wateroftyne Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 Hi folks I'm just wonderinng if anyone buys strings from the US very often? I need some La Bellas, but Stringbusters are out of stock. I can get them from eBay for about £35 posted, but I don't want to do it if I'm going to get hit by another £15+ bill for duty and handling... What's the crack? Ta! Quote
xilddx Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' post='613785' date='Oct 1 2009, 01:14 PM']Hi folks I'm just wonderinng if anyone buys strings from the US very often? I need some La Bellas, but Stringbusters are out of stock. I can get them from eBay for about £35 posted, but I don't want to do it if I'm going to get hit by another £15+ bill for duty and handling... What's the crack? Ta![/quote] I get my DRs from [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/MyMusicStuff_Electric-Bass-Strings_W0QQ_fsubZ3QQ_sidZ137962600?_nkw=labella&submit=Searchnever"]http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/MyMusicStuff...mit=Search[/url] never been charged duty or handling in the four transactions I've made over the last two years or so. You should be fine. EDIT: Should have said, they are in the States. If you don't want to take the risk, the best price I've found for my La Bella DT Black Nylons in Europe are from Thomann, but you'll take a hit with the postage. Edited October 1, 2009 by silddx Quote
lozbass Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 I buy strings and other bits from the US fairly frequently and have been fortunate insofar as I've not been hit with duty. Some larger sellers there appear to understand the system and have been extremely accommodating (without solicitation) Quote
peety Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 I bought so joe osborn flats from direct from lakland and i didn't get charged any duty or handling. cheers steve Quote
bumnote Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 It depends on the value of the shipment, the weight, and who the carrier is. Customs dont [size=4]normally[/size] raise a charge if the charge is less than £7 except fags, booze and other things[costs more to do than its worth] Shipments through Royal mail seem to be less prone to charges that dhl and parcel force and the handling charge through royal mail is less than PF A few years ago I regularly got shipments value £50/60 without a charge from the us and once a pair of fralin p bass pickups no charge. You alsways seem to get charged if you have a tracked and insured parcel where a small packet seems to be far more likely to get away with it Quote
alexclaber Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='613785' date='Oct 1 2009, 01:14 PM']I need some La Bellas...[/quote] I thought you were old school! What are you doing buying new strings? Alex Quote
wateroftyne Posted October 1, 2009 Author Posted October 1, 2009 Cheers, all! I've had mixed reports, but I *may* gamble... [quote name='alexclaber' post='613931' date='Oct 1 2009, 04:11 PM']I thought you were old school! What are you doing buying new strings? Alex[/quote] I snapped one! Dammit. Mind you, it was nine years old. Quote
Beedster Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 I was recently stung by RM for over £40 on a flat letter sized envelope from the US containing a piece of plastic worth £80 (no I'm not telling). 50% of value in VAT, duty and 'handling fees'? Nothing I could do about it. Never happened to me before though, I guess it's the luck of the draw. Quote
Beedster Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='613937' date='Oct 1 2009, 04:14 PM']Cheers, all! I've had mixed reports, but I *may* gamble... I snapped one! Dammit. Mind you, it was nine years old.[/quote] What string Michael, I've got spare LBDT A, D, and G? Quote
GreeneKing Posted October 1, 2009 Posted October 1, 2009 Wanting to try a taperwound B on the NS5 and having a preference for nickels I've just ordered a set of Sadowskys 45 to 130 XL. $35 incl shipping but we'll see about the Duty Quote
dave_bass5 Posted October 2, 2009 Posted October 2, 2009 I used to buy lakland strings direct from Lakland and never got hit by any charges. Quote
wateroftyne Posted October 2, 2009 Author Posted October 2, 2009 [quote name='Beedster' post='613942' date='Oct 1 2009, 04:19 PM']What string Michael, I've got spare LBDT A, D, and G?[/quote] Ah - thanks for the offer Chris, but I think I'm sorted! Quote
dave_bass5 Posted November 24, 2009 Posted November 24, 2009 Took a chance and ordered some more Lakland strings last week. They just arrived with no extra charge. so £19 in total. Not bad for a set of 5 strings and cheaper than the GHS versions from over here. Quote
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