Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've seen a Ric I'm interested in and it's in the states - it's on the bay and they ship only to the US. Would it be an idea to get it sent to a friends house in Chicago and then try to sort shipping out from there. Or is it all too much hassle and what would happen with tax? Has anyone done anything like this before?

Is it worth it?

You need to speak to Henny, as far as I remember him telling me, his 4004c was bought and imported from the States. Maybe he will read this and chime in, and let you know all about it!

Hi Ronan, I have imported dozens of guitars from the USA to UK. Firstly (if it is Ebay) mail the seller and ask if he will ship to the UK. Many sellers will ship here even the the auction says not (Ship to USA only is the default setting). Shipping by air for a Ricky bass is around $120 to $200. You MUST get it sent air and NOT surface. You will have to pay 4% duty and then 17.5% VAT on the total amount (including the shipping) + a collection fee of around £13. Air takes around 2 weeks, surface takes over 3 months and arrives broken (if it arrives at all). If you want any more info. just ask or mail me ([email protected]) and I'll give you my phone number. Peter.

Hold on - I just sent two of my Ricks to the UK - one being Henny's Cii.

Surface DOES NOT take months! As a matter of fact it took approximately 4 days!

However, shipping and insuring into the UK is costly and according to the service (UPS, USPS, FedEx, etc) that you use there are restrictions on the amount you can insure for. What you need to do is get the shipper to send it as a gift to avoid excessive taxes.

Surface means that it comes on a ship. It certainly doesn't get to the docks in the USA, containered, over the Atlantic, through the docks, through the customs and then delivered here in just four days. The fastest that I have ever got a "surface" parcel is 12 weeks. It takes the QE2 (which is a pretty fast ship) 6 days just to make the crossing. Air usually takes 10 to 15 days from posting to delivery here.

Also the "gift" thing doesn't work any more as the highest value gift that we (in the UK) can receive from the USA is approximately £33 ($60). If it is valued at more than that we (in the UK) have to pay 4% duty + 17.5% VAT (on the total amount including the shipping) and a £13.50 handling charge.

I've brought in two basses. I arranged fedex/dhl pickups for them, all the vendor had to do was wait for them to call.

That is a good way to do it Phil, as you are in control of the pick-up and delivery. If there is a problem you can claim direct. Remember that the insurance contract is between the carrier and the person who took out the insurance. If there is a problem only the person who took out the policy can claim. You (the receiver) don't have any contract (or right to claim) with the carrier or insurance company if the item arrives damaged or fails to arrive at all.

Sounds like you're in business Andy! 4 days for surface shipping and no taxes......where do I sign!!

Re the Cii supplied by my mate Andy...

Paid no tax whatsoever on her, (yet).

Using "referred" shipping is a doddle. I have a friend in Ohio that collects all my Ric bits and pieces up at US prices.

I simply tip him some cash via PayPal, then he ships them to me.

Key to it is wicked communication, my last major deal with Andy went flawlessly - purely because we were honest, concise and to the point.

We UK guys have always got to remember though: we don't pay no tax on replacement parts, no matter what the cost.

One trick that this guy did and it worked nicely was.. I shipped him the bass fully insured Fedex from New York to Italy. Cost was $180 USD. What the guy did (without even telling) that when the bass arrived, and they asked him for the duty, he said "$1800? No, that's a mistake. The value's $180.An extra zero must have been added. It's only a used bass" I redid a form electronically and he paid duty on $180. The cool thing was, that if it got lost, it was insured for the full amt. The change was made after it was safe and sound.

I guess what i should have said, was the guy never told me what he was doing until the bass got there. He knew I would refuse to ship underinsured.

I don't think our customs would fall for that one. If they don't believe the declared value they get out the "Blue book" and tax you on the value given there (converted to £££ and well rounded up!).

For what it's worth, we are routinely asked by H.M. Customs to provide prices on new gear and estimated values on vintage. We even know one agent out of Manchester on a first name basis!They're continually auditing incoming goods transactions even years after importation and seeking to collect amounts due.

The Canadians go one step further: they routine visit and ask to see warranty registrations for addresses in Canada.

Crikey.