Importing from USA to UK

[bovinehost]

Anyway, as I was leaving, I say to him, "If you ever get a 5 string Bongo in stock, let me know and I'll come down and try it", I leave him my cellphone number (hint, hint!). Well, 2 months later I'm still waiting for that call. This guy knows I can easily afford a Bongo, I'm eager to try one and would most probably end up buying it. He also happens to be next in line to own the store, yet he cannot be bothered to chase a sale.

Without getting inside the head of someone I'll never meet, I can only say that if I don't value each and every customer - and potential customer, really - then I don't deserve the sale. As to what your pal there believes, I don't know and can't guess. I can only speak for myself, and I don't really even SELL basses. I just love them, have the passion for them and was just in the right place at the right time - and they sell themselves. And I don't have to fool around with brands I don't love, I don't have to try to sell Mr and Mrs Homeowner a clarinet for Junior and I never worry about selling drum accessories. I'm also not getting rich, but I don't have to. If my living depended on this, well, I guess I'd be asking you what kind of clarinet you think Junior would enjoy. So perhaps your shopowner's offspring is thinking about sousaphones. I don't know, but I do understand what you're saying.

Perhaps they should be asking the question why no-one really wants to deal with them.

Perhaps from our point of view, yes, they should be asking that question. (The consumer's point of view, I mean.) And maybe if I were in your shoes, I'd write a nice letter to the owner of the shop, explaining how I'd really enjoy having a responsive local place to burn my discretionary income...and what sort of things they could do to make themselves over into exactly that kind of establishment. What I mean is, if they're making a living doing the same old things, they might not really understand that they are missing the boat. It's hard to change, I know that....but we're a global community now. There are different ways to do business. You bass-purchasing lunatics have figured it out, so maybe the thing to do is try to help your old dinosaur-era shops get onboard by telling them what they can do to get your wallet to empty its contents?

And what BP said. A dealer who doesn't get involved here is ignorant. It's not about making the sale, not always. It's knowing what's available, what's coming next, how the factory works, forming relationships, being a real part of the family instead of an unknown distant cousin that never comes over to eat.

Jack

 

[oldbluebassman]

Thanks for the info.

My question concerns used EBMM gear and in particular I'm looking for recommended carriers to send some parts (essentially a stingray body) to the UK.

Both Fedex and UPS are quoting $250 which makes the deal kinda prohibitively expensive. So if anyone, who has done this before, has some recommended carriers for considerably less than $250 it would be much appreciated.

Cheers, K

The last bass I had shipped over was $170 by Fedex. That was in 2004.


USPS can be cheaper but there is no tracking and it can take many weeks.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I ship used basses to the UK all the time via Insured US Air Mail Parcel Post for about $100 and while there is no tracking ability and it can take 7-10 days to get over there they've never lost one on me yet (over 100 shipped).

I NEVER undervalue the price of the instrument on the customs form as that would constitute Federal Mail Fraud and I'm sorry, but the minimal profit I make per instrument is not worth a Federal fraud rap...you gonna do my time in the pen with Bubba??? I doubt it!!

I know that there are many dealers out there who do this but I ain't one of em...end of story.

 

[bassmonkey]

Thanks for the reply Jack.

Just to put you in the picture a little about this store. They sell electric instruments. They sell a lot of stuff, very little of the "little Johnny wants to learn guitar" type stuff. They have a lot of keyborads and pro-recording stuff. They also have a huge warehouse, and sell a lot of gear online at very competitive prices. They seem to be a really forward thinking company, and to be honest the guy who sold me the amp was really pleasant and helpful. More so than anyone in any music shop ever IME. His colleague("turn it down" boy, was very typical of a UK music shop employee). So with this background, and the fact he stated EBMM products are great and the quality control is second to none, why is this clown not pushing this product? Why is he not calling me up and saying "You mentioned you were interested in the Bongo, well I have an H, HH, HS 5 string, also several SR5s, H, HH, HS. Would you like to come down and try them?" I guarantee, I would walk out the shop with at least 2 new basses.

Ah well, I'll just make do with the two I have.

 

[oldbluebassman]

Here is opportunity to be the UK Jack or Pete Steve, etc, and gain customers that you would never see...alll you have to do is participate.......

OK I have the time and the motivation. Tell me some more.

 

[bassmonkey]

OK I have the time and the motivation. Tell me some more.

I'll be your first customer OBBM, if you can arrange for me to try all the combinations!

 

[kenito]

Dave, when you bought your basses from the States, did you arrange shipping on this side, i.e. getting quotes from Fedex etc or was this done by the Seller ?

 

[oldbluebassman]

The Cutlass was bought from Bass NW and they arranged shipping.

The pre-EB was a private buy from ebay and the seller organised shipping.

The SR5 was a bit more complex. The seller wouldn't ship outside the USA, so I had him ship it to a friend in Austin, Tx. I then opened my own Fedex Account and had him organise the shipment and charge it to my account.

The recent Epi 502 was also an eBay buy and the seller organised the Fedex shipment.

Does this help at all? Where would the bass be coming from?

 

[roballanson]

It's knowing what's available, what's coming next, how the factory works, forming relationships, being a real part of the family instead of an unknown distant cousin that never comes over to eat.

Jack

I just thought I would chip in with my 2p worth. I stopped buying from a couple of the UK's bigger shops after poor sales advice and a seeming lack of interest in my chosen axes.
About three years ago I joined my present band and the drummer owns a small music shop in a place called Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
Now I know I am a little biased but he is magic when it comes to sourcing stuff - and that includes my new bass, which was as much a coup for him as it was for me( small shop getting and selling before the big boys)
So my advice in t he UK is to hastle a decent little dealer who is willing to put in some effort.
Nick relies on my to keep him up to date with EB goings on and checks the boards sometimes as well to see whats happening.
I think from the dealers' point of view its all about that relationship with Strings and Things - who are great guys.
I think we have to ask, politely, and get the smaller dealers to play ball because thats where you get decent service, meticulous care and lets face you can sit around and have a brew once you get to know the chaps.
Sorry to ramble on - its probably mostly b*ll*cks but I hope some of it makes sense.

 

[Big Poppa]

Rob
Why don't you have your friend, (even if he is a drummer) hang around and be a resourse for all of you guys with the great dental work?

 

[roballanson]

Rob
Why don't you have your friend, (even if he is a drummer) hang around and be a resourse for all of you guys with the great dental work?

I try to BP but you know how it is running a small shop which is your sole source of income....I know he stops by occasionally and he can always be reached through me....I would love to help him out when possible and Beth knows I am pretty passionate about EB basses.

 

[JB1]

I know Nick Owen (House of Guitars / Bass Centre) is registered and we could use some input from a UK retailer. I know those guys there are real busy, but perhaps Nick will see this and chip in.........

 

[JB1]

This ain't bad for a used, depending on age of course

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Musicman-Stin...7397807000QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem