Question for Australian TBers - buying gear from OS

gjsven · #1 10-13-2007, 07:33 PM

G'day!

Not meaning to discriminate,

I thought I'd start a thread to see what other Australians' experiences have been like when buying gear from overseas. I've never bought anything over the AU$1000 threshold (before duty and GST kicks in) but am seriously considering making my next amp head purchase from Europe due to the ridiculous prices of gear in Australia and the limited variety of available brands.

My experience has been that buying gear from the US is MUCH easier than Europe (save for one very easy purchase from Holland of my Q-tuners

), however the 110V standard mains voltage in the US makes that just a little crazy for an amp (and I'm not really interested in adding a power converter to my rack)!

Has anyone else had any interesting experiences buying from overseas, or has any tips to consider for buying from Europe or dealing with duty and GST issues?

Cheers!

el_Kabong · #2 10-13-2007, 08:08 PM

It depends on exactly which amp you've got your eye on. Ampegs for instance have a universal transformer in them. It's just a matter of moving a few connectors internally and changing the fuse to get them to run on 240v. Some of the genz benz amps have a voltage switch on the back. My epifani preamp was like that too. So you may be able to buy conveniently from the US if you do your homework.

A9X · #3 10-14-2007, 12:16 AM

I've not imported MI electronics from EU, but I think the biggest obstacles will be language differences (in the US they at least speak Yanklish) and maybe the postal services or couriers doing things a bit differently than they do in the US. I've posted several times here about importing basses from the US, but it seems you have the basic jist of it.

I agree with the above about checking voltages. Maybe email the manufacturers and see what the options are regarding universal transformers. I think the situation in EU should be better than the US as I feel most EU manufacturers already have to deal with different mains voltages and possibly look more to world sales than the US, where a good manufacturer could make a living only having to deal with a single continent.

BTW, what are you thinking of buying? And where are you? I'd love to hear the Q Tuners.

bassbinge · #4 10-14-2007, 12:29 AM

another from further down under!
I have brought 2 amps and a cab from US, as gear in NZ is limited and prices extreme.One was an Eden amp which can have the voltage changed internally,the other a used iamp800 which has a switch on the back,both need the fuses changed for the voltage.
Reminder that shipping can be a fair whack up to $250US and then custom duty and gst once it gets there but can save you anything from a 1/2 to 3/4 of new price or comparable type amps!

deelybopper · #5 10-14-2007, 12:39 AM

Usually by the time you factor in the costs of shipping, insurance, import duties and taxes there will not be much difference in price for your typical (read heavy)bass head. Some of the new class-D amps like the GenzBenz neo-pac and the EAmicro300 can run on voltages from 100-240V and since they only weigh like 1KG they would be way less expensive to ship. The real deal killer is if Customs decides to jack you up for the import duty ...they don't always ...
I have had basses shipped from the USA ..its very expensive.

Alexander Eddy · #6 10-14-2007, 03:38 AM

Ive bought 4 guitars, and a few line 6 bass pods (pro XT nad live) from the states so I can offer some advice.

I recently had a custom bass built that was $3500AU and was insured for 3000US. I got the letter from customs saying a had to pay import duty, and that they wanted me to send an invoice so they could determine how much. I got talking with the customs guy and it turns out we both came from the same small town in rural NSW so he decided to help me out. ]

He said it was not at all unusual for things to be insured for a lot more than they were worth, and to basically forge a receipt saying that it cost me 800 bucks. I faxed the receipt that day and two days later the bass turned up with no import duties to be paid. The lesson is -
DONT GET AN INVOICE SENT WITH WHATEVER YOU ARE BUYING. If you really want an invoice, get it sent seperately in an envelope. Then when/if customs asks for one, send in your own.

Perhaps a little unethical, but it depends on where your morals stand.

Taalk with the crew at bassnw.com, they are very helpful. Ill soon be purhasing an ampeg svt2-pro from them and having an ampeg tech here in Australia change the voltage for me, bassnw even tracked down the repair shop here in Aus for me!

Alex

Vin_MM_Sabre_79 · #7 10-14-2007, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Eddy

...Taalk with the crew at bassnw.com, they are very helpful. Ill soon be purhasing an ampeg svt2-pro from them and having an ampeg tech here in Australia change the voltage for me, bassnw even tracked down the repair shop here in Aus for me!

