Need tips buying from US without getting murdered on shipping

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 · 3 Jul 2015, 5:06 pm

#1016036

Hello all.
Recently I got all excited cause I sold some parts which I had no need for in order to buy a set of CB heads for my type 3 build.
Anyhow I loaded up the shopping cart on the cb performance website with a pair of 044 heads, some pushrods and tubes and 4 IRS axle boots. Anyhow shipping is killing that idea. They use international couriers and the quote is enormously expensive. I'm talking nearly $460 usd on shipping. I know it's not cheap to send that way but I have used international couriers up to 30kg from AUS to USA and I know that price is over the top. I have emailed them for a manual price check but as its a long weekend over there I'm seeing what other options might be available.
So does anyone have some ideas on how I can obtain a set of 044's without giving 50% to a shipping company?

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 · 3 Jul 2015, 5:13 pm

#1016038

Try Pierside
I have found them very competitive
Or try Rod Penrose

hus22l Officially Full-On Dubber

229 posts · joined Apr 2012 · 3 Jul 2015, 8:03 pm

#1016058

Fly over there with an empty suitcase?

It sucks. Especially with the $AU not doing so well and showing no sign of strengthening. Currency issues and postage costs almost make it not worth it. Do the math and you might find the Local guys are a good option.. if they stock what you are after.

binner Fahrvergnugen

981 posts · joined Jan 2010 · 3 Jul 2015, 8:24 pm

#1016062

Don't for shit sake us DB schenker!... I got fucking nailed with them.

Carry on......

71 SQ

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2015, 8:53 pm

#1016063

Get a set from Darren at DRD racing he will ship for $160.
Also I think with the CB site you can specify different shipping options easy to miss it if you don't look but the default option is UPS I think but USPS is also available and is much cheaper
🙅

23 windows ...8 too many!

coletrickle Wolfsburg Wizard

661 posts · joined Apr 2009 · 3 Jul 2015, 10:09 pm

#1016069

Just got a quote from edi freight forwarders under $1000 for 500kgs and thats from houston to la to bris.But id try peirside or i belive australiapost has some kind of set up to do freight to aus for people that wont ship overseas or charge way to much.best of luck.

Governor Wolfsburg Wizard

414 posts · joined Nov 2008 · 3 Jul 2015, 10:39 pm

#1016071

waltermitty wrote:Get a set from Darren at DRD racing he will ship for $160.
Also I think with the CB site you can specify different shipping options easy to miss it if you don't look but the default option is UPS I think but USPS is also available and is much cheaper
🙅

You will also find Darrens flow better than the CB 044

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2015, 11:47 pm

#1016074

coletrickle wrote:Just got a quote from edi freight forwarders under $1000 for 500kgs and thats from houston to la to bris.But id try peirside or i belive australiapost has some kind of set up to do freight to aus for people that wont ship overseas or charge way to much.best of luck.

Col that price must be sea freight? Mitch

23 windows ...8 too many!

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 · 4 Jul 2015, 10:50 am

#1016093

Thanks for the tips. I will definitely look closer at the DRD heads. To be honest I hadn't spent any time looking into other heads. Did some searching last night and found lots of good reports about them and checked out the site. Also I was unsure about the ported cb heads for my application because I could not find what I wanted in a 40 - 35.5 valve combo and that meant I needed to spend more money when they arrived on porting.
I have used freight forwarders like DB Schenker not so long ago and the landing/clearance cost on a 300kg pallet was as much as the freight cost. Add in GST and you have a nice surprise bill to pay when they land. Also I made the silly decision to organize to pick up myself from their botany warehouse. it was pandemonium out there. It's like the bulk fruit markets but substitute the fruit for brown boxes and pallets.

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Jul 2015, 12:09 pm

#1016097

Have a look as Steve Tims heads also very nice stuff might get your rocks off! They are hand ported not CNC, Shipping is similar just Darrens customer service is better.
Mitch

23 windows ...8 too many!

colin Fahrvergnugen

984 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 5 Jul 2015, 12:35 pm

#1016156

I purchased a set of 044 heads from CB last year. Spoke to Pat Downs and then Daniel, asked for them to be shipped USPS. No problem, freight cost just under $200.00 Aus.
Had them flycut ,and cced to my specs from them, they were terrific to deal with.

Cheers Col

PS
Also buy from Pierside Parts and Ralph is your man there, they also ship USPS.

Lateral Wolfsburg Wizard

480 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 9 Jul 2015, 5:29 pm

#1016373

Why don't you buy locally and call Rod Penrose?

(02) 4272 0 9920

www.rodpenroseracing.com.au

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 · 11 Jul 2015, 1:31 pm

#1016433

Thanks for the tips guys. I will contact cb again. Also I sent a msg to DRD but haven't had a reply. They have me interested and I'm keen to hear from him. Anyone who spends years hand porting then translates that knowledge and flow data to 5axis machining for consistent replication surely knows a thing or two.
I did not consider Penrose for this purchase as I wanted to deal direct with CB initially. I'm not sure what Rod's specialty is. I thought it was complete engines and vw drivetrain and chassis components. . I really wanted to deal directly with the guys specializing in head manufacture and CNC port work. Not saying hand ported is worse it's just I think that would be too pricey for me.

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Jul 2015, 4:09 pm

#1016439

Holiday week in the USA.
DRD Customer service is excellent they will reply on Monday.

Steve Tims,
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1069091
If you want hand ported they start at 650 US plus 160 shipping.
thats going to be $1100 or $1200 if you get stung with GST
They are often busy away racing and customer service can be slow

You might save some $ importing but the advantage of someone like Rod is he is on tap for after sales and service and knows stuff.

Not sure but I think his 044 ported heads are CB 44s they are CNC ported less than $1200 AUD shipped.

Rod sells new Mag cases for $920 and shipping is only $25, thats cheaper than they are in the states CIP1 has them for $1059 US plus shipping$$$$ ( on special now $909 US )

If you are buying lots of bits and get the right shipping US will be cheaper but not like it was a few years ago.

23 windows ...8 too many!

doublecabg Casual Dubber

33 posts · joined Jan 2015 · 20 Jul 2015, 7:43 pm

#1016795

Just posted similar question for CIP - set of wheels to ship is $440.

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 · 1 Aug 2015, 2:08 pm

#1017273

Follow up.

Ended up conversing with Darren at DRD and felt comfortable dealing with him. The more I looked into those heads the more I liked them. Based on the 049 Revmaster casting I believe. Did my research and liked what I saw.
So I bought the L5 CNC ported heads with 40/35.5 valve combo cc'd to my spec. Shipping was $200 usd and it turns out the shipping from CB performance was about the same if you chose the cheaper option so it was a decision between the cb Round ports and these DRD L5. I think the difference is marginal so I went with the DRD's on a couple of minor differences.