An Order For Tools From RDG Tools In The UK Shipped Directly To My House In Thailand

Model Engineers Tools RDG Tools Quotation 1

I have wanted a tool and cutter grinder for a long time to sharpen end mills and to make those small special turning tools we need for example to cut piston ring grooves. In Thailand this becomes more of a necessity because of the difficulty and expense of buying new cutters and drills every time one goes blunt. I found a tool and cutter grinder at a decent price on the RDG Tools website and decided to buy it. I thought if I’m shipping this to Thailand why not add a few other bits and pieces to the order and save shipping costs compared to say ordering separately maybe from another company.

This is a copy of the first quotation from RDG Tools:-

Ref	Qty	Description	Price	Total
2559	1	UNIVERSAL TOOL AND CUTTER GRINDER	612.50	612.50
6875902	1	DIAMOND DRESSER 10MM X45MM	8.29	8.29
12831	1	4 PC METRIC COUNTERSINKS	21.05	21.05
803	1	6″ JENNY CALIPERS	3.50	3.50
614	1	12″ WING DIVIDERS	12.95	12.95
92435821D1	1	4-3 MT HEADSTOCK REDUCER	9.13	9.13
1423	1	MICROMETER SET 0-150MM	53.75	53.75
6097345	1	HEAVY DUTY MAGNETIC BASE	20.42	20.42
435876	2	2-4-6 PRECISION BLOCKS	62.00	124.00
444789	1	METRIC MICROMETER BARREL 0-25MM	9.95	9.95
684581	1	STUARTS BLUE TUBE	4.88	4.88
12233A	2	3 MT BLANK END ARBOUR 1/2″ BSW	5.42	10.84
961	1	HSS DOVETAIL CUTTER 11T X 60	13.29	13.29
1907	1	0-100MM DEPTH MICROMETER	31.67	31.67
896908	1	UNIVERSAL BEVEL PROTRACTOR	32.91	32.91
		Sub Total		969.13
		Carriage		670
		VAT		0.00
		Total		1,639.13

So the carriage amounts to 69% of the value of the goods!

And there would be another cost to pay at the Thai Customs. In theory it should be 20% but in practice it’s often more.

Model Engineers Tools RDG Tools Quotation 2

Not wanting to pay such a huge carriage cost I remembered that my good friend and fellow model engineer in Pattayah had bought a similar tool and cutter grinder from All Arm Co in Bangkok. (Where I bought my lathe/milling machine from.)

A quick email and yes they had one in stock and the price was about the same as RDG price but obviously less the shipping costs.

So I struck that off the RDG Tools shopping list and added a few other bits and pieces. This is the revised quotation which I accepted and have paid for today. Delivery awaited with excitement.

Ref	Qty	Description	Price	Total
S96919	1	3 1/2″ LED VIDEO SCOPE	79.17	79.17
6875902	1	DIAMOND DRESSER 10MM X45MM	8.29	8.29
12831	1	4 PC METRIC COUNTERSINKS	21.05	21.05
803	1	6″ JENNY CALIPERS	3.50	3.50
614	1	12″ WING DIVIDERS	12.95	12.95
92435821D1	1	4-3 MT HEADSTOCK REDUCER	9.13	9.13
1423	1	MICROMETER SET 0-150MM	53.75	53.75
6097345	1	HEAVY DUTY MAGNETIC BASE	20.42	20.42
435876	2	2-4-6 PRECISION BLOCKS	62.00	124.00
444789	1	METRIC MICROMETER BARREL 0-25MM	9.95	9.95
684581	1	STUARTS BLUE TUBE	4.88	4.88
12233A	2	3 MT BLANK END ARBOUR 1/2″ BSW	5.42	10.84
961	1	HSS DOVETAIL CUTTER 1/2″ X 60	13.29	13.29
1907	1	0-100MM DEPTH MICROMETER	31.67	31.67
896908	1	UNIVERSAL BEVEL PROTRACTOR	32.91	32.91
551	2	SQUARE TOOL STEEL 5/16″ x 3″ LONG	2.50	5.00
553	2	SQUARE TOOL STEEL 1/4″ x 4″ LONG	2.92	5.84
		Sub Total		446.64
		Carriage		270.00
		VAT		0.00
		Total		716.64

In this case the carriage cost of 270 is 60% of the value of the goods.

I did ask for a 5% reduction in the cost of the goods using the RDG Tools Loyalty Card but this wasn’t granted me.

All the above prices in GBP (£) by the way.