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Way too expensive?

#21
I can tell you now that over here in the UK stingrays start at a grand IME. About $2000 in US dollars.

:(

Even with a 29% import tax, the Euro is worth 1.6 USD. Something does not make sense with the price. A bass costing $1000 USD would cost 625 Euros add 29% import tax, you are at 806.25 Euros. Add a few Euros for Transatlantic shipping and maybe you are at 900 +/- Euros.
Am I missing something?
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Yup. Profiteering. Most companies seem to do it, they have their own little world where $1 = £1 = €1 :/
 
#24
andymcclure said:
I have to believe Bass Central or any of the bigger bass shops can deal with international shipping for less than that.
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Well I know in the case of a Musicman, there is a rule that US dealers cannot sell a new bass internationally, and no warranties will be honored. There are agreement clauses in place to protect the international companies.

Now, I think one loophole in that is, if a bass is no longer a model being made (like an LE or Anniversary) that has been out of production for a year, then they can.

Of course, used basses are a different story.
 
#27
Dbassmon said:
Even with a 29% import tax, the Euro is worth 1.6 USD. Something does not make sense with the price. A bass costing $1000 USD would cost 625 Euros add 29% import tax, you are at 806.25 Euros. Add a few Euros for Transatlantic shipping and maybe you are at 900 +/- Euros.
Am I missing something?
American made instruments should be very attractive to our pals across the pond, price wise?
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Just rip off Europe :(


moomoocajoo said:
I can tell you now that over here in the UK stingrays start at a grand IME. About $2000 in US dollars.

:(



Yup. Profiteering. Most companies seem to do it, they have their own little world where $1 = £1 = €1 :/
Click to expand...

I've found that they are generally £1100+ depending on what you look at. Heck, even a used SR is going for £800ish + right now, thats over $1500!


Chris2112 said:
Ouch! You could get a Sandberg from Germany for those prices!
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Yup, thats the smart option right there! Or smaller brands too, Sadowskys are pretty reasonably priced (in comparison to the US price).
 
#32
Bass Viking said:
Ow for fanden!!!:eek: By comparison, what would a Celinder bass sell for?
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A Celinder bass... well that depends on which model, of course - the Jazz and P-style basses holde their value fairly well and sell for $3-4,000 used, but that's also the normal level for the much more expensive modern shaped Celinders (I forgot the model name) when they sell used.

I had a 6 string Celinder fretless which was custom made for Danish bassist Henrik Deleuran, picked it up a my local store for a bit more than $3,000 because I bought a new Martin BC15E ABG at the same time... sold the Celinder on the 'bay 1½ months later for $6,000... resulting in me getting the Martin bass for free...! :D

I'd like to have the Celinder back again once in a while, but my Ritter kind of does the trick... Even with one string less :p
 
#33
SoerenEsbensen said:
Hey guys,

I was looking at some basses in a store yesterday (im a bass newbie) and all the basses seemed EXTREMELY expensive...
MusicMan Stingray 4 str. 2500$
a regular Fender JazzBass 2000$

(these are the prices in Denmark )
:help:
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I assume that includes the Danish 25% sales tax, if you import you will have to pay that as well (rarely you get away with not paying it).

The dollar is right now extremely low as well, so a translation DKK->USD is probably a good deal if you want to buy something from abroad, but to translate the danish price in USD will be a terrible comparison instead...

D.Don
 
#34
That's nothing! Come to Australia. A new SR4 will run you about AUD$2600 if you get a deal (retail is about $3300). With the current exchange rate, that's about US$2450 for a good deal, and about US$3100 for retail.

Fenders aren't a whole lot better.

There is absolutely no chance that I'll buy my next mass-produced bass in this country. I'd rather buy from the US, pay extortionist fees to have it shipped, and still save nearly a grand.
 
#35
I feel your pain. We get the same deal here in Australia.
American std Jazz or P $2,000 AU
Stingray $2,500 AU

And if you want to go upmarket for a sadowsky or rickenbacker you looking at AU$3,000

God forbid if you want a gibson thunderbird here, you wont get much change from $4,200
 
#39
The Australian prices are getting a little more sensible but we're still in the same situation. A HH Stingray4 goes for around $3k and a H for about $2.5k (Australian dollar is only a fraction less than US at the moment)

My theory at the moment is get on eBay and find something that's almost new and ship it from the US. You'll get stuff for a steal.
I picked up a Sterling for a mere $1200 all up instead of twice that from a store.........and I work in a store that sells Ernie Ball. (I hope my boss doesn't read this)
 

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