Buying from the US...

[NancyJohnson]

Given the current slide of the $, down over 9% since the end of January, are we approaching a golden age of buying from the US?

 

Obviously you're going to need to factor in shipping/duties, but by way of example if you're in the US A Fender Player II Jazz bass.  Guitar Center $800, Andertons £750; at current exchange prices the Guitar Center version at £600.

 

 

[tegs07]

Personally the only thing I will be buying from the US is equities and not  until Trump attempts to remove Powell and totally trashes the $ and the stock and bond markets in the process.

[Geek99]

42 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

Given the current slide of the $, down over 9% since the end of January, are we approaching a golden age of buying from the US?

 

Obviously you're going to need to factor in shipping/duties, but by way of example if you're in the US A Fender Player II Jazz bass.  Guitar Center $800, Andertons £750; at current exchange prices the Guitar Center version at £600.

 

 

Are you factoring in shipping, vat and duty? 

[Earbrass]

I'd rather my money stayed in the UK, Europe, or went to Canada or the far east than to the US. Whenever there's talk of targeted tariffs against the US, they tend to mention whiskey and motorcycles, and I often wonder why they don't also include musical instruments and associated gear. 

Edited 13 hours ago by Earbrass

[prowla]

Tariffs mean you pay more for the items and so you're really fining yourself.

Choosing not to buy the items is a zero-cost approach.

[NancyJohnson]

9 hours ago, Geek99 said:

Are you factoring in shipping, vat and duty? 

 

First sentence, second paragraph.

[neepheid]

Pfft, the golden age was when it was £1 == $2.  I visited the US then (2009?) and chuckled heartily about getting on a bus for 50p ($1).

[fretmeister]

11 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

Given the current slide of the $, down over 9% since the end of January, are we approaching a golden age of buying from the US?

 

Obviously you're going to need to factor in shipping/duties, but by way of example if you're in the US A Fender Player II Jazz bass.  Guitar Center $800, Andertons £750; at current exchange prices the Guitar Center version at £600.

 

 

 

So $800 is (at the exact moment) £597.82.

 

Shipping from the USA would be in the region of $100, so that's another £74.73. But might be as much as $200 (£149.49)

Using the lower sum that's £672.55 that is subject to vat at 20% being £134.51 = £807.06.

Then there's 3.5% duty on the guitar bit as well - another £20.92

Running total is £827.98 + about £13 for the courier admin fee. So £840.98 delivered to a UK buyer assuming the lower end shipping fee.

 

So there could be a saving of about £77.45 compared to Andertons if it sneaks though without getting pinged by customs, and about £100 more than Andertons if it gets caught. I've had small stuff get through, but never anything as big as an instrument.

 

I'm not sure whether Fender UK would deal with any warranty problems for a personal import or not. I'm guessing not.

 

[fretmeister]

15 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Pfft, the golden age was when it was £1 == $2.  I visited the US then (2009?) and chuckled heartily about getting on a bus for 50p ($1).

 

It was about that in 1990/1 as well.

 

I came back with a new wardrobe of jeans and trainers.

[NancyJohnson]

16 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Pfft, the golden age was when it was £1 == $2.  I visited the US then (2009?) and chuckled heartily about getting on a bus for 50p ($1).

 

Last time it was anywhere near $2.00 was over 33 years ago (just prior to the Black Wednesday Sterling crisis and the UK leaving the ERM). 

 

In truth, back then (globally) there was probably little caché in 60s-80s kit, it wasn't vintage or particularly desired, it was just old/used.

[neepheid]

6 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

Last time it was anywhere near $2.00 was over 33 years ago (just prior to the Black Wednesday Sterling crisis and the UK leaving the ERM). 

 

In truth, back then (globally) there was probably little caché in 60s-80s kit, it wasn't vintage or particularly desired, it was just old/used.

 

Did you miss the part where I said I was physically there?  My bad, I got my year wrong, it was 2008.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by neepheid

[Hellzero]

Subprime crisis in 2008, no?

[Geek99]

2 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

First sentence, second paragraph.

Yes, thank you, I saw that. My comment should have read “have you factored them in fully ?  you would probably break even “