Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Tazzy wrote:Thinking of making a substantial online order and wondering what's going on with Wiggle and c r c regarding their exchange rates on the Aussie Dollar.
My calculations on a 291 GBP order from each,
Wiggle $483 AUD
c r c $452 AUD
XE conversion rate (AT) 0.665 ponds for a dollar gives me $444

Apparently Wiggle automatically charge you in AUD but I'm still waiting on a reply from c r c as to wether it's an option or not.
My financial Institution will charge me around 3% surcharge on an internaqtional transaction regardless of the currency so I don't gain anything there but their exchange rates are accurate.
Paypal apply their surcharge in their exchange rates so that's a no win too.

Perhaps it may come down to who can provide the best and fastest service but 30 or 40 bux is 30 or 40 bux.

Edit - I'm not sure if CBA charge an international transaction fee if Paypal do the conversion so that may be the way to go. I've always selected that my bank performs the conversion when using paypal so wouldn't know.

I am pretty sure Wiggle are making a healthy markup on their currency conversions. If you buy from Wiggle even if they charge you in $AUD then you still pay the 3% credit card surcharge, so you get hit with the double whammy. IMO the best bet is to be charged in UK pounds and then pay with Paypal using either existing funds in your Paypal account or fund the transaction via direct debit from your bank account and avoid the 3%. The amount you get charged by Paypal will have an exchange rate conversion fee built in to it but it should still be less than the Wiggle amount in $AUD.

If you go with the Wiggle $AUD option that is exactly what you will pay (plus the 3% international transaction charge depending on your financial institution). The amount in $AUD that c r c, Ribble, Evans Cycles calculate on their website is only an estimate based on current exchange rates. The amount that you actually get charged in $AUD can be significantly different to what the online site estimates. I noticed in particular that c r c $AUD prices were not changing even when the exchange rate was fluctuating.

Good experience;
I wanted a pair of Quoc Pham shoes. The Quoc Pham site lists a number of online dealers. The asian sites all seemed very cludgy, barely functional so I bought them from a UK site, they emailed me - didn't have them in stock after all. Went to the next one Always Riding, price was fine, just the same as the first site I'd tried to buy from. Added to cart yadda yadda, once I'd registered with my .au address the dollar value of the purchase dropped about 10%. Imagine my surprise! Then it transpired that if I was happy with royal mail postage would be free. Couldn't help myself - I added a jersey - the whole lot was still about the same price as the shoes and postage from the first site I'd been to.
Ordered on Jun 1, despatched Jun 2 arrived here in Perth Jun 17 with a return bag and sticker in case something didn't fit. Great service
Rob

Comedian wrote:I don't doubt your sports nutritionist is right, but he/she may not be aware of all the issues that confront you on the bike.

Well I hope she has some knowledge given she does specialise in cyclists Oh and has worked with the British Olympic team at the Beijing Olympics, consults for Tennis Australia, hockey (not sure of the level) and does work for the AIS as well I believe, amongst other consultancies and private practice. Not sure if that means much but. Also she is helping me loose weight ... interesting then that she increased my consumption on rides or it seemed to me the time.

Andrew

Aushiker wrote:

Comedian wrote:I don't doubt your sports nutritionist is right, but he/she may not be aware of all the issues that confront you on the bike.

Well I hope she has some knowledge given she does specialise in cyclists Oh and has worked with the British Olympic team at the Beijing Olympics, consults for Tennis Australia, hockey (not sure of the level) and does work for the AIS as well I believe, amongst other consultancies and private practice. Not sure if that means much but. Also she is helping me loose weight ... interesting then that she increased my consumption on rides or it seemed to me the time.

Andrew

So what does she tell you to eat on the bike?

Its interesting that at competitive events they often only supply gels.

Comedian wrote:So what does she tell you to eat on the bike? Its interesting that at competitive events they often only supply gels.

Gels would be fine. In my case I have cereal bars (e.g., Mother Earth, Carmens, etc) but that is my personal preference. It is about consuming enough carbs per hour so in my case a bar plus what I drink is pretty well on the ball.

Andrew

marinmomma wrote:Maybe after this 'vent' the c r c parcel will turn up tomorrow

It worked!! Parcel arrived 13 day after they emailed us to say that it was dispatched...which meant we received it about 4 weeks after we ordered

c r c seem to be on the ball getting deliveries despatched. I just got a dispatched notification on an order I placed just before lunch today.

