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Importing Guitars


Dood
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  • 6 months later...
  • 3 months later...

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]

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  • 1 month later...

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%

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  • 5 weeks later...

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.

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  • 2 weeks later...

[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!

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  • 3 weeks later...

[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

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

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??

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[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]

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...

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?

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[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 by Musky
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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...

[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.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

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 by BigRedX
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