View Full Version : International shipping
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-18-2008, 11:11pm
Who is the cheapest International Carrier? I need to ship a mando from Los Angeles to Dublin. Also if you have any info on customs duty etc.
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-19-2008, 11:42am
Alright, I admit it. I'm guilty of misleading the fine folks who hang out here. I'm ashamed of myself. I repent in dust in ashes...
I'm not shipping a mandolin...
I'M SHIPPING A .....
....
BANJO!
Greenmando
Jul-19-2008, 12:04pm
Sounds like a case of international terrorism. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Uncle Choppy
Jul-19-2008, 12:45pm
I don't know who's the cheapest carrier but I have imported a couple of guitars from the US into the UK. I imagine the customs procedure will be similar but I would definitely check up first to confirm the Irish rules (website?).
Insured shipping worked out between $150 and $200, depending on size/weight/value of the instrument.
You need to add the shipping cost to the instument purchase price. To this figure you add approx 4% for duty.
Then (and here's the killer) add a further 17.5% on top of the combined purchase+shipping+duty total to pay the VAT due.
The carrier can charge you a further amount (£30 or so) for paying the duty on your behalf and recovering it from you.
Basically, I'd work on a further 25% on top of the combined purchase and shipping price and be happy if it comes out a little under that.
You might need to add in the costs of wire transfer bank payments to get the true cost of buying from overseas.
There are those who will tell you to under-declare the purchase costs but if you do that you are risking a criminal record, a fine and losing the goods. Personally, I'd not take that risk. #
You might get lucky and not get charged the full duty/tax amount but be warned that the bill can take a couple of months to come through (the one for my PRS did).
uncle ken
Jul-19-2008, 1:35pm
I shipped something to Ireland last month and found priorty mail to be the best deal. I also shipped a mandolin to the UK yesterday and used priority mail, the price was $67.50 for a 15 lb. box.
MikeEdgerton
Jul-19-2008, 1:56pm
Here (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=488246851d9a278a) are some past threads on shipping in general, some cover international. When shipping overseas the overall size of the box is everything.
trevor
Jul-19-2008, 2:09pm
Quote "There are those who will tell you to under-declare the purchase costs but if you do that you are risking a criminal record, a fine and losing the goods. Personally, I'd not take that risk."
Under-declaration also means you can't insure. In the event of a claim the insurance company will want to see customs documentations and will check true values. If they find you have under-declared they will pay nothing and report to the authorities.
Also bear in mind that your warranty is where you bought it. If there is a warranty work needed you have to pay all shipping costs.
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-19-2008, 2:46pm
Ken, How did you handle the Duty and VAT thing? By priority mail I assume you mean USPS.
uncle ken
Jul-19-2008, 4:00pm
When you fill out the customs form at the post office you state the value and contents. The receiver in the UK will then pay any taxes, you only pay the shipping and any insurance if you want it.
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-19-2008, 6:00pm
Thanks a bunch fellas.
We have enough banjers in Dublin, thanks http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Martin Jonas
Jul-24-2008, 5:15am
For what it's worth, I've just bought an e-mando (Kentucky KM-300E) online from the US and had it shipped to me in the UK. Postage they charged with USPS Priority Mail International was $52.50. As the shop's price included domestic shipping in the US, I guess they should have given me a credit for that, but I don't think they did -- the actual postage on the USPS label on the box was $47.80.
It took three weeks from ordering to delivery, but as it only went out of the shop (in Utah) about ten days after ordering, the actual delivery time was under two weeks. The mando was well-packed, and the box arrived in absolute pristine condition -- not a mark on it.
A day before delivery, I was called by the Post Office and paid them the VAT (UK sales tax) and their customs clearance handling charge. VAT was GBP19.90 ($40) and the handling charge was GBP8 ($16). I was also expecting 4% import duty, but for some reason or other, this was not charged. So, altogether, a $214.99 mando (US shipped price) became a $324 mando as received in the UK. If you look around UK instrument prices, you'll find that that's roughly the difference in street prices, too, so in many cases ordering from the US is of marginal benefit, especially as you can write off your warranty. I only did it because as far as I can see, there are no UK dealers carrying the KM-300E, and only a couple of EU dealers, who charge quite a bit more again. The cheapest I've seen is 260 Euro ($408) plus shipping from Germany.
Martin
trevor
Jul-24-2008, 5:25am
Martin,
If you had asked me I could have got one for you, with warranty.
Martin Jonas
Jul-24-2008, 6:30am
Fair enough, Trevor -- I'll keep that in mind. To be honest, it was pretty much an impulse buy -- even with the international shipping and VAT it's not exactly an expensive mandolin so it never occurred to me to ask you if you could import it specially with your next order from Saga.
BTW, have you considered carrying the KM-300E as part of your normal range? You don't currently have an entry-level electric and the Kentucky is great fun. With its F-style derived styling it would make a great fit with your acoustic mando line-up.
Martin
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-25-2008, 12:59pm
Trevor, can you get Gypsy's?
trevor
Jul-25-2008, 1:11pm
I just ordered some today! About 2 months until they arrive.
mandroid
Jul-25-2008, 1:17pm
just curious, 17.5% VAT applies to NI, as its still part of UK.
whats VAT for the EU, of which the Irish Republic is a member?
ie, like Donegal versus Derry
trevor
Jul-25-2008, 1:21pm
Varies for different countries as far as I know.
trevor
Jul-25-2008, 1:22pm
Martin,
I am looking into it.
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-25-2008, 1:33pm
I shipped my banjer priority mail - cost $100. I have no idea what the guy at the other end will have to pay customs etc. It weighed in at 23 lbs and was 48" x 8" x 18". I'd imagine a mando would be about half that.
VAT in Ireland is 21% http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Good luck Claughan I hope yours is one of the parcels that slips through the net.
Trevor, Still enjoying the Weber, `yellowstone, Cheers http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Just curious as to why you don't stock mandolin picks such as the likes of Wegen's, Golden Gates and Dawg picks?
trevor
Jul-26-2008, 3:07am
Aran,
Long story, but in brief my specialism is instruments. It takes a different kind of business organisation to do small stuff well. I don't have any office/admin staff, it can be very time consuming, especially doing mail order for smalls...
Fair enough Trevor...
Well you do a fantastic job with the mandolins....:)
Eddie Sheehy
Jul-26-2008, 10:49am
I don't know what you mean "slip through the net". Any charges customs and excise make are the responsibility of the buyer in Ireland - if they want to get the item released from customs. I assume that's how it works - I filled in the paperwork at this end and it is attached to the outside of the box. The buyer told me they had imported from the US previously so I guess they know what to expect. I'm not in the import/export business.