Ordering from abroad

[MisterClaw]

So I was search for a set of the 700c nokian studded tires (the hakkapeliitta w240) for my paragon and the fiance's xcaliber and I found a really cheap source....in sweden at http://www.cyclecomponents.com/ . Luckily I know enough swedish to navigate the site.
Does anyone have any experience or advice for ordering from abroad? Do I have to worry about duties and customs paperwork?

[funky-funky-chicken]

I've ordered a number of things from various parts of Europe without any problems. With the exchange rate on the tires and shipping, it works out to be just under $150 for a pair of tires. That's not really a very good deal in my book...

I've found PeterWhiteCycles to be very fair on his prices and reasonable on his shipping... http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

[MisterClaw]

I've ordered a number of things from various parts of Europe without any problems. With the exchange rate on the tires and shipping, it works out to be just under $150 for a pair of tires. That's not really a very good deal in my book...

I've found PeterWhiteCycles to be very fair on his prices and reasonable on his shipping... http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp
Did you ever have to pay duties on anything?

If you select a shipping destination outside of the EU, VAT disappears.
I was able to select a 2-pack of hakka w240s for 99.46 EUR ~ 119.355 USD. + 1-2% surcharge on currency exchange rates. for a set of 4, 178,81 EUR ~ $214.54 + surcharge. That's the price with shipping.
well, it's not THAT much cheaper. Good to know that it's relatively painless to do. Looks like cyclecomponents are out of stock right now anyway.

I just looked at suomityres.fi and it looks like QBP is a distributor so I could just have the LBS order them. PeterWhiteCycles ought to get a real webstore if they want to do business online, as monkeying around postal money orders, calling with a credit card or faxing credits cards is a PITA, IMHO.

[funky-funky-chicken]

PeterWhiteCycles ought to get a real webstore if they want to do business online, as monkeying around postal money orders, calling with a credit card or faxing credits cards is a PITA, IMHO.

I guess that I am a little old-fashioned that way. I like talking to the guy, he carries a lot of stuff that you just plain cannot get elsewhere. He really knows his $h!+ too, so I don't mind the extra hassle. I've purchased a lot of stuff from him in the past and don't really mind the perceived inconvenience. I think of it more like a local bike shop that is not so local.... That's just me though.

I guess what I've purchased from overseas has always been less than a couple of hundred dollars US. From what I understand, over a certain dollar amount, you are supposed to pay duties... just haven't gotten there.

[MisterClaw]

I guess that I am a little old-fashioned that way.
I should have had a disclaimer: I've written web store fronts back when I was a web developer. :)