Ordered some Rally Armor's (black/ red), tail-light overlays, side emblem vinyls, and a few interior vinyls from SubiSpeed on October 16th (around 7am).
I read a few concerns on reddit with them and peoples credit card info being stolen/ leaked and resulting in thousands of dollars of charges from some warehousing distributor in Texas. I just used my PayPal account (which probably isn't any safer anyways).
I'm very impressed with one thing: There were 3 shipping options at checkout. 1-UPS: $30 2-FedEx: $100 3-FedEx Air: $138.
I decided to go with the dreadful UPS Option 1. I was initially frustrated because the next day I received a call from UPS asking me to provide customs/ duties paperwork etc from my own customs broker. Explained I didn't have my own, and asked them to bring it over on COD and I would pay the quoted (they provided) $38 at the door - no problem. I immediately felt like things were going to take a very long time from here... Iv'e heard lots of horror stories from UPS.
Well.. thanks UPS! My package is scheduled to arrive tomorrow!! Wow, I thought the $30 option would take 2+ weeks LOL.... I think I somehow just got lucky perhaps..
I love shooting pics of this car.....
IMG_0085a by Spencer, on Flickr
Running your deliveries from UPS through Customs is super easy and you should familiarize yourself with doing it because if you plan to order stuff from the US, more often than not it will be UPS. RSD uses UPS and next day service is available for barely more than the regular options, but obviously the brokerage charges kill you.
Once you get the email from the vendor that your order has shipped as well as the tracking number, call UPS at 1-800-PICKUPS and pick option 3 (it's the brokerage/customs stuff). Give them the tracking number and tell them you want to run it through customs yourself, and also tell them you want them to hold it at the warehouse and not deliver it. They will email you the customs forms (usually within 15 minutes), just print them off along with a copy of the email invoice you got from the vendor and take it to Customs Port of Entry (It's right behind Speeders).
There's never anyone there so you'll pretty much get called up immediately. Present all the paperwork (you don't have to fill out anything), they'll ask you the usual questions like is it for personal use or for sale. They stamp your paperwork, you pay the duties and then drive literally a few blocks down the street to UPS, hand them the paperwork and they give you your package (with no extra costs owing).
I did this just last week with a Cobb Turboback and Grimmspeed heatshield. I got it from RSD the next day and paid $100 in duties. The brokerage fees on that would've been murder.
