Hello from Ireland

[deadshed]

I've recently got into jamming with some friends on weekends and the gas is driving me insane. I haven't played or owned any equipment for almost 15 years, and I'm very out of the loop on what's cool in this neighbourhood as I'm originally from NA. I practice on a harley benton 5 string that I got on a whim 3 months ago, and I jam on my friends veeerrry slick Fender Meteora. I'm hoping to find a nice amp and a good jazz-style bass in the coming months so I have something more practical to practice with, as fun as the 5-string is, it does not prepare me for the thickness (or the quality) of the meteora.

 

Can you guys give me any ideas of how well buyers from Ireland do here? Reverb is like the only used classified I've found so far and they're full of chancers who'll take your left leg if you're not careful. I know it's a trying time for us all but it certainly feels like IE-UK online trade is strong, so hopefully I can make some friends while chilling here.

 

 

Regardless, it's nice to be here. I'm a real noobie so it'll be a big help even just lurking with you.

 

 

Cheers!

deadshed

[SpondonBassed]

Welcome DS.

[ezbass]

 

[Rosie C]

Welcome to BassChat!

 

[Rich]

 what they just said. 

[deadshed]

Thanks all! 

[alittlebitrobot]

Hi @deadshed

Buying from the UK has become fairly nightmarish post-Brexit. The cost of postage in both directions is insane and then there's customs. I occassionally buy and sell in the classifieds section here - if I'm selling, I go across the border and post from Newry to avoid the other stuff but when it comes to buying, I have to include a hefty mark-up postage and customs markup in my budget when it comes to buying from other BC'ers. An Post have a thing called Address Pal that gives you a virtual UK address, so that reduces the cost of postage to the seller, but it's not way of bypassing the other costs to yourself.

Adverts and DoneDeal are the best place to buy second-hand and, in my experience, Gear4Music are the best option for new (or B-stock) gear because they're fulfilled from Ireland so the postage is cheap and there's no import. 

 

Anyway, welcome

(where's NA?)

[Bigwan]

Well... I wouldn't for one second suggest anybody does anything sketchy... BUT...

 

There are ferries between EU (Dublin) and the UK (and roads but let's not get too political)... Just comes down to how far you're willing to travel!

Edited 3 hours ago by Bigwan

[deadshed]

Thanks @alittlebitrobot ! I really don't mind paying the postage to a seller, since I'm the one inconveniencing them. And customs I guess makes sense but its the whole "fair market value" that throws me for a loop. Who's the boss of that? Sounds like a racket to me . (and NA means north america!). Regardless going over to pick up bits sounds all well and good until you consider the price of a stena line ticket to holyhead with a regular vehicle is pushing 200 EUR I'd rather just grapple with the imports if its something that is my hearts desire. 

 

and wahey @Bigwan you're not wrong there, though I'd probably have to find some large package receipt service in NI (hint hint nudge nudge) that isn't run by the the government trying to decide what a "fair market value" is for slabs of MDF and glass tubes that only nerds care about.

 

 

Nice to meet ya both

 

[snorkie635]

Welcome to the beginning of your inevitable breakdown once you dig a bit below the surface on BC. If you think you've got gas now, to quote a song from some time ago, "you ain't seen nothin' yet?"