hi guys
i wanted to know something.
if we buy any thing from websites like tower hobbie do the items deliver till our door step at the price we pay on the site or do we have to pay customs duty in india for the product.

also do we have to go to the customs office to clear the items.

pls help me on the pros and cons of shopping from abroad over the net

Cheers!

You have to pay customs for the products. Shipping is a killer. Indian prices are close to international prices. I would suggest buying something here since it starts a business relationship between you and the seller. You get support if needed. If the car you want isn't available here, you can get it from abroad but it'll cost quite a lot. If you can have someone carry it over, it'll help a lot.

Hi..

You will be charged customs duty over and above the price u paid at tower on any other website.
The customs duty is pretty much a luck factor. Sometimes u can get away with paying nothing on a high value consignment and at others u might have to pay close to 50-60% of the actual cost of the product.

Incase u get it shipped through UPS, u generally dont have to go to the customs office. UPS and DHL clear the goods on your behalf as per the value mentioned on ur invoice.

Incase of Registered Mail or Express Mail service, the product is in the hands of the indian postal department so do expect a few delays and the customs clearance does take a little bit more time. At most times you do not need to visit the customs office and goods are cleared by customs as per the assesment value of the invoice or the value they feel best. Incase of ambiguity regarding the product or the value, the customs department might detain ur parcel and shall send u a letter to come visit them with your documents pertaining to the parcel. Once u furnish all their requirements, they release the parcel.

International shipping is a killer and now most of the big brands are already here. So would advice you to make most of your purchases from a local dealer. I personally bought each and every car from abroad, but had someone carry them for me always.
Hope this helps you decide.

Thanks

IMRAN

1. Items are usually delivered at door step(unless they are too heavy or has hige custom duty), if they contain none of restricted/hassle items (see below). There is indeed  the risk of item getting lost completely or partially, damaged etc. YMMY

2. The effective custom duty varies from 20-33%, on the invoiced amount + postage. You should not under invoice to get into trouble later. But for small , cheap looking items, (below certain value, again on the whims of the customs), they dont charge any Customs. This is highly seasonal. Like from July till Nov last year I paid customs on each box, and even had to go the the FPO

3. Unless you have reasonable invoice on the box, does not contain restricted items like Transmitter, or contain huge planes, specially balsa ones, the customs doesn't trouble you. But that is again highly seasonal/regional. If they call even if you dont have a trouble maker in your package, go with the invoice, and a letter for justification for import. I have found at least the Bangalore customs much reasonable and fair than one would expect a Govt Office to be. Different City's customs may be a little different, but they are obviously not monsters.

I would neither encourage or discourage importing items from Towers/HK/Helipros/etc (neither my closest LHS does). But be judicial  in ordering. You would be surprised increasing number of Rc stuff available by LHS and very reasonable prices. But if you dont get an item of your choice/brand and you hard upon it, or you dont find it at any LHS at a reasonable price, do get them from outside..

i have ordered some spare parts for by hpi car. Thought the local dealer does keep this part, unfortunately its been a month and he does not have the particular spare i require. So for future easy i have ordered an extra set .. just in case...