What Would You Do? International Bass Purchase

[MingusBass]

I was browsing a UK Bass merchant's website last night and discovered they had a new boutique bass in stock that happens to be rather difficult to get over here in the US because of no dealer here. I sent them an email about purchasing the bass because their website talks about needing a shipping quote if you're purchasing outside of the UK and that they can deduct 20% VAT off any new products being shipped outside the UK. In my email I asked them what the most convenient and economical way would be to purchase the bass but that I would prefer to use PayPal.

One of the gentlemen responded a few hours later that PayPal is fine but that I would have to send the payment friends and family, or I'd be responsible for the fees. I responded that I was planning on using my PayPal Cash Back card and that I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to send the funds friends and family. On top of that, I told him that I didn't feel comfortable sending a friends and family payment when they are a business (not yet friends and certainly not family) and that I wouldn't have any recourse if there was any issue with this international purchase. He informed me that I had the option to send a wire transfer. Again, another form of payment where I wouldn't have any protection should there be an issue with the bass or it gets lost in transit from the UK to the US.

I certainly want to be fair, and I don't want to come off as entitled but I feel like if you're saying your business accepts PayPal as a payment option, then fees are simply a cost of doing business, just like credit card fees that they wouldn't be asking me to pay. You're a business, not friends and family. Asking me to send a payment friends and family or send a wire transfer so you're not hit with fees and I take all of the risk rubs me the wrong way. At the very least give me some incentive, perhaps a discount of some kind, to send a wire transfer or PayPal friends and family but so far that hasn't happened.

At the end of the day, they're entitled to do what they want with their business and I guess if I don't like their policy I can simply choose not to purchase the bass but I'm hoping we can find some middle ground where they get my money and I get the bass I'm after.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable? What would you do?

 

[Ostie]

I do not think you’re being unreasonable, and I would not agree to their terms. I’d keep looking, hopefully for a domestic purchase.

 

[MattZilla]

Plane ticket, go try it in the flesh. Take your current favorite lunch buddy for a lil two day trip. Sometimes “boutique” only equals “sounds & plays no better than a $500 Ibanez, is as pretty as a $1,600 Ibanez, and is just very rare”.

If you don’t want it badly enough to make a trip out of maybe not taking it home, it’s probably not worth it at all.

 

[MingusBass]

Plane ticket, go try it in the flesh. Take your current favorite lunch buddy for a lil two day trip. Sometimes “boutique” only equals “sounds & plays no better than a $500 Ibanez, is as pretty as a $1,600 Ibanez, and is just very rare”.

If you don’t want it badly enough to make a trip out of maybe not taking it home, it’s probably not worth it at all.

I own another bass from the manufacturer so I don’t doubt I’ll love it.

 

[MattZilla]

I own another bass from the manufacturer so I don’t doubt I’ll love it.

still, go pick it up in person.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Look into an escrow service. If such a thing exists for this situation, it would cost you a fee. That's all I've got.

 

[StayLow]

You’re definitely not being unreasonable, nor are they.

No match on terms means no deal, and tomorrow the sun will rise again.

Don’t be sad for having one less bass; Ricky Phillips only needed a Kramer.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I was browsing a UK Bass merchant's website last night and discovered they had a new boutique bass in stock that happens to be rather difficult to get over here in the US because of no dealer here. I sent them an email about purchasing the bass because their website talks about needing a shipping quote if you're purchasing outside of the UK and that they can deduct 20% VAT off any new products being shipped outside the UK. In my email I asked them what the most convenient and economical way would be to purchase the bass but that I would prefer to use PayPal.

One of the gentlemen responded a few hours later that PayPal is fine but that I would have to send the payment friends and family, or I'd be responsible for the fees. I responded that I was planning on using my PayPal Cash Back card and that I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to send the funds friends and family. On top of that, I told him that I didn't feel comfortable sending a friends and family payment when they are a business (not yet friends and certainly not family) and that I wouldn't have any recourse if there was any issue with this international purchase. He informed me that I had the option to send a wire transfer. Again, another form of payment where I wouldn't have any protection should there be an issue with the bass or it gets lost in transit from the UK to the US.