Alex

Is that second-hand or new?
Man- that web site's pretty stinky!

el_Kabong · #8 10-14-2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deelybopper

Usually by the time you factor in the costs of shipping, insurance, import duties and taxes there will not be much difference in price for your typical (read heavy)bass head.

It depends on who you buy it from, freight charges can vary wildly. I airfreighted an svt-cl from music123 to Oz a couple of years ago, AU$2200 all up incl freight & taxes. They were around $4k+ street price here at the time. There aren't many heavier heads than an svt.

needmoney · #9 10-14-2007, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Eddy

He said it was not at all unusual for things to be insured for a lot more than they were worth, and to basically forge a receipt saying that it cost me 800 bucks. I faxed the receipt that day and two days later the bass turned up with no import duties to be paid. The lesson is -
DONT GET AN INVOICE SENT WITH WHATEVER YOU ARE BUYING. If you really want an invoice, get it sent seperately in an envelope. Then when/if customs asks for one, send in your own.

Perhaps a little unethical, but it depends on where your morals stand.

Yeah, that's kinda tax fraud. I wouldn't risk it.

Vin_MM_Sabre_79 · #10 10-14-2007, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_Kabong

It depends on who you buy it from, freight charges can vary wildly. I airfreighted an svt-cl from music123 to Oz a couple of years ago, AU$2200 all up incl freight & taxes. They were around $4k+ street price here at the time. There aren't many heavier heads than an svt.

Anything over the 70lb USPS barrier and you start getting into expensive UPS or FedEx territory.

slaerts · #11 10-14-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Eddy

Talk with the crew at bassnw.com, they are very helpful. Ill soon be purhasing an ampeg svt2-pro from them and having an ampeg tech here in Australia change the voltage for me, bassnw even tracked down the repair shop here in Aus for me!

Alex

And what would that repair shops details be?

Slain · #12 10-14-2007, 05:49 AM

Wooo Billy Hyde!!! Who doesn't love 'em?

A9X · #13 10-14-2007, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin_MM_Sabre_79

Anything over the 70lb USPS barrier and you start getting into expensive UPS or FedEx territory.

It's actually 20kg, or 44lb. OH&S rules.

A9X · #14 10-14-2007, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slain

Wooo Billy Hyde!!! Who doesn't love 'em?

Me.

Slain · #15 10-14-2007, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A9X

Me.

Really? I've never had a problem with them and I always buy from them. Nice people, usually give you a good deal.

basslyon · #16 10-14-2007, 06:19 AM

I've just ordered in a bass from os as well as nurmerous parts i have and it's been great. Hooray for the aussie dollar!!!

Meanwhile amps are tricky. I was gonna order in a GK Head. Firstly warranties tend to only be valid for the country of purchase. On top of that you're looking at approx 200-250USD for shipping and $1-200AUD for transformer replacements plus import duties on anything quoted over 1000AUD.

So for my GK 700rb head that i wass gonna get. it was $1300AUD in stores or $589.00 + $285.00 shipping from bass norwest (bassnw.com-good blokes there) = 874/.9 = $971....
...
...

Hey it got even cheaper since i look into 2 months ago when thae exchange rate was 80 cents!!

Hell if the warranty doesn't concern you, do it. There are some amps with voltage switches for 230V on them - just make sure you get one of those.

Do your numbers first cos Eden for example are fairly cheap here and about the same price. They quote their 2x15 cab for $979USD and i just got one for a $1000AUD. Sometimes you can do better deals here once you count the extra costs

A9X · #17 10-14-2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slain

Really?

Yes.

tripb19 · #18 10-14-2007, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slain

Really? I've never had a problem with them and I always buy from them. Nice people, usually give you a good deal.

What state are you in?

Not only are they killing all smaller businesses with their undercutting and brand exclusivity contracts, in their main Melbourne store I have been lied to by two sales people who failed to follow up promises they made to me, and the senior bass sales reps (R**** and R**) have serious attitude problems and will tell you anything to make a sale IME.

Slain · #19 10-14-2007, 07:06 AM

I'm in S.A and so far nearly every Billy Hyde staff member has been awesome to me, and I've been to every store. They have their screw ups sometimes, but who doesn't? And hey, if them sending me the wrong bass gets me a better one (Spector Euro), discounted by $1300, I'm happy

needmoney · #20 10-14-2007, 07:09 AM

The Billy Hyde's up here in Brisbane is full of ass-cheeks. I can't stand them.