Importing a JEM into England from Musiciansbestfriend USA

briDBK · #1 11-03-2003, 05:02 PM

Hi there, just bought a show DBK from musiciansbestfriend. Anyone had dealings?
My Question is, do I case it or will it be ok to import in a deluxe gigbag+boxed up?
Just Paid US$899.99 which is apprx. £530 plus shipping, no case just gigbag.
Anyone have any advice and comments for me

Cheers

darren wilson · #2 11-03-2003, 05:55 PM

I thought MF didn't ship internationally.

AndrewTodd · #3 11-04-2003, 02:31 AM

Thats a good price for a DBK - so long as customs don't rape you that is! Let me know how much it ends up costing you in total anyway - I was thinking about ordering one from there too (I'm in the UK).

Anyway about your question - get a hardcase! I'd be suprised if the postal service will ship it without one, because it will get broken

I know when we ship things like laptops around the couriers refuse to take them if they know they're computers, because they just chuck them in the van and they get broken. Imagine that angled back headstock smacking against a UPS van wall

We posted a guitar not long back to someone at the other end of the country and we first put it in a hardcase, surrounded by 'air bags' and then wrapped the hardcase up in a few cardboard boxes. It arrived OK, but I was worried! Actually I'm expecting a guitar this week from someone in the UK, let's hope it arrives safely

dex · #4 11-04-2003, 04:19 AM

Well first of all guitars get shipped to the retailers without a case and they are allright so having case is not mandatory.
These cardboard boxes are tough enough to keep the guitar safe in normal shipping/handling circumstancess.

Keep in mind that the tax man will charge additional 5% Import Duty and 17.5% VAT on the total price so be prepared to pay around £130 to get the guitar released from HM Customs & Excise.

ilia

AndrewTodd · #5 11-04-2003, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Well first of all guitars get shipped to the retailers without a case and they are allright so having case is not mandatory.

Yes, but they're shipped by specialists who know what it is they're shipping. UPS / Initial will just chuck things in their vans. I've had car parts arrive via Initial from France in the past and there has been very little left of the cardboard they were shipped in...

My girlfriend toured America with an orchestra a few years ago. She had her Double bass double packed - a hardcase inside a massive wooden crate. When she collected the instrument in the States from the shipping company the wooden crate (which cost around £500) was destroyed through being kicked around and being badly loaded into the plane. When she had it shipped back the the UK it arrived with a snapped headstock which cost an arm and a leg to repair and basically ruined the instrument.

Personally I worry about sticking my guitars in the boot of my car - if yuo're happy to let complete strangers handle it without anything more than a piece of cardboard between it and them then be my guest!

Of course I may be wrong- MF might actually employ trustworthy couriers, but I still wouldn't stick it on a plane in just a box.

Rich · #6 11-04-2003, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

Well first of all guitars get shipped to the retailers without a case and they are allright so having case is not mandatory.
These cardboard boxes are tough enough to keep the guitar safe in normal shipping/handling circumstancess.

No US shipper will honor any claim on any instument that isn't in it's original hard shell case, thus, no US distributor will be responsible for any damage on any guitar shipped without a case, the "rule" is, they ship it in a case, period. Warehouses get around that because they're warehouses, they're having the shipment picked up on one truck, UPS doesn't touch anything of theirs until they're shipping it to an unsuspecting customer. Granted these boxes are tough and quite movement limiting inside, but as many puncture wounds as I see on boxes and ticks on cases, that's serious damage to a finish in the least

dex · #7 11-04-2003, 05:36 AM

Well I had no idea that it was that bad but then again I've never shipped anything out of the country.
Here a cardboard box, a lot of bubble wrap and a big "PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE" sticker works every time.

Rich ships tons of guitars so if he says so - get a case.

ilia

Rich · #8 11-04-2003, 05:41 AM

Ichycrotchy ships right in the box, EMS is about as gentle as they get. Even so you take a chance anytime you ship, no matter if it's in a case or not

weserman · #9 11-04-2003, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

be prepared to pay around £130 to get the guitar released from HM Customs & Excise

that sounds about right, i had to pay something similar when i imported a UV777BK.

briDBK · #10 11-04-2003, 10:39 AM

Wow, I guess I'm gonna have to get them to order my ass a case then as they have none in stock. Also another question. The company I'm dealing with is call Musicainsbestfriend. Is that the same company as this Muscians friend I keep hearing about. Their web page is www.musiciansbestfriend.com and they are located in LA, does this ring any bells?
They are offering to ship it USPS. Is this sensible? I was quoted as 4-10 days for $80 which seems reasonable. (If it turns up and its still a guitar and not a bag of toothpicks!)
If anyone was wondering it was the guitar that was advertised on **** with the buy it now price of $899.99.
Never owned a JEM before as I have a trusty old PGM100!

Thanks guys and keep the advice coming. Newbies like me need the helpo and you're doing a great job!

Rich · #11 11-04-2003, 01:45 PM

No affiliation whatsoever to MF, and if you check the website, there's not much to it. Also, you claim it's a "show" DBK which means it's either used or a beat up [or not so beat up] floor sample.

Airmail says 4-10 days, a buyer and I tracked one to the UK, it took 4 weeks.

briDBK · #12 11-04-2003, 02:52 PM

Ok Rich as you are widely respected as the Guru this is the link to the guitar.

http://cgi.****.co.uk/ws/****ISAPI.d...ory=33043&rd=1

Pay special attention to the hard case mentioned in the advert which is supposedly not in the store. Whats the deal man? Also he's gone quiet and I haven't heard from this Rob for several days although the store has got pretty much nothing but a good rep on ****.

HELP!

Btw, I totally agree on the case thing, as he advertised it with one I should at least get a deal on a case dont you think? Definately not gonna have it shipped without a hard case.

Rich · #13 11-04-2003, 02:58 PM

Floor model, doesn't look bad. It says case included and they describe the UV1000C, and that's what they better ship it in at NO extra cost to you. You bought the case with the guitar when you bid.