I certainly want to be fair, and I don't want to come off as entitled but I feel like if you're saying your business accepts PayPal as a payment option, then fees are simply a cost of doing business, just like credit card fees that they wouldn't be asking me to pay. You're a business, not friends and family. Asking me to send a payment friends and family or send a wire transfer so you're not hit with fees and I take all of the risk rubs me the wrong way. At the very least give me some incentive, perhaps a discount of some kind, to send a wire transfer or PayPal friends and family but so far that hasn't happened.

At the end of the day, they're entitled to do what they want with their business and I guess if I don't like their policy I can simply choose not to purchase the bass but I'm hoping we can find some middle ground where they get my money and I get the bass I'm after.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable? What would you do?

I did a little digging for you, as an example:

 

[KellyC]

I was browsing a UK Bass merchant's website last night and discovered they had a new boutique bass in stock that happens to be rather difficult to get over here in the US because of no dealer here. I sent them an email about purchasing the bass because their website talks about needing a shipping quote if you're purchasing outside of the UK and that they can deduct 20% VAT off any new products being shipped outside the UK. In my email I asked them what the most convenient and economical way would be to purchase the bass but that I would prefer to use PayPal.

One of the gentlemen responded a few hours later that PayPal is fine but that I would have to send the payment friends and family, or I'd be responsible for the fees. I responded that I was planning on using my PayPal Cash Back card and that I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to send the funds friends and family. On top of that, I told him that I didn't feel comfortable sending a friends and family payment when they are a business (not yet friends and certainly not family) and that I wouldn't have any recourse if there was any issue with this international purchase. He informed me that I had the option to send a wire transfer. Again, another form of payment where I wouldn't have any protection should there be an issue with the bass or it gets lost in transit from the UK to the US.

I certainly want to be fair, and I don't want to come off as entitled but I feel like if you're saying your business accepts PayPal as a payment option, then fees are simply a cost of doing business, just like credit card fees that they wouldn't be asking me to pay. You're a business, not friends and family. Asking me to send a payment friends and family or send a wire transfer so you're not hit with fees and I take all of the risk rubs me the wrong way. At the very least give me some incentive, perhaps a discount of some kind, to send a wire transfer or PayPal friends and family but so far that hasn't happened.

At the end of the day, they're entitled to do what they want with their business and I guess if I don't like their policy I can simply choose not to purchase the bass but I'm hoping we can find some middle ground where they get my money and I get the bass I'm after.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable? What would you do?

I don’t think either side is being unreasonable. For a bass worth several thousands of dollars, the PP fees are well over $100, which is likely a significant chunk of their margin. They didn’t price the bass expecting to pay those fees.

You, on the other hand, are willing to pay a fair price for the bass but not more, and not in a manner that leaves you open to fraud and with zero leverage to resolve any post-sale issues.

Just an unfortunate set of circumstances.

 

[RudyTardy]

Just guessing but is this bass a new medium scale?

 

[Dynacord]

One of the gentlemen responded a few hours later that PayPal is fine but that I would have to send the payment friends and family, or I'd be responsible for the fees.

That seems like the easiest option. Add the fees for goods and services and have the buyer protection. Sounds like they'd be fine with that. Worthwhile insurance on a large international purchase and almost certainly cheaper than escrow service.

He informed me that I had the option to send a wire transfer. Again, another form of payment where I wouldn't have any protection should there be an issue with the bass or it gets lost in transit from the UK to the US.

True that this lacks protection (and I see the PayPal option as preferable for this reason). Perhaps worth knowing that this is not at all an unusual request in Europe and tends to be the default form of payment (such transfers are usually free from European banks/bank apps). Just a difference between the US and Europe/UK. While I'm not terribly comfortable with it, it's not an automatic red flag as to the seller, particularly with an established shop.

Also, while they can deduct the 20% VAT, know that US Customs may add import taxes/duties (would be well less than 20% though).

