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Massive bass price difference?

K

Kareir

Nov 24, 2008
55
0
#1
Hey,
Alright, on this forum, i saw a post saying that USA Fender Jazz's can be got for.. $800. I'm guessing that's new.
Here in Ireland, they're closer to $2000. Sounds like it'd honestly be a much better idea to find a bass i like and get it shipped..
Are these figures right?
_Kar.
 
#3
Kareir said:
Hey,
Alright, on this forum, i saw a post saying that USA Fender Jazz's can be got for.. $800. I'm guessing that's new.
Here in Ireland, they're closer to $2000. Sounds like it'd honestly be a much better idea to find a bass i like and get it shipped..
Are these figures right?
_Kar.
Click to expand...

yes indeed!

I went across to the states to pick up my Jazz (among doing other things, like visiting the USA etc). Bass came to about £450, (perhaps a little over, I can't quite remember).

Defiintely worth it!
 
#5
I'm looking for a Tele for someone in Russia. After the $400.! to ship, it'll still save him a few hundred bucks. Plus there's more variety here and he also has me to find a "good one" for him so it's not quite the same as buying sight unseen. Know anyone 'cross the pond?
 
#7
Well, Am Std Jazzes aren't normally hanging on store walls for $800 bucks because of the dealer map pricing, 1000-1100 seems more normal.
Someone must of got a screaming deal somehow.

But hearing of very high overseas new prices compared to US is nothing new. It's a higher cost of having to do business for the overseas distributors.
But many companies have policies in place where a US store cannot sell to an overseas customer. And if an overseas person does somehow buy from the States, then there would be no warranty honored on the instrument.

But with that said, people do take trips here and buy, and I know many people also have relatives or friends buy it for them and ship it over. It seems even with the taxes it's still worth it.

But on the flip-side, there is European equipment that is costly for us.
 
#8
Kareir said:
Hey,
Alright, on this forum, i saw a post saying that USA Fender Jazz's can be got for.. $800. I'm guessing that's new.
Here in Ireland, they're closer to $2000. Sounds like it'd honestly be a much better idea to find a bass i like and get it shipped..
Are these figures right?
_Kar.
Click to expand...

Last time I went to guitar center they had the USA Fender Jazz basses for around $1,100 - $1,200, though those were new. I'd imagine it wouldn't be all that tough to find a used one for $800.
 
#9
NWB said:
Wow! At those prices, maybe you should become an importer/retailer.:eek:
Click to expand...

My bass had quite a large dent on it, so I got it for $900 before tax.

There's one thing about buying from the states which I found wierd. Sales Tax (or VAT, whatever you wanna call it) isn't factored into the price sticker, as it is in the UK and Ireland.

So you can call your $800 closer to $960 right there, going by a 20% sales tax estimate.

or did they play a game of con the tourist in my case?
 
#12
Sales tax isn't the same in every state. Some have none. It even differs between cities and counties in the same state. It's also never 20%. More between 5 and 9 or 10%

It's not on the price tage because it isn't charged by the store, it is paid to them but they forward it to the government. That isn't even true all the time either. They only charge it for a retail sale. If the item is being sold to a reseller and that person has a tax exempt ID, they don't pay tax, then when they sell it they charge the tax and forwrd it.

If you paid 20% tax, you got the tourist rate I'm afraid.
 
#13
Buy something made in Europe, many European brands make it just as well as fender, at a fraction of the cost (to Europeans), take warwick for example you can pick up a corvette std for £500 in the UK, and they play (IMO) just as well if not better than a US STD Jazz. I'm sure their is a European company that does a good jazz bass copy, Indie I know do one with increasing quality (the top model i think is £750), and it will be a lot cooler than just owning another fender.
 
#14
namraj said:
Buy something made in Europe, many European brands make it just as well as fender, at a fraction of the cost (to Europeans), take warwick for example you can pick up a corvette std for £500 in the UK, and they play (IMO) just as well if not better than a US STD Jazz. I'm sure their is a European company that does a good jazz bass copy, Indie I know do one with increasing quality (the top model i think is £750), and it will be a lot cooler than just owning another fender.
Click to expand...

altough warwicks are great quality they are the oposite to fenders(kind of) they are very modern desing while fender is based on vintage designs
 
#16
To add a southern perspective, instruments in Mexico are also very expensive, and shipping can't be that much... I mean, MIA Fenders are made in Southern California and MIMs are made in Northern Baja California, about 200 miles away from LA. I think the difference, on top of import taxes, is the cost of capital, with interest rates being higher than in the US pretty much everywhere.

Having said that, Mexican Customs, when entering the country by air, will let you hand carry two musical instruments... theoretically, if you could carry a grand piano on your own, they would let you in tax free, and you could still have a kazoo in your pocket and that would also be tax free.
 
#17
A Fender American Standard Jazz (US Precision too) has a minimum advertised price (m.a.p.) of $1149 here in the U.S. I just looked and Musician's Friend has a scratch & dent P for $850, freight included. Lately MF and their sister companies have been emailing "secret" sales with 10% to 20% discounts just about every week it seems, so they regularly discount from m.a.p. But don't tell Fender's other retailers, this is "secret".

So you could fly to the States and buy a Fender Jazz without too much effort for say $900 to $1000. Now add the cost of a plane ticket, the hotel and food. Also add the taxes you'll probably pay when you arrive back in Ireland. At that point I don't think you'll be saving much, if anything, and like it's already been pointed out, you won't have a warranty.

If I were in your shoes and really wanted to save some money, I'd buy a second-hand bass. But if you want a new instrument, you may as well support your local (or regional) retailer of choice and get a warranty.
 
#18
therex said:
altough warwicks are great quality they are the oposite to fenders(kind of) they are very modern desing while fender is based on vintage designs
Click to expand...

this is true, but there are other european manufacuters that do fender type basses - like i said Indie for example or celinder (although you will pay the same or more than you would for a US fender, you'd deff get a better bass)
 

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