Al Krow

Nice! What's the story with this one?

So in keeping with the spirit of the thread, do have a favorite of the three 😊

Great, looks like we're sorted then. PJ get a move on, mate...😁

Interested in understanding this point a bit more, Steve, as you've mentioned it a couple of times. In terms of the tax technical bit is being "in business" different to "trading with the intention of making a profit" (whether or not you actually are making a profit)? And when does a hobby become a business? If we're not registered for VAT in practice are we not effectively treated as a private end user as we can't reclaim the VAT on purchases?

Just a couple of items on it so far, for when PJ decides to move these on...😁

Worth bearing in mind the £390 duty free allowance for kit that we bring to the UK ourselves for personal use. But if you go above the £390 limit my understanding is that you pay duty and VAT on the whole amount not just the excess over £390. This is not going to solve the issue of used goods that are posted from abroad or for more expensive items we bring back.

That's a wondrous wad of Warwicks! Are you a purely a Warwick man these days or perchance originally a Spector lover who has been led astray? 😁

On a less serious note: mods - why does donkey get caught by the profanity filter but willies entirely escape? 😁

That's a very good question. I'm guessing the correct answer is it should be governed by the VAT "tax point", which should be the earliest of the invoice and payment date, but I have no idea how delivery of items straddling the 1 Jan date will impact. I would hope HMRC would take a lenient / generous approach not least given that they have a ton of systems issues to be sorting!

Seriously guys - that really does give Steve a voice on this topic that we would be very foolish to ignore.

That's a shame Steve. I can see the commercial rationale for not wanting to push this message as it will make EU <--> UK private sales a whole bunch less attractive and obviously the FS is the lifeblood of the forum from a commercial perspective. It does seem to me to be a quirk in the system in that there are now effectively two layers of VAT on EU <--> UK private sales which is going to make it much more attractive for second hand sales to occur UK --> UK OR EU --> EU.

I've summarised the key take-aways in the OP for ease of reference. All those GAS inducing basses (and other gear) in the FS from EU based BC'ers are going to be 20% more than their listed prices...

Splendid additions to your PB! So was he just running late then?

They are! Good question and not necessarily a straightforward answer! Some like their 434s as much as their P34s and some even prefer the more budget model. My comparison experience was holding onto my 1025 in preference to a P35. The P35 edged in on quality but the 1025 was a little bit lighter and in the end that was more important in the context of playing 2 x 1 hour sets. If it were me, I'd get a 434 to start with and then "try before you buy" with the P34.

Outstanding fretless! What a lovely retirement present! Any big plans for how you're going to be spending your new found freedom?

You're very welcome. As folk have rightly pointed out - we should see no difference when buying from EU VAT registered retailers e.g. Thomann The key issue is that from a UK perspective private purchases from EU - as Steve B (who is one of resident VAT experts) has confirmed, we need to treat purchases from the EU in the same way as we would from US or Jersey / Guernsey i.e. a Customs declaration plus VAT of 20%. This is the big change we need to be mindful of from 1 Jan. I suspect it will be the same the other way around for UK private sellers selling --> EU from 1 Jan, but I'll leave our EU based BC'ers to confirm that.

[S Browning comment moved to OP for ease of reference].

Summary from 1 Jan 2021 We should see no difference when buying from EU VAT registered retailers e.g. Thomann But private purchases from EU will require a Customs declaration (and handling charges) plus VAT of 20% i.e. the same as when buying from US or Jersey / Guernsey To prevent any of us UK based BC'ers coming in for a nasty surprise in 5 days' time: Prepare to import goods from the EU to Great Britain from 1 January 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk): "From 1 January 2021, you'll need to make customs declarations when you import goods from the EU. These rules currently apply to importing goods from the rest of the world..." "You need to pay VAT [and custom duty] on all imports." Steve - is a bit of an expert when it comes to VAT matters so worth heeding this! @ped I think it may be worth alerting folk with a notice on the Sales Forums that they may well have to pay 20% VAT on imports of goods from the EU from 1 Jan 2021, at least so that they are prepared / it does not come as a nasty surprise particularly if they are buying an already expensive bass!

Thanks Oliver - that's really helpful. I think you're therefore saying you sold a 6 y/o Thumb 5 NT for £1,200 in 2012 without a hard case and they are selling a 12 y/o Thumb NT for £1,650 with a hard case, so maybe the pricing of the one currently FS isn't too OTT.

Thanks for the thumbs up (excuse the pun!). How old was yours when you sold it, the BD is a 12 year old model and I've heard that 2000 to 2010 wasn't Warwick's purple patch?

Warwick Thumb NT 5 any good? There's one in BD currently but seems a little "full" on asking price.

Zoom (aka Roland) and Boss certainly have done so. The main other competition to Line6 in the 'mid range' price bracket seem to be Mooer with their GE models and Hotone with the Ampero. But I think they all know that the sales of their hardware will be dependent on the both the quality of the fx sims they make available as well as the hardware.

Good post BB. It's funny you mention Japanese (and Chinese) catching up with Line6 - I guess I think of them as being a Japanese brand, these days, following their acquisition by Yamaha back in 2013.