JV911 wrote:recent orders from UK a bit slow...pesky volcano slowing things down?

still waiting

I guess c r c use slower airplanes than the others it's been 12 days for the c r c order compared to the others only taking 7 I guess by my next postie day which is Friday it will be 2 weeks since I received order shipped email.

Maybe it's on the proverbial slow boat from china..........

Cheers

ozzymac wrote:I guess c r c use slower airplanes than the others it's been 12 days for the c r c order compared to the others only taking 7 I guess by my next postie day which is Friday it will be 2 weeks since I received order shipped email.

Maybe it's on the proverbial slow boat from china..........

Cheers

Customs maybe. I've only ordered once before from c r c and it took 8 working days from the despatch email. I think regular mail takes a little longer to leave the country after despatch.

My latest shipments:

- I placed an order from Evans Cycles on 10th June, shipped 15th June and hasn't arrived yet.
- PBK shipment arrived Tuesday this week (Ordered 1st June, Shipped 3rd June). 18 days to get to me in Sydney.
- Ordered a light from Bikewagon.com shipped via USPS on 10th June, hasn't arrived yet.
- Had a front light from Dealextreme never arrive after being shipped on 14th April 2011, got a chargeback via CC to recoup money.
- I have reordered the same light that DX never delivered from a seller on eBay in Hong Kong. Shipped 21st June.
- Also ordered a pair of Bib Tights from Amazon.com today. Interested to see how long they take.

It seems shipments are taking much longer these days. As such, does anyone know any shops that offer express postage (FedEx, DHL, UPS Express, Royal Mail Express? etc) as an option and are still reasonably priced?

Sometimes I'd be willing to pay the extra $30-40 to get my items in 2 days rather than wait 2-3 weeks. Impulse buying just isn't the same when you don't receive the goods promptly. EDIT: I see c r c offer DHL Express - anyone used this?

Not that I know for a fact, but would the Chilean Ash would have anything to do with some flights with packages?

lyno wrote:
I am pretty sure Wiggle are making a healthy markup on their currency conversions. If you buy from Wiggle even if they charge you in $AUD then you still pay the 3% credit card surcharge, so you get hit with the double whammy. IMO the best bet is to be charged in UK pounds and then pay with Paypal using either existing funds in your Paypal account or fund the transaction via direct debit from your bank account and avoid the 3%. The amount you get charged by Paypal will have an exchange rate conversion fee built in to it but it should still be less than the Wiggle amount in $AUD.

If you go with the Wiggle $AUD option that is exactly what you will pay (plus the 3% international transaction charge depending on your financial institution). The amount in $AUD that c r c, Ribble, Evans Cycles calculate on their website is only an estimate based on current exchange rates. The amount that you actually get charged in $AUD can be significantly different to what the online site estimates. I noticed in particular that c r c $AUD prices were not changing even when the exchange rate was fluctuating.

Regarding AUD or GBP purchases, I've found the best method to avoid fees (for me anyway) and get the best exchange rate was to get a 28 Degrees Mastercard and have any overseas shop charge in their local currency (either directly to the card or via Paypal).

This card has no international transaction fees and you get the XE rate at the time of the transaction so you get the best conversion rate and no fee (e.g. the ~3% that CBA or others charge). I use this through Paypal generally and get Paypal to charge it in the overseas currency which avoid's Paypal's horrible exchange rates.

l45er wrote:

lyno wrote:
I am pretty sure Wiggle are making a healthy markup on their currency conversions. If you buy from Wiggle even if they charge you in $AUD then you still pay the 3% credit card surcharge, so you get hit with the double whammy. IMO the best bet is to be charged in UK pounds and then pay with Paypal using either existing funds in your Paypal account or fund the transaction via direct debit from your bank account and avoid the 3%. The amount you get charged by Paypal will have an exchange rate conversion fee built in to it but it should still be less than the Wiggle amount in $AUD.

If you go with the Wiggle $AUD option that is exactly what you will pay (plus the 3% international transaction charge depending on your financial institution). The amount in $AUD that c r c, Ribble, Evans Cycles calculate on their website is only an estimate based on current exchange rates. The amount that you actually get charged in $AUD can be significantly different to what the online site estimates. I noticed in particular that c r c $AUD prices were not changing even when the exchange rate was fluctuating.

