Motocard – reliable retailer or not?

Motocard – reliable retailer or not?

Author
Discussion

Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,721 posts

69 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
quotequote all
What’s Motocard like? Have you ever used them?

TrustPilot reviews seem mixed—almost 70% are five-star, but over 10% of reviews are one-star.

anonymous-user

69 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
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They're ok until something goes wrong. You won't want to deal with them for warranties or returns. Probably better off paying the extra to buy in the UK smile

Vantagemech..

5,733 posts

230 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
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Bought a cheap helmet from them, turned up after 10 days only to be too small. Asked if it could be swapped for a larger size to which I was told its £30+ to return the one you have now. Thus the savings over a UK purchase lost. My missus tried it on and thankfully it fitted her so not a total loss. Subsequently bought a completely different lid at 3 times the cost from another supplier. As said, all good till a return is required -but they were very quick replying to the emails so not difficult to deal with.

DFNorfolk

41 posts

83 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
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I’ve bought a couple of things from them and got slightly caught out on having to pay VAT on a helmet, which is VAT free, but the shipping company sorted that part for me whilst Motocard washed their hands of it.

To be fair they do say something on their website about them not being responsible for those sort of taxes but wouldn’t use them again because of their lack of interest in helping to sort.

Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,721 posts

69 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
quotequote all
Thanks – very helpful. Do you think Motardinn is any better? Or worse?

Some products aren’t available from UK retailers, so buying from overseas can be the only option.

lazybike

995 posts

106 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
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used them a few times for helmets always been good.

DFNorfolk

41 posts

83 months

Sunday 19th May 2024
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You got me looking again as their prices are good and just got this pop up on their site:



So should resolve some of the downsides of buying from them.

moanthebairns

18,432 posts

213 months

Monday 20th May 2024
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I've bought from them before but with the added VAT it's just not worth the punt anymore. If its under I believe £135 its VAT exempt, but I know places like FC MOTO now have a minimum order of £135 for the UK so you can't avoid it.

lazybike

995 posts

106 months

Monday 20th May 2024
quotequote all
There's no VAT on safety equipment

GSA_fattie

2,314 posts

236 months

Monday 20th May 2024
quotequote all
Salted_Peanut said:
Thanks – very helpful. Do you think Motardinn is any better? Or worse?

Some products aren’t available from UK retailers, so buying from overseas can be the only option.
used Motardinn for clothing whcih was no longer avibale in GB fine much cheaper

also used Snowinn for ski stuff when one of the kids went skiing again no issues

Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,721 posts

69 months

Wednesday 5th June 2024
quotequote all
Vantagemech.. said:
all good till a return is required
I'm about to find out what the returns process is like. Wish me luck!

lazybike said:
There's no VAT on safety equipment
Aren’t helmets the only motorcycle PPE that’s zero-rated for VAT?

HughiusMaximus

725 posts

141 months

Wednesday 5th June 2024
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Salted_Peanut said:
Aren’t helmets the only motorcycle PPE that’s zero-rated for VAT?
Dont think so - I have bought multiple non Arai helmets from Chromeburner (NL?) and never paid VAT

lazybike

995 posts

106 months

Wednesday 5th June 2024
quotequote all
No vat on safety equipment, so helmets are vat free, I still don't get how European retailers can do them so much cheaper and still make a profit.

Salted_Peanut

Original Poster:

1,721 posts

69 months

Wednesday 5th June 2024
quotequote all
We pay VAT for motorcycle safety equipment except helmets. Hence, IAM Roadsmart’s campaign for airbag vests to become VAT-exempt.

Motorcycle helmets are zero-rated for VAT, not VAT-exempt. The difference probably matters if you sell helmets.

gareth_r

6,229 posts

252 months

Wednesday 5th June 2024
quotequote all
moanthebairns said:
I've bought from them before but with the added VAT it's just not worth the punt anymore. If its under I believe £135 its VAT exempt, but I know places like FC MOTO now have a minimum order of £135 for the UK so you can't avoid it.
£135 is the duty threshold, so no import duty under £135, but you pay VAT to the vendor or the platform (eBay, Amazon, Ali Express etc.) and they send it to HMRC.

Above £135 the duty and VAT is collected by UK Customs. FC Moto evidently do not want to be registered for VAT with HMRC.

Rubin215

4,163 posts

171 months

Thursday 29th May
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Resurrecting this thread from last year, I have just ordered a Schuberth C5 helmet from Motocard, £100 less than any UK supplier who has my size and colour available.

Let's see how long it takes to arrive though...

hehe

Farky

919 posts

219 months

Tuesday 10th June
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Has it arrived yet??
Im thinking of buying a Akrapovic Carbon heatshield for the exhaust & its estimating next week for delivery?

Rubin215

4,163 posts

171 months

Tuesday 10th June
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Farky said:
Has it arrived yet??
Im thinking of buying a Akrapovic Carbon heatshield for the exhaust & its estimating next week for delivery?
Still waiting, I've actually already emailed them about it because a week after ordering the tracking showed as still waiting to be collected.

On the plus side, it now shows as being at my local DPD depot, I'll let you know when/if it arrives.

Farky

919 posts

219 months

Tuesday 10th June
quotequote all
Rubin215 said:
Still waiting, I've actually already emailed them about it because a week after ordering the tracking showed as still waiting to be collected.

On the plus side, it now shows as being at my local DPD depot, I'll let you know when/if it arrives.
Thanks for the info, i guess the Akro part will go into a small box/jiffy so hopefully a quicker Delivery schedule