Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: fbloke on October 29, 2010, 05:14:00 PM

Title: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: fbloke on October 29, 2010, 05:14:00 PM
Hello.

I've just bought a guitar on ebay from the USA. It's arrived safely at Heathrow and Parcelforce have just let me know that it's in Customs and Excise awaiting clearance.  I have two questions:

1. How long does this typically take?

2. I'm aware that I'll need to pay US export duty and also VAT. How do they go about billing me for this?


Anyone know the answers?

Thanks,

Mike.
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: WezV on October 29, 2010, 06:20:58 PM
with parcelforce i normally get a bill in the post first and then they deliver soon after that is paid.  normally adds about 3 days
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: Matt77 on October 30, 2010, 09:36:53 AM
Once it has been cleared the status should change to calculating customs charges. As soon as this has been done you can call parcelforce and pay over the phone or you can collect from a depot and pay on collection. It can take weeks if customs mess up  :x, but when I got something from Japan last year I was able to collect from the Parcelforce depot 2 days after it came in to the country
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: Philly Q on October 30, 2010, 11:37:20 AM
^ What they said.

It doesn't take long for the Parcelforce letter to arrive, but as Matt says if you track the order you can speed up the process by phoning and paying as soon as it clears Customs.  It's all very efficient really (touch wood).

NGD thread to follow?  :)
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: JDC on October 30, 2010, 03:38:57 PM
I had my agile in 5 days but I had the bill for duty afterwards, as for cost, the guitar was £550 (I think) with case and delivery, then duty was £128 so 25% ish
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: The Norwegian Guy on October 31, 2010, 02:19:11 AM
I live in Norway, but customs here take about 1-3 days.
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: fbloke on October 31, 2010, 12:54:30 PM
Thanks for all the replies chaps, very helpful and encouraging.  I'm keeping an eye on the tracking status daily so I'll pay over the phone as soon as it clears.

Pictures will be posted up as soon as I'm in possession - it's a 1971 cherry red ES345. Blues heaven. But will the original pickups be good enough?  Is a set of Stormy Mondays on the cards...?

Mike.
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: HTH AMPS on October 31, 2010, 06:48:13 PM
Thanks for all the replies chaps, very helpful and encouraging.  I'm keeping an eye on the tracking status daily so I'll pay over the phone as soon as it clears.

Pictures will be posted up as soon as I'm in possession - it's a 1971 cherry red ES345. Blues heaven. But will the original pickups be good enough?  Is a set of Stormy Mondays on the cards...?

Mike.

pickups in a '71 Gibson are going to be T-Tops, they're fine pickups - starting to get sought after.  the set I had were a little on the weak side for my tastes (7.5k, as they all are), but they will certainly be great for blues.



Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: fbloke on November 01, 2010, 11:43:33 PM
It's cleared customs, been through the national Parcelforce hub and been delivered to my local Parcelforce depot, all within the space of 24 hours.  I'm so excited a bit of wee just came out....
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: fbloke on November 03, 2010, 10:08:27 PM
It's arrived and I'm trying to post pictures but the forum keeps timing-out before the thread can post.  Any tips?
Title: Re: Importing guitars - time in Customs?
Post by: Philly Q on November 04, 2010, 12:39:59 AM
Put them in Photobucket or somewhere and use [img] links?