Regarding AUD or GBP purchases, I've found the best method to avoid fees (for me anyway) and get the best exchange rate was to get a 28 Degrees Mastercard and have any overseas shop charge in their local currency (either directly to the card or via Paypal).

This card has no international transaction fees and you get the XE rate at the time of the transaction so you get the best conversion rate and no fee (e.g. the ~3% that CBA or others charge). I use this through Paypal generally and get Paypal to charge it in the overseas currency which avoid's Paypal's horrible exchange rates.

It appears I was mistaken about CBA International Transaction surchages.
I made two transactions, one with Wiggle in AUD and the other with c r c in GBP, both using paypal. I had the bank convert the c r c transaction to AUD and that was the only transaction that incurred ~3% surcharge. It appears the surcharge is only on conversions, unless there's another pending fee.

Correct me if I am wrong but Ribble's estimated FX rate is crap. Example A is some 105 pedals:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... HIMPEDA845
The difference between AUD44.55 and GBP35.08 is a rate is 1.2699 (GBP/AUD) yet I see the exchange rate is currently 1.5282. It wouldn't be a nice surprise finding your pedals cost another A$10 plus any surcharges your CC or Paypal charge. I guess I work on the Paypal rate calculated off their GBP price and work on that.

JV911 wrote:

JV911 wrote:recent orders from UK a bit slow...pesky volcano slowing things down?

still waiting

arrived today

l45er wrote:My latest shipments:

- I placed an order from Evans Cycles on 10th June, shipped 15th June and hasn't arrived yet.

Arrived today - 12 days shipment to Sydney. First time ordering from Evans Cycles and would order again in future.

l45er wrote:

l45er wrote:My latest shipments:

- I placed an order from Evans Cycles on 10th June, shipped 15th June and hasn't arrived yet.

Arrived today - 12 days shipment to Sydney. First time ordering from Evans Cycles and would order again in future.

Hmm my order was despatched 11th June from Evans cycles, still waiting

Stay away from evans cycles at the moment... They are TERRIBLE!

1 recent order took 10days to process and dispatch!!

My most recent order was placed on the 13th June, and still hasn't been dispatched! I emailed a complaint, and received an email back apologizing, but they are busy!

I will post the emails shortly...

A very good experience with Cell Bikes on line. I ordered 2 continental gp4000s on Friday afternoon and they arrived at work on Monday morning.
I can't complain about that,
Peter

XClemX wrote:Not that I know for a fact, but would the Chilean Ash would have anything to do with some flights with packages?

i think you might be onto something

JV911 wrote:

XClemX wrote:Not that I know for a fact, but would the Chilean Ash would have anything to do with some flights with packages?

i think you might be onto something

How would the packages be taking a detour down to South America? With Fedex, it's usually a detour via the north Pacific (Hawaii).

TimW wrote:

l45er wrote:

l45er wrote:My latest shipments:

- I placed an order from Evans Cycles on 10th June, shipped 15th June and hasn't arrived yet.

Arrived today - 12 days shipment to Sydney. First time ordering from Evans Cycles and would order again in future.

Hmm my order was despatched 11th June from Evans cycles, still waiting

My new Road Saddle arrived today!!!!!!!!Happy Camper

l45er wrote:My latest shipments:

- Ordered a light from Bikewagon.com shipped via USPS on 10th June, hasn't arrived yet.
- I have reordered the same light that DX never delivered from a seller on eBay in Hong Kong. Shipped 21st June.

Both arrived yesterday (28/06).

Magicshine MJ-808e is BRIGHT - can't wait to test it at night. Also much smaller than I thought it would be.

Impressed with Bikewagon.com - ordered a Cateye light. Did take 18 days to get here but professionally packaged, postage only $8.99US and included a free Nike patch kit.

CommuRider wrote:How would the packages be taking a detour down to South America? With Fedex, it's usually a detour via the north Pacific (Hawaii).

yes but the ash cloud has difted clear across the southern hemisphere and flights have been cancelled

there is a cool graphic at the bottomg of this link http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/chil ... 6073731601