Importing effects from the US

[Gizmo]

Ive read a few posts on imports but they discuss importing guitars. What about effects pedals?

Your probably aware of proguitarshop.com demos on youtube and i checked out their website. Most of the pedals are US made and are therefore so much cheaper. some so much cheaper eg Fulltone, Del Wah, $260, in UK its £209=$400+.

If I ordered pedals from a guitar shop in the US would there be extra costs attached on the way?

I got a Ipod touch from a website and I didnt realise it was coming from the US. I tracked it from LA to London and it didnt have any extra costs associated with buying from this website. Is it only the larger items which attract the extra costs?

Any advice would be appreciated. I am planning on buying several pedals this year and this could save loads?

Thanks

[Twinfan]

I think you still have to pay import duty and VAT?  I don't know what the import duty rate is on pedals, but I'd guess around the same as guitars (3%).  You got lucky with your Ipod by the sound of it  :)

I think even with shipping and duty it'd be cheaper than buying them here....

[badgermark]

Customs will charge you 22% if it's over £50 in value i think. Pretty sure it's £50ish as the cut off. Also be aware most couriers also charge an admin fee of close to £10, and might stiff you for vat charges if they pay on your behalf. Also factor in shipping costs. The shipping is included in the 22% i think, though someone feel free to correct me.

So if the pedal + shipping + import fees are less than the uk price then go for it. 

[Brow]

I've found it's more a 'luck of the draw' thing with getting pedals/pickups from the USA and abroad.

I've bought HBE and Duncan pickups from the USA and G2D pedals from New Zealand. I got stiffed on the 2nd hand pickups, but most of the brand new (and more expensive) pedals came through without so much as a handling fee.

It all depends on if it gets caught or not I think :)

[Twinfan]

The shipping is included in the 22% i think, though someone feel free to correct me.

No need - you're right  :)

[_tom_]

I bought an MI Audio Crunch box from the us and got charged £25 in customs and "parcel force clearance fees" whatever they are.

[sambo]

"parcel force clearance fees" whatever they are.

That's for the Parcel Force man's effort of opening those big sliding doors on the van; very hard, expensive work that is.

[hamfist]

I've also found it very variable whether I have been charged import taxes or not.  For itmes under about £50, I have found that they virtually never charge you. For more expensive items it varies. For example, I got stung badly by customs for a Ceriatone amp from Malaysia, but was not charged at all for one expensive speaker I imported from the USA. The values of each were all fully disclosed on the labels. Other speakers I've ordered from the states have caught the normal import charges, which usually seem to be about 20-25% of the cost of the item - and they charge you import charges (including VAT) for the cost of the shipping too - very sneaky, and unnecessary I think.