Importing One pickup from the US: Total Rip-off

[Spoombung]

One Nordstrand Big Blademan $169.00

USPS Shipping $48.60

Import VAT £28.13

USPS is handled by Parcelforce in the UK: Clearance fee (zero rated for VAT): £11.25

So the original value of the pickup was £120 and the shipping, clearance and VAT amount to over £88

In Total: £208 for one pickup.

Can you imagine what it's going to be like after March 2019 when these fees will be also be slapped over European goods? 

 

[CameronJ]

That is grim. We have it all to look forward to...

[Lozz196]

Wow, that`s rotten, as in Nov last year I bought a Fender pickup from the US and including shipping/import etc it still worked out about £30 cheaper than buying the item here or in Europe.

[stevie]

You got off lightly. You should have been charged import duty as well.

[Spoombung]

1 minute ago, stevie said:

You got off lightly. You should have been charged import duty as well.

As if I hadn't paid enough already.

[stevie]

It will be all right when we do a trade deal with the USA. Don't worry.

[Cato]

Would it be any cheaper if you had tried to order it through a dealer?

If it came as part of a bulk order the shipping would be reduced at the very least.

[franzbassist]

Not sure which one you ordered specifically, but the Big BladeMan 4 is only £135 in Bass Direct!

[Spoombung]

40 minutes ago, walbassist said:

Not sure which one you ordered specifically, but the Big BladeMan 4 is only £135 in Bass Direct!

No, you've got that wrong. It's about the same price when you add the shipping...actually a fiver cheaper.

[thebrig]

34 minutes ago, Spoombung said:

No, you've got that wrong. It's about the same price when you add the shipping...actually a fiver cheaper.

Big BladeMan 4 is £135 + £5 p&p Total £140 in Bass Direct, I make that £68 cheaper

[dannybuoy]

£135 + £5 shipping.

http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Nordstrand_Pickups_MM.html

[project_c]

Yes you may moan that EU imports may become unaffordable soon, but looking on the bright side, the lucrative trade deal with India is almost in the bag. Who needs Nordstrands when you can take your pick of the best indian sweatshop-produced pickups made by 9 year old slaves instead? Tone for days. 

[discreet]

3 hours ago, Spoombung said:

Can you imagine what it's going to be like after March 2019 when these fees will be also be slapped over European goods?

No problem - we'll be able to support home-grown UK manufacturing that was dismantled decades ago in favour of a deregulated service economy. Oh, wait... 

Edited February 15, 2018 by discreet

[project_c]

2 hours ago, discreet said:

No problem - we'll be able to support home-grown UK manufacturing that was dismantled decades ago in favour of a deregulated service economy. Oh, wait... 

This state of the art factory on the Thames Estuary is in tip-top condition thanks to our lucrative deregulated service economy.

And the steel mill at top elite property hotspot, the Isle of Sheppey - a.k.a Kent's own Monte Carlo - is running at full steam, bringing jobs and money to the community thanks to our lucrative trade deals with China. 

Here is a picture of Sheppey's high-rolling and glamorous community, reaping the benefits of our lucrative trade deals, and celebrating their booming local economy.

 

(This photo is an accurate representation of all of England about 2 years from now).

[Sibob]

But still, £140 from Bass Direct huh 

Si

[discreet]

1 hour ago, project_c said:

This photo is an accurate representation of all of England about 2 years from now.

Yes, but... cheap balloon arch! Worth it! 

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited February 25, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[gs_triumph]

7 hours ago, project_c said:

This state of the art factory on the Thames Estuary is in tip-top condition thanks to our lucrative deregulated service economy.

And the steel mill at top elite property hotspot, the Isle of Sheppey - a.k.a Kent's own Monte Carlo - is running at full steam, bringing jobs and money to the community thanks to our lucrative trade deals with China. 

Here is a picture of Sheppey's high-rolling and glamorous community, reaping the benefits of our lucrative trade deals, and celebrating their booming local economy.

 

I can see the baseball caps now... Make Blighty Great Again! 

[pfretrock]

14 hours ago, Spoombung said:

One Nordstrand Big Blademan $169.00

USPS Shipping $48.60

Import VAT £28.13

USPS is handled by Parcelforce in the UK: Clearance fee (zero rated for VAT): £11.25

So the original value of the pickup was £120 and the shipping, clearance and VAT amount to over £88

In Total: £208 for one pickup.

Can you imagine what it's going to be like after March 2019 when these fees will be also be slapped over European goods? 

 

I had a similar experience,  $56 USPS ( "3 day") shipping, Import VAT,  Parcelforce fee -  which also included them losing the item for a week. Took nearly 3 weeks in total.

Thomann deliver in about 72 hours or less (until March 2019....)

I've had stuff from Portugal in about a week, no fees.

[Steve Browning]

You already pay VAT on goods from Europe. German VAT from Thomann, for example. You will see any import duty charged but that will be the only extra cost I would expect.

[dmccombe7]

We're awe Doomed i tell ye. Awe Doomed.  

[Dad3353]

3 hours ago, gs_triumph said:

I can see the baseball caps now... Make Blighty Great Again! 

What is this 'baseball' of which you speak..? 

[dmccombe7]

American cricket caps 

 

Edited February 16, 2018 by dmccombe7

[discreet]

30 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

American cricket caps 

Should be Bowlers, really...

[dmccombe7]

56 minutes ago, discreet said:

Should be Bowlers, really...

I'm a Scotsman so not up on cricket but was trying to give England some credit for designing the first so called Baseball caps 

If i see cricket on TV its time to change channel for me i'm afraid. Like watching paint dry. 

Sorry

Dave