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DrKev
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This has been discussed here, many times in fact, so try the forum search function for more info.
In short, it has to do with the import taxes and additional costs of shipping and distribution. There is nothing that can change in a hurry where the European prices are concerned. I know from a friend working in a leading music store in Paris that prices generally, across all brands, are as low as they can really go. In individual stores you may be able to haggle a further discount as a professional or regular customer but not much more than 10%.
In short, it has to do with the import taxes and additional costs of shipping and distribution. There is nothing that can change in a hurry where the European prices are concerned. I know from a friend working in a leading music store in Paris that prices generally, across all brands, are as low as they can really go. In individual stores you may be able to haggle a further discount as a professional or regular customer but not much more than 10%.
Mephistofes
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I agree, the prices are too much in Europe compared to America. It's probably because the guitars are made in America, so when someone orders a guitar from America to sell it in Europe, it has to go through customs and you have to pay for the delivery. Also, they have to gain the price to get profit out of it. I think your best bet would be to order it from America, as it'll still be cheaper than buying from Europe. I looked up a BFR from Thomann and it's about 3900 euros there. In America you can get it for about 2000 euros. So if I order from America, it has to go through customs and you have to pay for the delivery, it goes from 2000 euros to about 2600 euros. I would save 1300 euros! Consider yourselves lucky, americans. 
Big Poppa
Well-known member
11 people have viewed this thread and not commented because they know the storm it causes...there is freight, duty, taxes and the infrastructure it takes to market, account handle artist relations warranty insurance THis usually ends up bad....As a general rule imported products cost more
bkrumme
Well-known member
I agree, the prices are too much in Europe compared to America. It's probably because the guitars are made in America, so when someone orders a guitar from America to sell it in Europe, it has to go through customs and you have to pay for the delivery. Also, they have to gain the price to get profit out of it. I think your best bet would be to order it from America, as it'll still be cheaper than buying from Europe. I looked up a BFR from Thomann and it's about 3900 euros there. In America you can get it for about 2000 euros. So if I order from America, it has to go through customs and you have to pay for the delivery, it goes from 2000 euros to about 2600 euros. I would save 1300 euros! Consider yourselves lucky, americans.
We are very lucky to have such incredible instruments made here. And I agree it sucks that the prices are higher everywhere else. I'm sure if there was a way for Big Poppa and the EB crew to keep the prices down, they surely would!
Also, in the current economy everyone is suffering. Those of us who are still employed are lucky.
MrMusashi
Well-known member
ernieball does what can be done!
they make less on guitars sold for the export market than those sold for the home market! and by a fairly huge percentage too..
search and you will find!
MrM
they make less on guitars sold for the export market than those sold for the home market! and by a fairly huge percentage too..
search and you will find!
MrM
Ernieballplayer
Well-known member
ya know, in the future UPS will probably offer teleportation
bkrumme
Well-known member
ya know, in the future UPS will probably offer teleportation
That won't stop them from charging more to teleport your guitar to Mars
ProtoChicken
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That won't stop them from charging more to teleport your guitar to Mars
Or having it arrive in two different pieces.
sickindian
Well-known member
Thats one of my dreams to get EB as cheap as in states... and its not a crime to get used MM its just a personal taste to "To reach a higher state
A rite of passage" hahaha
A rite of passage" hahaha
TheBassGuy
Well-known member
I hate to argue about this point since it's very sensitive, but the whole thing about "importing to Europe is the cause for more expensive guitars" just isn't the whole thing I think. For example:
In the USA:
4 string Stingray: 1400 dollar
4 string Jazz bass: 1400 dollar
Based on guitar center prices
In Europe:
4 string Stingray: 1700 euro (this is almost the lowest price I can find here)
4 string Jazz bass: 1200 euro (and this is a relative high price since most shops here offer a Jazz bass for less).
Why can the Jazz bass be 500 less than the Stingray, and in America the prices are equal? Based on the prices in the US I can conclude that the Stingray and Jazz are the same cost price for dealers?
And another point. Even in Europe the price is very different. Basically all country's near me (Belgium, Germany etc.) have insane high prices for their Musicman gear. When I shop in the UK (which I now always do when buying EBMM stuff) I get my guitars a lot cheaper. Wondering.... The UK is also an EU country. An example:
In the UK (also europe)
4 string Stingray: 1059 GPB
4 string Jazz bass: 959 GPB
Based on Coda music prices
Note that there is a price difference, but it's relatively small compared to most EU based country's. I know nothing is going to change by posting this. But I keeps my busy thinking about it. What is so different here...
If this is unwanted, please delete it. I have no intention pissing people of or anything.
In the USA:
4 string Stingray: 1400 dollar
4 string Jazz bass: 1400 dollar
Based on guitar center prices
In Europe:
4 string Stingray: 1700 euro (this is almost the lowest price I can find here)
4 string Jazz bass: 1200 euro (and this is a relative high price since most shops here offer a Jazz bass for less).
Why can the Jazz bass be 500 less than the Stingray, and in America the prices are equal? Based on the prices in the US I can conclude that the Stingray and Jazz are the same cost price for dealers?
And another point. Even in Europe the price is very different. Basically all country's near me (Belgium, Germany etc.) have insane high prices for their Musicman gear. When I shop in the UK (which I now always do when buying EBMM stuff) I get my guitars a lot cheaper. Wondering.... The UK is also an EU country. An example:
In the UK (also europe)
4 string Stingray: 1059 GPB
4 string Jazz bass: 959 GPB
Based on Coda music prices
Note that there is a price difference, but it's relatively small compared to most EU based country's. I know nothing is going to change by posting this. But I keeps my busy thinking about it. What is so different here...
If this is unwanted, please delete it. I have no intention pissing people of or anything.
sickindian
Well-known member
I hate to argue about this point since it's very sensitive, but the whole thing about "importing to Europe is the cause for more expensive guitars" just isn't the whole thing I think. For example:
In the USA:
4 string Stingray: 1400 dollar
4 string Jazz bass: 1400 dollar
Based on guitar center prices
In Europe:
4 string Stingray: 1700 euro (this is almost the lowest price I can find here)
4 string Jazz bass: 1200 euro (and this is a relative high price since most shops here offer a Jazz bass for less).
Why can the Jazz bass be 500 less than the Stingray, and in America the prices are equal? Based on the prices in the US I can conclude that the Stingray and Jazz are the same cost price for dealers?
And another point. Even in Europe the price is very different. Basically all country's near me (Belgium, Germany etc.) have insane high prices for their Musicman gear. When I shop in the UK (which I now always do when buying EBMM stuff) I get my guitars a lot cheaper. Wondering.... The UK is also an EU country. An example:
In the UK (also europe)
4 string Stingray: 1059 GPB
4 string Jazz bass: 959 GPB
Based on Coda music prices
Note that there is a price difference, but it's relatively small compared to most EU based country's. I know nothing is going to change by posting this. But I keeps my busy thinking about it. What is so different here...
If this is unwanted, please delete it. I have no intention pissing people of or anything.
Fair point unfortunately thats true when comparing Germany.
Jimmyb
Well-known member
I hate to argue about this point since it's very sensitive, but the whole thing about "importing to Europe is the cause for more expensive guitars" just isn't the whole thing I think. For example:
In the USA:
4 string Stingray: 1400 dollar
4 string Jazz bass: 1400 dollar
Based on guitar center prices
In Europe:
4 string Stingray: 1700 euro (this is almost the lowest price I can find here)
4 string Jazz bass: 1200 euro (and this is a relative high price since most shops here offer a Jazz bass for less).
Why can the Jazz bass be 500 less than the Stingray, and in America the prices are equal? Based on the prices in the US I can conclude that the Stingray and Jazz are the same cost price for dealers?
And another point. Even in Europe the price is very different. Basically all country's near me (Belgium, Germany etc.) have insane high prices for their Musicman gear. When I shop in the UK (which I now always do when buying EBMM stuff) I get my guitars a lot cheaper. Wondering.... The UK is also an EU country. An example:
In the UK (also europe)
4 string Stingray: 1059 GPB
4 string Jazz bass: 959 GPB
Based on Coda music prices
Note that there is a price difference, but it's relatively small compared to most EU based country's. I know nothing is going to change by posting this. But I keeps my busy thinking about it. What is so different here...
If this is unwanted, please delete it. I have no intention pissing people of or anything.
Economies of scale, plus Fender handle their own worldwide distribution etc. EBMM prefer to support the regional distributors that supported them when they were growing.
skerwo
Well-known member
You have to buy used Balls then the price is ok and you can get real deals. Thats the way to do it here in Europe, especially in Germany.
The UK prices are as good as they are because of the currency change. Look one or two years ago and nobody from Germany would buy some stuff in the UK. Meantime it´s a MUST to take a look at UK prices.
The UK prices are as good as they are because of the currency change. Look one or two years ago and nobody from Germany would buy some stuff in the UK. Meantime it´s a MUST to take a look at UK prices.
Big Poppa
Well-known member
we dont choose to it is the only scenario that makes sense if we had to have that infrastructure in each country for our volume they would be triple
Dante
Well-known member
even orange amps.
but the fact is, fender screws people on the cheap guitars to make the upper market cheaper. EBMM has no squire equivalent.
but i know the dutch is distributor is a freaking plague. they even tell the retailers how much discount they're allowed to make.... amongst other malpractices.
but the fact is, fender screws people on the cheap guitars to make the upper market cheaper. EBMM has no squire equivalent.
but i know the dutch is distributor is a freaking plague. they even tell the retailers how much discount they're allowed to make.... amongst other malpractices.
jamminjim
Well-known member
"EBMM has no squire equivalent." OK, but it's "Squier". And the statement could be argued, however not by me and not here.
There is nothing stopping a "Foreigner" from boarding a jet plane and landing in say New York City. Then said foreigner could go out and buy any EBMM he or she would like to have. Then said foreigner could take the guitar to a Fed Ex Kinkos or even box it up and take it to a Post Office and ship it to his or her self. Seems to me if the EBMMs are so expensive in other parts of the world, then it may be time for a vacation in the USA.
There are other ways and means to acquire EBMM guitars legally.......
There is nothing stopping a "Foreigner" from boarding a jet plane and landing in say New York City. Then said foreigner could go out and buy any EBMM he or she would like to have. Then said foreigner could take the guitar to a Fed Ex Kinkos or even box it up and take it to a Post Office and ship it to his or her self. Seems to me if the EBMMs are so expensive in other parts of the world, then it may be time for a vacation in the USA.
There are other ways and means to acquire EBMM guitars legally.......
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