Moving my Basses from the US to Berlin

[turf3]

I can report that I had a double-bass (far more fragile and sensitive than electric basses which are basically 2x4s) shipped from New England in fall to Texas. Temps from 35F to 85F during the trip. For all intents and purposes the bass was shipped in its padded bag, secured in the back of a truck so it didn't flop around and nothing fell on it. Of course there was no climate control inside the truck. I don't know what the humidity range was for that particular trip.

When I took it out of the bag it was still in tune.

You can stop worrying about shipping your basses in a container by ocean vessel. As I said, if your instrument came from anywhere to the US except Canada or Mexico, it was shipped in a container on a ship with no climate or humidity control. The very best scheme would be to have each one in a hard case to prevent accidental minor damage from impact should something shift in the container.

 

[Dynacord]

You shouldn't pay anything, since you're not importing them to sell, but you may need to visit the customs office to grab them.

Perhaps you've had a different experience than me but importing for sale vs as personal property has made no difference IME. Many years ago - in Berlin - I tried pleading that the bass I had sent was already mine (it was) and not a purchase or for resale and that I wasn't a German citizen. None of it made any difference - it was being imported and taxed the same.

I imagine a carnet could be an option if a short term contract and one would need to present proof that it later left the EU.

I can report that I had a double-bass (far more fragile and sensitive than electric basses which are basically 2x4s) shipped from New England in fall to Texas. Temps from 35F to 85F during the trip. For all intents and purposes the bass was shipped in its padded bag, secured in the back of a truck so it didn't flop around and nothing fell on it. Of course there was no climate control inside the truck. I don't know what the humidity range was for that particular trip.

When I took it out of the bag it was still in tune.

You can stop worrying about shipping your basses in a container by ocean vessel. As I said, if your instrument came from anywhere to the US except Canada or Mexico, it was shipped in a container on a ship with no climate or humidity control. The very best scheme would be to have each one in a hard case to prevent accidental minor damage from impact should something shift in the container.

Also had a double bass shipped by sea by a freight forwarder US to EU (in a gig bag in a hard case). Granted, a ply bass. Arrived fine - though I do think there is greater risk with hollow acoustic instruments and humidity, etc.

 

[HHudson]

Hi all I'm going to be moving to Berlin from the US in late September. Need to get my 5 basses from here to there, getting them onboard will be next to impossible. Any suggestions on how or who I should use to get them there? Thanks!!

My last trans Atlantic move was a quite a while ago, so I have no up to date personal experiences that would be relevant. At some point I will have one in the other direction again.

They changed many of the regulations here during the Brexit & Covid dilemmas. They have unfortunately become much more strict [and by the book].

If you are doing this via a company move, they should have people who can help/assist and also provide you with all necessary infos about customs etc. Normally stuff organized via a company also has fewer hassles going through.

Unfortunately the old method of finding someone in the services and ship with them in their container is no longer an option (troop reductions @ the end of the 80's & 9/11 have made that obsolete).

If you are doing it privately, I would suggest getting in contact with a German consulate and discuss this with them. Especially concerning customs. Best to always get something in writing from them, official written documents are always very helpful. Like the Department of Motor Vehicles in NYC, some people who work there are helpful & nice, others can be particularly unpleasant. Depends who you get.

To get opinions, experiences, infos & tips, you could join & ask here: Link Removed
It is an english speaking Ex-Pat forum for people living in Germany. Just remember, it is an internet forum, don't take anything as legally binding.

I only brought two instruments here many years ago, a Ric guitar & Selmer clarinet and didn't have any issues with either, and just a couple of OHs and AHs from the Customs guys and an "enjoy",.... But when my *well* used & tattered textbooks arrived for my studies a few weeks later, I went through a bit of hell and long discussions, or for two of pairs of jeans for my birthday... cost me more in German customs & taxes then they cost new w/ tax Stateside .... Zollbeamte: "Why is there no invoice included!?" .... I asked "Um, do YOU put invoices in wrapped [well until he had me open them in front of him] birthday presents you give to family members?" That was not a argument he considered logical or valid, lol ).

Just prepare things and make sure you have whatever documents they may deem necessary.

Personally, I would ship via container - especially if you are also sending other household goods. Just make very sure to pack the instruments in cases additionally in well padded [perhaps wooden] boxes in case stuff shifts (this can happen in a plane or on the transport to & from the aircraft as well).

-Henry

 

[Daveypoo]

I moved from California to Italy in September 2021 and finally was able to have my things shipped to me a couple months ago. Here's what I did:

We packet a pallet of household stuff following the guidelines of the shipping company we chose. Of my four guitars (Martin acoustic, Gibson SG, Fender Mustang bass, Fender Precision bass), the SG & the P went onto the pallet (the other two are still in California, but that's another story). I packed my SG in a TKL hard wooden case, surrounded by old cloths and clothing, supported the neck/headstock, etc. The case went into a cardboard guitar box which was packed with those Amazon air bags, crushed paper, etc. to keep it stable in the box. The P-bass was inside my Reunion Blued Continental gig bag (also with theo cloths/clothes, etc.) and that went into a cardboard box, also packed to the gills with packing material. Both guitars had the strings loosened and I wrapped the strings in paper so they wouldn't scratch the fretboard. Headstocks were covered with a sock, bodies were wrapped in old flannel shirts. These guitar boxes were placed in the center of the pallet, sandwiched on both sides by the other boxes we shipped. We strapped the boxes down to the pallet with a strapping gun and wrapped the whole thing in an excess of stretch wrap.

