Purchasing Auto Parts from EU
 

Seems that most businesses refuse to sell/ship to USA.

Why is that? I have offered extra money and they won't budge.

I guess I need to find someone over there to buy them and then resend them to me.

Within the EU, there's no customs process. Outside, they have to document the shipment. If you've never had the experience of doing this, it's a time consuming process. Europeans sending to the US would also need to prepare documentation to make the purchase VAT-free. Some small businesses just can't afford the time.

Thanks for the info, I will keep it in my mind.

Places like Germany and Italy show they ship to United Kingdom same as EU ... I have shipped out of country and filled out forms, never seemed like much trouble. I'd be OK with paying the VAT, in fact it is usually stated to be included in the prices. I need to find a person in Germany that will reship. Seems like such a service would be a huge business opportunity.

I have purchased parts from eBay.de without a problem.

I never had problems years ago. But now it seems everyone on ebay and EU auto parts places will not ship to USA. Maybe trumps policies threw a wrench in the works. I found one guy with a used part that he is willing to ship to USA ($50 ship) but he wants more than double the cost of the new items found all over ebay and the stores. ( ~200 v 100 $ ) And from his thousands of transactions this is the only one he has listed for worldwide shipping. If I log in on .com I can't even see his other listing ( except sold) when I log in .de or .it or .co.uk I see his stuff. We exchanged several emails and he refuses to be a purchasing agent for me even with real $ dangled in front of him. It is baffling. That guy appears to part out boneyard vehicles as his living, yet will not take an easy money gig paid up front. I have distant relatives in the EU and right now I am putting feelers out.

I've had similar issues and it seems to be one of what the seller/business is willing to do.

Thankfully I've been sent on business to Belgium a number of times over the years and have had luck shipping parts to my hotel. They get to my hotel from all over the EU and I simply pack them in my luggage and fly home at the end of the trip.

Not sure when the next trip is, but if you need someone to receive a package and then ship it out again I might be your huckleberry.

I'll make a list :) Now that you put this out here you might need to schedule an extra week for the influx of requests you might get soon

Haha.

I already have the practice of flying over with a hard suitcase with a folded duffle bag inside. When I arrive I put all my personals, clothes, etc in the duffle and the hard case is then reserved for Belgian chocolate, waffles, mayonnaise, beer, car parts and any souvenirs I've been asked to get.

Depending on the part I might just have to bring another suitcase to take advantage of the bag fee being cheaper than shipping across the pond.

But you still need to ship it here. I'll pay the shipping and get it sooner :)

I’ve had great luck getting OE euro parts that aren’t available here from Lithuania https://www.e-acca.com/. I’ve bought VW/Audi stuff but it looks like they have MB as well.

thanks, I'll check that.

953.98 EUR + ship for a 30$ part. Ooooopps -- and their part number search fails to find thing you can get to by furbangling through the model parts menus

I guess they’re no good for MB. VW parts are about 30-50% cheaper than dealer.

For years we could purchase genuine Mercedes-Benz branded parts from the dealership for our pre-1995 cars. That has all changed; nowadays the MB dealer parts department begins to laugh the moment you mention a vintage mercedes automobile.

remember, kids, it's all about EV electrics......

That's why you form a good relationship with the guys at the parts counter. Bring in the part numbers for them to order and never return anything.

I still get wholesale pricing on parts and they've given me free stuff they can't put back in inventory.

Shopping again ... anyone know a source to get IMASAF parts stateside? They have lots of stuff and sell it everywhere overseas, but I can't find anyone willing to ship here.

Years ago I could go into Park Place Mercedes in Dallas and they could order anything I needed and have it the next day. They got a air fright container in from Germany every business day.

Then I moved to Tulsa and stopped by Siggi Grims on 11th and they thought I was nuts. While I was there another guy came in and needed parts for his 111. They told him no way. They didn't even understand the VIN system Mercedes used prior to 1980.

It's all local.