I have sent you an e-mail….. you asked me about buying a Jem 7VWH from the US for your Aussis$2000….well….
15 is pretty young to start International trading!!!
Here are a few tips, from the Elders!!
It can be cheaper to buy from the US BUT don’t forget about shipping costs (anywhere between US$115 and 300) and you will get taxed at 5% duty for the value of the guitar and the shipping and then another 10% GST on the guitar value, the shipping AND the duty!! If you have excel… I can send you a calculator.
Also…. The price might be say US$1400 and the **** conversion will say (for example) Au$1820. That is the International Exchange rate BUT NOT what a bank will give you as an exchange rate for a money order or transfer etc. It will be more expensive. It all adds up when you are 15.
Also….. the shipping carrier MAY charge you to broker the guitar through customs (usually the better, faster carriers will. The national carriers (USPS in America and Parcel force in the UK) usually don’t charge BUT it may take MUCH longer to get through customs (might miss your gig) AND you will have to do your own declaration form – your mum might have to do that for you.
Be Carefull on eb@y!! There are some nice guys around but a lot of scammers!! Always contact the seller first and ask if they will ship to Aus and get a price before you bid. You may find it difficult to get people to let you bid in a different country with no feedback.
Also… there can be extra charges for setting up bank transfers….. money orders etc.
You may be lucky and get a Jem 7 VWH imported for under Au$2k but you would have to be VERRRY lucky at the moment as second hand FP prices and VWH prices have gone up a few $100 in the last few months! Could get a DBK or a JS1000 in for that money pretty easy I would think.
One more thing…… some of us tired old beggers on jemsite save a few 100 by low balling the guitar value on the insurance for the shipping. This can make it a bit cheaper BUT
1 – the is naughty!!!
2 – Some of us are lucky enough to have 10, 20, 30….. guitars and if something goes wrong (and it does sometimes) we can moan for a few days… kick the cat… argue with the wife and a week later be after the next one, but when you are 15 and you spend all your dough and the guitar disappears or breaks that’s it…. Mum ain’t gonna give you no more!!! It can be tempting, but try to resist!! Some people will say that they can mark it as a gift, or as a repair….. but the tax man ain’t stupid…. This works about 20% of the time…… DON”T budget that it will work.
If you hold out, you will catch a jem on Aussie e’bay for 2000 (But I doubt a 7Vhw – put it this way… you’d be out bid……BY ME LOL!!) but maybe a player FP or an older 777 will crop up.
I wish I had something in your range…. Maybe try to pick up a nice second hand RG (550 or above – I had my 770DX a few months ago that would have been perfect – shucks!) on Oz eb@y for your gig…. It will not let you down and plays pretty much the same as a jem. If you get one in fair condition at a decent price (I’ll help you look!!) you will be able to sell it again for about the same price you bought it for after the gig and then wait for your well priced jem when you are not soooo desperate.
I sold an RG2820 (upgrade to DiMarzios…. Vine inlay on the neck…Great guitar) here a few months back. The guy I sold it to is selling it on… it is well within your range.
If you can’t find anything and decide not to go the USA way maybe you could buy a player Jem off me for your gig…. If you like it …. Keep it….. if you don’t send it back after your gig and I’ll refund the dough…. Just cost you the shipping and a new set of strings!!
I was 15 once!!
Good luck
Tim
(PS... if there is anyone in Australia that can sell Alf a minty VWH for AU$2000, let me know...... I'll pay AU$2100 LOL!!)
