What Sort of DreamBox Shipping Costs Are People Incurring?
- Thread starter Kengar
- Start date
michaelrc51
Member
ArmanS
Active member
I just paid my final invoice and the shipping cost wasn't too bad at 600 Euros to LAX but now I have to deal with the customs and what not and the person I spoke with said this could easily cost over $500 in fees.
Can any of you who have received their dreambox already tell me how much you had to pay for customs / importing it?
Thanks!
Can any of you who have received their dreambox already tell me how much you had to pay for customs / importing it?
Thanks!
slief
RC Sponsor
I'd be really surprised if customs costs anywhere near that much. Did you check with CBP in Los Angeles?
ArmanS
Active member
What is CBF? I have a client who is a custom broker and he is looking into it for me. The charge alone for the company RE used is $260. He said it will easily be over $500. I'll keep you updated.
slief
RC Sponsor
I was talking about customs but from the sounds of it, you are talking about the import processing and freight broker fees? If so, most people handle their own import when picking up at the airport. Customs is really helpful about that stuff and will literally walk you through the process. Do let me know what you find out and feel free to email me.
michaelrc51
Member
My fees were around $100. I think the broker fee was $55 and then a $45 fee on pick up at freight place.
Why? It's an acrylic box that any good fabricator could build...why is this worth that kind of money?
slief
RC Sponsor
Actually, they aren't acrylic. They are constructed out of a very high grade PVC that you can't even get in the states. Even the clear viewing panes are a very special transparent PVC and not acrylic. Every piece is CNC cut before assembly. All seams are welded using a special PVC welding tool and isn't something commonly practiced here in the states because of the skill required to weld PVC. Unlike an acrylic sump, these will never deflect, craze, crack etc and will last indefinitely. They are really unlike no other sump. They also include custom lids that are CNC cut for the specific skimmers. The available options on these sumps are not found on any other sump that I have seen whether it's the lighting, wire management, controller mounts, integrated reactors with integrated manifolds, filter sock silencers etc. A custom sump of similar design made out of acrylic would cost nearly as much if not more. In fact, I spent more on my custom sumps than a Dreambox would have cost me but I also couldn't have fit a Dreambox below my system as my sumps needed to go in in two pieces to fit through the doors. If you compare costs on a similar custom sump, you might be surprised at how reasonable a Dreambox is and like I said, these aren't just an acrylic box. They are truly furniture grade and by far one of the nicest sumps in terms of quality, craftsmanship and design that I have ever seen. If you happen to be attending MACNA this year, swing by the Royal Exclusiv booth. We will have one there! trust me when I tell you, if you see one in person, I suspect your feelings might change. Then again these aren't for everybody. The people that buy Dreamboxes are the type of people that are taking a no expense approach to their display and equipment and are people who want the underside of their display to look as nice as the display itself. Many Dreambox customs display their sump instead of enclosing below the stand because they really are works of art and not "just a sump".
That said, how's your tank doing? I hope it's as beautiful as ever! You need to do an updated thread on your tank or at least post a current video! It is or at least was a sight to see!
Last edited:
vhuang168
New member
If you asking then you haven't taken a good close up look at 1. If you ask for a quote for custom acrylic version of a Dreambox, then you'll be in for sticker shock.
I backed out of a Dreambox because I couldn't bring myself to pay close to $1k for shipping. Went with a very nice production acrylic sump but by the time I added the skimmer n return, I'm close to the price for a decked out Dreambox.
When they are available in the US, I'll revisit getting myself 1.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ArmanS
Active member
Did you not have to pay any import fees / customs? The broker wants a $260 fee, I will know of the final amount later today or tomorrow. Apparently, my dream box already landed, it's only been about 4-5 days since I paid the final invoice. That is extremely fast!
I just hope I am not stuck with any large fees. I will keep you all posted!
michaelrc51
Member
What Sort of DreamBox Shipping Costs Are People Incurring?
Nope. I think it was just the $55. I'll check my records but I am sure it was under $150 total for everything needed to pick it up.
I was skeptical as well but everything worked out well.
My biggest complaint was the storage fee of $50 a day and the fact that I had only 2 days to pick it up before that started.
Nope. I think it was just the $55. I'll check my records but I am sure it was under $150 total for everything needed to pick it up.
I was skeptical as well but everything worked out well.
My biggest complaint was the storage fee of $50 a day and the fact that I had only 2 days to pick it up before that started.
michaelrc51
Member
This is exactly what I found.
The cost seems astronomical at first but once you add in everything the cost of the actual sump is probably less than what a custom acrylic sump built here in the US would cost.
And then there is the fact that it is made of PVC and no chance of ever leaking. Also, after 10 years you clean it up and it will look like it did the day you got it. So, value won't drop on it, if you decide to sell it you won't sell it for much less than what you paid.
Oh yeah, they work flawlessly and you don't have to worry about anything......you plumb your tank to it and your basically done.
michaelrc51
Member
I'll post some pics up of mine.
They really are that well thought out.
Price all of your stuff out and get a quote for a sump, I will bet you will be at the same mark as a Dreambox. It is just sticker shock really but when you add up everything I bet you'll spend more if you have someone build a custom sump for you and add up the costs of everything.
Word to the wise. Never, never, NEVER keep records in this game....... spouses find them.....
Re the costs, I had gotten a quote from acrylic mfr in CA to have a sump built, but they just wanted to do one row of two, 7-inch socks. It was to be 4.5' long and maybe 20" wide. Cost, shipped, was to be $1750. Water input was to be at the end of the tank instead of the side as per DB; I wanted that changed to fit my arrangement better, but the acrylic co. was reluctant to do that. At that point, given that I was "in the neighborhood" pricewise already, I decided to look into DB, particularly with the enhanced level of mechanical filtration. (I work from home across from where the tank is to be set up, so will have frequent occasion to go into the fish room and clean the socks...... given all the other automation, this chore won't be so annoying.) With shipping to Dulles International Airport (which, given the answers on this thread, I suspect is one of the cheapest entry airport), I'm looking at only a few hundred more dollars for a DB, with its various other benefits. (And who knows, if Brexit sends the Euro down and with off-summer air freight costs, who knows, maybe I will get it for the same final cost in the long-run!)
michaelrc51
Member
LOL
I didn't even tell her about the DB coming and threw it on her the day before we picked it up. I didn't tell her what I paid and honestly she didn't really want to know.
That final payment couldn't have come at a worst time, we went under contract for a new house the week before.
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