 

[BazzaBass]

I was browsing a UK Bass merchant's website last night and discovered they had a new boutique bass in stock that happens to be rather difficult to get over here in the US because of no dealer here. I sent them an email about purchasing the bass because their website talks about needing a shipping quote if you're purchasing outside of the UK and that they can deduct 20% VAT off any new products being shipped outside the UK. In my email I asked them what the most convenient and economical way would be to purchase the bass but that I would prefer to use PayPal.

One of the gentlemen responded a few hours later that PayPal is fine but that I would have to send the payment friends and family, or I'd be responsible for the fees. I responded that I was planning on using my PayPal Cash Back card and that I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to send the funds friends and family. On top of that, I told him that I didn't feel comfortable sending a friends and family payment when they are a business (not yet friends and certainly not family) and that I wouldn't have any recourse if there was any issue with this international purchase. He informed me that I had the option to send a wire transfer. Again, another form of payment where I wouldn't have any protection should there be an issue with the bass or it gets lost in transit from the UK to the US.

I certainly want to be fair, and I don't want to come off as entitled but I feel like if you're saying your business accepts PayPal as a payment option, then fees are simply a cost of doing business, just like credit card fees that they wouldn't be asking me to pay. You're a business, not friends and family. Asking me to send a payment friends and family or send a wire transfer so you're not hit with fees and I take all of the risk rubs me the wrong way. At the very least give me some incentive, perhaps a discount of some kind, to send a wire transfer or PayPal friends and family but so far that hasn't happened.

At the end of the day, they're entitled to do what they want with their business and I guess if I don't like their policy I can simply choose not to purchase the bass but I'm hoping we can find some middle ground where they get my money and I get the bass I'm after.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable? What would you do?

Fly across the pond. Have a short holiday and bring it back safely.

 

[Benko]

If it's a business then it's unacceptable to make such request, the pricing of the instrument should reflect already their "business" fees structure.

While it's technically the same i think wire transfer is a legit demand, from the USA create a WISE account and it's as easy as a Paypal transaction.

Also make sure you do basic due diligence on the standing of the shop

 

[Dynacord]

While it's technically the same i think wire transfer is a legit demand, from the USA create a WISE account and it's as easy as a Paypal transaction.

Bank transfers in Europe are no fee - hence the popularity. WISE is an excellent alternative and what I use if making payments from US accounts. Also very good exchange rates.

 

[pcake]

if you're talking about a paypal credit card, it works like a regular credit card - no paypal fees.

i'd have paid the extra paypal fees if paying paypal for the protection to my purchase or i'd have moved on. which would depend on how rare it is to find the bass and whether there's a U.S. warranty if i own it, which i'm guessing there isn't since it isn't sold here.

 

[el murdoque]

If that is a brick and mortar shop, one can do a little research and figure out if they are legit.
When they feel like the price they offer is a fair one, it is understandable that they do not want to slice the 3.5% PayPal fee off their margin.

 

[2112]

If I've been searching for a rare, expensive boutique bass for a long time, and one finally comes up in the condition and at a price that's acceptable to me, I'm probably not going to blow the deal up over a $100 fee when *I'm* the one wanting the service that paying that fee provides. But that's just me... at the end of they day, YOU have to be happy paying what you paid for the bass.

 

[Drredplate]

What is the shop? I may know them and give you an opinion

 

[IanStephenson]

Can't you just pay by credit card? That way you have protection, and the shop will take the smaller hit on fees.

PayPal is (was?) handy for online payments for small stuff to random people but if you're buying a big ticket item from a retailer, they'll be set up to take CC payment.

It's illegal un UK for them to pass payment fees on to you, so they CAN'T ask you to pay cover the fees for PayPal or CC. (Card surcharge ban means no more nasty surprises for shoppers).

 

[MingusBass]

Can't you just pay by credit card? That way you have protection, and the shop will take the smaller hit on fees.

PayPal is (was?) handy for online payments for small stuff to random people but if you're buying a big ticket item from a retailer, they'll be set up to take CC payment.

It's illegal un UK for them to pass payment fees on to you, so they CAN'T ask you to pay cover the fees for PayPal or CC. (Card surcharge ban means no more nasty surprises for shoppers).

I think this is the answer. It’s just a normal credit card with the PayPal name attached so they should be able to process my payment without any extra fees.