My first Blockley purchase

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Steve Jelf
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My first Blockley purchase

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:48 am

Late last Monday night, a little past midnight, I ordered two new front tyres (30 x 3) through the Blockley website. Later that morning (Tuesday) my card was charged. The amount was about $25 more than the cost of tyres (£298) plus shipping (£116). I assume that was Paypal's cut. On Wednesday at 8:26 AM British time the tyres were shipped. They were delivered on my front porch at 1:37 PM CDT Friday.

While Blockleys are claimed to be much better than other Model T tires, they are also the least expensive clinchers, being a few dollars less than Wards Riversides. It's the shipping from Britain that raises the cost significantly. By ordering only two tires at a time I kept my cost well below the complication threshold. There was no import tax to pay and no special forms to fill out.

In a month or two I'll order the rear tires.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

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TRDxB2
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by TRDxB2 » Mon Mar 20, 2023 3:22 am

First you said my card was charged, then PayPal's cut. So if you used PayPal for the transaction & funds from a credit card to pay. Sounds like PayPal paid Blockley and then charged your credit card for the currency exchange plus 4.5%
From PayPal
Buying is usually free.
If your transaction requires a currency conversion, we will use a retail exchange rate (the wholesale cost of foreign currency as denominated by an outside financial institution) plus a conversion service charge of 4.5%

(£298) plus (£116) = £414 to 504.12 USD, $504.12 x 4.5% = $22.69 + $2.31 for the currency conversion = $25
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
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Topic author
Steve Jelf
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Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:09 am

Aha. A conversion fee didn't occur to me. I'm glad it isn't higher.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


jachady
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by jachady » Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:47 pm

The tires are soooo good. Enjoy Steve!

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Bob McDaniel
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by Bob McDaniel » Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:11 am

Steve, did you get tubes or just the tires with your order?
Give an old car guy a barn and he won't throw anything away.

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Steve Jelf
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by Steve Jelf » Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:43 pm

I know the tubes are excellent, but I got just the tires. Hartfords have been satisfactory for me, so I'll continue with those.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

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Duey_C
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by Duey_C » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:54 am

That was near lightning fast. Express shipping at 116 pounds. Thank you sir.
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Ed Fuller
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Re: My first Blockley purchase

Post by Ed Fuller » Wed Mar 22, 2023 6:09 pm

Steve, which works out to be cheaper?

Paying for shipping twice on two orders with no import tax.

Paying for shipping once on one order and paying the import tax.

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