Is Andertons a reliable shop?

[Mosfed]

We are more expensive than the US for most musical stuff I guess (unless you are buying a Wal ) but absolutely not more than mainland Europe. 10 years ago I could rely on Thomann to be the cheaper source for most things but that's long gone.

There is import duty on all goods coming into the EU, and that applies to businesses/importers. No such thing as free trade Sales tax (in our case VAT) is an additional tax that is applied at the point of retail.

Dude I worked at a guitar store on denmark street for three years off and on in ordering and we never paid a single import duty on a guitar or Bass from a US manufacturer. Ok, we are now going back to 2009-2012, but that doesn’t seem that out of date.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Dude I worked at a guitar store on denmark street for three years off and on in ordering and we never paid a single import duty on a guitar or Bass from a US manufacturer. Ok, we are now going back to 2009-2012, but that doesn’t seem that out of date.

You did, even if you didn’t know it. A business can’t bring goods into the EU or the UK without paying import duty, and that’s been the case for decades. That’s why US goods are more expensive here. If you want to be bored to tears on the subject check out the HMRC website...

[Edit] Unless you guys were smuggling of course...

 

[Mosfed]

You did, even if you didn’t know it. A business can’t bring goods into the EU or the UK without paying import duty, and that’s been the case for decades. That’s why US goods are more expensive here. If you want to be bored to tears on the subject check out the HMRC website...

I think you are probably right - I just went to the HMRC site after posting and they talk of a tax between 2-3.5% of the total value of the instrument with the scale moving based on the rarity, value etc of the instrument. I think I buried it in with VAT in my mind.

Still that 2-3.5% does not represent the difference in cost between instruments in Europe and those in the US.

I am convinced that the differences mainly come from collusion in the industry and the lack of any truly well established cross continental retailers that only compete on price in these markets and thus are able to break this collusion.

 

[JKos]

and not everyone prefers to have their stuff opened - some prefer sealed in the factory box.

Yep, there was a whole thread in which someone was pissed at SweetWater for opening a factory box.

- John

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I find them to reputable but I am stunned you find them cheap. Nothing in the UK music scene is cheap and even the cheapest, like Andertons is still way more expensive than Reverb shipped to the UK or Thomann.

Same in other part of Europe but what about VAT? Having to pay VAT normally makes Reverb buying unprofitable unless the seller helps with the statement

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Dude I worked at a guitar store on denmark street for three years off and on in ordering and we never paid a single import duty on a guitar or Bass from a US manufacturer. Ok, we are now going back to 2009-2012, but that doesn’t seem that out of date.

Import duties are not high .. VAT is high and you pay it unavoidably unless you have paid something to the Custom’s Officer ...

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I think you are probably right - I just went to the HMRC site after posting and they talk of a tax between 2-3.5% of the total value of the instrument with the scale moving based on the rarity, value etc of the instrument. I think I buried it in with VAT in my mind.

Still that 2-3.5% does not represent the difference in cost between instruments in Europe and those in the US.

I am convinced that the differences mainly come from collusion in the industry and the lack of any truly well established cross continental retailers that only compete on price in these markets and thus are able to break this collusion.

I’m giving serious thought to an Acoustic Image Upshot, can’t decide if the EU price is excessive compared to the US price or not... oh wait, it is. Like £100 UKP over the conversion rate

 

[Nanaki]

I bought my sire there with no issues.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Never bought from them, but love their Youtube channel.

I should buy from them next time I need something, because whilst the channel is advertising to some extent, I think it does give back to the community too. Maybe the advertising works.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I’m giving serious thought to an Acoustic Image Upshot, can’t decide if the EU price is excessive compared to the US price or not... oh wait, it is. Like £100 UKP over the conversion rate

USA prices are less VAT. How does it compare if you knock 20% off?

 

[-Asdfgh-]

That's interesting, because in my view Thomann hasn't been the cheapest option buying from the UK for a few years now - Gear4Music, Richtone, Andertons, GAK all match them for prices and have the advantage of being in the UK. The other thing with Thomann is they quote exchange rates that are not realistic, so the £££ sterling price you actually pay is higher than quoted on their website.

I've met the Gear4Music management, and they seem to be very genuine. And young!

 

[Christine]

EU tariffs on non-EU goods?

Don't you just love them too

 

[-Asdfgh-]

EU tariffs on non-EU goods?

Tariffs on goods like guitars are probably 2% or maybe less. It's only 1.4% overall for non-agricultural products, and whilst it's mostly tree, it's not an avocado

 

[Christine]

Dude I worked at a guitar store on denmark street for three years off and on in ordering and we never paid a single import duty on a guitar or Bass from a US manufacturer. Ok, we are now going back to 2009-2012, but that doesn’t seem that out of date.

I order lots from StewMac and I get hammered with import duty, it's a real pain in my purse

 

[eccles77]

Meanwhile back on topic about Andertons...

I have bought several items from them. The last was a G&L L2000 Tribute. It was around £520 which on this side of the pond is a decent price. When it arrived, it had several cosmetic flaws, a mark on the back of the body and a few dents on the back of the neck. I wasnt happy with it and returned it. A few days later it was back for sale on their site again as a B stock item for £450! A bit naughty of them I thought.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

So, you're suggesting there are not added import costs, taxes, etc, when bringing things from outside the EU?

For bulk purchases business-to-businesses, the rates are low. Consumers get hit for individual purchases and VAT, but for business, VAT happens at retail.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Meanwhile back on topic about Andertons...

I have bought several items from them. The last was a G&L L2000 Tribute. It was around £520 which on this side of the pond is a decent price. When it arrived, it had several cosmetic flaws, a mark on the back of the body and a few dents on the back of the neck. I wasnt happy with it and returned it. A few days later it was back for sale on their site again as a B stock item for £450! A bit naughty of them I thought.

It doesn't seem naughty. If they hadn't fully inspected it and spotted the flaws, but accepted and properly inspected it on return, then putting it on as B stock seems fair. But my main question is whether it's still for sale as I don't mind a few cosmetic issues as I'll scuff it myself anyway.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

USA prices are less VAT. How does it compare if you knock 20% off?

Still not great... $399 turns into £426 on Thomann, which is £450 in real terms. $399 is about £315.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Still not great... $399 turns into £426 on Thomann, which is £450 in real terms. $399 is about £315.

I haven't noticed the bump in prices you've seen on Thomann. £426 seems to be what I pay. Is there an issue with when you are ordering? I tend to load up the basket, sleep on it, then double check the price over breakfast and commit if I am still convinced I want something . I could imagine if ordering overnight the exchange rate might change overnight before the final processing happens during office hours in some semi manual way, it seems, given the emails I get. The change in rates it hasn't been going in our favour.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Still not great... $399 turns into £426 on Thomann, which is £450 in real terms. $399 is about £315.

£315*1.2 is £378. Currency conversion will add 5% overhead, tarrifs around 3%, so that makes for about £410, not accounting for shipping to Thomann.