Someone on this forum did suggest to me a while ago when I was enquiring about a 4003, that it would actually be cheaper to get a flight to the US,buy a new 4003, spend the night in the states and fly back the next day ,and still save money on the price of a new 4003 in the UK!
That actually works out to be true, with change to spare!.....only problem is getting nabbed by customs and paying tax and import duties....although you could probably get away with claiming that the bass isn't new or maybe say that you had brought it with you when you came....not sure if they would fall for that though!
C64 Price
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
I offered a little while back to POSSIBLY bring a bass back when I return to the U.K. in June. I,m flying back with an empty ATA case, and will be returning to the U.S. with one of my basses from the U.K...So, an empty case could be filled. Shipped far more safely than a normal bass and saving $300...Let alone the cost price...
-
shamustwin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5287
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2003 5:00 am
-
shamustwin
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5287
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2003 5:00 am
I cannot believe the prices being bandied about here. To be honest I was amazed that you can get a C Series that cheap in the UK; list is over £3000 I believe (over $5500). Where WAS that? To get one in the States for $1900 is just unbelievable. Either I bribe someone to bring one over, or I'm going to have to have a little US trip sometime in the not too distant future....what I want to know is WHY are they so expensive in the UK? I know all about shipping and VAT etc, but come on!!!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
-
motoryeshead
Nope, its just unbelievable that Rickenbacker are letting Rosetti UK rip everyone off. They have been doing so for a long time, but the recent exchange rates have made it look a lot worse. I personally refuse point blank to give Rosetti my business and would far rather buy from abroad and stuff the "grey market" implications. Rick pickups: $120 in the USA, but TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY POUNDS (thats nearly $500) from Rosetti by the time you add VAT and postage. Go figure.
blimey, a hornets nest has been stirred in my absence!!
Shaun, the price qouted was mailed to me by some place in the Midlands I think, but to honest with you I was so shocked when I was mailed the price I erased the mail straight away (without taking a note of where it was) and seriously considered starting smoking again!!
I do wonder what makes Rosetti charge the prices they do. It does make me really quite sad.
Shaun, the price qouted was mailed to me by some place in the Midlands I think, but to honest with you I was so shocked when I was mailed the price I erased the mail straight away (without taking a note of where it was) and seriously considered starting smoking again!!
I do wonder what makes Rosetti charge the prices they do. It does make me really quite sad.
Nope, its just unbelievable that Rickenbacker are letting Rosetti UK rip everyone off.
Do you have any idea how businesses operate? We're not talking about some guy operating a business out of his home. We're talking about a sizable manufacturer. And for a sizable manufacturer to distribute any decent amount of his goods in another country, he either needs to open his own office -- which costs money to operate and will add to the price -- or he needs an independent distributor to service the dealers.
How do you think the independent distributor feeds himself, pays for his employees, office, warehouse, taxes, insurance and other overhead? By selling for more than it costs him. Do you think he should operate for free, out of the goodness of his heart?
Let's say a US manufacturer makes a bass that lists for $3000 and costs the dealer $1500. Today that translates to about £825. Now add transportation. Now add import duties, which are higher for business. Now add a small but reasonable margin for the distributor. Now you probably have about £1250-£1300. Double that and you still have to add a hefty VAT that isn't included in the US price. Now does the £3000 list seem understandable?
Don't blame Rosetti for the taxes and duties levied by your politicians. Or for dealers who may not offer as large a discount as some internet dealers operating in the US. IMHO you're way out of line for suggesting they are doing something unethical, or that RIC is letting them get away with something.
Actually, one of the biggest parts of the problem is that U.S. dealers underprice the goods they sell. At first blush that seems like a great deal for consumers.
Unfortunately, according to an industry study, the average American music store is only ending up with about a 2% bottom line. That leaves virtually nothing to attract quality personnel, provide full service capability, and maintain reasonable premises. It means most of these businesses will will not be around for the long term.
The average European store tends to have a net closer to 35%. Often the stores themselves and the level of service isn't much better than the U.S. but the difference is that the worker's non-wage earnings, i.e. vacation and social benefits are much more costly and collected in the form of various taxes directly by the government. Quick example- paid American vacations are rarely over two weeks, whereas the U.K. is 4 weeks or more. There's is no national health service in America either. Those are benefits to a British worker-consumer, but paid for in the form of higher prices due to direct employer costs.
In the case of Rosetti, they are the strongest and most distinguished of the European musical instrument distributors, as well as one of the oldest. They do an excellent job of maintaining Rickenbacker stock and parts, at least as good as can be done giving our inability to supply enough. They are also one of the very few distributors in the world to inspect and readjust, if necessary, every guitar coming in, knowing that such lengthy shipment and exposure to enviroment can affect any instrument. They even provide an inspection report back to us so we can be aware of any problems.
Also, they stand behind the warranty as well as make sure the product is well displayed at prominent shows so that folks have a chance to see some models they might not otherwise have a chance to examine.
There are many more parts to this complex equation but that's the quick version.
Unfortunately, according to an industry study, the average American music store is only ending up with about a 2% bottom line. That leaves virtually nothing to attract quality personnel, provide full service capability, and maintain reasonable premises. It means most of these businesses will will not be around for the long term.
The average European store tends to have a net closer to 35%. Often the stores themselves and the level of service isn't much better than the U.S. but the difference is that the worker's non-wage earnings, i.e. vacation and social benefits are much more costly and collected in the form of various taxes directly by the government. Quick example- paid American vacations are rarely over two weeks, whereas the U.K. is 4 weeks or more. There's is no national health service in America either. Those are benefits to a British worker-consumer, but paid for in the form of higher prices due to direct employer costs.
In the case of Rosetti, they are the strongest and most distinguished of the European musical instrument distributors, as well as one of the oldest. They do an excellent job of maintaining Rickenbacker stock and parts, at least as good as can be done giving our inability to supply enough. They are also one of the very few distributors in the world to inspect and readjust, if necessary, every guitar coming in, knowing that such lengthy shipment and exposure to enviroment can affect any instrument. They even provide an inspection report back to us so we can be aware of any problems.
Also, they stand behind the warranty as well as make sure the product is well displayed at prominent shows so that folks have a chance to see some models they might not otherwise have a chance to examine.
There are many more parts to this complex equation but that's the quick version.
-
jwr2