Importing a bass from the Netherlands

[sgh]

Does anyone know of an easy way to calculate the charges for importing a bass from the Netherlands to the UK? Customs charges, shipping etc. Bass would be around £3k in value.

[Ralf1e]

This gets difficult certain shipping companies inflate the charges they are allowed to charge for collecting the vat etc. This happened to me with an order from Thonman in Germany. No one seemed to be able to or wanted to put it right. Shipping company charged me about £56 to bring in a £135 guitar. Bless thier thilthy black hearts.

[chris_b]

Rule of thumb.. . . add 25%.

[Downunderwonder]

Don't skimp on insurance!

[BigRedX]

9 hours ago, chris_b said:

Rule of thumb.. . . add 25%.

 

That's to the cost of the bass plus the cost of shipping.

[fretmeister]

Yup. Bass + shipping + import + vat.

 

25% on top of the bass AND shipping total will be pretty accurate.

 

Do not undervalue it. Firstly, that’s an offence, secondly if something happens to it, the insurance will either only pay the declared value or won’t pay at all.

[Cliff Edge]

If it’s pre owned option 1 is Eurostar to Amsterdam and from there collect the guitar and bring it back yourself as your own property. Option 2, probably the best, is drive to Folkestone put the car on Eurotunnel to Calais and drive up to wherever in the Netherlands it is. Stick it the boot and come home. 
Either one will probably be cheaper and safer in the long run with off peak travel and it’s a nice reasonably quick drive up to Amsterdam. 

[Dad3353]

7 minutes ago, Cliff Edge said:

If it’s pre owned option 1 is Eurostar to Amsterdam and from there collect the guitar and bring it back yourself as your own property. Option 2, probably the best, is drive to Folkestone put the car on Eurotunnel to Calais and drive up to wherever in the Netherlands it is. Stick it the boot and come home. 
Either one will probably be cheaper and safer in the long run with off peak travel and it’s a nice reasonably quick drive up to Amsterdam. 

 

As long as it's declared to Customs on return, that's fine. Non-declaration is smuggling, which carries risks. Whether these risks are worthwhile is a matter for each to decide. 

Disclaimer : On a recent, rare, visit to Blighty, I brought back in the car a bass, a cab and a hifi amp, bought s/h, mostly before B****t, and French Customs waved us through, so nothing was declared. Just sayin'. 

[Cliff Edge]

1 hour ago, Dad3353 said:

 

As long as it's declared to Customs on return, that's fine. Non-declaration is smuggling, which carries risks. Whether these risks are worthwhile is a matter for each to decide. 

Disclaimer : On a recent, rare, visit to Blighty, I brought back in the car a bass, a cab and a hifi amp, bought s/h, mostly before B****t, and French Customs waved us through, so nothing was declared. Just sayin'. 

I’m not condoning illegality just putting forward an option. I’ve never been stopped and asked or had the car even get a sideways glance as I drove off the train at either end. I’ve never had anything to declare anyway. Apart from a few boxes of wine. 

[ern500evo]

I think I must’ve got lucky, I bought my Bongo from a shop in the Netherlands. I ordered it on a Tuesday afternoon, it was at my front door on Thursday morning and all I paid was the price of the bass and £25 shipping. 

[Downunderwonder]

On 31/08/2022 at 06:37, sgh said:

£3k in value.

For that amount of bass I'd be collecting it.

[sgh]

Hmm, thanks for the replies all. Will look into Eurostar I think but even then I'm guessing I may have to passon this as I'd still have the 'chance' of declaring it.

 

With this option, I'd still have to pay:

bass + import + vat?

Edited September 1, 2022 by sgh

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, sgh said:

Hmm, thanks for the replies all. Will look into Eurostar I think but even then I'm guessing I may have to passon this as I'd still have the 'chance' of declaring it.

 

With this option, I'd still have to pay:

bass + import + vat?

Yes. 

[Downunderwonder]

Afaik there is a 2% duty on bass guitars. You would be up for that and VAT at the border. I don't know if they charge the VAT on their own duty after applying it, or VAT on just the import value.

[Bolo]

A year or two ago I flew from Amsterdam to Stansted (iirc) for a straight trade: MM SR5 for Spector euro LX5. Brought my iPad and iRig for a quick test at the gate.

Departed at breakfast, home in time for dinner.

 

[Cliff Edge]

VAT is charged on everything in a totting up process, so cost plus freight plus duty, then VAT on the total. So cutting out the freight element reduces the overall cost.

Employing a freight carrier, courier or post usually means they include a fee for the customs clearance processes including paying any duties on your behalf, before delivery.

You can of course employ your own customs agent for this, but they are not free either. Unless you are knowledgeable enough to DIY.

[mikel]

Sorry, I read that as "Importing a bass from Neanderthals". I thought it was a rant about stupid sellers. Carry on. 

[Cliff Edge]

3 hours ago, mikel said:

Sorry, I read that as "Importing a bass from Neanderthals". I thought it was a rant about stupid sellers. Carry on. 

That’s a whole other thread.