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Quick question re: used basses

azzy_wazzy

azzy_wazzy

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2005
Messages
1,909
Location
Leeds, UK
Yay or nay:

I know new MM basses can't be shipped from the US to UK, but how does it stand for new ones? I only ask as Bass Central keep getting all these gorgeous basses in for silly prices and it's daft of me not to ask.

So - can I get a used MM bass sent to me from the US or not?

(Hope so - means I can join the MM family sooner! I shouldn't have anything to fear when buying a used one should I - as long as it's in good nick it should sound as good as a new one right?)
 
azzy_wazzy said:
Yay or nay:

I know new MM basses can't be shipped from the US to UK, but how does it stand for new ones? I only ask as Bass Central keep getting all these gorgeous basses in for silly prices and it's daft of me not to ask.

So - can I get a used MM bass sent to me from the US or not?

(Hope so - means I can join the MM family sooner! I shouldn't have anything to fear when buying a used one should I - as long as it's in good nick it should sound as good as a new one right?)
Click to expand...

I think you'll be very safe buying a used bass from them. Or, why not check if someone here has what you're looking for? Buying form forum members is really safe:)
 
There's also someone on the Bay dealing in new old stock (i.e. older basses which are still brand new).

I bought one a while back for 2nd hand money. PM me & I'll pass you the details of the seller.
 
strummer said:
There's a nice guy here called Davtran...
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Very true! But bless him he doesn't get in many Sterlings in the colours I like, and I'm a fussy old cow :)

As Gav said, there's a much greater variety importing from the US, and it's likely to be cheaper, inc. VAT and the like.

And of course, once I have the funds, I will be actively canvassing you lot to see if you have what I'm after ;)

My original plan was going to be to get a SUB Sterling, so if I can save up a bit more than the value of that, I should be able to get something pretty alright :D

Then once I save up for my HS later on, it means I can have two :D :D :D
 
azzy_wazzy said:
As Gav said, there's a much greater variety importing from the US, and it's likely to be cheaper, inc. VAT and the like.
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Yep.

For the UK, you can calculate the final price as:

((Price + postage)+3.9% import duty)+17.5% VAT

For a $500 bass with $100 shipping, you'll end up paying £417

$600... £487
$700... £557
$800... £626
$900... £696
$1000... £765

You might pay a little more on the postage, and there might be an additional processing fee from the carriers (around £10)
 
dlloyd said:
Yep.

For the UK, you can calculate the final price as:

((Price + postage)+3.9% import duty)+17.5% VAT

For a $500 bass with $100 shipping, you'll end up paying £417

$600... £487
$700... £557
$800... £626
$900... £696
$1000... £765

You might pay a little more on the postage, and there might be an additional processing fee from the carriers (around £10)
Click to expand...

Hah, you are lucky!

We pay ((Price + postage)+5% import duty)+25% VAT)
 
brsmith21 said:
Ouch :eek:
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Yes and no.

Sure, we have to pay more for most things, but we don't have to worry about being able to pay for medical treatment.

But, hey, let's not hijack this thread with political stuff that gets it locked :)

(edited for grammar)
 
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strummer said:
Hah, you are lucky!

We pay ((Price + postage)+5% import duty)+25% VAT)
Click to expand...

But think of all the Swedish companies whose basses you get cheaper!

Um...

:confused:
 
Another couple of things to bear in mind is it's worth paying a little extra for a tracking number and also it's a good idea to insure the package for the full value.
 
dlloyd said:
Another couple of things to bear in mind is it's worth paying a little extra for a tracking number and also it's a good idea to insure the package for the full value.
Click to expand...

Amen to that. Money well spent.;)
 
azzy - Will be in the market to sell my Sterling in the near future. I also own a Bongo and have been using that all the time since I bought it. I recently played a double H Stingray and want one. I can't justify (to my wife anyway) buying a new Stingray without at least selling the Sterling. I know, some here will say find a new wife, but I've had her for 35 years and don't want to trade her.
Anyway, keep it in mind, it's a '04 model, honeyburst, tort pickguard, rosewood finger board, perfect condition.
 
BigStrings said:
azzy - Will be in the market to sell my Sterling in the near future.
Anyway, keep it in mind, it's a '04 model, honeyburst, tort pickguard, rosewood finger board, perfect condition.
Click to expand...
That sounds gorgeous! Do you have any photos I can lust over? (Any potential idea of price you'd like? You can PM me!)

And I second/third the recommendation for insured/tracked shipping. I've been the victim recently of someone who didn't ask for it on goods she paid me to send her, and the items got lost and I had to pay her back the value of what she asked for - all 150GBP of it! There's a story there that I won't go into, but suffice to say I will get insured/tracked and I'm £150 behind on my savings to what I should be :(
 
From an Australian perspective:

Bass in America is priced at $850USD ($1200AUD)

To my doorstep (after taxes and anything else they dream up) $1400USD ($1950AUD)

So, you're up for an extra 70% on top of the original US cost.

But, if I tried to buy one here (if available...and it wont be) then, subject to market trends, they'd probably want around $2500AUD (depending on condition).

In the end, I'm still in front and it only takes about 10 days to get here.

EDIT:

But being so far away, I wouldn't deal with anybody else other than an EBer or a DudePitter.
 
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