HI

Anyone on Forums imported & bike from USA ?.....If so i like to know more details. eg importer, who done the Compliance & was there a problem?

Thanks

Gary

I'm bringing in an 09 Muscle at the moment. 'Chopa' is looking after it for me.

Double post....damned PC

double post

Thanks...yeah...been in touch with Wayne alot.....seems he provides a very good service.
Ironically...today I went to the bank to pay for the bike....but they were closed.
Just as I get there....a black 09 Vrod Muscle pulls up in front. First one I've seen. What a coincidence!

Yes i just had Wayne import a Harley for me.He's a OK bloke to do business with very helpful if you got questions.  It in Australia now, at complaince workshop. Hope to get it by mid Jan

Paid for the bke today...can't wait!

 Hey Gary, I see your post is pretty old but maybe this might save you and others a bunch of heartache.

Ive imported several bikes under my own steam. Sure Ive learned a thing or two along the way and coulda done things better in the begining but you live and learn hey. I got a bit busy on the last import and thought I would use someone in the import business and save myself some mucking around. BOY OH BOY, did I pick the wrong company..... Whatever you do guys, think really long and hard before involving a company called ALL AMERICAN IMPORTS. They are everything you want in a dodgy import company. They rarely (if ever) returned my calls or emails, they never kept me updated or informed about delivery progress, they failed to complete the VIA application (have ended up doing it myself anyway), the Sydney contact (Andrew) blames the U.S. contact (Mark) for any delays or problems and visa versa IF you can get hold of either of them that is.

The biggest piss off is that 13 months later, the bike is still sitting at the logistics depot in California and I'm still listening to them waffle on and finger point to everyone else except themselves.  During this time Ive actualy brought in another one myself (again..) without too much drama.

Craig Robb from Mainfeight Logistics in Carson California and his counterpart Trish at Mainfreight Brisbane have been a great help and hopefully will take over where the Turkeys from All American Imports dropped the ball. 

I'm just about done, chasing All American to supply me with a freeeeking Bill Of Sale (thats all they have to do and thats even too hard for them) and it may all end up in tears in front of a court yet.

So, be warned and beware. The big shiny internet advert. sometimes doesnt amount to diddly squat. If someone recomends you to an import company that seems to have a good rep., they probably are fairly good. Equaly, if you hear about drop kicks like I have mentioned, dont second guess. Take your business elsewhere.   Hope this helps

Thanks Panman

I too got _icked around by a guy in Melbourne who has since moved on or done the regular name change, but on a positive it gave me the opportunity to meet and deal with Craig Robb from Mainfreight in California. Could not recommend the guy any higher, answered his phone, returned emails and followed up that day on questions and answers. Will use again.

Why would people use companies that are overseas? Apart from your money leaving the country when there are perfectly good Aus companies with similar prices (Choppawezza on these forums, for instance) but if something goes wrong at least a person from Aus is easier to go after, legally or whatever.
And words of wisdom, never judge a company by what happens when things go right - find people who will recommend a company when the whole thing goes to shit.

 Good Info.  Rodtrain,

 I'm sure members will find helpful. Were all gonna choose for ourselves wether to import or not. Its always better to get first hand reports.

cheers 

 Hey Bonkerz, Nothing is aimed at you, in fact I totally agree that the more Aussie dollars we keep in Oz the better. And yes, there are some shifty Yanks who are prepared to make a buck from us Aussies and prepared to use the long distance relationship to screw us over.

However, Just considering the whole "motor cycle import " topic, there are several elements and ideals involved.

1. There is a lot of banter related to the "is it right to import or buy local" arguement that we could all go on about all day and all not agree one way or the other. I'm personally not interested in getting involved with that as I have made the decision to import several bikes and thats it.

2. Lets face it, once the decision is made to import, all we want for ourselves is to get our bike of choice to Australia at a fair price and by someone who is reliable and in reasonable time and all the headaches taken care of. (pay the money, get the bike, ride off into the sunset).

