Shipping parts US to Chile
 

Riding a DR650…..currently in Peru….will need a new drive train (sprockets & chain) by the time I get to Santiago, Chile (in about a month from now)

A Suzuki garage there is quoting me $420 just for parts

I can order from ProCycle in the US for $255 (including shipping) & I believe (please tell me if I am wrong) that import tax + duty is 25%, making a grand total of $318.75……a saving of over $100

Is this a no brainer or am I missing something?

Hello

I did that 11 years ago in Mexico.
It was airmail from europe.
2-4 days Zurich to Mexico City, 2 weeks to Puerto Escondido.
Tax around 100% by creditcard (no scam I guess).
Without the help of a spanish speaker on the phone, it would still be there at the aiport. ;-)

Don't know if Chile is similar.
My advise, pick it up at the custum office at the airport.
Speak spanish or take someone with you.

good luck
sushi

Do you speak Spanish? Are you comfortable dealing with Chilean customs bureaucracy, instead of hiring a customs agent to process the paperwork for you? Going out to the customs warehouse at, presumably, Santiago airport, to get your package and then take it to the workshop to have the parts installed?

Is all of that worth more than $100 to you? How about covering the shop's expenses so that they stay in business and are more willing to deal with the next RTW gringo cheapskate who is only paying them the base minimum labor rate?

I have ordered the parts from ProCycle…..the garage in Santiago is happy to assist in receiving the parts….I will update on how the process goes

Mercado libre CHILE, chain and sprockets U$S 50 approx,


same in "mercado libre argentina" (imported from Belgiun) U$D 180
these are prices with item delivered same day to your address for free
they have a money back guarantee (not sure how it works)

yup you missed out....

Thanks Flashdog - read your message just in time….ProCycle hadn’t dispatched & we’re ok to cancel my order

Will order the parts on Mercado Libre

Good to meet another “RTW cheapskate” hahaha……we’ll leave it to old farts like AnTyx to pay gringo prices

Cheers

AnTyx may or may not be an old fart--I certainly qualify, as do many posting here. I'd suggest, however, that you thank him for taking the time to respond to your original request, which related to paying full price for parts bought locally in Santiago vs. ordering them shipped from the USA.

The idea here is to be properly appreciative of attempts to help you out, even if you end up finding a preferred solution.

And FWIW, I'd be a tad dubious about heavily-discounted chain and sprocket kits, no matter where I found them. They may be made (or labeled made) in Belgium, but there are a lot of low-quality parts out there in the world. I encountered my fair share in South America...and North America, and Europe. YMMV.

Mark

fake chain kits
 

Be aware, there are lots of fake chain kits out here in South America. Basically a cheap cheap Chinese chain with a box saying its made in Japan or somewhere else. A lot of chain kits sold also dont have o-rings and the sprockets are the cheapest Chinese steel there is. DID chains here in Bolivia are nearly all fake, even the more expensive ones.

Depending on what you want to do, consider buying two sets .... or at least, a second front sprocket (the part that wears the quickest).

Good luck.

mika :mchappy: