Shipping guitars from the US to Central Europe?

[Junior]

What do you think of this? The prices in the states are MUCH cheaper, but the shipping costs a lot. I even heard one guy couldn't ship it 'cause the case was too big, then he took apart the case, and the guitar, (neck+body) and shipped it in 3 parts (neck+body, case top and case bottom)

Is it worth it?

 

[Luc]

I don't think it's worth all the effort.

I don't know which country you are from, but here in Holland when the guitar arrives you have to pay app. 21% tax over the list price. That are only taxes, you also have to pay the shipping...

I really think you're better off with a nice priced EBMM in Europe...although nice and cheap EBMMs are really hard to find in Europe..but keep looking and eventually you'll find one (my Luke was really a bargain, bought it in the UK)

Good luck!

 

[brentrocks]

I have shipped a couple guitars to europe before and had no problems!

 

[joe web]

i bought about 10 guitars in the US and had never problems with the shipping to germany.
but as said above, you´ll have to pay import taxes and custom-fees.
in germany taxes are 16% and 3,6% custom-fees for an electric-gutiar

 

[The new guy]

that's weird....
i never heard about a company that says a gtr case is too big .....

 

[fsmith]

I've shipped a couple to the UK and shipping varies, UPS 2 day was about $200 US and USPS 10 day was about $50 US. I'm not sure about any tariffs imposed after the fact, but I'm sure there is something on top of the shipping that might make it more economical to find somethign over there.

I've never had a problem as far as size, regular factory case and shipping box was no problem.

fred

 

[spkirby]

Not sure if its worth it as the guitar WILL get stopped in customs and in the UK that means a tax of 17.5% plus extra customs "handling" charges of approx 5%. Plus theres the chance that your guitar gets bashed around during shipping...the handling "monkeys" in airports still can't read "fragile" stickers.

Best bet is to combine a trip to the US and bring it back yourself. Of course which path you choose to take in the customs hall on your return is your choice

Of course the airfare to the US and hotel costs (etc etc) negates any saving on the guitar but at least it's an excuse for a holiday!!!

 

[shuai725]

I bought mine in the States and told my friend in US to ship it to me. Im from Canada.
I let him write the guitar as a gift so i didnt even pay the taxes duties...

 

[joe web]

I bought mine in the States and told my friend in US to ship it to me. Im from Canada.
I let him write the guitar as a gift so i didnt even pay the taxes duties...

this does not work here in germany.
even when it is declared as a gift, you´ll have to pay taxes and duty.

but they allways calculate the taxes and dutys on the declared price.
the package will only be opened when there is no declaration on it.

 

[nad]

I post on another guitar forum and importing guitars is a topic that comes up VERY frequently as people obviously want to save money. Theres a wealth of information on the topic in this thread (hope linking to another forum is alright Mr. Modernator? If not please don't hurt me ).

There some services avialable where you can set up a US mailing address to give as shipping information to a Music Shop and then the package will then get forwarded to you and whatnot, as quite often big box shifters won't ship overseas. But they'll cost you. And with the cost of that, and customs&tax etc. (presuming you pay them, I'm not sure of the legal implications of dodging them) it's actually not worth it in the end at all.

Personally, I wouldn't trust a courier to handle international mail where a guitar is concerned. Especially considering the implications you end up with if you have to return it. What happens if there's something wrong with it? If it got damaged whilst in transit? If the seller accidently sent out the wrong one!

If you do end up going down this route though, make sure that you're ready for Mr. Posty when he turns up on your door step, invite him in for a cup of tea or a similar drink of yours/his choice, just to witness when you open the box as that'll make you pretty secure as far as insurance claims are concerned if something nasty happened along the way!

 

[nad]

Oh, and just to add - before you even think about shipping internationally - you should really be looking at second hand guitars. I managed to pick up a Silhouette (£1400 first hand) for £475 and a SUB1 (£600 first hand, but had £190 worth of Seymour Duncan pickups added to it afterwards) for £360.

My excuse for being so cheap is the fact that I'm a student - but if I were you I'd save up a nice wad of cash and just wait until the right offer comes along!

 

[Junior]

In Croatia, you don't have to pay customs for musical instruments. You only pay taxes.

Usually, the customs are about 10%, and the taxes are 22%. But you can get a tax return from the state you bought the instrument in.

Let's say, I go to Slovenia, buy a guitar, go back, pay 22% and get a 19% tax return 'cause Slovenian taxes are 19%, and our's are 22%.

 

[Neskob]

Hello ex-Yu friend , maybe you can find cheaper guitar in Serbia, there's 1 guy thats importing various stuff from USofA, so you can choose... I think Luke brand new is about 1200-1250e, Axis 1300 or smt like that Is that cheap enough? I paid for my almost new JP6 1200e (part xchange), and I'm satisfied with a deal, living in a crappy country like mine

 

[Junior]

It's nice to find us yugoslavians here ...even though I was born after Yugoslavia... a few days after

Well, I'm kinda interested in the price of the regular Morse and SUB1 (I know they're not in the same range)

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

The trick is the declared value on the invoice that you fill in for UPS or Fedex. If you state a lower value, this is what the duty is calculated on. This is what some bloke in a pub told me anyhow

 

[Neskob]

Donno about SUB1, because this is guy is after more xpensive guitars (like EVH - 3-4 pieces, Lukes, Prs, Valley Arts...) but he told me that he can get anything ya want, in a reasonable time , whatever that means (I guess at least a month or two). SUB1 brand new at our retailer here is 850e, but I think thats same at Croatia...Poz!

 

[brentrocks]

The trick is the declared value on the invoice that you fill in for UPS or Fedex. If you state a lower value, this is what the duty is calculated on. This is what some bloke in a pub told me anyhow

the only downfall to that is you dont have the insurance!

big risk!