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#290677 - 16/12/11 10:31 AM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: Lester]
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Surfsilver
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 04/12/11
Posts: 177
Loc: London
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'30 years ago'? Oh yeah, two deliveries a day, weekend service, and a postman you could get to know because it was always the same one, and he spoke English.
_________________________
~~~~~~~~~~ "I've suffered for my music, now it's your turn" ~ 
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#290684 - 16/12/11 12:59 PM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: Surfsilver]
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elkay
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 23/11/05
Posts: 386
Loc: Croydon
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The UK£ is currently fairly weak against the US$, at just $1.56 to £1. Up to 2008, the £ was much stronger, averaging $2 to £1. Those then were the golden days of importing from the US, as it was possible at that time to take advantage of the lower costs in the US and make huge savings, even with VAT and duty to pay. I imported a Martin 00016RGT for a total cost (including VAT & duty) of around £500, and subsequently sold it not long thereafter, used, for about £700. With such gains to be achieved, it was worth taking risks. For the more expensive Guitars, it was even worth taking a plane to the US to buy one there. Regrettably, those days are now gone, and I wouldn't recommend importing in the present economic climate.
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#290695 - 16/12/11 08:11 PM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: Christeefur]
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DaveBass
Old Timer
Registered: 30/10/02
Posts: 6462
Loc: The wilds of Surrey
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Except that here on the forum we're not supposed to encourage illegal behaviour, including evading taxes.
So although what you suggest might be theoretically possible, we don't recommend that anyone tries it in practice. 
Dave
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#290712 - 16/12/11 10:16 PM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: Haining83]
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Haining83
Be Nice (I'm New!)
Registered: 12/12/11
Posts: 7
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cheers for the advise guys bought new guitar this morn from uk lol manged to get a left handed taylor 114
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#290785 - 18/12/11 05:55 PM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: DaveBass]
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Surfsilver
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 04/12/11
Posts: 177
Loc: London
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So although what you suggest might be theoretically possible, we don't recommend that anyone tries it in practice. Dave
And, a couple of tiny minor details:
1 - You turn-up in America with a guitar and no work permit.
2 - You arrive back in the UK with a guitar whose serial number is not in the import register.
Have a nice day, y'all. 
_________________________
~~~~~~~~~~ "I've suffered for my music, now it's your turn" ~
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#291772 - 13/01/12 11:11 AM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: Surfsilver]
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Lester
Professional Forumite!
Registered: 28/05/11
Posts: 543
Loc: UK & Slovakia
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Okay, here is a real life example. Last month I ordered a $90 Weber MiniMASS™ 25w attenuator from the manufacturer in the US. I have just heard from FedEx. This is what I will end up paying (some $, some €, all converted to £):
£58.63 for the attenuator,
£47.29 for the postage,
£21.18 is 20% of the invoice, so I pay VAT even on the postage!
£7.97 FedEx admin charge for European import.
So a £58.63 attenuator will actually cost me £135.07, or 230% of the original price.
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#291782 - 13/01/12 06:23 PM
Re: Buying a guitar from USA good idea or bad????
[Re: Lester]
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Ape09090
Old Timer
Registered: 01/12/11
Posts: 1188
Loc: South Wales
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Ouch Lester!
I ordered a Graphtec nut from some place in Florida last Saturday and it's still not arrived yet but I understood there were no problems with items under £15 value....I hope customs are just checking it out and it's not been lost somewhere,ah well.
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