Doing the old Holiday bike swop trick advice needed.

"Martin Wilson" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

What with the exchange rate nearing $2.00 and some amazing prices on
bikes being available across the pond and the occasional really cheap
airfares. I wonder if theres a faq anywhere for how to take an old
banger bike and bring back a shiny new one without being hit by
customs.

Ride the shiny new bike around for a while so that it's obviously used?

Quoted message said:

Which brand bikes are best value in the states?

Who are the best retailers for price?

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) are not necessarily the cheapest, but have
a dividend plan that could be useful if you're planning on coming over here
more than once. They sell an incredibly wide range of outdoor equipment and
clothing. www.rei.com

Quoted message said:

If you are going to be cycling around before coming home which
retailer has the greatest number of shops so that any warranty work
before leaving the states can be done at different stores etc?

Again REI may not have the "most" shops, but they do have a large number of
shops, and I would expect their repair staff to be at least as competent as
any chain of sports shops, and probably more competent than most chain store
bike repair people.

Quoted message said:

Do you need to select your bike before hand and paint up the banger
you take over roughly with the same brand and name as the one you are
going to buy?

Can you get away with a bike you gave £5 for at the local tip?

Quoted message said:

Typically some old rubbish with steel wheels.

Do you really think your customs people are that gullible?

Quoted message said:

Which brands lower the spec of their american bikes?

Plus of course what would be a good place to visit with regard great
scenary with fairly short travel distances and safety (low crime rate)
in the states?

Most of the UK seems to think that Colorado is an excellent place to visit,
although it's a bit cold for cycling at the moment. What time of year are
you planning on being here, and what do you mean by short travel distances?

Quoted message said:

Do cheap hotels/motels mind you taking the bike into your room (not
multistory accomendation)?

IME, no.
--
mark

HTH,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can you get away with a bike you gave £5 for at the local tip?

Quoted message said:

Typically some old rubbish with steel wheels.

Do you really think your customs people are that gullible?

Quoted message said:

I have absolutely no idea how gullible customs are. I suppose I'm
thinking of the paperwork. Do they just write down the brand and model
on the paperwork or do they take down other details like a rough
description of gears or even weight. Maybe they just write down '1
bicycle'.

Quoted message said:

Most of the UK seems to think that Colorado is an excellent place to visit,
although it's a bit cold for cycling at the moment. What time of year are
you planning on being here, and what do you mean by short travel distances?

Quoted message said:

I'm basically thinking of a holiday without any hiring of cars just
purely travelling by bike to get a taste of america (which I've never
been too before). I'm not into theme parks, I'm more interested in
great scenary and real life america. I suppose a maximum loop of about
300 miles from an airport. Thats the actual length of journey not
distance in a straight line away from the airport. The holiday would
be for about 1 week to 10 days (probably 1 week though).

The holiday would basically consist of;

1) Arriving with naff bike;

2) Buying decent bike and disposing of naff one.

3) Touring for one week.

Not sure of when but thinking of somewhere roughly between febuary and
May.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Do cheap hotels/motels mind you taking the bike into your room (not
multistory accomendation)?

IME, no.

Excellent.

In message <[email hidden]>, Martin Wilson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can you get away with a bike you gave £5 for at the local tip?

Quoted message said:

Typically some old rubbish with steel wheels.

Do you really think your customs people are that gullible?

Quoted message said:

I have absolutely no idea how gullible customs are. I suppose I'm
thinking of the paperwork. Do they just write down the brand and model
on the paperwork or do they take down other details like a rough
description of gears or even weight. Maybe they just write down '1
bicycle'.

Do C&E take any note at all if you leave the country on holiday with a
bike?

I do know that C&E are pretty wise to people going abroad to buy stuff
and bring it back in.
--
Chris French, Leeds

If you evade paying tax the Health Service, schools, etc. will have just
slightly less money to patch you up when you are hit by a car, to educate
your children, and so on. Wouldn't it be better to pay the tax? I guess you
don't try to evade paying VAT on goods you buy here. Is there really a
difference if you are buying abroad?

Mark Burch

"Martin Wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What with the exchange rate nearing $2.00 and some amazing prices on
bikes being available across the pond and the occasional really cheap
airfares. I wonder if theres a faq anywhere for how to take an old
banger bike and bring back a shiny new one without being hit by
customs.

Which brand bikes are best value in the states?

Who are the best retailers for price?

If you are going to be cycling around before coming home which
retailer has the greatest number of shops so that any warranty work
before leaving the states can be done at different stores etc?

Do you need to select your bike before hand and paint up the banger
you take over roughly with the same brand and name as the one you are
going to buy?

Can you get away with a bike you gave £5 for at the local tip?
Typically some old rubbish with steel wheels.

Which brands lower the spec of their american bikes?

Plus of course what would be a good place to visit with regard great
scenary with fairly short travel distances and safety (low crime rate)
in the states?

