Rant on Purchasing Parts Outside the US

So, over the past several years I've bought discontinued parts from CMSNL.COM that I couldn't find in the US. Never really had a problem but now that tariffs are charged on everything, no matter how cheap the item is, it's a different story. I recently purchased two radiator stays for my 2nd Gen VFR from CMSNL. They were roughly $20 each and shipping was about $30. The shipment was delayed for about a month but were finally delivered yesterday. Then today I get and invoice from FedEx for $18.40, $3.40 is for the customs duty and $15 is a disbursement fee that Fedex charges for paying the customs duty! WTF
Anybody else had this problems?

 

Absolutely. I had to pretty much eliminate purchases like that now.

I bought some JDM VTR250 lights from Webike like 3 days before Orange Foolius nixed the de minimus exemption and parts could no longer be shipped via Japan Post.

Cost me a small fortune. And THEN the FedEx tariff bill came in. I wish mine was just $18.

They are cool lights, but Jesus fuck.

I have actually had really good results with stuff from Australia and NZ for some strange-ass reason. Very reasonable shipping and taxes. On a goddam CBR250R real wheel.

I used to love getting shit from around the world for a reasonable charge and time.

Rant paused.

 

Yeah it really sucks. I'm afraid to buy anything expensive without knowing what the tariff bill will be. I'll have to with companies in Australia and NZ, thanks!

 

I read a "tip" from a source I didn't discount that said to select the expedite shipping. All the fees, taxes and tariffs are included (or incorporated differently) upfront. In the end you get the part in a timely manner and it can actually end up costing about the same (or sometimes less) overall.

Do you own research, but it got me thinking. I have not had an opportunity to compare or actually do it. Might be something to it tho.

 

I used to buy parts from Partzilla pre-COVID, but now they've decided not to supply to NZ, so I switched over to Webike and couldn't be happier, parts cost is lower but freight is more. Webike has been great as a portal for used parts too.

NZ has been actively importing used bikes (and cars) from Japan for a while so used parts for JDMs may be easier to get here than elsewhere. We have a decent home-grown auction site called TradeMe, eBay is not used locally.

 

That's interesting, I'll have to look into that, thanks!

 

Thanks, got on the TradeMe and there's an NS400R on there I'd like to have, wonder if they'd ship to the US. Lol

I've used Webike in the past and was happy but that was pre-Trump tariff BS.

 

If you buy that NS I can look after it for "us".

 

I was thinking that, I could fly over occasionally to take it for a spin!

 

That will work for me. The weather looks good this weekend, let me know when you have paid for it and I will go and collect...

 

I've done a fair amount of international parts purchasing over the years, so I feel your pain, but ffs a $800 "de minimis" exemption was way more generous than almost any other modern country (apart from places like Hong Kong, which are entirely duty free). Until 2016, the US de minimis amount was $200, which was much more in-line with other countries. I'm not sure why it didn't just go back to $200 in 2025, but do I think you guys had it really good for almost 10 years!

Ciao,

JZH

 

I would be totally happy with a $200 cap, my international purchases rarely, if ever, go above that. But no. Sandpaper condom it is.