Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quotes!!!

Hi there,

I am an happy owner of a Norton commnado and as any good bikers, I like to look after my motorbike. This year, I started a new project to restore a norton commando in very bad conditions and got to place several order by Norvil Motorcycle UK.
All the times I placed an order, the shipping fees (oversea) were over charged!!! that was not just some pounds but almost more than double the real cost. Since I do not believe coincidence and neither in perpetual mistakes, I would like to advice any future buyer to check the shipping quotes without take the one given as the currect ones.

How to do that:

- Go on: www.interparcel.com
- set the measures of the box (You can calculate the measures needed yourselves very easily even by being very very very generous)
- get the quotes for all the carriers
- than use parcelforce as main reference since they use this company to ship oversea

However, there is something to add to this! It seems like, it is a quite well spread attitude across english retailers of overcharging people with pumped shipping costs. Norvil Motorcycle wass not the first one I met to be honest: Try-supply.co.uk is another of those.

So, keep an eye opened and check it yourself!!!!!

I hope this will be helpful for all the enthusiasts motorbikers!!!!!

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

Hi Chiccogarz

Sorry about this, it is something that has been bandied about on the forum before.
I live on the south coast of England & stopped buying bulk items from Fairspares a long while ago.
I have a friend who lives nearby who collects them & then posts them on to me.
I stopped because I believed there was a packing charge being added to the postal charge & then in the UK the combined price had Vat tax added to it (currently 20%) I buy from RGM who are much better on postal charges & quick. However for quality I go to Micky Hemmings.

Perhaps we should post a bit more about theses things.
I am not against firms being paid for there time/ packing material etc. but these charges should be clear.

Chris

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I just received a shipment from Norvil to the USA and the charges seemed fine. The fender I bought from them was cheaper from England to USA than I could buy it here. Not sure what the problem you guys had but my shipment seemed okay. They were very friendly and helped solve a problem I made on my order.

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

If posted overseas outside Europe, goods should not have VAT added.
However, I believe VAT can still be added for postal services, but don’t quote me on that; I could be 100% wrong :shock:

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I purchased off both Norvil and Andover Norton last month.

Over $250 postage it seems (not shown is a fork spring and Amal parts)
The parts get here fairly quickly but they would want to at that price,plus you do not know the cost until the payment is processed.
Just the way it goes I guess.
Total spent at AN is just under $2000 on three orders,of that some $550 was postage.
Not including around $500+ of AN parts purchased from local venders,where is the reward scheme. :wink:

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

Time Warp said:

I purchased off both Norvil and Andover Norton last month.

Over $250 postage it seems (not shown is a fork spring and Amal parts)
The parts get here fairly quickly but they would want to at that price,plus you do not know the cost until the payment is processed.
Just the way it goes I guess.
Total spent at AN is just under $2000 on three orders,of that some $550 was postage.
Not including around $500+ of AN parts purchased from local venders,where is the reward scheme. :wink:

Click to expand...

Not really, they specify to oversea buyers to come in contact for shipping costs before placing the order. However, it seems to me very expensive anyway! I shipped an entire Norton commando for a little more from Houston to Bremenhaven (Germany). Anyway, what happended to me was:

- first purchase was circa 50 pounds to Germany (Berlin). Then, I came back to them and I said that it was too much (I buy and sell regularly in the UK so I know shipping costs properly). After, circa two hours, they came back saying that there was a mistake and that the shipping cost are now 30 pounds.

- second purchase was 60 pounds to Germany. However, parcelforce that is the company they use asks for barely 25 pounds with pick-up at their warehouse and delivery in Berlin.

- Third purchase, this time by try-supply.co.uk. Having asked for arranging the shipping myself after shipping quotes hitting the sky , they never came back to me. It was maybe shame or so. I was quite surpriced since the order was some big money!

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

chiccogarz said:

All the times I placed an order, the shipping fees (oversea) were over charged!!! that was not just some pounds but almost more than double the real cost.

However, there is something to add to this! It seems like, it is a quite well spread attitude across english retailers of overcharging people with pumped shipping costs.

Click to expand...

You are paying for postage and packing, so the price you pay isn't necessarily going to be the actual postage amount, and a company can basically charge what they like for 'packing'.
As you appear to be buying from within the EU, then 20% VAT will be added to the total shipping cost.

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

L.A.B. said:

chiccogarz said:

All the times I placed an order, the shipping fees (oversea) were over charged!!! that was not just some pounds but almost more than double the real cost.

However, there is something to add to this! It seems like, it is a quite well spread attitude across english retailers of overcharging people with pumped shipping costs.

Click to expand...

You are paying for postage and packing, so the price you pay isn't necessarily going to be the actual postage amount, and a company can basically charge what they like for 'packing'.
As you appear to be buying from within the EU, then 20% VAT will be added to the total shipping cost.

Click to expand...

Of course, but there is nothing mentioned about packing and too be honest I can only understand 2 / 3 euros more added to the shipping cost not more...

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I am also rather pissed about this. I buy a lot for the UK (live in Germany) I recently ordered 70 pounds of smallish bits - for the Norton and Norvil charged me 34 pounds plus 20% tax for postage and packing - comes out at near 41 Pounds - now that really is a mega rip off - never again. I buy a lot of stuff for my BSAs regularly and the P&P is really extremely reasonable. I hate being taken like this it sucks - good way to piss off your customers!

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

chiccogarz said:

Of course, but there is nothing mentioned about packing and too be honest I can only understand 2 / 3 euros more added to the shipping cost not more...

Click to expand...

