Buying from the US...

[Misdee]

47 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

I'm a collector of vintage clothing and I went crazy during this period ordering stuff from the states via Ebay. Good times 😁

I used to go to America and buy vintage clothes back in the 1980's and bring them back to flog. It was a lot of fun, and a nice way to subsidise my holidays.

 

There was a shop in the Kings Road called American Classics that was very trendy (and very expensive). I could get most of the same gear half the price.

 

However,  even in those days in the States no one was giving the stuff away. All the shops selling secondhand clothes knew the value of the American market for classic and vintage gear. 

[Misdee]

3 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

Don't you dare chlorinate my sausage rolls!

Don't worry, your processed meat in tubular form encased in pastry is safe on my watch.

[Wombat]

I used to buy 10 sets of (guitar) string from Musicians Friend, sell 4 on eBay & I had 6 free sets. Not worth it now, even if you can get them to post here.

[Terry M.]

45 minutes ago, Misdee said:

I used to go to America and buy vintage clothes back in the 1980's and bring them back to flog. It was a lot of fun, and a nice way to subsidise my holidays.

 

There was a shop in the Kings Road called American Classics that was very trendy (and very expensive). I could get most of the same gear half the price.

 

However,  even in those days in the States no one was giving the stuff away. All the shops selling secondhand clothes knew the value of the American market for classic and vintage gear. 

I remember American Classics on the Kings Road very well. Just up from The Garage,an indoor market that always had a classic American car parked in the forecourt. 

[gjones]

In 2008 I bought a MIJ Geddy Lee from a guy in the States, the Dollar was two to the pound back then.

 

Once I'd paid duty at the post office I realised I hadn't actually made the saving I thought I had and should have just bought the Geddy Lee from a guy down the road.

[Russ]

We're planning on moving back to the UK from the US later this year. Been keeping an eye on what the approximate equity in our house will be worth when we convert it back to £ - basically, it's worth about £8,000 less since all this f**kery started.  

[Lozz196]

Back in the mid 80s a mate of mines brother used to fly over to the US, scour the junk shops and bring 2 Gibson Les Pauls back with him. The profit he made paid for the trips over there plus a nice little bit extra.

[kodiakblair]

3 hours ago, Misdee said:

Just an aside, when you see the state of some of the people dining in Greggs nowadays , I think accepting American chlorinated chicken as part of a trade deal is the least of our worries. We've already accepted far worse in terms of diet and food habits.

Judging by the size of the average American, you be safer eating at Greggs.

 

WHO data from 2022 places the USA in 13th place for high obesity rates, 42.87% of adults are classed as obese. Global Obesity Observatory has them in 10th place on 41.64%.

 

WHO has the UK at 66th place with 28.71%, it's 55th with the GOO at 26.94%..

[Wombat]

Who are higher than America? 😂

[Geek99]

5 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

Don't you dare chlorinate my sausage rolls!

I’ve never heard it called that before … 🧐

[Geek99]

5 hours ago, Wombat said:

I used to buy 10 sets of (guitar) string from Musicians Friend, sell 4 on eBay & I had 6 free sets. Not worth it now, even if you can get them to post here.

I bought back a few packs of labella flats, having beaten the store up for a multi buy discount and made a handsome profit. Partner so impressed to be handed a 50% profit that on a more recent trip she told me she’d take the kids away for a bit so I could “investment-shop”

[Kiwi]

15 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

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

 

Times when a Smith BSR5 was 2500 quid.  Halcyon days.

[kodiakblair]

8 hours ago, Wombat said:

Who are higher than America? 😂

It's a "couldn't make this up" moment.

 

9 Polynesian countries have higher rates than the USA.

 

Of those 9, American Samoa holds first place with 70.29% of folks classed as obese 😲 

[bassbloke]

I bough my main bass on a holiday to the USA/Canada in 2003.  Fender US Deluxe jazz 5 for £650.  Them were the days.

 

My advice would be to spend your holiday money on a trip to Japan.  Exchange rate is very favourable for visiting westerners and you can pick up a good deal on a flight.  Tax free shopping is a breeze - your tourist visa includes a QR code that you use at point of purchase to exclude 10% sales tax.

 

Tokyo is full of great guitar shops- Ishibashi in Shibuya and Shinjuku for example.

 

The best deals are on Japanese instruments.  I picked up a near mint non export Aerodyne Jazz for £450.  The shop staff are incredibly helpful and will even dissemble a bolt on instrument, slacken truss rod and bubble wrap body and neck to keep it safe.  I brought mine back in a carrier bag and stashed in the overhead compartment .

 

Clothes shopping dirt cheap too.

 

Granted, I was there for work, but a friend went on a leisure trip and claimed his shopping savings covered cost of his flight.

Edited 4 hours ago by bassbloke