Importing Guitars

[7string]

Just found this useful site which will calculate all the suty and VAT for you.

[url="http://www.dutycalculator.com/"]http://www.dutycalculator.com/[/url]


Really easy to use as well. Just a shame VAT is now 20%.....

[uncle psychosis]

This might be old news but I see that Guitar Center (large American chain) are now shipping to the UK. Their website claims to also be able to work out your duty and VAT costs too.

[Simon.]

Holla folks,

I'm looking at getting a 75 re-issue Jazz from Japan, and was wondering if anyone had any experience or comparisons between going with either Ishibashi or Rakuten? Both seem to be of a similar price.

This is what I'm after: [url="http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2F1484.bz%2Fshibuya%2Fc1"]http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2F1484.bz%2Fshibuya%2Fc1[/url]

[shizznit]

My MTD 535 didn't get pass customs. The swines slapped on £213 duty tax :-(

[warwickhunt]

As I've just bought a bass from the States I thought I'd give an up to date 'real-life' costing for importing from the USA.

On a purchase of $2000; on arrival in the UK you'll be charged £42 (Customs Duty), £270 (Import VAT) and if it is being handled by Parcel Force (importing by USPS means that PF will handle your package this end) an extra Clearance Fee £12.

In summary a bass costing $2000 / £1330 will incur costs of £324... approx 25%

[FourStrung]

Have bought a few guitars abroad and the best result by a mile was from guitar store in New York who sent it by US Mail and arrived in France without any import duties or tax - result. Every other occassion have paid taxes so best to be calculate before you place your order, but they usually arrive by UPS of similar with a heap of paperwork. French customs phone to tell you how much you have to pay before they deliver.

[sussexbassman]

I've just imported my Ashbory from the states. Cost breakdown is:

Bass cost : $269.99
Shipping: $60.95
Total purchase: $330.94 = £219.46

Import VAT + handling fee = £49.17

Total cost = £268.63

Still competitive with buying it in the UK (where it's currently out of stock anyway :-)

[AttitudeCastle]

[quote name='sussexbassman' timestamp='1329518629' post='1543910']
I've just imported my Ashbory from the states. Cost breakdown is:

Bass cost : $269.99
Shipping: $60.95
Total purchase: $330.94 = £219.46

Import VAT + handling fee = £49.17

Total cost = £268.63

Still competitive with buying it in the UK (where it's currently out of stock anyway :-)
[/quote]

So tempted to import an american guitar (the basses less counter part type! haha) as I can get exactly what I want stock in america for what would be around £300 before import and VAT

I'm a little nervous for doing so though!

[sprocket123]

[quote name='7string' timestamp='1296782033' post='1114804']
Just found this useful site which will calculate all the suty and VAT for you.

[url="http://www.dutycalculator.com/"]http://www.dutycalculator.com/[/url]


Really easy to use as well. Just a shame VAT is now 20%.....
[/quote]

Thans 7string for the tip on dutycalculatot , very helpful

[Jazz Bass 65]

Bought a MM Stingray 5 in Nashville on a holiday in 2009 £806 (£1300 in the UK at that time) went back to motel put neck in one case body in another caught the plane home.

[Kev]

I don't really understand all the different charges....well i think i do and then it turns out i'm wrong when it comes to delivery.

If i was purchasing something for $100.00 from the.USA inc shipping, would someone be kind enough to estimate for me what the total price i would expect to pay would be??

[sprocket123]

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1333405250' post='1601391']
I don't really understand all the different charges....well i think i do and then it turns out i'm wrong when it comes to delivery.

If i was purchasing something for $100.00 from the.USA inc shipping, would someone be kind enough to estimate for me what the total price i would expect to pay would be??
[/quote]

Check this link : [url="http://www.dutycalculator.com/"]http://www.dutycalculator.com/[/url]

[Stacker]

Can anyone recommend a site for picking up instruments from abroad? I need to get something shipped back here from Oz.

[sprocket123]

Maybe at your local FedEx terminal or something similar , or the Postal office

[Fin Bass]

Hi guys. Can someone tell me if I've got this right; looking at the HMRC site - you are allowed to bring in (not post) goods to value £390. So if I am visiting the US, I can bring back a guitar up to that value, for my own use, without incurring tax?

[Musky]

[quote name='Fin Bass' timestamp='1337149423' post='1656102']
Hi guys. Can someone tell me if I've got this right; looking at the HMRC site - you are allowed to bring in (not post) goods to value £390. So if I am visiting the US, I can bring back a guitar up to that value, for my own use, without incurring tax?
[/quote]
I didn't know about this allowance either - well spotted! http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingnoneu.htm

Any here ever done this?

Edited May 19, 2012 by Musky

[Who's Who]

Im awaiting delivery of a bass from America and my tracking number on the usps site states it's awaiting customs clearance over here.
Any way I can find the depot the bass is at early so I can go collect it?

[nige1davies]

Hi All,
I bought a Pre Ernieball Stingray from America (Ebay)the transaction went smoothly however i was shocked by the import duty,vat and other charges incurred by our great country.
Great to see you warning people about these charges.

[brensabre79]

[quote name='Musky' timestamp='1337451403' post='1660354']
I didn't know about this allowance either - well spotted! [url="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingnoneu.htm"]http://www.hmrc.gov....rivingnoneu.htm[/url]

Any here ever done this?
[/quote]
I haven't but my dad used to do something similar when he was a working musician, he'd go out with a Marshall amp and Burns / Hofner / Hagstrom guitar (this was years ago), go straight to Manny's in New York and come back with a Fender Twin and a Les Paul or Strat. Every 6 months he'd do the same as he was working cruise ships and Jazz clubs between London and New York.

[afterimage]

good information i hear that the MIJ are the best built

[afterimage]

interesting you are allowed £390 from USA

[WonderHorse]

I'm eyeing up a bass on eBay in the States at the minute and will probably put a bid in tonight. At what point would I have to pay VAT/import tax and all that stuff?

[BigRedX]

VAT at £18, Import Duty at around £257 (it will depend what rating HMRC give bass guitars and what the payable minimum currently is - £257 assumes a £9 minimum and a rate of 3.5% which is what was last time I looked IIRC).

Edit: Remember that these figures are calculated from the cost of the item plus the shipping costs and there is also a delivery clearance fee of between £8 and £20.

Edited November 28, 2012 by BigRedX

[afterimage]

Hi all just got my imported Geddy Lee today. Imported from Florida DHL. Very fast delivery. As Fender had. $100 offer off. Good savings. Too

[WonderHorse]

How much should I be looking to insure then bass for during delivery?