Do cheap hotels/motels mind you taking the bike into your room (not
multistory accomendation)?

Anyone done this before and have a story to tell?

Martin Wilson said:

I have absolutely no idea how gullible customs are. I suppose I'm
thinking of the paperwork. Do they just write down the brand and model
on the paperwork or do they take down other details like a rough
description of gears or even weight. Maybe they just write down '1
bicycle'.

How gullible are you? They do their job day in day out. You are an
amateur smuggler. How good do you think you are?

FWIW its nothing to do with the paperwork. Its all to do with you
proving you the bike you are bringing in was bought in the EU or else
they had withold it, confiscate it or charge you a penal rate of tax.
Customs is one of the few places where you are guilty until you prove
yourself innocent.

They ought to do a customs version of that speed camera excuses list.
How many times do you think they've seen the "ride it and make it look a
bit used" subterfuge?

Tony

(who has brought many bikes back through the red channel and had some
interesting chats with the customs officers while doing so)

Martin Wilson said:

What with the exchange rate nearing $2.00 and some amazing prices on
bikes being available across the pond and the occasional really cheap
airfares. I wonder if theres a faq anywhere for how to take an old
banger bike and bring back a shiny new one without being hit by
customs.

They don't fall for that one if they stop you and its pretty hard to
hide a bike at the bottom of a suitcase.

Quoted message said:

Which brand bikes are best value in the states?

Who are the best retailers for price?

If you are going to be cycling around before coming home which
retailer has the greatest number of shops so that any warranty work
before leaving the states can be done at different stores etc?

My favourite is Supergo which has large shops in the LA/Orange County
region and good prices. Performance is a nationwide chain but much less
choice and a lot of own brand stuff. I've also had good results by
contacting the local bike shop for a particular bike I've wanted before
going out there and getting them to get the size, color and any upgrades
I wanted in ready for me to collect.

Quoted message said:

Do you need to select your bike before hand and paint up the banger
you take over roughly with the same brand and name as the one you are
going to buy?

Can you get away with a bike you gave £5 for at the local tip?
Typically some old rubbish with steel wheels.

Who's going to notice what you take out there? Please Mr Customs
Officer I want you to record my old scrap heap bike so I can bring it back?

Quoted message said:

Which brands lower the spec of their american bikes?

Lots of them. Many are not only different finishing kits, some are
different bikes altogether under the same name so do your research and
know what you are buying.

Quoted message said:

Plus of course what would be a good place to visit with regard great
scenary with fairly short travel distances and safety (low crime rate)
in the states?

Go for somewhere like Vermont where Sales tax is zero otherwise the shop
will add 5-10% to the price for local taxes. Vermont is nice cycling
country but not at this time of year.

Quoted message said:

Do cheap hotels/motels mind you taking the bike into your room (not
multistory accomendation)?

Anyone done this before and have a story to tell?

Quite often but always through the red channel and I've been both
impressed by their knowledge and access to information on bikes and
ability to check the invoice value is about right and amused by their
tales of people's amateur attempts to smuggle bikes in. As one said
"People seem to forget we do this job every day and have seen more
tricks than they can imagine"

Even so if you know what you are buying you can get some really goood
bargains out there even after paying tax and duty (c 35% in total).
Just make sure you are insured for it getting damaged by baggage handling.

Tony Raven said:

How gullible are you? They do their job day in day out. You are an
amateur smuggler. How good do you think you are?

Well, they've got you fooled anyway.

James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

in message <[email hidden]>, Martin Wilson

(') said:

What with the exchange rate nearing $2.00 and some amazing prices on
bikes being available across the pond and the occasional really cheap
airfares. I wonder if theres a faq anywhere for how to take an old
banger bike and bring back a shiny new one without being hit by
customs.

Well, the first bit of advice is, if planning a customs fraud, don't use
your real name when discussing it in a public forum.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

-- mens vacua in medio vacuo --

Martin Wilson said:

What with the exchange rate nearing $2.00 and some amazing prices on
bikes being available across the pond and the occasional really cheap
airfares. I wonder if theres a faq anywhere for how to take an old
banger bike and bring back a shiny new one without being hit by
customs.

I knew someone who was caught trying to smuggle a US purchased laptop into
the UK. It was not a pleasant experience and it cost him a lot of money.
If you consider that a laptop can go into hand luggage and is therefore
relatively inconspicuous a smuggled bike is much more likely to be spotted.

Also, I would think that a bike is of interest to Customs and Excise
because of the excellent opportunity to hide other things in the tubes. I
wonder how many bikes C&E dismantle?

--
Michael MacClancy

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Who's going to notice what you take out there? Please Mr Customs Officer
I want you to record my old scrap heap bike so I can bring it back?

So true. On the other hand, who is going to notice that an American coming
in with their new bike for a holiday, is not taking it with them when they
go back?

