Exporting basses?

carver87 · #1 12-13-2010, 05:57 AM

I've been trying to some basses from the US, but it seems like there are very few persons willing to ship basses outside of the US. I'm living in Norway.
Why is this so? Are people afraid of being scammed? I mean, paypal and such services are safe, aren't they? Or are there other reasons?

BASSATTACK · #2 12-13-2010, 06:01 AM

Wood + varying degrees of humidity and potentially huge weather changes + long, bumpy journey = recipe for disaster. couple that with return clauses, and all the risk is on the seller. additionally, filling out those customs forms can be a pain in the ass, long delays can occur at customs, and shipping across the world can be a colossal expense.

BASSATTACK · #3 12-13-2010, 06:02 AM

And yes, there is always the risk of scam. Especially since PayPal tends to lean towards the buyer in dispute resolutions.

pedroims · #4 12-13-2010, 06:46 AM

IME, I have shipped several basses overseas, process is the same with the exception I need to fill a form, this is one extra minute job. Sometimes buyer request the bass to be shipped with the neck detached to save money on shipping, in this case I charge $25 extra for labor and to buy bubble wrap. So far no problem with bass getting damaged on shipping or payments being cleared.

carver87 · #5 12-13-2010, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedroims

IME, I have shipped several basses overseas, process is the same with the exception I need to fill a form, this is one extra minute job. Sometimes buyer request the bass to be shipped with the neck detached to save money on shipping, in this case I charge $25 extra for labor and to buy bubble wrap. So far no problem with bass getting damaged on shipping or payments being cleared.

ok, this didn't sound that bad.
who did you use for shipment? and do you remember how much the shipping costs was?

I REALLY want to get me a MM Stingray from USA, they are insanely expensive in Norway and IMO hard to find used.

P-punk · #6 12-13-2010, 06:55 AM

Carver87 - I've sent you a PM.

Stinsok · #7 12-13-2010, 06:58 AM

I shipped a custom made Telecaster to Norway with no problems.

pedroims · #8 12-13-2010, 07:07 AM

shipping to Europe generally goes from $60 to $120 by USPS, depending if bass is shipped in a case or in a smaller box with neck deattached, I shipped a stingray to Netherland couple of years ago, bass was shipped in the original case, it cost around $120. FEDEX and USP is around250-300 usd. Too bad I dont have a stingray at this moment

...

bassic_camel · #9 12-13-2010, 07:11 AM

carver87 - PMed as well

4-string · #10 12-13-2010, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassic_camel

carver87 - PMed as well

+1.

carver87 · #11 12-13-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedroims

shipping to Europe generally goes from $60 to $120 by USPS, depending if bass is shipped in a case or in a smaller box with neck deattached, I shipped a stingray to Netherland couple of years ago, bass was shipped in the original case, it cost around $120. FEDEX and USP is around250-300 usd. Too bad I dont have a stingray at this moment

...

Yeah, too bad

but those shipping costs weren't that bad. Better start shopping.

carver87 · #12 12-13-2010, 11:20 AM

Thanks for all the replies, I'm feeling alot more certain that I'm going to buy a bass from USA now.