Who the hell could afford to buy anything from CB Performance. I wanted a small fuel tank adapter, about the size of a 50 cent piece and was required to order more just do make their US$20 minimum. Well I just got back an email and this is their quote (in brief) :


Large Grey Long Sleeve Speed Shop T-shirt $16.95

#8 AN to VW Fuel Tank Adapter $7.95

subtotal $24.90

tax $0.00

shipping carrier: INTL-UPS-SAVER $74.50

total $99.40

That's a total of about AU$153 for a bloody t-shirt and another very small item.

They can stuff that up their arse.

Not happy Jan!

You have to go to VeeDub parts unlimited.com
they sell all the CB stuff but send it by post
much cheaper

They tried to hit me with $US 180.00 for two slightly larger but light parts.....I had much the same feeling as Camo

CB freight here too..........only got one sale out of me.

G.B.E is really good on freight, i buy a "bit" off them

Kevin

you should be buying locally much easier to deal with

Can't realy comment as I have never dealt with them, buying localy is obviously the best way to go even if it's only to support our own economy, BUT, if they give you the costs and conditions up front then it can hardly be clased as a "ripoff", you know what your up for and can make your decision on that basis, if that is what they need to cover their cost for shipping then you can't blame them for pasing the cost on, if it's in excess of what they need then they are makeing a profit (large or small ?) and that after all is why they are conducting a business, the only decision they have to make after that is do they want to loose potential customers by trying it on for a larger profit or unaceptable conditions to the customer.

Donn,

What court room did you just step out from, you sound like a Magistrate. It is still a rip off for the amount that wanted for the shipping, whether I go through with it or not.

CB has what we need but there shipping sucks balls big time, they are making money off the shipping no doubt. I buy locally now, but i usually only buy type 4 parts anyways and get them off Raby, he refuses to use UPS. Now aircooled.net is a great retailer, never had problems with them and they use USPS too.

Its not only CB. Wolf West and Cip have unreasonable shipping charges to. For example, if I wanted a door handle seal the part cost US$4.40. Shipping charges to Australia are US$40.05. That's a grand total of US$44.45 or AU$70.35. For a door seal???
Your kidding me right! For a part that's no larger than a matchbox. I have sent small parcels to the US before and it didn't cost that much. Even if you know about the charges beforehand, it's still a rip off.

By the way that part cost about $5 from my local VW place.

Have a look at the UPS website and you'll find that the price quoted in the first post is actually one of the cheaper options! The real problem is the rates charged by UPS, not CB performance. That said, I'll generally only get stuff from the US via the USPS because it is so much cheaper.

I would prefer to buy here and keep the money in Australia, but in the past it has been heaps cheaper to buy from the US even with shipping and they have so many more parts than we do.

Like a lot of people on this site, I am paying off a house and this little VeeDub of mine is costing me a shit load more than I thought it would. But you live and learn.

If you can buy the part I after here, can someone please tell me where. These screw directly onto the VW tank. I know you can buy weld in ones here, but thats not what I want. Here is the photo, I want the larger one #8.

Thanks, Kevin

HAHA, magistrate? not me but I've fronted a few, just that my definition of ripoff is diferent to yours I'd say Camo, a ripoff to me is when you don't get what you have been told ya guna get or you are charged more than you were told it would cost, otherwise you just decide yourself if you want it bad enough to pay the price they are asking, now I reckon I was ripped off by someone in here, not because they charged more than I was willing to pay but when recieved the item was not realy as described, I put my hand up to pay the high price so no complaints there but when it landed where I could see it I realised that the description was a little bit better than the article, that's what I call a ripoff.

Its not the shops ripping people off but often the companies that are used to pay for the items.
They require certain types of postage as they give more detailed paper work to protect them against lost parcels etc.
UPS and FedEx have this sort of cover , and its all factored into the postage cost.
USPS doesn't and that is why most don't use them.

