Brisbane. The sealed beams cost US$17!!! The US Post Office terminated the surface mail service in May 2007 and only gave 3 days notice to my supplier. In May this year they applied a pretty stiff price rise but are still way cheaper than post from UK & Europe. Air mail from Ukraine on a set of operators, parts and repair books for a cylindrical grinder cost A$220. I get special taps and dies made in China, and after initial translation problems have had good service, good prices, and most reasonable postage charges. I have had electrical parts from Singapore in three days and the postage was most reasonable. Can't get stuff to and from state capital cities in Australia in that time mostly.

[pomonastik]

i used this mob once for some renault parts i wanted to buy from a uk ebayer. it worked like a cool charm. all the seller had to do was package the items and they were collected spot on time, trackable through the system and arrived within a week. i did in fact negotiate with the seller to buy some other bits and bobs to make up to the weight i was paying for, so increasing the value for money.
UK Courier Services, Express Parcel Delivery & International Shipping (http://www.parcel2go.com/)