Anybody done business with Australia Direct Mini Mania? http://www.minidirectaus.com/home.cfm

I'm trying to work out their shipping costs. It's not too clear if the shipping is included in the quoted price per item or if there is some way of working out what your purchases would all come to landed here in Oz.

they go by volume or weight. 1 cubic metre or 250kg is about the same. As for price, it's been a while. I think it's only a couple of hundred dollars. I mean, if you can get a shell freighted for 880 including the company looking after the docs, a few spares shouldn't cost the earth for transport.

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You're only supposed to blow WHAT off?

I've made one (multi item) purchase with them and was pretty happy with the price I paid.... I grabbed a couple of their specials.

I requested with the order that they email with shipping cost before the order went through but they just sent it & charged me anyway. It was only like 10 bucks shipping for shipping a set of stainless brake pipes and a spanner.


dewey

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dwightgunning.com

anyone had any bad experiences with them.......no need to bag them out etc, just any issues regarding their service?

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K

Also interested in if anyone has had any large or heavey components shipped? Even with shipping costs, They look very competative prices to what is available here in Adelaide.

I would check with some of the other states before ordering from UK. There are a couple I can think of such as Karcraft (NSW) and Northern Mini Parts (VIC).

I haven't known of anyone who has been told the shipping costs before they freight the stuff from UK.

This could be a problem.

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

I've made the trip over to Melbourne and visited Northern Mini Parts and been very impressed with their stock and service facilities, but the bottom line is I'm in Adeaide and it is too far away to buy in person so that leaves the web. They have a nice web site, lots of pics but no stock list or pricing let alone an purchasing system where I can just buy the gear I need.

Karcraft don't even have a web presence.

Both of these I am told will discuss a purchase via email but that takes days of back and forth questions and answers before you are happy you're getting what you need especially when you're like me and pretty new to all this mechanical stuff. The site we are looking at has full e-commerce capacity which means, pick your part and part with you e-cash, done. This is a huge time saver for me

i'm quite comfortable purchasing off the web and have had merchandise shipped in from many parts of the world direct to home [books, DVDs, software etc]. If the bricks and mortar shop front is further away than I can comfortably get to, then in reality it makes no difference at all if the store is interstate or overseas from my point of view. It all comes down to "how much". I just haven't shipped in bits made of metal and so I'm not sure of the costs involved in that.

I suspect it will be close, but the UK import could be slightly cheaper. Shipping costs are dearer from the UK than across australia, but not much. On the other side you buy direct from the supplier and have an initial purchase price far cheaper than the same item already in OZ.

What I'll probably do is order in some relatively small / light-weight items and compare with some known prices here in Adelaide when I get the bill. Now I just need the cash to make the buy.

I've brought about 20 or so lots of stuff in from MiniSpares (which is Ausdirect). They have never advised freight cost before shipping.
What I do with most stuff now is tell them to airmail it- I find it has more chance of making it without paying import duty, GST and handling charges this end.
Which I had to cop a while back when they sent my 1.5 forged rockers etc- order added up to $350, they sent it UPS and I had to pay all the above.....

I watch what I bring in, price it here first- things like pistons, bearings or heavy stuff are just not worth it.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks Doc - helpful info as always

I have the same issue with other gear I order in. Try and keep a shipment under the customs value do avoid import duty.

Value for customs used to be $500. Since 9/11 it seems to vary. As I said I got hit, value was $350. I also got hit on another at $200. So watch it.
I've got some stuff in 3 months ago via mail, duty free.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

They never list shipping - its all on personalised quote basis. You might find it better to order through Minispares.com which is the same company but with prices listed in GBP and every time I was ordering came out cheaper than ausdirect.

The shipping quote is a bitch coz the instruct you on their site to email them for a quote, but never reply to their emails. I was told by their director Justin to order anyway and put in instructions a specific request for the shipping charge for my approval before they ship. I've done it twice and twice they charged me and shipped it to Aust. and several days later sent me the quote. Third time just before new year I was absolutely guaranteed by Justin that this time I'll get a quote first and what do ya know - charged and shipped w/o a quote. Their packaging is immaculate though and the prices are the best.

However account for customs and GST (if the parts are listed as for a pre 74 car customs duties are minimal) and other charges by UPS above your shipping fee (they do exist). If the shipping is by UPS you will pay GST in most cases (I think above $300).

Also make sure Minispares supply a certain shipping company, whose name I'm not going to mention, but who are in my opinion the worst company I've ever dealt with ever anywhere, with your phone number and the year of the car for which the parts are intended (for customs) otherwise that wonderfull shipper which does the same thing over and over again and never learns will hold the goods for weeks on end without notifying you.

Cheers

I think the shipper's name might start with `U..'?

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I ordered a complete disc brake conversion from them over a year ago (if only i knew about the civic disc mod then!) turned out a lot cheaper bringing them in from overseas then getting them through karcraft.

I specified that they give me a quote before shipping, of course like everyone else here they didnt. i think it was about $225 for shipping but the box was huge and quite heavy, so it was expected.

They never reply to my emails tho, which is quite frustrating.

I found minisport.co.uk to be better for customer relations, they always quote shipping charges before they send anything. but i found there shipping to be a lot more expensive, plus they dont really have the stock range of mini spares.

WHo did the shipping for $225?

You actually ordered the disc conversion kit??? wow that's what I want to do but was afraid of shipping costs. Interesting...