Kevin you can get those fittings from Pirtek there Speed flow items

USPS does have a tracking service and it is just as accurate as the so called frieght experts. refer exhibit A
Label/Receipt Number: CP72 8013 480U S
Associated Label/Receipt:
Detailed Results:

Attempted Delivery Abroad, March 03, 2009, 11:39 am, AUSTRALIA
Attempted Delivery Abroad, March 03, 2009, 8:47 am, AUSTRALIA
At Foreign Delivery Unit, March 03, 2009, 5:58 am, AUSTRALIA
Out of Foreign Customs, March 01, 2009, 9:38 am, AUSTRALIA
Into Foreign Customs, March 01, 2009, 9:05 am, AUSTRALIA
Arrived Abroad, March 01, 2009, 9:05 am, AUSTRALIA
International Dispatch, February 25, 2009, 5:38 pm, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Acceptance, February 24, 2009, 8:41 am, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92615

so did ya give pirtec a go??
i used to be in the earthmoving industry n pirtec for me were way too dear
if you have a look about you should do better..
maybe next time put up a post here first before getting the 'ripped off' feeling happening
just a suggestion as many on here have done what you have been thru many a time..

I have heard that most of these companies use UPS, FEDEX etc due to the fact that they can arrange for them to pick up the items from the shop / factory / wharehouse etc. They don't use USPS because they have to deliver them to USPS themselves & they find this a major PITA. Much easier of they are picked up.

USPS is supposedly very reliable despite what most of the bigger companies say.

Cheers
Brendan

Camo, i think Marty Staggs in the US sells these through the samba, i'm sure i've seen them advertised there. If so he will most likely ship through USPS.

Camo,I am sure those fittings are Speed Flow units manufactured in Taree and exported to the states and elsewhere,most of the speed shops sell them.

i bought a heap of stuff of a private seller in texas, boxes of engine parts. two of tHE boxes were ripped open, and some stuff was missing from the listed parts. i called immediately to ups spoke to a guy [i still got all the emails] i had to send in photos, i did, then i had to do it again with more pics of the boxes, i did. the aust ups rep put it back on to the usa reps of ups. they didnt even answer my emails.aust ups didnt care usa ups didnt care. lost at least 500 usd worth of stuff. aust ups/usa usps dont care about customers. so tell u friends DONT USE UPS

Have never lost a USPS delv with all the transactions I have done. Last order delv. complete TMI split window hoodlining with side window sections delivered to my door $347.45 AUD hard to beat that.

Rocket industries should carry those fittings as well.

Quote:

Originally posted by h so did ya give pirtec a go?? i used to be in the earthmoving industry n pirtec for me were way too dear if you have a look about you should do better.. maybe next time put up a post here first before getting the 'ripped off' feeling happening just a suggestion as many on here have done what you have been thru many a time..

Quote:

Originally posted by Camo Like a lot of people on this site, I am paying off a house and this little VeeDub of mine is costing me a shit load more than I thought it would. But you live and learn. If you can buy the part I after here, can someone please tell me where. These screw directly onto the VW tank. I know you can buy weld in ones here, but thats not what I want. Here is the photo, I want the larger one #8. Thanks, Kevin

Speedflow do manufacture a lot of fittings & hoses like that in Taree. I have been to their factory there, and got all my braided stainless hoses for my L bug engine there. You used to be able to go there on a Saturday morning with cash and get parts at about half price. Was all good quality stuff.

The only international service offered by UPS and Worldwide Expedited and Worldwide Saver... both are over $100 for a 4 pound package.... its just what they charge.
The biggest issue with the CB site, is they tell you they will email you the shipping costs, but they process the payment and then email you to tell you we already shipped it, and this is the gold plated shipping costs.

UPS and FedEx is cheap as shite here in the US, and very reliable and quick. Their booking and tracking system is awesome, and very easy to use. I use them all the time through my work here, and have never had an issue yet.
It is not the vw companies inflating the price, its what it costs to ship stuff there, in most of the time about 4 days.

Parts Unlimited will ship USPS, as will CIP I believe.

I thought those IDA fittings were made in the US... could be wrong though. Either way, you can get them off the samba, plenty of guys have them on there, and will post em in an envelope... for about $5 us.

Those parts look a lot like some bits I got for the petrol tank in the bug eye, got them from Pitcrew in Hannel St. Wickham here in Newie, wasn't hard to pay for em once I'd remorgaged the house.

I've dealt with a firm called Pitstop Autos in california. the guy was awesome. he will find the cheapest shipping he can to get stuff to you. when my shipping went wrong (dumb freight company) he covered half the charges out of his own pocket. And if you can't get what you want from his normal supplier he will get it from where you want with only a slight surcharge. try him.