-_RebelRidin'_-

Germany is going to make it impossible for me to get anything done myself...

Out of 3 bike shops.... none of them sell tools.

Online, is murder because exchange rate and shipping costs, and american sites have a 70 something S/H rate.

I guess it's down to.... how bad do I want the tools...... what are they worth to me..



Sigh!

kramnnim

Time to make friends with other cyclists who already have the tools!

Aren't there any online retailers based in Germany? I have a friend in Finland who has talked about ordering stuff for cheap from a German company...

victim

Did you try "Chain Reaction Cycles"?

-_RebelRidin'_-

Yes, I've tried a lot of the online stores, they either don't have what I was looking for when I checked, or the shipping rates or currency conversion rates were outrageous.


I've gone round and hunted for other bikers, I found my Gym coach is a biker, So I'm going to see if he owns a crank puller and such, I can borrow..
to my disappointment, mountain biking isn't as poplar as I thought it would be among the Kids here.



EDIT:
I've checked chainreaction again, and what I want is in stock...
Ill have to check the shipping rates, and if they ship to APO boxes

junkyard

If you haven't already, give this a shot. I believe they are located in the UK. Not Germany, but at least a little closer than US retailers.

https://www.probikekit.com/index.php


P.S. You can also change the country on the site so it will price in the local currency.

Cyclist30907654

Self-sufficiency is a virtue. Stop cheeto-ing yourself.

go to https://translate.google.com

the phrase "bike components" translates to "Fahrrad-Komponenten"

I search for the phrase in www.google.de

The first freaking result looks like a bike parts dealer.

https://www.bruegelmann-shop.de/shop/suche.php4?hwgr=60

EDIT: AND WHAT IS THIS? COULD IT BE? TOOLS?!?!

https://74.125.127.132/translate_c?hl...VCmuG4djFu-hoQ

mtnbiker66

BenLi, coming to the aid of Chee...........The Rebel.

santiago

Cheetoh reminds me of a toddler that needs to be spoon-fed.

DesnaePhoto

APO Box. Means you are stationed there. Correct? Ahhh, lots of options for you then. Remember, APO stuff remains in US control, not through the local country postal service. (Censorship is another matter, however)

First, you can get a refund on the extra taxes. PITA, but is possible.

Second, most places will ship to APO. Especially in this current climate of support the troops.

Third, do you have family still here in the states? Have them buy and ship them.

Lastly, you can make a visit to France or England and get the tools.

-_RebelRidin'_-

hey benli...
I appreciate your effort to help,
I was un-aware that google would translate a whole page like that, as I never really done it before.

I knew how to say tools in German, that's what I typed in the search on my two LBS' which don't list tools on their page for sale

Yes, We're stationed here Desnae, but believe it or not, I have found a few sites already that wont ship to me. I have family, but I still have to pay for it to be shipped to them, and then pay them back for shipping it to me...... my family... doesn't believe in "free favors"
In fact, my Uncle who'd I be shipping it to, would probably charge me interest.

That's a long drive for tools, and we don't have international licenses yet, but it would be a very scenic, cultural drive =)

I checked with Chain Reaction Cycles, nothing says whether they'll ship to me or not; So I e-mailed them to check, they have what I need.... at a... *reasonable* USD conversion rate.
Shipping is also extremely reasonable, only 16.06 USD.
the total for my purchase is like 46. something pounds, which is almost 70 USD if I remember what it said correctly.

Yea, the tax exemption is great, we have VAT forms to exclude us from the 18% tax over here...
It's quite unique.


Only issue with that website is, it doesn't list prices in American dollar, so I don't know what conversion rate they are using (each place over here is different.... ill go from one place to another, one is .69 cents, another will be .75 cents to a Euro..)
So I don't know how much american I am paying.


Edit: after narrowing search results on that site, its back to German.



But, I wont ask anymore questions here, as I can get very few, un flammed answers.


-If ya aint got nothing helpfull to say, save on bandwidth, don't post.



You also have to be careful here, cause a lot of shops and stores do "under the table" business.

We took our BMW to get it's window clip fixed and the guy was very abrupt with "50.00 euros, CASH" no reciepts.

junkyard

I tried to be nice. Apparently it was ignored.

-_RebelRidin'_-

Ignored no, I actually overlooked your post,

I went back up after seing this one, and saw that you posted this link, My apologies.


With the sales prices your site beats chain's prices on some things
the shipping costs will determine..
and if they ship APO or not.

Thanks,
again sorry for overlooking

mx_599

i think the site has a us dollars button to click

mx

-_RebelRidin'_-

Indeed they do, But for somereason Fire Fox didnt like that button and it wasn't working (happend to me on another site as well)

So I'm using IE and it works...

Complicates things and makes me look dumb when computer wont cooperate.

dminor 

Oh, shoot; I think this is where I would normally say something but it's just too dang wide-open easy. Someone else can have it . . . .

ed 

Not "it".

-_RebelRidin'_-

Thanks guys...

-_-


Im off to go make sure people dont drown, soon.

craigcraigcraig

hopefully the drowning people cooperate so you don't look dumb.

-_RebelRidin'_-

Since my job is to prevent, then rescue, lets hope no one starts to drown.

but hahaha..... If you don't believe me, try it...Firefox wouldnt let me click on the flag, IE did.

Happens on this other site as well.
and if it does work, then my firefox is either jacked up or out of date.

This has gone exhausting.

Anyone else could make a thread about this, or troubles they have, but I seem to always be at the end of everyones rifle....

Jameson

I buy a few items from Ireland on a semi regular basis and it seems that the Euro (pound too when I have to shop in the North) is harder on my wallet than I'd like. If your buying with Euros I expect the prices will be cheaper than listed after the weaker dollar is converted to the stronger Euro. It will in fact be a reverse screwing in your favor on the conversion. Unless I miss something. Also there are many conversion sites online that allow plugging in the numbers and clicking for current conversion.

dminor 

All of this has led me to wonder about something much more basic than APOs, FPOs, shipping costs, exchange rates and such. To wit: how much specialized bicycle tools do you think you need to work on a bike, there, young cheeto?

santiago

Don't derail his woe-unto-me thread with logic.

craigcraigcraig

no one is after you rebel, every thread is like this. If all we did was post helpful information it would be mind numbing. set or wrenches, allen keys, screw drivers and hammer can take almost everything on a bike apart. just have to be gentle.

-_RebelRidin'_-

dont see that working for cassettes or BB's

junkyard

While I understand and respect your inclination to maintain and repair your bike yourself, here is a separate idea. While you are in the process of tracking down tools, why not bring your bike to the LBS and have them do the work this time. That way, if it takes you 4 months to find a reasonably priced set of tools, at least you will be able to spend some time on your bike.