UK purchase

[Summer]

So I just bought a new core Paul's guitar that is awesome. Love the color, feel, tones I get, everything. I was looking for tiger yellow and found it in the UK. Dealer was fantastic. Easy to deal with, fair price. However, yesterday I received a bill from FedEx for $350 and I about flipped. While dealer ships free, apparently there is a large Customs fee that I was not aware of. Shipped from UK to Florida for $350 freakin bucks just to get thru customs. Emailed the dealer, said there was nothing they could do so please, beware if buying from outside USA. Inquire about your customs charge and negotiate into charge for the item. Peace.

 

[Black-Viper75]

Sorry to hear that. Yeah, that's a thing. I find may great deals in the US but avoid the purchase because I live in the EU and when you add the customs tax into the equation...well there goes every great deal I've ever seen out the window. Btw though, congrats on the guitar.

 

[Mozzi]

That's why I never buy outside of the UK!! I see so many great guitars in the US I would love to have purchased but Shipping and handling, import duty and tax make buying it much more expensive than finding a brand new one - it can push a Core PRS up to 10-top and even wood library prices....

 

[Summer]

Dealer was great however I was hoping he may split the $350 with me but no luck. The guitar is perfect so I'll pay it, learn a lesson and get on with life. In the grand scheme of things, no big deal, especially during these crazy times. Also when you buy a core 10 top, another $350 doesn't hurt too badly. thx

 

[jfb]

Yeah, those fees can hurt. Have to watch out for them. Glad you dig the guitar!

 

[Summer]

I own several and purchased all in US, first time buyin out of US. Went to UK on this one because the color was what I was looking for. The Pauls guitars are getting harder to find so I grabbed it while I could. Most colors I've seen in the states are the black gold wrap which i already have. Quite a few of those. The other thing I didn't mention is that Customs held it for 3 days before they released it. I had to call the customs office several times to have it released. Pretty big hassle but again, live and learn. I'm happy.

 

[Tahlee]

Thank you for sharing this warning. I’m sorry to hear the bad news.

 

[Summer]

You are welcome. Not really bad news cuz the guitar is so killer but was just trying to help someone else out and give a heads up about this custom charge. While I thought the price was fair, I would have leaned a little harder had I known another $350 was gettin tacked on. Is what it is. Hope it helps someone down the road on a purchase.

 

[Tone-y]

I didn't think you had to pay custom charges in the US if what you were buying was being repatriated (originally made in the US), or is that another thing?

 

[Summer]

The guitar was made in US, shipped to UK and then I of course brought it back to US so I was of the same understanding before I bought it which is why I didn’t bring it up to seller.
I called FedX and they said I owed it. Was news to me.

 

[ooglybong]

Not the happiest story, great guitar or not, but I'm really glad that you're satisfied with it in the end. Have fun playing it!

This is a very timely thread for me since I've been seriously eyeing a quite pricey guitar from Peach Guitars in the UK this month, but I was not aware that this type of fee would apparently always (?) be added. For instance, I recently bought a boutique overdrive pedal from Anderton's back in December, and there were NO added fees (past some very reasonable shipping). I also bought a great Greco jazz archtop from a Japanese dealer about two years ago, and that didn't incur any extra fees either.

I guess I've thought all along that these reported fees were some kind of are and unlucky occurrence, but your story certainly tells a different tale. Hmm...

Is it the case that *some* items do somehow manage to get through without generating crazy fees... but then other purchases somehow DO get hit?
And would a UK dealer in fact *know* this ahead of time?

TIA.

 

[bodia]

How's that work out to sales tax where you live? Close? I bought a guitar (made in the UK) two years ago for $3,000 US. My bill from FedEx was around $180. I was surprised as well, but it was less than the $210 sales tax would have been for the country I live in.

 

[bodia]

The other question would be if this were actually a Duty fee, or something FedEx bills you for the "privilege" of handling the import for you?

 

[veinbuster]

The other question would be if this were actually a Duty fee, or something FedEx bills you for the "privilege" of handling the import for you?

Both FedEx and UPS frequently add a brokerage fee when things cross an international border. I’ve seen it be larger than the duty/tax itself.
Here it is fairly consistently $60. Pretty noticeable if you bought something for $300.

 

[bodia]

Both FedEx and UPS frequently add a brokerage fee when things cross an international border. I’ve seen it be larger than the duty/tax itself.
Here it is fairly consistently $60. Pretty noticeable if you bought something for $300.

Actually, now that I think back, I am almost positive Brokerage Fee is exactly what was on my invoice. I tried searching my FedEx account for that bill, but to no avail.

 

[Summer]

It's tricky. You have sales tax, a possible customs fee, make sure you negotiate free shipping and ask a bunch of questions. Check out actual cost of guitar in US dollars vs euro because of course there is an exchange rate.
Ooglybong, another huge question to ask them: So apparently with Covid, there is a new form the shipper must include, advising no Toxic items being shipped. My seller forgot to include this Toxic form which is why it got stuck in Customs for 3 days. Had that form been completed by them, it would have slid right thru. Customs in Tennessee actually emailed me the form to complete and sign. Was a huge pain and again, they held guitar in TN for 3 days until we sorted it out. Then the next fun surprise arrived, my $350 bill. I'd recommend you call FedEx and inquire about it so you'll know ahead of time. Just ask seller and Fedex a bunch of questions and make sure that dang Toxic form filled out by seller or it will get held up somewhere. Let us know how it goes. Good luck.

 

[Darksheendo]

Hello Summer, what do you think of this new Paul's Guitar ? I'm currently hesitating between this and the new 35th anniversary custom 24 ?

 

[Summer]

I just found the email from Fedex, it basically said pay it and go away...... They call it a Letter of Authorization (LOA) whatever the heck that is. Try calling them at 866-728-8587 which is the number on my email. So check out: LOA from Fedex, Toxic form from seller, know dollar exchange rate and tax.

 

[Iceman101]

Í don't want to act as a smarta$$, but welcome to the world of people outside the USA. If I see deals on PRS guitars in the USA used and new (often special runs ) I usually cringe. Why , you might ask ?
Because I would have to pay import taxes for the guitar including shipping costs. Then there will be customs and handeling fees. Once you add all this up to the initial price its suddenly not a deal anymore. I'm sorry you didn't know that beforehand. Fortunately you love the guitar

 

[Summer]

Darksheendo: so here is my deal. I have a P Stock CU22, a killer CU24 I bought 10 years ago, a 2 year old DC 594 and a 5 year old CU24. I wanted something totally different and Pauls is totally different. I don't use/need a tremelo, like 22 frets, love the stoptail cuz it really stays in tune better and the pickups are awesome either split, full hum or single, or whatever you wanna do. SO many options. The biggest difference is the neck, a bit larger than my pattern thins but my 594 is vintage so not a big adjustment. I also have a killer les paul with a fat neck so again, no big deal. Thin my favorite but Pauls pattern feels great. I guess the no trem, totally different pickups, loved the weight at 7.4 and so many pickup options and the stoptail. Just totally different so I dig it.