Now is the time to buy gear and guitars from USA!!

[cerealk]

Those of you in europe should consider gettting stuff from Rich, LGM, EKG etc as...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3371689.stm

This is the best time to buy since the autumn of 1992!!

Cash in on the weak dollar!!

[Jem7RB MK]

Simon,i have noticed this just through a couple of recent transactions,Rich said something recently about the pound kicking mucho a** too

Just wish i had more cash,£80 short on getting a real nice RB player - hardware ... That £80 is yours ;-)

Rob

[caprile]

Same here in Chile.

The dollar has dropped about 20% in a year, plus, starting 1-1-2004 we have a free trade agreement with the US, which means the import tax is over! , that is about 6% less tax.

[LLL777]

Good for used gear but for new gear shouldn't you be watching the Yen?? That's shot up so a lot so can't image new Ibanez getting any cheaper to buy.

[babahi]

I just flew in to Miami with empty suitcases, pockets full of Euros and exactly those commercial intentions in mind...

[weserman]

i bought both of my ibanez from the USA, i reckon i saved around £400-500 on two guitars that way. Shame i can't cash in at the moment, as i have no money whatsoever

[the.godfather]

Oooh good good. I have just done a few currency conversions on some guitar prices. It is defenitely cheaper. Very very good prices. I may be tempted.
Gary - The.Godfather

[Jem7RB MK]

Originally Posted by the.godfather

Oooh good good. I have just done a few currency conversions on some guitar prices. It is defenitely cheaper. Very very good prices. I may be tempted.
Gary - The.Godfather

It certainly is,DiMarzio's for £20,and RG550's for less than £200 need i say more :-)

Rob

[jim777]

I was just looking at the 'bay last night and was struck by how many decent (not spectacular) 7 strings were available. From companies like Schecter, Conklin, Jackson, there seemed to be a lot of them. All available for less than 400 US, and a lot in the 200-300 dollar range. I think I'm going to buy one myself

jim

[Jem7RB MK]

Originally Posted by jim777

I was just looking at the 'bay last night and was struck by how many decent (not spectacular) 7 strings were available. From companies like Schecter, Conklin, Jackson, there seemed to be a lot of them. All available for less than 400 US, and a lot in the 200-300 dollar range. I think I'm going to buy one myself

jim

Indeed Jim,But a little advice,Steer a little wider of the cheapish Jackson 7's,I've had 2 and never really thought much of them,Maybe it's a personal thing ? Having said that,I don't think the 7 is gonna dissapear in any hurry :-)

Rob

[hexa-db]

Hmm
I wonder if the bits from that trashed BC Rich 7 string could be made to fit on one of ATD's bodies ...
According Xe.net's Currency thing, $200 = around £110. Hmm not bad for a 7 string JEM style body... [/url]

[frankfalbo]

Originally Posted by LLL777

Good for used gear but for new gear shouldn't you be watching the Yen?? That's shot up so a lot so can't image new Ibanez getting any cheaper to buy.

The list price, and therefore wholesale price to the US distributors is fixed, and the adjustments in the currency exchange are basically eaten at that point unless they want to change their list price. (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) So that means if a guitar lists at $1000US it will come into the States at the corresponding wholesale price all year long regardless, or until they change their list price. Also remember that guitars are brought to the states in huge lots, so you may have a guitar that was bought with 6-month old money just hitting the stores today. There's a real lag time between the indicators and the reality to the consumer. What it really means is that now is the time for new and used Ibanez product from the US because costs have yet to be adjusted, and you may not see it hit the streets until next year.

You'll watch the Yen for more broad trends, in that it will affect the list prices, as well as the decision to import certain items on an annual basis. But a 1 or 2 quarter dip in the dollar merely places the advantage on other currency's buying power. (and my international fund is way up )

[Rich]

I've been wonderring what was going to increase due to the Yen [which isn't the Yen, it's more the dollar's drop against everything] but the only list I know for 04' is exactly the same as 03'. Considerring the Yen has strengthened from 119 to 106 over the last year the distributors either had been making a pile under the old rates, or, they think market price is as high as they can push it and are eating the difference. Either way I'm sure they're still making a pile of dough