how does shipping from america to england save money?

Davebass · #1 01-03-2007, 01:55 PM

i was just wondering if i as to order a bass from america and to me in england how would i save money? because im taking that shipping may cost the difference (if not more) between the cheap american guitar and the costy english one? and then when it gets to customs will that effect the over all price even more?

so how can buying abroad save money?

Dave

tzadik · #2 01-03-2007, 04:55 PM

Depends what you want to get... but seems to me that instruments over here are much, much cheaper than over there. You'd have to talk to shipping companies about their rates though.

velvetkevorkian · #3 01-03-2007, 04:58 PM

Sometimes it can pay off pretty handsomely, but it depends on what you're buying. Some basses are far far cheaper in the US than they are here.
For example, you can get a used Stingray for $900 or thereabouts in the US- that same bass would likely cost you £900 in the UK. So even if you factor in $300 for shipping and another 20% in customs fees, some back of the envelope calculations make that about £750- thus saving £150. Possibly more.

This is particularly applicable while the dollar is so weak (so £1 buys a lot more than $1).

CamMcIntyre · #4 01-03-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velvetkevorkian

This is particularly applicable while the dollar is so weak (so £1 buys a lot more than $1).

This is the reason why The New Standard Basses [yeah-i double] price fluctuates a bit.

velvetkevorkian · #5 01-03-2007, 06:08 PM

Cos they get a lot of materials from Europe, I take it? They do look like lovely basses, I actually considered getting one imported a while back.

You can see it in other items as well, for example I believe East preamps (UK made) are a good bit more expensive in the states than US made brands.

Skel · #6 01-03-2007, 06:30 PM

You might consider finding a nice used whatever it is you want on eBay, from a small time seller who will do the special shipping stuff to save you money. Meaning, I once sold a bass to a guy in England and he had me fill out a USPS form blah blah, say it was a gift, declare the value as $25.00, etc. I have no idea what happens over there, but I did this for him, as it only took 10 minutes or so. He knew all the stuff to do, so he walked me through it. PM me if you want a copy of his e-mail to me.

Jazz Ad · #7 01-03-2007, 06:39 PM

Black Stingray, maple fretboard.
US price us$1,169.99 (MF)
UK price GBP 1,116.22 = us$ 2,178.35 (Thomann)

See what I mean ?

velvetkevorkian · #8 01-03-2007, 08:16 PM

Exactly. So even with $300 shipping (I was quoted $270 earlier this week), 17.5% VAT and 3.9% import duty you still work out cheaper.

Bruce Lindfield · #9 01-04-2007, 03:07 AM

But you have the risk that it will be damaged in shipping - I have seen some postal depots - where Parcels just end up going down chutes and landing on each other, piling up and getting smashed together!!

So - what happens if you end up with a damaged bass - who pays ? Will you have to send it back to the US and pay shipping again and then how will you get it back?

Personally I'd always rather pay £100-150 more and walk out of the shop with the bass , knowing that's it exactly what I want and having tried it extensively!

Rather than having all the hassle and possible disappointment of getting a damaged bass or one that is slightly different to what you expected etc etc...

Mark Latimour · #10 01-04-2007, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

But you have the risk that it will be damaged in shipping - I have seen some postal depots - where Parcels just end up going down chutes and landing on each other, piling up and getting smashed together!!

So - what happens if you end up with a damaged bass - who pays ? Will you have to send it back to the US and pay shipping again and then how will you get it back?

Personally I'd always rather pay £100-150 more and walk out of the shop with the bass , knowing that's it exactly what I want and having tried it extensively!

Rather than having all the hassle and possible disappointment of getting a damaged bass or one that is slightly different to what you expected etc etc...

I agree in most cases, but there are also times when you just cannot get what you want - (like when I was in Australia - certain basses just wern't available). Likewise, I have just ordered an MTD USA. Try walking into a guitar store in the UK and picking one of those up!

Bruce Lindfield · #11 01-04-2007, 03:58 AM

I walked into a store in the UK and bought a pre-Gibson Tobias Classic V !!

Davebass · #12 01-04-2007, 04:04 AM

ah cool thats great, im going over to the states in the summer like what would you guys advise on taking the guitar back on the plane with you? ill obviosly put it in a hard case and wrap it up lots.

Bruce Lindfield · #13 01-04-2007, 04:09 AM

There's no way they'll let you check a bass guitar on with you - given the current security situation - so it'll have to go in the cargo hold and get bumped around with all the suitcases.

You'd need a proper flight case!

Mark Latimour · #14 01-04-2007, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I walked into a store in the UK and bought a pre-Gibson Tobias Classic V !!

Hardly a brand new MTD spec'd to what you want (vs what some other guy wanted x years ago) - but a good find nevertheless!

Bruce Lindfield · #15 01-04-2007, 04:59 AM

Well - we have good bass makers here as well - so Martin Petersen at the Gallery will make a bass to your specs and his basses are very reasonable!

It's great to actually go and see them being made and all the work in progress - the smell alone is worth going for!!

http://www.thebassgallery.com/index2.html

http://www.seibass.com/

Mark Latimour · #16 01-04-2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Well - we have good bass makers here as well - so Martin Petersen at the Gallery will make a bass to your specs and his basses are very reasonable!

It's great to actually go and see them being made and all the work in progress - the smell alone is worth going for!!

http://www.thebassgallery.com/index2.html

http://www.seibass.com/

Oh I don't doubt that you can buy an excellent custom bass in London. I have a Hotwire 4 string made in Germany that is exceptional. I also have an Australian custom made 6 which is equally amazing - but the reality is if you want an MTD, Sadowsky USA, Fodera etc, it is still much cheaper to order one from the USA that to get one from a shop in the UK. As an example look at the cost of the used MTD fretless at the Gallery. You could buy a new one, shipped with taxes from the USA for not a lot more than that - and on a basic model - less!

Bruce Lindfield · #17 01-04-2007, 05:18 AM

But then - if it's damaged in transit - what would you do....

?

Mark Latimour · #18 01-04-2007, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

But then - if it's damaged in transit - what would you do....

?

Well, fully insured transit with a courier is of course essential. But that's fairly low risk as I have shipped many basses and never had one damaged.

Nick Bassman · #19 01-04-2007, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Well, fully insured transit with a courier is of course essential. But that's fairly low risk as I have shipped many basses and never had one damaged.

My experience is very similar to yours, never had a bass damaged in transit. More likely Bruce's beef is that his beloved interest free credit isn't available on overseas transactions

Bruce Lindfield · #20 01-04-2007, 07:04 AM

No seriously - I have watched international parcels hurtling down chutes and being smashed at the bottom - I was also involved in a few compensation claims that put me off for life!!