It took about 18 months before we were settled and able to spend the money to ship our pallet. In that 18 months, both guitars sat on the packed pallet in our friend's garage - hot and stuffy in the summer, cold in the winter. The shipment took almost exactly 2 months to get here - left California on March 8th 2023 and arrived in Italy on May 5. I let the guitars sit in my apartment for 24 hours after arrival before opening the cardboard and unpacking them. They both arrived exactly as I shipped them - no damage, no effects from the temperature changes, humidity difference, nothing. Perfectly fine.

I did not have to pay any import tax as everything on the pallet I had owned for at least 6 months prior to shipping. The customs process was handled by the shipping company, through which I was also able to purchase insurance.

I don't think you have anything to worry about when shipping them in a container across the ocean. Frankly, I'm more concerned about getting the other two when I fly back to retrieve them as they are much more likely to be damaged in air travel.

Happy to answer any questions if you have them!

 

[Dynacord]

I did not have to pay any import tax as everything on the pallet I had owned for at least 6 months prior to shipping.

That's quite interesting. Wondering if Italy specific or EU wide - or if a relatively recent change. I've had things shipped which I owned for years previously and was able to prove with receipts, etc and that made no difference other than it being lower than current pricing. It would be great if this applies throughout the EU.

 

[jj.833]

I heard that there are problems if the instruments are made of woods that are limited to export now. The customs might give you a lot of trouble. Be prepared.

 

[Dynacord]

I heard that there are problems if the instruments are made of woods that are limited to export now. The customs might give you a lot of trouble. Be prepared.

This is another advantage to shipping in a container as part of a full household's worth of stuff: not much attention is paid to individual items, it's more just a check list with the inspectors. When shipping individually, much more attention is paid to the specifics. Still, Brazilian rosewood is the main wood at issue.

 

[HHudson]

That's quite interesting. Wondering if Italy specific or EU wide - or if a relatively recent change. I've had things shipped which I owned for years previously and was able to prove with receipts, etc and that made no difference other than it being lower than current pricing. It would be great if this applies throughout the EU.

How it is handled can depend on the Country, where in that country, who you get, what their mood is on that day (the two latter points, as all over the world). The individual you receive may also not be aware of a particular allowance.... these regulations are complex with lots of clauses, best if you do for what concerns you and can reference them to your benefit.

It can go really well, potentially it may not.

There used to be special (and better) regulations for musical instruments (possibly related to the liberal arts clause in the link below). I do not know if that is still valid.

I strongly suggest prepare/have the documentation expected. If you do not, they may choose to apply what they find best, which may not be in your best interest. This is not a court of law, presumed innocence does not apply here. If you can get to a German consulate, get an appointment and go in and discuss it and make sure you have what you need (and what to expect best & worst case).

Before you do, read up so you ask the right questions, e.g. here on the German Customs web page: Customs online - Transferring residence . There appear to be usable private ownership allowances, you may be expected to back it up.

 

[Dynacord]

How it is handled can depend on the Country, where in that country, who you get, what their mood is on that day (the two latter points, as all over the world). The individual you receive may also not be aware of a particular allowance.... these regulations are complex with lots of clauses, best if you do for what concerns you and can reference them to your benefit.

It can go really well, potentially it may not.

There used to be special (and better) regulations for musical instruments (possibly related to the liberal arts clause in the link below). I do not know if that is still valid.

I strongly suggest prepare/have the documentation expected. If you do not, they may choose to apply what they find best, which may not be in your best interest. This is not a court of law, presumed innocence does not apply here. If you can get to a German consulate, get an appointment and go in and discuss it and make sure you have what you need (and what to expect best & worst case).

Before you do, read up so you ask the right questions, e.g. here on the German Customs web page: Customs online - Transferring residence . There appear to be usable private ownership allowances, you may be expected to back it up.

Certainly understand - and have experience with - many of the variables (there's always more, to be sure).

The 6 month prior ownership sounds like a specific policy and agree it could be very worthwhile to be aware of to be able to claim the exemption (if applicable in the country and circumstances). I can understand how customs officers might not volunteer the info - though brokers should be know.

 

[Dynacord]

Before you do, read up so you ask the right questions, e.g. here on the German Customs web page: Customs online - Transferring residence . There appear to be usable private ownership allowances, you may be expected to back it up.

Sorry about my typo in that last one...

That's a very useful and on point link.

 

[6-3-2]

Perhaps you've had a different experience than me but importing for sale vs as personal property has made no difference IME. Many years ago - in Berlin - I tried pleading that the bass I had sent was already mine (it was) and not a purchase or for resale and that I wasn't a German citizen. None of it made any difference - it was being imported and taxed the same.

Might depend on the customs office and whatever the laws are at the time. I was in Munich in the early 2000s and had to take a bus outside of the city to a customs office by a corn field. I told the woman at the desk that the bass was mine, I think I signed something, and she handed my bass to me. Opened the case outside and picked up my bass for the first time in weeks.

 

[Daveypoo]

The 6 month prior ownership sounds like a specific policy and agree it could be very worthwhile to be aware of to be able to claim the exemption (if applicable in the country and circumstances). I can understand how customs officers might not volunteer the info - though brokers should be know.

I'm not sure where this rule came in - the items shipped to Rotterdam and then were put on a truck to get to Italy, so I would think that this is an EU rule more than an Italian one, but I honestly have no idea. I can only relay what I was told by the shipping company. And I did have to provide an list of roughly what was in each box, and I did declare that I had some musical equipment (guitars, amplifier, pedals, etc) but I was told that as long as I signed off that we were the owners of all the goods a minimum of 6 months prior to shipping, there was no separate customs/import fee - I made sure to specifically ask the shipper about this.

I guess your milage may vary depending on what your destination country is...?