Hmm, imports...

[genocidal tendencies]

How much does it cost to have a $599 (£319) carvin bolt imported through guitarlefty? £625. Six hundred and twenty five pounds. It costs more pounds over here than it does dollars in america. And the AC175 ($799)? £775. Ok, so the dealers need to make a profit and all that jazz, but there must be a cheaper way of doing it.

If you know someone in the US, you could have them order direct from carvin, and get them to have it shipped over here for maybe £50. Probably technically illegal because it avoids VAT but sod that, you'd save enough to buy yourself a set of BKPs and about 50 bottles of irn bru.

I'm not entirely sure this was worth posting, but just think of it. Fifty bottles.

[maliciousteve]

If you were to get some one you know that lives in America to get it for you, you could get them to ship to you as a birthday gift. I think that avoids the import tax etc.

[Twinfan]

Customs are wise to all that kinda stuff.  Not worth the risk IMHO.

£319 + £50 (shipping) + 3.7% (import tax) + 17.5 (VAT) + £15 (Customs handling charge) = £403.69

Import one yourself, legally.

[dave_mc]

50 bottles of irn bru? I hate irn bru.
 :lol:

but yeah, as twin says, just do it legally, you'll probably still save a packet...

[FELINEGUITARS]

Ordering direct from carvin has always been very good value for money....


What makes me laugh is the extra cost to download music in the UK (on the Apple store or where ever). We still pay more than the USA

And when it was CDs they used to say it cost extra because of all the shipping to the UK and having to convert themm to right hand drive etc and whatever bullshitee

Grr - used to make me angry!!

[Antag]

Don't f*ck about with HM Customs & Excise - seriously.  They have the kind of powers that the Gestapo would've envied.

As Twinfan points out, it's only an extra £85 - if you want the guitar that badly surely it's still a good price & worth it.

& if you want an "ouch" from a customs/VAT bill, try importing Custom Shop Jacksons at a time when the exchange rate isn't favourable :)

[genocidal tendencies]

I wouldn't complain at the extra £85, but carvin don't ship worldwide. The only way to get them in the UK is through their dealers.

[Dakine]

http://www.parcel2go.com/mail-forwarding-service.html

[lp_man]

If you were to get some one you know that lives in America to get it for you, you could get them to ship to you as a birthday gift. I think that avoids the import tax etc.

+1 I have done it quite a lot, smaller items than guitars though. :)

[Wolfie]

Now then chaps, I have imported 2 PRS guitars from the states.

Here's how they work it.

Dollars + shipping ($150-$200) + 22.5% of total cost, and its yours.

$599 + $150 = @ todays rate 400 UK pounds

400 * 22.5% = 90+400+ 490 UK pounds


Call it 500, you save 125 (depending on shipping costs) and its all legall.

But beware some US dealers are not allowed to export direct to customers only dealers in this country.

Take a look on some US guitar forums there are some second hand ones a silly prices going.

Phil