7string Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Just found this useful site which will calculate all the suty and VAT for you. [url="http://www.dutycalculator.com/"]http://www.dutycalculator.com/[/url] Really easy to use as well. Just a shame VAT is now 20%..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 This might be old news but I see that Guitar Center (large American chain) are now shipping to the UK. Their website claims to also be able to work out your duty and VAT costs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon. Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Holla folks, I'm looking at getting a 75 re-issue Jazz from Japan, and was wondering if anyone had any experience or comparisons between going with either Ishibashi or Rakuten? Both seem to be of a similar price. This is what I'm after: [url="http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2F1484.bz%2Fshibuya%2Fc1"]http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2F1484.bz%2Fshibuya%2Fc1[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shizznit Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 My MTD 535 didn't get pass customs. The swines slapped on £213 duty tax :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 As I've just bought a bass from the States I thought I'd give an up to date 'real-life' costing for importing from the USA. On a purchase of $2000; on arrival in the UK you'll be charged £42 (Customs Duty), £270 (Import VAT) and if it is being handled by Parcel Force (importing by USPS means that PF will handle your package this end) an extra Clearance Fee £12. In summary a bass costing $2000 / £1330 will incur costs of £324... approx 25% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourStrung Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Have bought a few guitars abroad and the best result by a mile was from guitar store in New York who sent it by US Mail and arrived in France without any import duties or tax - result. Every other occassion have paid taxes so best to be calculate before you place your order, but they usually arrive by UPS of similar with a heap of paperwork. French customs phone to tell you how much you have to pay before they deliver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussexbassman Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I've just imported my Ashbory from the states. Cost breakdown is: Bass cost : $269.99 Shipping: $60.95 Total purchase: $330.94 = £219.46 Import VAT + handling fee = £49.17 Total cost = £268.63 Still competitive with buying it in the UK (where it's currently out of stock anyway :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 [quote name='sussexbassman' timestamp='1329518629' post='1543910'] I've just imported my Ashbory from the states. Cost breakdown is: Bass cost : $269.99 Shipping: $60.95 Total purchase: $330.94 = £219.46 Import VAT + handling fee = £49.17 Total cost = £268.63 Still competitive with buying it in the UK (where it's currently out of stock anyway :-) [/quote] So tempted to import an american guitar (the basses less counter part type! haha) as I can get exactly what I want stock in america for what would be around £300 before import and VAT I'm a little nervous for doing so though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket123 Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 [quote name='7string' timestamp='1296782033' post='1114804'] Just found this useful site which will calculate all the suty and VAT for you. [url="http://www.dutycalculator.com/"]http://www.dutycalculator.com/[/url] Really easy to use as well. Just a shame VAT is now 20%..... [/quote] Thans 7string for the tip on dutycalculatot , very helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Bass 65 Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Bought a MM Stingray 5 in Nashville on a holiday in 2009 £806 (£1300 in the UK at that time) went back to motel put neck in one case body in another caught the plane home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I don't really understand all the different charges....well i think i do and then it turns out i'm wrong when it comes to delivery. If i was purchasing something for $100.00 from the.USA inc shipping, would someone be kind enough to estimate for me what the total price i would expect to pay would be?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket123 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 [quote name='Kev' timestamp='1333405250' post='1601391'] I don't really understand all the different charges....well i think i do and then it turns out i'm wrong when it comes to delivery. If i was purchasing something for $100.00 from the.USA inc shipping, would someone be kind enough to estimate for me what the total price i would expect to pay would be?? [/quote] Check this link : [url="http://www.dutycalculator.com/"]http://www.dutycalculator.com/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacker Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Can anyone recommend a site for picking up instruments from abroad? I need to get something shipped back here from Oz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket123 Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Maybe at your local FedEx terminal or something similar , or the Postal office Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fin Bass Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Hi guys. Can someone tell me if I've got this right; looking at the HMRC site - you are allowed to bring in (not post) goods to value £390. So if I am visiting the US, I can bring back a guitar up to that value, for my own use, without incurring tax? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Fin Bass' timestamp='1337149423' post='1656102'] Hi guys. Can someone tell me if I've got this right; looking at the HMRC site - you are allowed to bring in (not post) goods to value £390. So if I am visiting the US, I can bring back a guitar up to that value, for my own use, without incurring tax? [/quote] I didn't know about this allowance either - well spotted! http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingnoneu.htm Any here ever done this? Edited May 19, 2012 by Musky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who's Who Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Im awaiting delivery of a bass from America and my tracking number on the usps site states it's awaiting customs clearance over here. Any way I can find the depot the bass is at early so I can go collect it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nige1davies Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Hi All, I bought a Pre Ernieball Stingray from America (Ebay)the transaction went smoothly however i was shocked by the import duty,vat and other charges incurred by our great country. Great to see you warning people about these charges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1337451403' post='1660354'] I didn't know about this allowance either - well spotted! [url="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingnoneu.htm"]http://www.hmrc.gov....rivingnoneu.htm[/url] Any here ever done this? [/quote] I haven't but my dad used to do something similar when he was a working musician, he'd go out with a Marshall amp and Burns / Hofner / Hagstrom guitar (this was years ago), go straight to Manny's in New York and come back with a Fender Twin and a Les Paul or Strat. Every 6 months he'd do the same as he was working cruise ships and Jazz clubs between London and New York. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afterimage Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 good information i hear that the MIJ are the best built Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afterimage Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 interesting you are allowed £390 from USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WonderHorse Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I'm eyeing up a bass on eBay in the States at the minute and will probably put a bid in tonight. At what point would I have to pay VAT/import tax and all that stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) VAT at £18, Import Duty at around £257 (it will depend what rating HMRC give bass guitars and what the payable minimum currently is - £257 assumes a £9 minimum and a rate of 3.5% which is what was last time I looked IIRC). Edit: Remember that these figures are calculated from the cost of the item plus the shipping costs and there is also a delivery clearance fee of between £8 and £20. Edited November 28, 2012 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afterimage Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Hi all just got my imported Geddy Lee today. Imported from Florida DHL. Very fast delivery. As Fender had. $100 offer off. Good savings. Too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WonderHorse Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 How much should I be looking to insure then bass for during delivery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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