WoodyRATM Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Hey i'm intending to buy a new bass from the states.I've contacted the seller regarding shipping, but im confused about the issue of customs.Does anyone have any idea about how much it would cost to get the damn thing into the country?Or how i can persuade the seller to gift it across? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_matter Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Or how i can persuade the seller to gift it across?Show him a picture of his family...if he doesn't budge, kill them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodyRATM Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Show him a picture of his family...if he doesn't budge, kill them.Hmm now theres a plan....he might knock a couple of hundred of dollars off it too then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HateEvent Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Marked at $4000, my ESP Hanneman cost 400 in import duty/tax if that is any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodyRATM Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Marked at $4000, my ESP Hanneman cost 400 in import duty/tax if that is any help.Sooo for somethin thats marked as $800 could cost me 80 quid? hmm i could live with that...or does the cost not actually matter? or is it the size? so it'd be around 400?Customs are pish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HateEvent Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Sooo for somethin thats marked as $800 could cost me 80 quid? hmm i could live with that...or does the cost not actually matter? or is it the size? so it'd be around 400?Customs are pish $4000 is around 2500 and 400 is about 18% of that (roughly).An $800 bass won't be 400 in customs no way! Value dependant certainly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam 45 Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 What you buying big man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigsby Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Usually works out around 20%, 17.5 VAT, then some other duties and handling charges on top of that.Some people will offer to mark it at a lower value, but you will only be able to insure it to the value that they mark it at, meaning if it gets damaged during transit, you're screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodyRATM Posted November 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 What you buying big man?Fender Geddy Lee Jazz. my love interest at the moment Also cheers for all the help guys least i know im not gonna be paying like 40 grand for customs**approx value....but ta muchly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonie Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 what happens is they take the total marked* value of the product + the shipping and then add a percentage to this, depending on the type of thing you're shipping (you can call up customs and get a code for this which will tell you the percentage to add. they then take this new total and add 17.5% to it for VAT and you have your totali.e. buying something at 100 with 50 shipping and 12% customs charge works like this:i.e. 100 cost + 50 shipping = 150 *1.12(12% customs) =168 *1.175(VAT) = 197.40hence you pay the 47.40 on import and VAT.That 12% was based on a textile value for some american football gameshirts i'm importing shortly, so check to be sure what your value is.* this is where you make the saving - get them to mark it as having a lower value but watch for postal insurance as it might not cover the full value if it's damaged. /xP.S. nice choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodyRATM Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 what happens is they take the total marked* value of the product + the shipping and then add a percentage to this, depending on the type of thing you're shipping (you can call up customs and get a code for this which will tell you the percentage to add. they then take this new total and add 17.5% to it for VAT and you have your totali.e. buying something at 100 with 50 shipping and 12% customs charge works like this:i.e. 100 cost + 50 shipping = 150 *1.12(12% customs) =168 *1.175(VAT) = 197.40hence you pay the 47.40 on import and VAT.That 12% was based on a textile value for some american football gameshirts i'm importing shortly, so check to be sure what your value is.* this is where you make the saving - get them to mark it as having a lower value but watch for postal insurance as it might not cover the full value if it's damaged. /xP.S. nice choice hehe thanks.I'm thinking of just paying 600 odd quid from Thomann. I've used them before and were good they also dont charge for shipping...unlike where i was gonna get it. It was gonna end up $198. So id only be saving about 100 quid at a push. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigsby Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Peter Cook's seem to do it for the same price, you could possibly haggle with them as well.Peter Cook's Guitar World - Fender Guitars, Strat, Tele, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Cyclone, JagstangI have bought from them before and they are excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodyRATM Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Peter Cook's seem to do it for the same price, you could possibly haggle with them as well.Peter Cook's Guitar World - Fender Guitars, Strat, Tele, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Cyclone, JagstangI have bought from them before and they are excellent.Cheers, Based in UK i'm guessing?edit: london woo.have you any idea how much it'd cost for shipping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigsby Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I can't remember what they charge, give them a phone and ask for a deal.As I say, I have bought from them a few times, including high end Gibsons and they are good to deal with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchie Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 ImportingCustoms are strict now into England. If you do it all legit you will probably have to pay import duty. The best way is ask a friend to bring it back. Beware. Find out all you can from the shippers. I know someone who got one back and didnt have to pay. I think that is the exception. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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