A few MS employees frequent MkI Miniforum.....a post there will get a quick response ( taking into account time diff. )

I just got off the phone with the nicest person at DHL payment center in Texas. I ask her if her feet were dry? Her answer was, yes first time in days. My shipment would have been over night if the center was not closed due to flooding yesterday. Steve (CTR)

Never had any issues with Mini Spares.  Responds to emails quickly, etc.  Never had any weirdness via DHL with customs other than Brokerage fees.  Only issue I ever had was with my MB Racing rims - where I had to fill out a form that wheels would be used only for racing purposes, etc. 

Something else that may be of interest in regards to customs. If your order total goes one cent over $2500. there are forms to be filed with Home land Security and the IRS and they will hold your order till filed. Steve (CTR)+

Edit: Got to love this, the DHL phone center is located in Texas and is off line. I have spoken with some very nice DHL people today just none at the call center. Steve (CTR)

I just received a package from MS with all my 8 port part's, over $800 and got it in 3 days with no further fee's or charges! My card was declined but I received an email and took care of it with my bank, seems to be a standard anti-fraud thing these days. this is all first hand Info unlike Tony's "Friend"......................I went through Rich at MS North. A VERY helpful guy..................

Correct Steve it is a broker fee and not double shipping charges as usual "specialist is WRONG AGAIN.

I checked my credit and debit cards before i left for the IMM event in Ireland this year as i had been charged for money conversion fees in the past along with lousy exchange rates and only one company did not charge the fee had a decent rate or need a detailed itinerary on where i would be using the card and that was Capitol One.

Some people should stand by their agreement and stay on their own thread. I also have found while I place my orders 12 o clock sunday night I call the 800 number on the back of my charge card monday morning and alert them to a up coming international charge. It may be a good idea to mention that there may be two charges in relationship to the order. First the parts are ordered and paid and sometimes there is a second for shipping charge after parts are pulled and packed. 

I have no problems with DHL their express 3 day is often over night to the east coast. The additional charge once on this side of the pond is a broker fee. If you keep your orders under $700. there is no broker fee. If you follow your tracking info once the order is landed at the US hub you can call DHL payment and arrange payment before a customs hold is placed on it. You will also notice your card company charges you a money conversion fee. 

As for whats going on at Mini Spares, I'm now on my 4th sales rep. My first one was promoted, it appears my second one retired, not sure what happened to number 3, just was handed off to number 4. The first three emailed back and forth like old friends, this one not so much. 
I place an order sunday night, it was entered into the system yesterday and changes were made and reported to me this am. I'd like to think I will be unpacking it here by the end of the week. Up against a holiday weekend it could be next week. Steve (CTR)

A good friend of mine ordered bunch of parts from MS ,  minispare charged him for tax and shipping, then parts arrived to the US customs and he got an email from DHL charging him another $60 before they deliver the package, BUT he was already charged by MS for shipping before hand, what is this??? A scam?? Did minispare forwarded the shipping payment to DHL or not???  Why are we being charged twice in shipping? Better to order parts in MM.
Gosh! And Since DHL knew that customer will pay whatever amount they want because customer is eager to get the package, instead of being sent back across the pond.  I was like WTH...(H= heck)

i think our resident english guy alex can shed light in why are US people being charged double on shipping.

Good idea. I'll try that next time. 

I have always received answers to my emails pretty quickly.  And the first couple times I ordered I had to go through the process, get email about overseas declined, call the bank and approve transaction, re-email Mini Spares confirmation is done.  Within a day I get a payment confirmation from MS and my parts get delivered within a week.


The last few times I have put an order in I called my bank first to open my card for overseas purchase, then put order in.  No problems at all.

rosebud.. best to pick up the phone and just CALL them..  the english NOT real good about answering email.. fyi. I have found that www.minisport.com is easier to work with than www.minispares.com .. later bc

Anyone else having trouble w/ getting Mini Spares to respond via email? I'm having a heck of a time getting them to respond. I ordered a high-dollar item a couple of weeks ago and got my order confirmed immediately. I then received an email from my bank wanting me to confirm the overseas charge, which I did. My bank said that it's standard procedure with overseas charges to confirm with the cardholder and that the seller (MiniSpares) would automatically resubmit the charge.