3. Its a jungle out there for the newby's and the un informed. How many posts do you see,- "I want to import a bike and dont know whats involved or who to trust ? ".  Zillions.      I'm no expert but feel obligated to fellow Austrailian riders/ potential invidual import buyers to offer my experiences (good and bad) to help make sure that they dont get ripped off and jerked around by shonks- Yanks or Aussies. (where dealing with used vehicle salemen after all) .  The only usefull information comes from those that have done it before. I'm sure you must agree that straight out names and facts provided by Rodtrain is very useable and probably gonna save someone from getting shafted by choosing an importer than has been chosen because they have a "shiny beads and mirrors" website. ( Ive noted down Rodtrains contacts for future reference,based on his own personal expierence).

4. Getting back to the Australian owned element. Several importers claim to be Australian owned but (being used vehicle salemen) in fact are set up by yanks with the proceeds flowing back to the good old U.S.A. (speaking from personal expierence). You might start off dealing with "Aussie Joe" but when the shit hits the fan it's " Sorry its up to our man in the U.S ."

 I think that the best research for those who have made the choice to import a bike is by taking note of those of us who have been there- done that and NOT those who stand to make a dollar from the whole process. I was once a "anyone who has imported a bike who can offer advise" man myself and always looked towards those with first hand knowledge.......Ironically, I still fucked up and chose the wrong mob anyway.......wisdom comes at a price. 

 

Nice work panman, and valid point to Rodtrain as I to was in the same position. The only way I could purchase the HD I wanted was to import, and funny enough I was very surprised to see the same used imported "pink sticker" bikes 10K dearer in our Australian retail shops....Why would you not import unless you want new?

For all you South Aussies : HD Down Under-family business can also highly recommend will arrange the whole thing, you pick the bike up and ride off.

Thanks toecutter0000,
The whole point is, were all talking and swapping names and details of reputable importers, shippers and freighters and identifying the rip offs. Many of the good ones ARE Australian based, owned and run. Its gotta be good for all of us.

 I too shared a similar experience using All American Imports.  Impossible to contact.  Never return your calls or emails.  I eventually got my bike but what a stressful experience.  I had to threaten to report the bike stolen to get some action. They still own me money but I consider myself luckily that I actually got my bike.  Mark and Andrew are equally hopeless. I actually spent approximately 1 month thinking I was scammed out of my bike. I didn't know who to call for help and was actually considering travelling to America at one stage to try to track my bike down.   Don't be fooled by the glossy web page.  These guys need to be shut down.   Hopefully that this posting helps to prevent someone using this company. 

 But wait HKwaic, the plot thickens,

Turns out these pair of shonks charged me an extra $2500 on top of what they quoted they had paid the seller, so they diddled me out of another $2500. Which is straight out pure FRAUD.

I reported them to Consumer Affairs in Aust. which led me knowhere as All American Imports is an American based company. So I reported them to Better Business Bureau in the U.S. which is the equivilant to Consumer Affairs. They chased these guys who refused to respond. I then tried to engage several U.S Dept. collectors/ lawyers without success. (I guess the yanks arent gonna chase one of thier own for some Aussie) . I also seriously considered flying over and having a "chat" just for my own piece of mind. I also asked Andrew why he continued to advertise his name and contact details on the internet. He responded by saying that Mark in the US had control over the web page (what a bunch of crap) and threatened to sick the jacks on to me.  If you google All American Imports you will see that they advertise via other Aust. directories where you can add your comments about thier business. Naturally I shared my story on as many of these directories as I could. If you go to All American Imports facebook page you can also add a comment. Naturally I added my story there too.

I reckon you should do the same. They wont meet me face to face and by the time I fly over there I'll be fairly angry. Failing that, just give them what they deserve via anywhere they advertise here in Aust. Hopefully they wont catch anyone else out. 

 

 

 Almost forgot HKwaic,

Trish from Mainfrieght in QLD sorted things out for me after these turkeys scammed me. Both her and Craig Robb from Mainfrieght in California are great people and true proffesionals if your stuck.