Questions to ask yourself

Before you decide to buy a scooter from overseas, keep in mind a couple points

1) Are you comfortable buying something site unseen?

2) Scooters from Vietnam seem like a bargain. If you purchase one are you willing to spend additional dollars to fix any unforseen issues?

3) Would you trust the integrity of the scooter you import in or the shop who refurbished it  to take you down the road at a high speed?

Questions to ask the shop

1) What is the warranty on the scooter?

2) If there is a warranty issue, how is it handled? Do they require the parts back and who pays for shipping back to Vietnam?

3) Ask for references from customer who have purchased a similar scooter. Do not settle for just one. Ask for several names.

4) Has the frame been altered in any way or the frame been in an accident.

Contrary to what is stated on the scooter shop website or on ebay, shipping will not run you $300 - $400 dollars as most shops claim. Here is a shipping break down from Huy's Scooters on an earlier purchases. I was quoted $300 usd for shipping but when I was invoiced from the shipping company, here was my surprise.

Huy's claimed that $121 of the Ocean Freight Charge was crating the scooter which he communicated to me in an earlier email that crating was included in the shipping costs. Other shops I have dealt with do only charge $300 plus some misc. fees. If possible pay the shipping fee when the scooter is completed and then pay the shop but let them know you will not pay any additional freight fees besides the misc. doc fees. 

Next I had to deal with a Customs Broker to get the bike through U.S. Customs.

Estimated Duty                          $ 28.11

Broker Fee                               $113.00

Courier Service                          $ 15.00

Bond                                       $ 40.00

Total                                      $186.11

Then there was warehouse fees

Forklift Fee                               $ 35.00

Doc Fee                                   $  5.00

Fuel Fee                                  $ 10.00

Extra Handling Fee                    $120.00

 Total                                    $170.00

So when all is said and done, it cost me just shy of $1000.

This delivery was more expensive than usual for the following reasons.

1)      New shop that I was dealing with, Huy's, did not bill me upfront for shipping.

2)      The Shop used a more expensive shipper which cost me an extra $120.

Normally I pay closer to $800 but my point is that shipping is never $300 dollars

Alway plan on $600 to $1000 for Shipping and Fees