Rich

Michael MacClancy said:

Also, I would think that a bike is of interest to Customs and Excise
because of the excellent opportunity to hide other things in the tubes. I
wonder how many bikes C&E dismantle?

Boggle.

Our bikes have never been dismantled, and I've never heard of anyone
else getting this treatment either.

James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 09:49:51 +0000, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

How gullible are you? They do their job day in day out. You are an
amateur smuggler. How good do you think you are?

That's right, Customs and Excise staff do their job day in and day
out. And day in and day out thousands more smugglers get past them
than get caught.

Quoted message said:

FWIW its nothing to do with the paperwork. Its all to do with you
proving you the bike you are bringing in was bought in the EU or else
they had withold it, confiscate it or charge you a penal rate of tax.
Customs is one of the few places where you are guilty until you prove
yourself innocent.

This is not the issue. If you get stopped, and they twig the bike then
yes you are going to have to pay the duty. The important point is that
the odds of being stopped are very low, as long as you apply a little
forethought and common sense.

Quoted message said:

They ought to do a customs version of that speed camera excuses list.
How many times do you think they've seen the "ride it and make it look a
bit used" subterfuge?

Tony

(who has brought many bikes back through the red channel and had some
interesting chats with the customs officers while doing so)

I'm sure you've had some interesting chats with them. I bet they just
/love/ crowing about the times they put one over on someone trying to
save a few quid.

I'll also bet though they didn't remind you of the fact that at that
very instant there were almost certainly people cheerfully marching
through the green channel with suitcases full of contraband.

I've never been stopped when taking my bike through customs. When I've
travelled with others who have a bike with them, they haven't been
stopped either. I wonder what proportion of travellers with wheels get
pulled for an inspection?

Do some people get caught out trying to get a bike through without
having their wallet dipped? Undoubtedly. Do more get away with it than
get caught? I know what I think.

--

Call me "Bob"

"More oneness, less categories,
Open hearts, no strategies"

Email address is spam trapped, to reply directly remove the beverage.

Tony Raven said:

Martin Wilson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have absolutely no idea how gullible customs are. I suppose I'm
thinking of the paperwork. Do they just write down the brand and model
on the paperwork or do they take down other details like a rough
description of gears or even weight. Maybe they just write down '1
bicycle'.

Quoted message said:

How gullible are you? They do their job day in day out. You are an
amateur smuggler. How good do you think you are?

Exactly. Considering the cost of getting to the States and back, the
best thing to do would be to use a reputable firm of professional
smugglers and pay their fee.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

Mark Burch said:

If you evade paying tax the Health Service, schools, etc. will have just
slightly less money to patch you up when you are hit by a car, to educate
your children, and so on. Wouldn't it be better to pay the tax? I guess you
don't try to evade paying VAT on goods you buy here. Is there really a
difference if you are buying abroad?

ITYM there will be a bit less to fund the increase (650,000 extra
employees under this lot at the last count) in the civil service.

James Annan said:

Michael MacClancy said:

Also, I would think that a bike is of interest to Customs and Excise
because of the excellent opportunity to hide other things in the tubes. I
wonder how many bikes C&E dismantle?

Boggle.

What does this mean?

Quoted message said:

Our bikes have never been dismantled, and I've never heard of anyone
else getting this treatment either.

I'd never heard of anyone getting done for smuggling a laptop either. Just
because one hasn't heard of it happening it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

--
Michael MacClancy

James Annan said:

Tony Raven said:

How gullible are you? They do their job day in day out. You are an
amateur smuggler. How good do you think you are?

Quoted message said:

Well, they've got you fooled anyway.

Having been with a friend while they put him through the works for 3
hours I suspect not.

Tony

Michael MacClancy said:

Quoted message said:

Boggle.

What does this mean?

Bollocks.

--

Call me "Bob"

"More oneness, less categories,
Open hearts, no strategies"

Email address is spam trapped, to reply directly remove the beverage.

Richard Goodman said:

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Who's going to notice what you take out there? Please Mr Customs Officer
I want you to record my old scrap heap bike so I can bring it back?

So true. On the other hand, who is going to notice that an American coming
in with their new bike for a holiday, is not taking it with them when they
go back?

Rich

If you have an American passport which is just on a tourist basis I'm
sure you will be fine. However I suspect the OP does not.

I got given a fair grilling on the Canadian border bringing a bike I had
bought in Seattle into Canada to catch a flight home from Vancouver. I
had a British passport but I still ended up paying tax and duty which I
had to reclaim when I submitted the documents to show I had flown it out
to the UK. The reason was even though I could prove I was on holiday, I
could not persuade them I was not bringing it through for a Canadian friend.

Tony

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mark Burch said:

Is there really a
difference if you are buying abroad?

At a guess, the same difference that motivates most criminal behaviour:
"What are my chances of getting away with this?"

--
Nick Kew