Nigeldtr said:

I am also rather pissed about this. I buy a lot for the UK (live in Germany) I recently ordered 70 pounds of smallish bits - for the Norton and Norvil charged me 34 pounds plus 20% tax for postage and packing - comes out at near 41 Pounds - now that really is a mega rip off - never again. I buy a lot of stuff for my BSAs regularly and the P&P is really extremely reasonable. I hate being taken like this it sucks - good way to piss off your customers!

Click to expand...

Buy Norton parts from Mick Hemmings.

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I can never understand why mail order businesses charge for packing. If you go into their shop, do they charge extra to serve you? Of course not. Norvil once charged me £8 to send a small packet. I naturally complained, pointing out that I could take my business elsewhere. They apologised & said the excess postage would be deducted from my next order. This they did & to their credit have not repeated the mistake.

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I just went over my last AN Invoice knowing there is something somewhere.
It is not the postage it seems but the website currency readout.
When I put the order in I used the Australian dollar option so you get a better idea of what you are spending.
The total at check out was AU$662.94 ,charged was GBP 479.8 which is around $814.74,that is near a GBP90 difference.
The postage is quoted at around $106 which is not that bad even though it is a tiny box that ended up costing around $927.
It now explains why my order cost some $156 more than expected.
It also explains why the latest $300 and something order has cost $500 as did the one earlier in the year. :?

I would advise any outside the UK shoppers to use an online exchange rate calculator and order in GBP.
To add insult to injury a Triumph head from Denmark to Australia cost $44 and here in under five days.
Go FedEx Denmark.

EDIT.

I just did a check on Andover Norton and it is the rate calculator.

One set of engine cases was quoted as £895.00 when Australian dollars was used it said $1306.70 (US$1405.15)
According to xe exchange £895.00 is actually AU$1519.80. (US$1432.98)
So that explains that and it seems it is only on AU$,US is not far off. :roll:

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I regularly post goods both home and abroad.

I use interparcel a lot and find them very good.

They pick up from my place so no going down to the post office which
takes time and gas. Good jiffy bags are not cheap and yes the client will pay.

An average package costs around £7 and I charge £7.80 inc VAT.

UPS via Interparcel costs £9.58 and I charge £10.

For goods abroad I charge what it costs plus 50p for packaging etc etc.

The main thing is to tell the client what it will cost before shipping (for the guy in Japan
I will quote on Monday as I have been out most of this week). If you dont agree then dont order.

Andy

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I buy a lot of my parts from RGM as well I have brought a new seat from Burtons British Bikes, and postage to Australia, when RGM post anything under 3kgs will go throught Royal Mail and is nomaly about 25 pounds or less, but when its over 3kgs they use Parcel Express and can be charged anything up to 60 pounds or a little over, it all depends on the weight, but with Parcel Express if I order on a Thrusday night my part will be at my front door Tuesday morning, Royal Mail takes about 7 to 10 days before I get them, still so mush cheaper than buying from my local british bike shops here.

When I brought my seat from BBB the package was light well under the 3 kgs but because the package was a big box they charge for the size of the package and not by weight, it will come by Parcel Express and be here in a few days, the good thing about it coming to Australia there is no VAT added and if my order is under $1,000 Au there is no 10% GST added when it arrives here, so I am well ahead of what they charge here from my local or other suppliers here in Australia.

Ashley

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

You have to make a buck to stay in business. There was a noticeable increase in postage during the 2 years of my build. From realistic to ridiclous
Maybe getting together with other norton owners to split the cost could be the go as parts are always needed
Amazon postage rates are a fraction the cost as I found when I got some filters delivered from the states
If they ever decided to deal in norton bits there could be a bit of trouble for the established monopolies

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I really hate it when folks can't say anything good about Norvil.

Hate it because they are generally well justified!

I got nailed by them last year, and when I returned the goods due to their being unfit for purpose, I had to pay the return postage, and swallow the cost of the original P&P (over twice as much...), so ended up about forty quid down on a bum deal all round.
I have a feeling that I somehow got stiffed on the refund VAT as well, but I stopped worrying because I had focus on how to make the stuff myself!

Once bitten... :roll:

I can highly recommend RGM for being fast and decent folks to deal with, A-N for being not quite as fast as RGM, but still good, and Mick Hemmings stands out simply because you have to get 'Angied' before you buy stuff. A memorable experience every time!

UK parcel rates are a combination of weight and size, details here
http://www.parcelforce.com/send-worldwide

A final observation: My take is that boxing things up should be part of the service, but business is business, and how you carry it out always leaves an impression on the customer.

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I'm not totally sure on this but I believe the freight companies get all the duty payments made as well, gst and all the other bloody taxes, it adds up very quickly but means your parts pass through customs quicker, I purchased a $280 pair of pliers out of the states, box size 8'' -2''-2'' they chucked it in a standard fed ex box about 12''-6',' $490, only took 4 days, still a little bit twisted about that

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

Any duty or taxes are paid by receiver.

There are many ways round it but they can bite you back.

Andy

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

I, and a lot of my fellow Norton owners try and avoid at all costs purchasing anything from Norvil unless we can collect direct or from a show due to their totally excessive P&P being a rip off. I find the other suppliers far more approachable too and try and support them if possible.
Regards.

Re: Norvil Motorcycle and shipping quotes: overcharged quote

Interesting. I've bought stuff from Norvil, Hemmings and RGM and never felt like I got pasted by the postage/handling charges. But it's been a few years. Maybe the postage rates are going up, especially in EU? Of course 20% VAT doesn't help. I'd hate that one. But then the Tea Party will take care of our taxes. Huh?

Dave