Free rant: Europe and MM availibility :(

[Pott]

If I promise to learn how to make shorter posts, will you read what I write?

Sorry Drkev, I DID read it all attentively, it's me who didn't specify all the details from my last post.

All the Guitarist reviews I see basically give lower prices for EBMMs than I ever see in the streets and sometimes online too. The one of the Axis Super Sport Rosewood is about 2 years old but it showed the RRP as 1,300 pounds, while now they're between 1,600 and 1,700.

 

[Lax]

Just wanted to bump...Price in france is so high that it forced me to buy second hand guitars...

 

[Pott]

I'm considering the same thing. MM would be one of the few brands I'd be ready to shell out for a brand new axe but unfortunately Euro prices put it in a bracker with a lot of competition from some really high profile Euro luthiers and pieces such as Custom Shop Fenders... they've lost a lot of what makes them such incredible guitars, which is no-nonsense features and relevant price.

In Europe you get a guitar that's usually more plain than the competition, at a similar price and with no unique selling point... which is a real shame because then fewer people are interested in playing them in order to find out why they're so special.

 

[Jimmyb]

Wow this is really confusing for me, Okay I am in NY and buy just about every UK guitar publication-Guitar Technique, Guitarist, Guitar and Bass, Total Guitar and I know I am forgetting one. But everyone of them are stuffed with EBMM guitar adds and in the back where they list guitar outlets in the UK they all have EB axes in stock. I think 9 of the last collectors articles in Guitar and Bass the featured player had EB guitars and a lot of guys on Licklibrary use Balls. I thought you guys were stocked better than us over here.

Yeah, they do get good coverage in the mags and Strings & Things advertise them well in the UK. It's more reluctance on the part of shop to stock them that seems to cause some of the problems. People always tend to be conservative in their choice of guitar, so it's a brave shop that chooses to go against the flow and stock something slightly 'aside from the normal'.

 

[threeminutesboy]

If I promise to learn how to make shorter posts, will you read what I write?

Sorry Kev I missed that part in your post

 

[Stu-Pendus]

As threeminutesboy said,why not fly to the USA and buy one there,you could also stock up with your favorite Levis at the same time.

 

[Pott]

Ah well see I am spending two weeks in Uncle Sam's backyard in late April/May which also coincides with me getting a work-related sum of money...

Just worried about customs and taxes mostly.

 

[TheStiffness]

Hi Pott,

The EBMM Website has a pretty comprehensive list of our international distributors. Perhaps you weren't looking at the correct page.

Here is the link: Ernie Ball | International

To answer your other questions, I'll go ahead and send a PM to you.

Best,
Nathan

 

[DrKev]

Remember guys, if you buy in the US your warranty is NOT valid in Europe. You might also liable to 20% TVA when entering France with a new instrument. When buying used gear from the US, again you may have to pay TVA on top of your shipping cost.

I'm slowly discovering that the second hand market online is a little more fertile than I previously thought. Having said that, it has taken me quite some time to find much of use. Zikinf.com is not bad for France. Some of the instruments seem in excellent condition and at OK prices. Lots of Lukes and Pets, not much of anything else. There is still one brand new Sub1 out there, still in the store. I've seen the add on a few sites.

 

[ily]

Dr Kev i'm agree with you
there is some good prices for used gear in France
most of her are used guitar bought out of EU and came a the good price
or if they has been bought in France at first the seller loose a lot of money to be in a good price even the guitar is in mint condition .

i prefer pay French taxes and shipping ,i take the risk to have no warranty (bad experience about french warranty ...)and play all the EBMM that i want or needs
when i can of course
EBMM are the best for me and i can't immagine no playing with one

 

[Capelo]

Hi everyone,

I am new here and have exactly the same problem as the some of the other European forites. I don't own an EBMM yet but I am desperately looking for one. Over here prices an instrument availability are a real issue. This past Xmas I went to an EBMM distributor in Madrid and they asked me for €2,700 for an Axis. Not exactly the amount of money I can spend on an new guitar. Thus, as someone already suggested, I am waiting for my next trip to the US to get one even if I don't get a warranty and have to pay taxes at the customs. EBMM should be getting some money from the government for all the tourism it is generating.

 

[Mpcoluv]

The Guitar Center chain of stores handle EBMM in most major US cities.
However the quantity of guitars in stock might not be that good.
In my experience, the Guitar Center in Atlanta GA (The old Rythm City I believe) is the best GC store. They will ship in the USA and maybe internationally.
You know shipping by the the US Postal service from Charlotte NC to the UK is about $140 more or less.
UPS is like $300 or so.

 

[Capelo]

Thanks for the information. However, I believe I have read elsewhere in the forum that USA dealers aren't allowed to ship EBMMs outside of the USA. I might be wrong though.

 

[DrKev]

Yep. European dealers ship within Europe only and US dealers to the US only. It's not just an EBMM rule, it's the same for most other brands too. For that reason, and to avoid hundreds of people a day trying to pass orders that cannot be fulfilled, some of the big US online retailers will not even show certain products if your computer is identified as being outside the US and Canada.

 

[beej]

They made an exception to that a while back- instruments older than a certain age (so old limited runs, NOS stuff, etc) can be sold out of territory. I can't recall the number exactly but it's in the forum somewhere.

 

[ily]

I think they are allowed to sell used guitar,and 2 years old limited run

just a little thing

this thread doesn't change anything in EU market and prices we don't know all about this subject

 

[Warthog]

Remember guys, if you buy in the US your warranty is NOT valid in Europe.

Speaking purely from my experience. When I lived in the US, I bought a EBMM Pet. Before the year was up on my warranty, I moved to Europe. In Europe I had a Warranty issue that was Beautifully handled by EBMM customer service in conjunction with the local dealer. Hence, my warranty WAS valid in Europe.

Maybe it was because I brought the guitar with me when I moved, I don't know ... if you are curious about the guidelines of the warranty offered on EBMM instruments, I would reach out to customer service for clarification.

 

[TheStiffness]

Our international distributors are not responsible for providing warranty service to customers who circumvent the appropriate purchasing channels. Certain scenarios are exceptions to that rule. For questions or concerns about the specifics of our international warranty policy, email me: [email protected]