I'm heading to Europe for a trip this summer [beer]... and I was kinda of assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that it'd be cheaper to buy Dainese gear in Europe.
Does anybody know off-hand if it's cheaper to buy em in Italy, France or the UK? I guess the euro would make Italy and France the same unless there are significant differences in the VAT...
Laguna Seca 1 piece suit at CycleGear US$ 999.
Same suit in Europe's most expensive country (?) Norway US$ 870. That's after deducting VAT which you after some paperwork will get refunded at the border, leaving the EU.
So, in Italy or better yet in the store mentioned by Ivan V, you will probably save more.
You may have to pay Customs duty when you return from your trip unless you don't declare the item(s) and don't get caught. [roll]
Therefore the items may be less expensive buying them from a US source.
I for instance bought a Dainese Newsan leather Jacket from Bimoto.be
All the transaction was done on the Internet.
I got my Jacket delivered by UPS. About 10 days later I got a call from US Customs and they want $38.
I'm sure Customs goes by the value the Merchant puts on the item coming into the US.
While you are over in Italy , check out Motorama.it....I've noticed they discount their Dainese but they want $75 to ship to the US.
Since you wouldn't be shipping you may be able to get a good deal. Dolph :)
I've ordered almost all of my Dainese from Europe directly. The savings are substantial -- on many items we're not talking 50 bucks more like 100s especially on jackets and pants. If you've got the scratch and need boots don't forget to look for some Frey Daytona boots while you're over there as well (you'll save 300-400 on their top of the line boots by buying there).
Dainese.be (Now Bimota.be) is actually in Belgium (hence the .be) and I think they have a physical store there somewhere. Motshop is in Germany and is also a great source for Daytona. In Italy I've heard the Dainese Factory store and shop has good deals but I've never been or bought from them so YMMV.
For what it's worth shipping with Bimota generally runs around 30 US (I'm on east coast). Shipping with Motshop.de generally runs 40-52 US depending on weight (the Dragonfly pants i bought was the 52 shipping and even with that I saved over 125 over a US dealer).
I don't know if it's a random thing or luck or what as far as Customs goes but not one of my packages has been tagged.
Edit for the Dealers among us: For the record I always call or email a local or national dealer to get a quote first. My rule is that if it's around a $10-20 difference (shipping included) I'll deal local. Any more than that and honestly money talks. I'll be working with DDan on my next purchase.
Quote from: COWBOY on June 14, 2009, 06:34:31 PM
I've ordered almost all of my Dainese from Europe directly. The savings are substantial -- on many items we're not talking 50 bucks more like 100s especially on jackets and pants. If you've got the scratch and need boots don't forget to look for some Frey Daytona boots while you're over there as well (you'll save 300-400 on their top of the line boots by buying there).
Dainese.be (Now Bimota.be) is actually in Belgium (hence the .be) and I think they have a physical store there somewhere. Motshop is in Germany and is also a great source for Daytona. In Italy I've heard the Dainese Factory store and shop has good deals but I've never been or bought from them so YMMV.
For what it's worth shipping with Bimota generally runs around 30 US (I'm on east coast). Shipping with Motshop.de generally runs 40-52 US depending on weight (the Dragonfly pants i bought was the 52 shipping and even with that I saved over 125 over a US dealer).
I don't know if it's a random thing or luck or what as far as Customs goes but not one of my packages has been tagged.
Edit for the Dealers among us: For the record I always call or email a local or national dealer to get a quote first. My rule is that if it's around a $10-20 difference (shipping included) I'll deal local. Any more than that and honestly money talks. I'll be working with DDan on my next purchase.
Also on Internet buys, using a Major Credit card the issuing Bank tacks on about 3% .
By the way , I believe it's Bimoto.be not Bimota.be :) Dolph
Quote from: DoubleEagle on June 14, 2009, 11:55:51 PM
Also on Internet buys, using a Major Credit card the issuing Bank tacks on about 3% .
By the way , I believe it's Bimoto.be not Bimota.be :) Dolph
You must be snake bitten. First customs and then your card company :)
That's never happened to me either. My card statement matched my receipt on every occasion (about 6 or so) over the past 3 years.
Just using the Bora jacket I bought here's a comparison:
Price US 699.00 plus 12.00 shipping and 52 tax = 711 without tax 763 with tax.
Price EU 514.00 plus 32.00 shipping and ok lets add 3% (15.42) just in case. = 561.42
Either way you sliced it I saved over 150.00 by going Continental.
Daytona Boots are even worse.
US Price Security EVO $979.95
Motshop Price Security EVO $602.56
To the OP, the point is you can save serious cash by looking overseas. I don't buy without at least price checking first.
Quote from: COWBOY on June 15, 2009, 11:50:10 AM
Price US 699.00 plus 12.00 shipping and 52 tax = 711 without tax 763 with tax.
Price EU 514.00 plus 32.00 shipping and ok lets add 3% (15.42) just in case. = 561.42
slight problem with that. the exchange rate. which is about .70 now so your 562 euro is about 802 dollars
Price EU means Price from EU dealers. All the prices/numbers used are US Dollars.
As another example here's the current bimoto.be price for the Delmar jacket
Category: Leather Jackets
Product name: Delmar
US$ (ex.VAT) 643.55
â,¬ (Incl. VAT) 599.00
Order # standard: 1533569+color code Order # perforated: 1533580+color code
Here's the same jacket from 3 stores in the US
Kneedraggers. 899
Motowheels 899
Cyclegear 899
That's a 250.00 difference in price. No amount of shipping or customs fees are going to make up the HUGE difference in price.
Again the point here is not to bash the US dealers - I have in the past and will in the future order from both Motowheels and Cycle Gear. It's simply an answer to the OP question as to whether it's cheaper buying Dainese (or Daytona) while in Europe.
Reference links...
http://www.bimoto.be/en/moto/jackets/index.htm (http://www.bimoto.be/en/moto/jackets/index.htm)
http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Dainese_Delmar_Leather_Jacket--630946.html (http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Dainese_Delmar_Leather_Jacket--630946.html)
http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=1031 (http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myproducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=1031)|Dainese&productID=6136&showDetail=1&categoryID=776|Dainese%20Leather%20Jackets%3A%20Mens&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=1031|Dainese
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=DAI_1533569-691-54 (http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=DAI_1533569-691-54)
ok, i read more. their prices are a bit off, i bet they may charge a bit more due to the exchange rate, their figures are at a better rate. BUT you are correct. it's still about a 200 dollar difference in retail prices.
our dianese friend could tell us how much markup people are trying to take us for ;)
but it is business, there are sales, special discounts, etc. that can be done to bring prices comparative.
Quote from: COWBOY on June 15, 2009, 11:50:10 AM
You must be snake bitten. First customs and then your card company :)
That's never happened to me either. My card statement matched my receipt on every occasion (about 6 or so) over the past 3 years.
Just using the Bora jacket I bought here's a comparison:
Price US 699.00 plus 12.00 shipping and 52 tax = 711 without tax 763 with tax.
Price EU 514.00 plus 32.00 shipping and ok lets add 3% (15.42) just in case. = 561.42
Either way you sliced it I saved over 150.00 by going Continental.
Daytona Boots are even worse.
US Price Security EVO $979.95
Motshop Price Security EVO $602.56
To the OP, the point is you can save serious cash by looking overseas. I don't buy without at least price checking first.
I did order some other item from a merchant in Italy and I had to do a Bank Transfer but it was sent for $25 by Italian Post and it was delivered by UPS and no Customs ? Dolph :)