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European online shops

#8
FWIW. I don't know whether or not the duties of any given country would make it impractical or not but bassstringsonline.com ships internationally and offers custom sets and single strings in addition to a tremendous selection of brands, styles, and gauges...
 
#9
soulman969 said:
FWIW. I don't know whether or not the duties of any given country would make it impractical or not but bassstringsonline.com ships internationally and offers custom sets and single strings in addition to a tremendous selection of brands, styles, and gauges...
Click to expand...

+1

I've recently ordered a custom set from bassstringsonline.com at a very reasonable price (the choices I wanted weren't available from any European retailers). For the UK, due to the low total value, there shouldn't be any import duties but I expect VAT at 20% to be charged.

Have a word with Jason about VIP pricing for TB members and reduced shipping rates if you're less bothered about the speed of delivery.
 
#12
I've heard lots of members talk about how cool bassstringsonline.com is, unfortunately they always charge me with a 20% VAT tax (I'm in Italy, btw), so that would make the order cost way more than ordering it from, say, Germany. Even with a reduced pricing the 20% is just too much :(. I'd definitely go for bassstringsonline if it wasn't for the VAT, damn!

I'm gonna register on those two sites you guys mentioned previously so that I can check how much they charge on shipping. I've discarded Strings Direct as they charge something like 55€ for the ECB 81-5 strings, which are priced 42€ on the other 2 sites.
 
#13
CaptainTuna said:
I've heard lots of members talk about how cool bassstringsonline.com is, unfortunately they always charge me with a 20% VAT tax (I'm in Italy, btw), so that would make the order cost way more than ordering it from, say, Germany. Even with a reduced pricing the 20% is just too much :(. I'd definitely go for bassstringsonline if it wasn't for the VAT, damn!

I'm gonna register on those two sites you guys mentioned previously so that I can check how much they charge on shipping. I've discarded Strings Direct as they charge something like 55€ for the ECB 81-5 strings, which are priced 42€ on the other 2 sites.
Click to expand...

Have you registered with bassstringsonline.com and mentioned you're a TB member? That way you'll get the VIP discounted pricing. Then just add the shipping cost, convert to € and add 20% - you may still find that, even after VAT, you get a better price.

Or you may not!

For me it was worthwhile as trying to buy individual strings in the exact gauges I wanted wasn't easy or cheap on any of the European sites, so bassstrinsonline.com worked out best for me.
 
#15
CaptainTuna said:
...not to mention I've just found out that if I can keep it below 45€ (including shipping) I may get rid of that annoying 20% tax.

Alright, let me give bassstringsonline.com a shot!
Click to expand...

Ah, you have nicer rules in Italy than here! If it's below £15 it's VAT and duty-free. Between £15.01 and £135 there's VAT but no duty, then over £135 you have to pay import duty as well (which varies from one type of product to another).

If the shipping takes you over €45, have a word with Jason about cheaper (but slower) shipping options - it knocked a few extra $s off my order. (He goes by the name of SLaPiNFuNK on TB.)
 
#16
SoVeryTired said:
Ah, you have nicer rules in Italy than here! If it's below £15 it's VAT and duty-free. Between £15.01 and £135 there's VAT but no duty, then over £135 you have to pay import duty as well (which varies from one type of product to another).

If the shipping takes you over €45, have a word with Jason about cheaper (but slower) shipping options - it knocked a few extra $s off my order. (He goes by the name of SLaPiNFuNK on TB.)
Click to expand...

Yup SLaPiNFuNK! Thats me!
 
#17
I live in Italy too, and have ordered many times from the USA.

We end up paying the 25% final fee (or even more) upon the neat price.
And often i had to fax (in the twentieth century ...) a declaration of "what there's in the package" .... Many times i had to raise voice on phone, etc......

It's 50% working people's fault, and 50% our absurd laws.

So, all this hassle keeps me making orders, in these latest years, only from european online stores (such as Thomann).
 
#18
Just placed my order on bassstringsonline.com. I'm not certain about the VAT; technically I shouldn't be charged with that 20% tax.
Though I'm sure that:

- customer service is awesome (replies were super-quick, he let me choose the shipping method I preferred even if it wasn't listed as one of bassstringsonline's defaults, he was very kind)

- price is awesome. Even if I get that 20% tax I'll stille pay my strings less then I'd pay them locally

- I'll order from bassstringsonline.com again

thanks Jason!!
 

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